CELL FACTORIES: FROM EXPLORATION TO EXPLOITATION - 2025/6

Module Overview

Overview: Applications of Biotechnology in biopharmaceutical and biotechnological industries. The module provides a description and demonstration of how the application of the principles of microbial and biochemical sciences can be used in the discovery, production, and manufacture of commercially important products for the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries, with examples and case studies and an experimental section. The principles of genetic and physiological deregulation and overexpression of metabolic products that are discussed in the module build upon the analysis of metabolic pathways (studied at UG level Biochemistry and Metabolism modules) and the study of microbial diversity, metabolism and function (studied at UG level in Microbiology modules). Complementary concepts would have been covered at UG level in modules discussing systems biology, genomics, etc. The principles of discovery and production of products of biopharmaceutical and biotechnological interest, such as food, bioenergy, and (bio)chemical industries are discussed applying a quantitative approach.

Module provider

School of Biosciences

Module Leader

COOPER Christopher (Biosciences)

Number of Credits: 30

ECTS Credits: 15

Framework: FHEQ Level 7

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:
Lectures and captured content:

• Microbial biotechnology, The basis: Principles of cell cultivation (microbial, plant, animal, algae).

• Platform and Chassis selection and manipulation.

• Recombinant protein production across systems.

• Metabolic Engineering and Synthetic Biology for production of recombinant compounds.

• Enzymatic bioprocesses.

• Genetic manipulation, Regulatory circuits, Metabolic engineering, Synthetic Biology.

• Plant metabolism and genetics, Plant breeding, Crop improvement.

• Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive and Genetic manipulation.

• Biocommodities, precursors, and food additives: Bioethanol, Biosolvents, Organic acids, Amino acids.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

None

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate ability to process large amounts of data using graphical and statistical approaches (practical write-up), and the application of generic principles and strategies (e.g. sample selection, screening criteria -by function or by structure- , use of native strains or selection of microbial chassis, design and application of mutation programmes or development of metabolic engineering strategies, criteria for large scale production, criteria for testing, registering and approval of novel pharmaceuticals, etc) across a drug discovery case study (essay).
The summative assessment for this module consists of:

• Analysis of data and lab report (3 weeks from end of course to deadline) 20% - addresses Learning Outcomes 2, 3, and 4.

• Essay on Strategies for choice, selection and use of cell factories (3500 words) 80% - addresses learning outcomes 1, 2, and 3.

Formative assessment and feedback: Discussion of study-case reports and essays to enable students to develop their own approach for the write-up. (3 x 1h sessions). Feedback for student work will be provided in writing (where applicable) and in verbal form during practical classes, seminars and tutorials. The students will have opportunities to reflect and analyse their performance during ad-hoc tutorials, where they will be given feed-back on drafts and improved versions of essays and reports, through discussion of ideas and concepts.
As mentioned elsewhere in these documents, the assessment activities will have direct impact on employability, as they will provide the students with skills for excellence in report writing, large-data analysis, use of state-of-the-art computational and bioinformatic tools, etc. Also, the experimental report involves the use of up-to-date scientific literature and database searches and analysis.

Module aims

• Provide deeper and specialized study on the metabolic and biosynthetic characteristics of microorganisms and cell lines used in the biotech industry to produce recombinant materials, compounds or bioprocesses, with working knowledge of the biotechnological approaches involved in their production.
• Study in detail the physiology of metabolite over-production and its exploitation for production of compounds of interest.
• Teach and provide training on practical skills relevant to the isolation, recognition, modification, and cultivation of microorganisms of use in the biotechnological and biopharmaceutical industries.
• Provide practical experience of biotechnological issues arising from the subjects discussed in lectures.
• Introduce novel approaches and strategies for the rational design of microorganisms with novel or improved metabolic function.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy for this module has been designed to encourage and assist students to integrate the subjects discussed in the module across a range of different parts of the   course. The discussion of case studies will help to highlight the themes under analysis. The interlink between theory and experimental work, with specific milestones and deliverables throughout the course, is designed to ensure the students reach the learning outcomes and develop competencies adjusted to the current framework, such as employability, sustainability, digital competency, and resilience and resourcefulness.
The learning and teaching methods include:

• Use of calculations and computational models to understand, apply and master the application of quantitative approaches to biological processes.

• Demonstration, hands-on experience, and data analysis in the laboratory sessions average 2h per week x 10 weeks.

• Use of workbooks and IT tools in all the sessions to encourage and facilitate questions and other forms of peer-to-peer interaction, and between students and lecturers and teaching and technical staff.

• Scheduled and non-scheduled tutorials to enable students to test their understanding and comprehension of the course content and data analysis, and to facilitate the write up of the report and the essay. Three scheduled sessions per semester and non-scheduled sessions on-demand, where the students present their work and discuss the issues and doubts with regards to the experimental work and the production of reports and essays. These activities aim at improving the understanding and comprehension of the problems under study, and help to consolidate the analysis of experimental data.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMSM044

Other information

The contribution of the module to the 5 pillars can be described as follows: -
Digital capabilities: Apart from the use of standard software and digital tools, a substantial part of the module includes the use of highly specialized computational and modelling tools for the description, analysis and prediction of microbial activities and metabolic capabilities. The students will become familiar with databases relevant to biological processes, use of statistical and graphical tools on-line. Part of this approach introduce machine learning approaches into the design and analysis of bioprocesses.
Apart from technical tools, the students are encouraged to make use of diverse platforms for communication, discussion groups, social media, etc.
Sustainability: The module will familiarize the students with biotechnological approaches to obtain bioproducts that may replace fossil fuel derivatives, and with the use of microbial communities for bioremediation and depollution. Biotechnology is a discipline underpinning sustainability. In particular, the application of biotech approaches to industrial processes will promote the engagement and interest of the students in the UN¿s Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, the academic and technical staff endeavours to minimize the use of disposable material and consumables and streamline the experimental activities in order to demonstrate and inculcate the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly approaches to the learning experience.
Resourcefulness and resilience: The practical activities involved in the module are labour- and time-consuming for all the actors involved, from the Technical Team to the students. The students will develop an understanding of the need for organization and planning necessary in a real-life laboratory.
Global and cultural capabilities: We expect students with different background knowledge and expertise. This will force them to be immersed in a multi-background and multi-cultural environment. The topics discussed in the module will provide examples of different approaches to environmental issues, highlighting the differences that exist between central countries and the so-called Global South. The publications suggested as reading material contain a large number of articles from authors from Low and Middle Income Countries, giving the students a broad view of the problems and solutions achievable in different parts of the world.
Employability: All subjects and approaches taught and developed in the module will provide the students with a strong background, up-to-date knowledge, and hard skills such as advanced approaches to bioprocessing, experimental and computational genomic and metagenomic analysis, advanced microbial processes for the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and environmental fields, and excellence in soft skills such as report writing, data analysis, scientific presentation, and team work. All of them are very attractive to various different employers, including the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries but also food, clinical and veterinary environments.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2025/6 academic year.