{"id":34366,"date":"2025-08-31T08:56:28","date_gmt":"2025-08-31T08:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/34366\/"},"modified":"2025-08-31T08:56:28","modified_gmt":"2025-08-31T08:56:28","slug":"researchers-successfully-reprogram-bacteria-to-degrade-plastics-without-introducing-foreign-genes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/34366\/","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)<\/strong> and the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS)<\/strong> has developed a pioneering technique that allows reprogramming genetic functions in bacteria<\/strong> without the need to insert external genetic material<\/strong>, as it happens in most current biotechnological processes<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The strategy, named GenRewire<\/strong>, represents a paradigm shift in genetic engineering<\/strong>, by allowing natural proteins from the bacterial genome<\/strong> to adopt new functions through computational reprogramming<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>\u2014often through plasmids\u2014 to give bacteria useful capabilities, such as industrial compound production<\/strong> or contaminant degradation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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

According to researcher Manuel Ferrer (ICP-CSIC)<\/strong>, 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<\/strong>, achieving its ability to degrade PET nanoplastics<\/a> (Polyethylene Terephthalate)<\/strong> found in packaging and textiles. This result was obtained by reprogramming two native proteins<\/strong>, without introducing external genes.<\/p>\n

Researcher V\u00edctor Guallar (BSC)<\/strong> highlights that the approach combines artificial intelligence<\/strong>, supercomputing<\/strong>, and precise genetic editing<\/strong>, allowing the modified proteins to replace the originals<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, 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<\/strong> and advances in structural AI,\u201d explains Joan Gim\u00e9nez (BSC)<\/strong>, one of the lead authors.<\/p>\n

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

Unlike traditional methods, GenRewire avoids cell growth problems<\/strong>, genetic instability<\/strong>, and immune rejection<\/strong>, by not introducing foreign DNA. Researchers Paula Vidal and Laura Fern\u00e1ndez (CSIC)<\/strong> 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<\/strong> and human cells<\/strong>, opening up new possibilities in medical biotechnology<\/strong>, circular bioeconomy<\/strong>, and ethical genetic editing<\/strong>. By avoiding external genes, legal and social barriers<\/strong> 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<\/strong>, but surpasses it in terms of precision, sustainability, and social acceptance<\/strong>. Its application in plastic degradation<\/strong> demonstrates its potential to address urgent environmental issues<\/strong> and transform waste into value-added products<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

This advancement positions computational biotechnology<\/strong> as a strategic tool for the development of responsible genetic solutions<\/strong>, capable of reprogramming organisms without altering their essence<\/strong>.<\/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":34367,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[272],"tags":[1669,26746,18,458,19,17,2374,133,82],"class_list":{"0":"post-34366","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-genetics","8":"tag-bacteria","9":"tag-biodegradable","10":"tag-eire","11":"tag-genetics","12":"tag-ie","13":"tag-ireland","14":"tag-plastics","15":"tag-science","16":"tag-technology"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=34366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/34366\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/34367"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=34366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=34366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=34366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}