{"id":104790,"date":"2025-08-31T10:38:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T10:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/104790\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T10:38:10","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T10:38:10","slug":"researchers-successfully-reprogram-bacteria-to-degrade-plastics-without-introducing-foreign-genes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/104790\/","title":{"rendered":"Researchers successfully reprogram bacteria to degrade plastics without introducing foreign genes"},"content":{"rendered":"

A multidisciplinary team from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas (CSIC) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) has developed a pioneering technique that allows reprogramming genetic functions in bacteria without the need to insert external genetic material, as it happens in most current biotechnological processes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The strategy, named GenRewire, represents a paradigm shift in genetic engineering, by allowing natural proteins from the bacterial genome to adopt new functions through computational reprogramming, without compromising the biological balance of the cell.<\/p>\n

Bacteria Reprogramming from Within: How GenRewire Works<\/p>\n

Traditionally, biotechnology has relied on the introduction of exogenous genes\u2014often through plasmids\u2014 to give bacteria useful capabilities, such as industrial compound production or contaminant degradation.<\/p>\n

GenRewire proposes a radical alternative: computational modification of proteins already present in the genome, without altering their basic structure or adding external elements.<\/p>\n

According to researcher Manuel Ferrer (ICP-CSIC), study coordinator, \u201cif native proteins can be redesigned to perform new tasks, there is no need to alter the genetic balance with foreign DNA\u201d.<\/p>\n

Bacteria Degrading Plastic without Altering Its Nature<\/p>\n

To validate this technology, scientists applied GenRewire to the bacterium Escherichia coli, achieving its ability to degrade PET nanoplastics<\/a> (Polyethylene Terephthalate) found in packaging and textiles. This result was obtained by reprogramming two native proteins, without introducing external genes.<\/p>\n

Researcher V\u00edctor Guallar (BSC) highlights that the approach combines artificial intelligence, supercomputing, and precise genetic editing, allowing the modified proteins to replace the originals without affecting cellular stability.<\/p>\n

\"reprogramarBacteria reprogramming achieved to degrade plastics
\nArtificial Intelligence and Supercomputing in Biology<\/p>\n

The process begins with the computational analysis of the bacterial genome, identifying proteins suitable for modification. Then, through structural algorithms and mechanical simulations, they are redesigned to fulfill specific functions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn just three or four weeks, we managed to reprogram the virtual bacteria thanks to the power of the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer and advances in structural AI,\u201d explains Joan Gim\u00e9nez (BSC), one of the lead authors.<\/p>\n

Advantages over Classic Genetic Engineering<\/p>\n

Unlike traditional methods, GenRewire avoids cell growth problems, genetic instability, and immune rejection, by not introducing foreign DNA. Researchers Paula Vidal and Laura Fern\u00e1ndez (CSIC) emphasize that \u201cit is possible to redesign bacteria from within, respecting their biological nature\u201d.<\/p>\n

Moreover, the method could be applied to other organisms, including agricultural crops and human cells, opening up new possibilities in medical biotechnology, circular bioeconomy, and ethical genetic editing. By avoiding external genes, legal and social barriers often associated with conventional genetic modification are reduced.<\/p>\n

A Key Tool for Future Biotechnology<\/p>\n

GenRewire not only complements classic metabolic engineering, but surpasses it in terms of precision, sustainability, and social acceptance. Its application in plastic degradation demonstrates its potential to address urgent environmental issues and transform waste into value-added products.<\/p>\n

This advancement positions computational biotechnology as a strategic tool for the development of responsible genetic solutions, capable of reprogramming organisms without altering their essence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A multidisciplinary team from the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas (CSIC) and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) has…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":104791,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[545,51017,916,17376,90,86,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-104790","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-genetics","tag-bacteria","tag-biodegradable","tag-genetics","tag-plastics","tag-science","tag-technology","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104790","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=104790"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/104790\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/104791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=104790"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=104790"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=104790"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}