Early Career Researchers Meet, Greet & Talks

Join our monthly meets to meet fellow Early Career Researchers from across the University interested in biology, engineering, design, computer science, bioethics and more. This is a great opportunity to meet ECRs from other schools and departments, share knowledge and ideas, establish connections and collaborations and find out more about EngBio activities such as funding calls and support.

Each session will host 1-2 lightning talks from ECRs covering research, tools & technologies, and fields & applications of synthetic and engineering biology. This will be followed by informal discussion (and free light lunch).

On Monday 20 October we have 2 Lightning talks with Konstantina Beritza and Caroline Faessler from Plant Sciences.

“Nicotiana benthamiana as a chassis for producing recombinant human IgGs”
Konstantina Beritza, Department of Plant Sciences

Plants offer a powerful platform for recombinant protein expression, and have been used for successful production of human immunoglobulins G (IgGs). This offers an enticing alternative to current strategies for production of pharmaceutical antibodies. However, degradation of recombinant proteins by endogenous proteases causes severe yield losses and this minimises plants’ potential as viable production platforms. To tackle this issue, we examined the stability of antiviral human IgGs in the extracellular space or apoplast of Nicotiana benthamiana. Subtilase SBT5.2 was identified as the main apoplastic protease cleaving the HIV-neutralising antibody 2F5, though susceptibility varied among anti-viral antibodies. Less than 5% of IgGs reached the apoplast, suggesting retention and processing within other compartments. Redirecting antibodies to the endoplasmic reticulum substantially increased accumulation, up to ninefold. Finally, we explored the accumulation of IgGs in a synthetically extended ER formation, paving the way to more accurate ways for controlled compartmentation of recombinant proteins upon heterologous production. Together, these findings show that protease activity and subcellular targeting strongly influence antibody stability in plants. Thus, modulating these factors could improve plants as platforms for antibody production.

Dr Konstantina Beritza is a Synthetic Biologist working on metabolic engineering with the ultimate aim of developing platforms for high-value products. She is currently a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Patron Lab, University of Cambridge, focusing on the discovery and sustainable production of novel bioactive compounds that can strengthen plant resilience and reduce reliance on chemical pesticides. She earned her PhD at the University of Oxford, where she optimised Nicotiana benthamiana as a platform for producing human antiviral antibodies.

"Insights into transgene expression and silencing in a marine microalga"
Caroline Faessler, Department of Plant Sciences.

My talk will summarise a few findings from my PhD research on metabolic engineering in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Stable transgene expression is a key challenge when using P. tricornutum as a biotechnological platform. I examined how regulatory elements influence expression and monitored the long-term stability of transgene expression. Promoter choice strongly affected expression levels, while introns and codon optimisation had little impact. Over time, transgene expression declined, especially in metabolically active constructs and under certain subculturing conditions. Preliminary results point to epigenetic changes as a possible cause of silencing, though the exact mechanisms remain unclear. These findings provide new insights into transgene silencing in P. tricornutum and highlight potential strategies to improve the reliability of transgene expression in diatom biotechnology.

I am a new postdoc in the Patron Lab, Department of Plant Sciences, where I study regulatory elements and how DNA shape influences gene expression. I completed my PhD in the Smith Lab, also in the Department of Plant Sciences, focusing on metabolic engineering in marine microalgae. Following my PhD, I worked at UNEP-WCMC as a data analyst in biodiversity conservation, with a particular focus on trade-related deforestation.


Venue: Postdoc Centre, 16 Mill Lane  

Date: Monday 20 October, 12pm-1pm with light lunch

Read more about the EngBio ECRs

Contact

For questions of queries, please contact Vicky Reid at coordinator@engbio.cam.ac.uk.