CJ CheilJedang (South Korea)

Efficient poultry production depends on the optimal supplementation of energy and standardized ileal digestible (SID) amino acids to realize the genetic potential for whole-body protein deposition. While the requirements for energy and SID amino acids-such as the SID lysine-to-energy ratio-are well-documented, industry adoption of these findings remains slow. Consequently, many commercial formulations still rely on crude protein (CP) as a primary constraint. This reliance on high levels of protein meal inclusion leads to increased indigestible protein and excess absorbed amino acids, which in turn trigger various metabolic, health, welfare, and environmental challenges. This symposium paper explores how the poultry industry can effectively manage nitrogen emissions while maintaining optimal growth performance by leveraging the latest advancements in precision nitrogen (N) nutrition.

This research addresses design-construction discrepancies in the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems of semiconductor fabrication facilities (FABs). Given that even minor inconsistencies during the design phase can precipitate substantial rework expenditures during construction, enhancing design-construction integrity prior to procurement and field execution is paramount. The proposed Building Information Modeling (BIM)-based Approval for Construction (AFC) rule framework represents a technological advancement toward data-driven, automated validation of construction integrity. This framework is specifically designed to address the inherent complexity and stringent quality requirements characteristic of semiconductor FAB MEP projects, thereby supporting the achievement of quality, cost, and schedule objectives.

This study analyzes the lifetime characteristics and degradation behavior of lithium-ion batteries under increasing charge–discharge cycles. The experiment focused on RE (Real Part), IM (Imaginary Part), and DCIR Degradation% (Direct Current Internal Resistance Degradation). The RE increased from 0.0023 Ω at the initial state to 0.00293 Ω after 1200 cycles, representing a 28% rise, with a sharp acceleration after 400 cycles due to interfacial resistance buildup and electrolyte decomposition. The IM shifted from negative to positive values, indicating delayed electrochemical reactions and enhanced inductive behavior. A pronounced transition occurred between 400 and 800 cycles, confirming this range as a critical phase of performance degradation. Correlation analysis between SoH (State of Health) and DCIR Degradation% showed that while SoH decreased slightly from 100% to 87.3%, DCIR Degradation% increased significantly to 137.8%, indicating that internal resistance growth is the dominant cause of aging. When SoH falls below 70%, the battery reaches its effective end-of-life, accompanied by severe heat generation and power loss. In conclusion, the combined analysis of RE, IM, and DCIR Degradation% demonstrates that accumulated internal resistance is the key factor determining battery lifetime. Stabilizing the SEI layer, reinforcing electrode structures, and improving electrolyte stability are essential strategies for extending battery durability.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes enteric disease in pigs,characterized by vomiting and watery diarrhea, and has a major economic burdenon the global pork industry. The objective of this study was to develop a newsurface display system for PEDV antigens fused with a cell wall-anchoringdomain, using Lactiplantibacillus plantarum as a host. TheB-cell epitopes of the PEDV membrane (M) protein epitopes, designated as M1, M2,and M3, generated by online prediction tools, were stably expressed anddisplayed in Lp. plantarum SK156 and verified byimmunofluorescence microscopy. Stimulation of porcine intestinal epithelialcells (IPEC-J2) with the surface displayed M epitopes resulted in elevatedproduction of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-10. To investigatethe immunogenicity of the M epitopes, 30 female BALB/c mice (n = 6 per group)were orally administered Lp. plantarum displaying M1, M2, or M3epitopes and wild-type Lp. plantarum, or phosphate bufferedsaline (PBS). On days 21 and 35, mice immunized with the M1 epitope showedconsistently high levels of antigen-specific secretory immunoglobulin (Ig)-A andserum IgG, demonstrating the induction of both mucosal and humoral immuneresponses. However, no changes were observed in the cytokine profiles of theimmunized mice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of PEDV Mepitopes on the surface of lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Our findings highlightthe immunogenic potential of the PEDV M protein and the possibility of furtherresearch on the development of a Lactobacillus-based oralvaccine against PEDV infection.

Large-scale bioreactors often experience spatial heterogeneity in substrate and oxygen concentrations due to insufficient mixing, impacting productivity and product quality. Traditional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods provide valuable insights into these mixing patterns but are computationally expensive, limiting their use to transient snap-shots rather than full-process simulations. This study introduces a novel compartment modeling approach that integrates CFD-derived hydrodynamics with microbial kinetics. The bioreactor is divided into ideally mixed compartments, each characterized by axial and radial velocity distributions. This allows the model to capture spatiotemporal variations in key variables, such as biomass, substrate, and product concentrations, throughout the entire fermentation process. The model is validated against industrial-scale data from a 525 kL fermenter, demonstrating high accuracy in predicting the evolution of process states. Moreover, it significantly reduces computational time compared to traditional CFD, making it a practical tool for optimizing bioprocesses through improved process design. By identifying suboptimal zones and improving reactor efficiency, this approach offers a powerful alternative for large-scale fermentation optimization. Future efforts will focus on incorporating oxygen transfer limitations and extending the model’s applicability to other industrial systems.

Enzymes capable of breaking down polymers have been identified from natural sources and developed for industrial use in plastic recycling. However, there are many potential starting points for enzyme optimization that remain unexplored. We generated a landscape of 170 lineages of 1894 polyethylene terephthalate depolymerase (PETase) candidates and performed profiling using sampling approaches with features associated with PET-degrading capabilities. We identified three promising yet unexplored PETase lineages and two potent PETases, Mipa-P and Kubu-P. An engineered variant of Kubu-P outperformed benchmarks in terms of PET depolymerization in harsh environments, such as those with high substrate load and ethylene glycol as the solvent.

The amino acid industry generates significant amounts of electrolyte residues, such as ammonium sulfate, acetic acid, and phosphoric acid, which cause challenges to sustainability. This short article investigates the feasibility of implementing a plant-scale circular economy through the recycling and biological reuse of these electrolyte residues. Scenario analyses of L-lysine (LYS) HCl, L-methionine (MET), and L-cysteine (CYS) HCl production highlight the environmental and economic benefits of the plant-scale circular economy. Despite these advances, challenges remain, including improving reuse rates for residues and reducing sodium ion content in the salt. This analysis emphasizes the need for integrated process design to enhance the circular economy, not only in amino acid production but also in other fermentation-based industries.

Recently, methane has been considered a next-generation carbon feedstock due to its abundance and it is main component of shale gas and biogas. Methylomonas sp. DH-1 has been evaluated as a promising industrial bio-catalyst candidate. Succinate is considered one of the top building block chemicals in the agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, succinate production by Methylomonas sp. DH-1 was improved by combining adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) technology with genetic engineering in the chromosome of Methylomonas sp. DH-1, such as deletion of bypass pathway genes (succinate dehydrogenase and succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase) or overexpression of genes related with succinate production (citrate synthase, pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase). Through ALE, the maximum consumption rate of substrate gases (methane and oxygen) and the duration maintaining high substrate gas consumption rates was enhanced compared to those of the parental strain. Based on the improved methane consumption, cell growth (OD600) increased more than twice, and the succinate titer increased by ~ 48% from 218 to 323 mg/L. To prevent unwanted succinate consumption, the succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase gene was deleted from the genome. The first enzyme of TCA cycle (citrate synthase) was overexpressed. Pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, which produce oxaloacetate, a substrate for citrate synthase, were also overproduced by a newly identified strong promoter. The new strong promoter was screened from RNA sequencing data. When these modifications were combined in one strain, the maximum titer (702 mg/L) was successfully improved by more than three times. This study demonstrates that successful enhancement of succinic acid production can be achieved in methanotrophs through additional genetic engineering following adaptive laboratory evolution.