Recombinant microorganisms and uses therefor

Inventors

Fackler, Nicholas Alexander • Simpson, Sean Dennis • Koepke, Michael • Jones, Stephanie Rhianon

Assignees

Lanzatech Inc

Abstract

The disclosure provides genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganisms capable of producing nanobodies. Additionally, the disclosure provides engineered microorganisms comprising one or more disrupted genes to strategically divert carbon flux away from nonessential or undesirable products towards products and/or co-products of interest. The disclosure enables co-production of useful chemicals from gaseous substrates.

Core Innovation

The disclosure provides a genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganism that is capable of co-producing at least one target product and a nanobody. The microorganism includes a nanobody gene encoded by an exogenous nucleic acid, where the nanobody gene is VHH-72 SARS Cov2. The genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganism is characterized by improved carbon flux through acetoacetyl-CoA compared to a parental microorganism.

The disclosure links the improved carbon flux through acetoacetyl-CoA to the co-production of the at least one target product together with the nanobody encoded from the exogenous nucleic acid. The system is described as enabling co-production while maintaining a comparison to a parental microorganism. Dependent refinements further define characteristics of the nanobody and genetic changes that support the engineered phenotype.

The disclosure also describes culturing the genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganism in the presence of a gaseous substrate containing CO, CO2, and H2, including an anaerobic, pressurized bioreactor context. The nanobody is further described as being produced in association with the genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganism, including localization within the microorganism. The overall disclosure combines C1-fixing carbon flux modification at acetoacetyl-CoA with exogenous nucleic acid-encoded nanobody production from a VHH-72 SARS Cov2 gene under CO/CO2/H2 gaseous substrate conditions.

Claims Coverage

The independent claim covers a genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganism with improved carbon flux through acetoacetyl-CoA, capable of co-producing at least one target product and a nanobody, with the nanobody gene specified as VHH-72 SARS Cov2. Dependent claims refine the system by specifying target product group selection, nanobody localization, disruptive mutations, the parental microorganism selection, and a culturing method context using CO/CO2/H2-containing gaseous substrate.

Across the claim set, the inventive coverage centers on improving carbon flux through acetoacetyl-CoA in a genetically engineered C1-fixing microorganism, enabling co-production of at least one target product together with a nanobody encoded by exogenous nucleic acid, with the nanobody gene specifically defined as VHH-72 SARS Cov2. Dependent claims further narrow the system by specifying target product selection, nanobody localization in the microorganism, disruptive mutations, restriction of the parental microorganism to a specified group, and a CO/CO2/H2 gaseous substrate culturing context.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications