Bio-Applications of Engineered Escherichia coli

Dear Colleagues,

The model organism Escherichia coli has several interesting properties and molecular tools available that make it preferable for synthetic biology applications. Some of the desired properties include small genome size, high product yield, fast growth in cheap media, cost-effectiveness and being easy to scale up. Therefore, engineered E. coli has been explored in recent decades to produce a vast number of value-added compounds, such as industrial chemicals and even drugs and food ingredients. Indeed, most of the heterologous proteins for therapeutic use are industrially produced using this chassis. In addition, engineered E. coli is frequently used as chassis in the development of whole-cell biosensors in the detection of several analytes, including proteins. These biosensors have been exploited in different areas, from the detection of pollutants to the development of diagnostic tools. Moreover, engineered E. coli is also being explored as delivery method of therapeutic agents.

This Special Issue on “Bio-Applications of engineered Escherichia coli” will focus on original research papers, comprehensive reviews and communications on the use of engineered E. coli to solve several of mankind’s problems. We welcome engineered E. coli applications related to the production of value-added compounds that promote sustainable and economically viable industrial processes, the development of new diagnosis tools and treatments, and ways to fight global warming, among other topics.

Areas of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

• E. coli as chassis for the expression of heterologous pathway for value-added compound production;
• E. coli as chassis for the production of therapeutic proteins and/or molecules;
• Development of improved E.coli strains to overcome limitations (e.g., post-translational modifications absence);
• Development of tools to improve E.coli engineering;
• E. coli as a whole-cell biosensor in diagnostic tools, pollution detection, etc.;
• Engineered E. coli as therapeutic agent.

Dr. Joana Rodrigues
Dr. Débora Ferreira
Guest Editors

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