Researchers at Université de Sherbrooke have successfully characterized bacterial cellulose (BC) produced from a novel strain isolated from a kombucha SCOBY. Using the Minitron incubator shaker and an INFORS HT bioreactor, they evaluated the mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties of BC, revealing its potential for applications in biomedical, textile, and cosmetic industries.

Researchers from the University of São Paulo have developed an innovative two-stage anaerobic digestion process that enhances methane production from sugarcane vinasse. Their approach, which integrates a fermentative-sulfidogenic stage, boosts biogas quality, lowers costs, and eliminates the need for chemical additives. This promising solution could revolutionize bioenergy recovery in sugarcane biorefineries.

Gene therapy is a promising approach for treating various genetic disorders and diseases. A critical component of gene therapy is the production of viral vectors, which serve as delivery vehicles for therapeutic genes. Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK293) cells have become a widely used platform for viral vector production due to their efficiency in transfection and ability to support viral replication. However, optimizing HEK293 cell cultures for large-scale production of viral vectors remains a challenge in making gene therapies more accessible and cost-effective.

A plasmid DNA production process was performed comparing conventional Erlenmeyer flasks with LB medium and the Thomson’s Ultra Yield® system. E. coli cells were cultivated in both systems in the INFORS HT Multitron incubator shaker, bacterial growth was monitored, and the plasmids were purified at the end of cultivation. Subsequently, the quality of the isolated plasmids was analyzed by HPLC. The combination of the Ultra Yield® flasks with the enriched Plasmid+® medium and the AirOtop® enhanced seal led to higher cell densities and a 21-fold higher amount of plasmid than in Erlenmeyer shake flasks with LB medium.