Bi7034 Microbial bioengineering

Faculty of Science
Autumn 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 2 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dvořák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Anastasiia Ieremenko, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Mgr. Pavel Dvořák, Ph.D.
Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: Ing. Jiřina Kučerová, Ph.D.
Supplier department: Department of Experimental Biology – Biology Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Tue 13:00–14:50 E25/209
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The rapidly developing fields of metabolic engineering, systems biology, and synthetic biology are becoming the cornerstones of modern microbial biotechnology in the 21st century. At the same time, they enable increasingly detailed insights into the functioning of living systems. The aim of this course is to present students with the fundamental principles, approaches, and both experimental and theoretical methods used in these scientific disciplines. The course also places strong emphasis on describing the practical applications of the discussed strategies and methods in technologies that utilize recombinant microorganisms for the biodegradation of toxic waste or the biosynthesis of commodity chemicals and biopharmaceuticals. In addition to compelling, up-to-date examples from global scientific literature and industry, students will be introduced to research topics currently being investigated in the instructor’s laboratory. Graduates will be able to apply the acquired knowledge in their future professional practice and in further in-depth study of the discussed subjects. To better understand the course content, students are advised to have at least basic knowledge of microbiology, molecular biology, and biochemistry. The course is primarily intended for master’s degree students in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, but it is open to all those interested in the subject matter.
Learning outcomes
The subject of microbial metabolic engineering and synthetic biology will be presented primarily from the perspective of molecular biology and biochemical methods commonly used in these disciplines. The application of these methods will be demonstrated through a range of practical examples from current scientific literature as well as real-world practice. The course will also cover theoretical bioinformatics approaches. Upon successful completion of the course, the student will: Be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of different microorganisms used in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology projects. Gain an overview of the methods discussed and their practical applications. Be able to describe the procedures used in microbial metabolic engineering projects and understand the interconnection between individual steps. Understand the impact of synthetic and systems biology on metabolic engineering.
Syllabus
1) Course information, introduction to microbial bioengineering, bioeconomy 2) Fundamental concepts of metabolic engineering, host microorganisms 3) Metabolic pathway design – the role of systems biology (theoretical and experimental tools, practical examples) 4) Metabolic pathway construction (theoretical and experimental tools, practical examples) 5) Metabolic pathway analysis (theoretical and experimental tools, practical examples) 6) Metabolic pathway optimization (rational approaches - metabolism modeling vs. adaptive laboratory evolution), real-world examples of microbial metabolic engineering 7) Microbial synthetic biology and its applications in biodegradation and the bioproduction of valuable chemicals (introduction, history, ethical aspects, iGEM competition) 8) Synthetic genetic circuits, the minimal cell concept, synthetic metabolism, artificial microbial consortia 9) Examples of successful real-world applications of metabolically engineered microorganisms, techno-economic analysis and Life Cycle Assessment, future outlook of microbial metabolic engineering and synthetic biology
Literature
  • Primárním studijním zdrojem jsou powerpointové prezentace vyučujícího s četnými odkazy na doporučenou odbornou literaturu.
  • Metabolic engineering : concepts and applications. Edited by Sang Yup Lee - Jens Nielsen - G. Stephanopoulos. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH, 2021, xviii, 337. ISBN 9783527346622. info
Teaching methods
Teaching will take place in the autumn semester 2025 in a full-time form using powerpoint presentations. The texts of the presentations are in English, the lecturer's explanation is in English or Czech based on initial discussion with students.
Assessment methods
Depending on the number of students enrolled, the course ends with either an oral examination in the form of a presentation of an article recommended by the teacher and a follow-up discussion over the topics of the course or a review test.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Autumn 2020, autumn 2021, Autumn 2022, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/autumn2025/Bi7034