Research Exchange Visit to Sweden: KTH and Uppsala University

Overview 

Activities

Visit to SciLifeLab and Research Discussions

SciLifeLab is an institution for the advancement of molecular biosciences in Sweden, funded as a national research infrastructure by the Swedish government and operated through a collaboration among four major universities: Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University and Uppsala University.

During our visit, we attended a seminar by Prof. Hasunuma, and research presentations by members of Prof. Hasunuma’s laboratory (Associate Prof. Tanaka, Dr. Tsuji, Ms. Matsuda and Ms. Miura), and members of Prof. Hudson’s laboratory. We also engaged in collaboration discussions with members of Prof. Hudson’s laboratory., and toured SciLifeLab’s research infrastructure.

Prof. Hasunuma delivered a seminar entitled “Data-driven Engineering Biology for Biomanufacturing: The Power of Accurate and Scalable Data Acquisition”. Prof. Hudson introduced the role and activities of SciLifeLab.

We discussed ongoing research projects, future directions, and opportunities for academic exchange. The discussions provided valuable feedback and new perspectives on our research, while also helping to identify areas for future collaborations.

The infrastructure tour provided an opportunity to visit the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) facility and learn about its capabilities.

Visit to KTH’s Alba Nova campus and Attendance at the Microbial Foods Conference 

We participated in the Microbial Foods Conference and visited the R1 reactor facility as well as Alba Nova. During these visits, we also received an introduction to the research activities of AdBioPro and GeneNova, both research groups at KTH.

At the Microbial Foods Conference, we attended presentations by leading researchers in the field, including Prof. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro from Imperial College London and Prof. J. K. Keppler from Wageningen University. Prof. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro discussed his research on Yarrowia and Fusarium, which are gaining significant attention in the field of alternative proteins. Prof. J. K. Keppler also presented on β-lactoglobulin and its applications in milk. Through these talks, we gained a better understanding of how microbial fermentation and protein technologies are being applied to the development of sustainable food products.

We also attended presentations on cell culture technologies and protein engineering related to genome editing, followed by tours of the associated research facilities. In particular, the downstream processing equipment used for product recovery and purification was of great interest, as it provided valuable insight into technologies that are not currently available in our laboratory.

Participation in the Cyanobacterial Symposium at Uppsala University

We visited the Department of Microbial Chemistry at Uppsala University, where Prof. Hasunuma gave a seminar, followed by a tour of the laboratory facilities. The tour provided an opportunity to observe the research environment and experimental equipment used for cyanobacterial research.

In the afternoon, we participated in a symposium with cyanobacteria research groups from KTH and Uppsala University. During the symposium, members of Prof. Hasunuma’s laboratory (Associate Prof. Tanaka, Dr. Tsuji, Ms. Matsuda and Ms. Miura), together with three researchers each from KTH and Uppsala University, delivered presentations on their recent research. The symposium provided a valuable opportunity for scientific discussion and academic exchange. Through the presentations and discussions, we learned about novel experimental approaches and innovative research ideas, which offered new perspectives for our own research.

Key Findings (MIURA Kako)

One of the most valuable outcomes of this visit was the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the food protein research field. Prior to the visit, I had limited awareness of the broader roles of proteins in food beyond their nutritional value. Through the research presentations by members of Prof. Hudson’s group at KTH and participation in the Microbial Foods Conference, I learned that the strong interest in food protein research in Europe is closely linked to concerns about food security and the need for sustainable food production. This perspective was particularly insightful. In addition, I had assumed that the application of proteins derived from genetically modified organisms to food products would face substantial regulatory challenges, and I was not fully convinced of the advantages of using genetically engineered microorganisms solely for protein production. However, the lectures and discussions helped me recognize that food proteins contribute not only to nutrition but also to food stability, texture, and functionality. As a result, I gained a greater appreciation for the potential of microbial fermentation and protein engineering in the development of novel food ingredients and improved food products.

Conclusion 

Overall, this visit provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with researchers from different institutions and research backgrounds. The seminars, laboratory tours and scientific discussions broadened our understanding of current developments in biotechnology and microbial engineering. Furthermore, establishing connections with researchers from Uppsala University laid the groundwork for future collaborative research and scientific exchange in the field of cyanobacteria. We expect that these newly established connections will facilitate continued communication, foster future joint research activities and strengthen collaboration between the participating research groups.

Appendix. Research presentation titles

(Engineering Biology Research Center)