Killer yeasts: expanding frontiers in the age of synthetic biology

Sonja Billerbeck; Roy S.K. Walker; Isak S. Pretorius

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.03.003

Killer yeasts: expanding frontiers in the age of synthetic biology

Sonja Billerbeck, Roy S.K. Walker, Isak S. Pretorius^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) - Office

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

145 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Killer yeasts secrete protein toxins that are selectively lethal to other yeast and filamentous fungi. These exhibit exceptional genetic and functional diversity, and have several biotechnological applications. However, despite decades of research, several limitations hinder their widespread adoption. In this perspective we contend that technical advances in synthetic biology present an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the full potential of yeast killer systems across a spectrum of applications. By leveraging these new technologies, engineered killer toxins may emerge as a pivotal new tool to address antifungal resistance and food security. Finally, we speculate on the biotechnological potential of re-engineering host double-stranded (ds) RNA mycoviruses, from which many toxins derive, as a safe and noninfectious system to produce designer RNA.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1081-1096
Number of pages	16
Journal	Trends in Biotechnology
Volume	42
Issue number	9
Early online date	4 Apr 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.03.003
Publication status	Published - Sept 2024

Bibliographical note

Copyright the Author(s) 2024. Version archived for private and non-commercial use with the permission of the author/s and according to publisher conditions. For further rights please contact the publisher.

Keywords

bioprospecting
killer yeast
protein engineering
RNA
synthetic biology
yeast

Access to Document

10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.03.003

Publisher version (open access)Final published version, 2.07 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

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abstract = "Killer yeasts secrete protein toxins that are selectively lethal to other yeast and filamentous fungi. These exhibit exceptional genetic and functional diversity, and have several biotechnological applications. However, despite decades of research, several limitations hinder their widespread adoption. In this perspective we contend that technical advances in synthetic biology present an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the full potential of yeast killer systems across a spectrum of applications. By leveraging these new technologies, engineered killer toxins may emerge as a pivotal new tool to address antifungal resistance and food security. Finally, we speculate on the biotechnological potential of re-engineering host double-stranded (ds) RNA mycoviruses, from which many toxins derive, as a safe and noninfectious system to produce designer RNA.",

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Killer yeasts: expanding frontiers in the age of synthetic biology

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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COESB: ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology

Cite this

Killer yeasts: expanding frontiers in the age of synthetic biology

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

COESB: ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology

Cite this