Singapore's National University of Singapore (NUS) has made headlines with a groundbreaking advancement in synthetic biology, introducing a novel method to accelerate the evolution of bacteria for tackling complex environmental challenges such as plastic degradation. Researchers at NUS have developed the Lytic Selection and Evolution (LySE) platform, which dramatically speeds up the process of engineering bacteria to perform intricate tasks like breaking down plastics into reusable components. This innovation not only promises to address pressing global issues like plastic pollution but also underscores NUS's leadership in higher education research within Singapore's thriving biotech landscape.
The breakthrough comes at a time when Singapore faces significant plastic waste challenges. According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), Singapore generates substantial plastic waste annually, with marine litter studies revealing over 90% plastics at coastal sites. Traditional recycling rates hover around 4% for plastics, highlighting the need for biological solutions that can handle mixed and degraded waste streams effectively.
The Challenge of Plastic Pollution in Singapore
Plastic waste remains a persistent problem in Singapore, a city-state surrounded by water and reliant on imports that generate high volumes of packaging. NEA data indicates that plastic constitutes a major portion of the 900,000 tonnes of solid waste disposed annually, with low recycling efficiency due to contamination and sorting difficulties. Marine surveys by NParks and NUS from 2016-2019 confirmed plastics dominate shoreline litter, impacting marine life and entering food chains.
In this context, biological degradation offers a sustainable alternative. Bacteria naturally evolve to metabolize chemicals, but engineering them for specific plastics like polyethylene terephthalate (PET) requires optimizing multiple genes simultaneously—a slow process traditionally taking months or years. NUS's LySE changes that paradigm, enabling rapid adaptation for real-world applications.
Understanding Synthetic Biology at NUS
Synthetic biology, the field of redesigning organisms for useful purposes, is a cornerstone of NUS research. Defined as the engineering of biological systems using standardized parts, it combines principles from biology, engineering, and computer science to create novel functions. At NUS, the Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI) programme leads this effort, established in 2015 as the university's focal hub for synbio.
SynCTI spans the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine and collaborates across departments, focusing on health, environment, and manufacturing. It trains graduate students in genome editing, metabolic engineering, and directed evolution, producing experts who contribute to Singapore's biotech sector, which has seen a fourfold increase in local companies since 2015.
How LySE Works: Step-by-Step Breakdown
LySE leverages bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—to hyper-accelerate evolution. Here's the process:
- Gene Cluster Insertion: Target genes (e.g., five-gene pathway for ethylene glycol degradation) are placed on a phagemid, a small DNA ring packaged by the phage.
- Hypermutation Phase: Engineered T7 phage with error-prone DNA polymerase introduces mutations 160,000 times faster than bacterial replication, generating diversity in the gene cluster.
- Lysis and Selection: Phage lyses (bursts) poor-performing bacteria, while survivors with beneficial mutations are selected based on growth on the target substrate (e.g., ethylene glycol as sole carbon source).
- Host Refresh: Mutated phagemids transduce fresh bacteria, preventing off-target genome mutations and 'cheater' bacteria.
- Iteration: Cycles repeat, with decreasing supplemental nutrients to favor target utilization.
This controllable system handles up to 40 kilobases of DNA, far surpassing prior methods like PACE (phage-assisted continuous evolution).
Proof-of-Concept Results: Ethylene Glycol Mastery
In demonstrations, LySE optimized an E. coli pathway for ethylene glycol (EG), a PET plastic monomer. After five cycles, the best strain produced 50.9% more biomass using EG alone, validated by statistical significance (p < 0.001). Mutations enhanced enzymes like glcD and regulatory promoters, confirmed via reintroduction.
Another test evolved 25-fold tigecycline antibiotic resistance, proving versatility. These contained improvements allow easy transfer to industrial strains. The study in Nature Microbiology details these outcomes, published May 1, 2026.
Meet the Innovators: Julius Fredens and Team
Assistant Professor Julius Fredens, from NUS Department of Biochemistry and SynCTI, spearheaded LySE. "Our goal was a best-of-both-worlds system: rapid evolution with control," he noted. PhD candidate Shujian Ong led experiments, stating, "The phage packs mutations precisely where needed." Collaborators include Pramila Ghode and Wen Shan Yew.
SynCTI fosters such talent through PhD programs, postdoctoral fellowships, and workshops, attracting global students to NUS. This aligns with Singapore's Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 plan, boosting biotech R&D.
Beyond Plastics: Multifaceted Applications
While EG degradation targets PET recycling (Singapore imports millions of tonnes yearly), LySE extends to pharmaceuticals (optimizing drug pathways), pollutants (e.g., pesticides), and carbon capture (AI-designed CO2 fixation). A patent filing paves commercialization.
In medicine, SynCTI's related work engineers gut bacteria for liver-brain disorders, absorbing ammonia and restoring nutrients—showcasing synbio's dual clinical-tech potential. NUS news release highlights scalability.
SynCTI's Role in Singapore Higher Education
NUS SynCTI exemplifies Singapore universities' biotech prowess. With NTU and SMU complements, it trains 100+ graduates yearly in synbio, contributing to a sector employing 64,000+ (up 64% in a decade). NUS ranks top in Asia for biological sciences (QS 2026), driving EDB-backed growth.
Programs include MSc/PhD in Biochemistry, interdisciplinary modules, and industry partnerships like A*STAR, preparing students for roles in Biopolis hub.
Career Opportunities in Synthetic Biology
Singapore's biotech jobs surge, with synbio roles like research fellows at NUS (SGD 5,000+/month) and biotechnologists (SGD 4,500+). Demand grows 10-15% yearly, per MyCareersFuture. NUS alumni secure positions at GSK, Pfizer Singapore.
- Research Assistant: Lab work, SGD 3,000-4,000
- Postdoc: Evolution engineering, SGD 6,000+
- Industry Scientist: Pathway optimization, SGD 7,000+
Skills: CRISPR, metabolic modeling, phage engineering—taught at NUS.
Future Outlook: Scaling Impact Globally
Future LySE applications include deploying plastic-munching consortia in Singapore's waste facilities and CO2 pathways for net-zero goals. NUS plans AI-synbio integration, positioning Singapore as Asia's biotech leader. Challenges like regulatory approval persist, but SynCTI's translational focus accelerates deployment.
This breakthrough reinforces NUS's innovation ecosystem, inspiring higher ed collaborations across Singapore universities.
