Background

Overview of BSL1

BSL1 (Biosafety Level 1) is the lowest level of safety in biosafety labs and is used for removing low risk microbes with low health consequences. This is the kind of laboratory where most basic teaching and research is conducted, and tests that don't involve isolation devices are conducted. BSL1 operations usually involve the use of microorganisms with extremely low health risks, which will not cause disease in immunologically healthy adults.

The basic characteristics of BSL1 laboratories include an open experimental environment that does not require special design or building specifications. The biosafety measures it requires are relatively simple, such as regular laboratory clothing, gloves, and good laboratory operation practices. Such a safe and easy-to-manage environment makes BSL1 laboratories an ideal choice for many educational and research institutions to carry out basic microbiology-related experiments.

Advantages of BSL1 Fermentation

BSL1 fermentation services have obvious advantages in biosafety levels, and are especially suitable for projects that have basic requirements for safety and compliance but do not require higher levels of protection.

• Safety and Compliance. BSL1 fermentation services are based on strict safety standards and compliance requirements, ensuring the safety of workers and experimental environments while simplifying the compliance process compared with higher levels of safety. Reduced operational complexity.
• Cost-benefit Analysis. Because BSL1 laboratories do not need to use expensive biological isolation equipment and special infrastructure, their operating costs are significantly lower than BSL2 or BSL3 laboratories. This cost-effectiveness makes BSL1 fermentation services ideal for businesses and research institutions with limited budgets but in need of high-quality fermentation services.
• Advanced Technology and Equipment. Although BSL1 is the lowest biosafety level, the technology and equipment used can still be the most advanced and effective. Companies can leverage modern fermentation technology to achieve efficient production processes while ensuring they operate in a safe environment. In contrast, higher security levels may limit device flexibility and innovative applications due to overly complex security requirements.

Applications of BSL1 Fermentation

BSL1 fermentation technology has become an important part of scientific research, education and commercial applications due to its operational safety, ease of use and relatively low cost. With the continuous deepening of research on microorganisms and their metabolites, the application areas of BSL1 fermentation continue to expand, bringing rich potential benefits to the market.

• Scientific Research Applications. BSL1 fermentation equipment is often used in basic microbiology research, which usually involves the cultivation of environmentally benign microbial strains. This environment is suitable for academic researchers to conduct experiments and can be implemented in an open laboratory environment because it does not pose a disease risk to immunologically healthy individuals.
• Education. In educational institutions, BSL1 fermentation technology is used as a teaching tool to help students learn basic biotechnology and microbiology operations. This setting allows students to operate safely and understand the relevant principles of the actual fermentation process.
• Commercial Applications. In commercial environments, BSL1 fermentation technology is used to produce certain harmless or environmentally friendly products, such as fermented foods, feeds, and certain biological products. These applications often require large-scale fermentation, and BSL1 fermentation provides a low-cost and effective solution.
• Biological Product Development. Some non-pathogenic biological products require the use of low-risk microorganisms for production, such as probiotics and enzyme preparations. BSL1 fermentation provides a suitable environment to meet the production needs of these products.

BSL1 fermentation services have important application value. With the continuous advancement of technology and the expansion of its application scope, BSL1 fermentation will have broader market potential in the future and better serve all levels of scientific research, education and business. In line with the development trend, Creative BioMart Microbe is committed to innovating BSL1-level fermentation services and providing the society with a full range of biological solutions. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

Service Procedure

Service Details

BSL1 Level Microbial Fermentation Product Production

Our BSL1 conditions allow our fermentation services to create many products from microbial fermentation that pose no risk to human health. Not only are they varied in their range but also have various uses which will give you the diverse option. We are open to inquiries regarding specific product needs and whether we can partner on creating new applications. Here are a few of the most common products that we can develop and their usefulness in different industries:

Enzyme preparations: amylase and protease (common in food and medicine).

Amino acids: lysine, tryptophan, threonine, etc., some are the most needed ingredients in the feed and food manufacturing process.

Vitamins: Some vitamins are converted into us by fermentation of microbial living beings, such as vitamin B group.

Organic acids: like lactic acid and acetic acid, are useful in food preservation and seasoning.

Antibiotics: Some low-risk antibiotics, like growth-enhancing antibiotics in feed additives.

BSL1 Level Strain Optimization Service

Our main interest is to optimize strains and develop strains as per customer demand. BSL1 strains mainly comprise of microbes with low environmental and human risks: Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Saccharomyces. These strains are used in enzyme formulations, microbial fertilizers, food fermentation and probiotic products. We have systematic genetic engineering strategies and strain screening strategies to improve already existing BSL1-level strains, from improving strain thermal tolerance, pH tolerance and adaptability to environment.

Fermentation Process Scale-up and Optimization

Through experimental research and the establishment of kinetic models, we design fermentation processes that are suitable for different production scales, solve problems that may arise during the scale-up process, and ensure the stability of the fermentation process and the consistency of the product. We use advanced methods such as the combination of computational fluid dynamics and microbial physiological characteristics, online monitoring and control technology, and artificial intelligence data analysis to improve production efficiency and product characteristics. In addition, we also simulate key parameters through environmental simulation and control algorithm software to reduce the risk of performance degradation during scale-up.

Fermentation Product Separation and Processing

We offer turnkey solutions to take the target products out of fermentation broth and turn them into ultra-pure end products. Such as fermentation and separation coupling to decrease product inhibitory action on the fermentative process and increase the yield; extraction and purification of the desired product from the fermentation solution by solid-liquid separation, concentration precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, distillation and extraction. We take environmental care and are environmentally friendly with organic solvent free extraction process so that the product has no solvent residues and is environmental friendly.

Our Advantages

• Rich Strain Selection. We provide a variety of BSL1 strains for customers to choose from, which can meet a wide range of scientific research and production needs.
• Company Qualifications and Professional Team. We have extensive experience in biosafety laboratory management and strictly follow international safety standards. We also have a professional team of senior scientists and technical experts.
• Customer Feedback and Satisfaction. High customer satisfaction, winning wide praise and trust by continuously optimizing service processes and providing high-quality customer support.
• Strict Quality Control. From experimental design to final product, we follow strict quality control standards in every step to ensure product safety and reliability.

Case Study

Case Study 1: Mycoprotein production for animal nutrition with BSL1 fungus.

Mycoprotein, produced by Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus, a fungus used in Indonesian cuisine, holds untapped potential for animal nutrition. Once deemed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), this BSL1 organism could transform the field. Researchers suggest utilizing sugar cane molasses and corn steep liquor as nutrients. In a study with five 14 L airlift bioreactors, R. microsporus var. oligosporus grew on CSL alone, yielding 38.34 g/L of mycelium and 70.18% crude protein after 96 hours at 25 °C and 0.5 vvm. This scalable and cost-effective process uses CSL, an agro-industrial by-product, to meet the increasing demand for animal protein in feed.

Fig. 1. A sample of corn steep liquor used in the fermentation process. (Furlan, et al., 2024)

Case Study 2: BSL-1 Citrobacter for affordable typhoid vaccine production.

The typhoid virus is caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and kills 200,000 people every year. This is why Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH) is bringing to market a conjugate vaccine against the S. Typhi Vi capsular polysaccharide. Scientists have made Vi antigen production in industrial quantities as efficient as possible with Citrobacter 328, an extremely productive, stable strain, on chemically formulated media in fermentation. Citrobacter 328-derived Vi-CRM197 induced strong anti-Vi antibody production in mice and rabbits. Because it's a BSL-1 species, Citrobacter 328 is the perfect host to generate Vi in safe and cost-effective conjugate anti-Typhi vaccines for typhoid-prone populations.

Fig. 2. Typical 4 L fed-batch fermentation run using glycerol as carbon source and relative Vi production. (Rondini, et al., 2012)

Case Study 3: Enhancing isoprenoid production with BSL1 genetic engineering.

Isoprenoids, vital for industries like medicine and cosmetics, are increasingly produced through microbial engineering. Researchers have optimized E. coli to synthesize various isoprenoids by targeting MEP and MVA pathways. Introducing MVA pathway genes from BSL1 organisms into E. coli has not only complied with LMO regulations but also boosted carotenoid production. The new pSCS constructs outperformed the previous pSNA in fed-batch fermentation, enhancing lycopene output and cell productivity. This advancement promises efficient industrial isoprenoid production with preferred genetic combinations in E. coli.

Fig. 3. The pSCS constructs brings an increase in isoprenoid production in E. coli. (Kang, et al., 2024)

FAQs

References:

1. Furlan O.; et al. Pilot scale production of high-content mycoprotein using Rhizopus microsporus var. oligosporus by submerged fermentation and agro-industrial by-products. Bioresour Technol. 2024;413:131515.
2. Rondini S.; et al. Characterization of Citrobacter sp. line 328 as a source of Vi for a Vi-CRM(197) glycoconjugate vaccine against Salmonella Typhi. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2012;6(11):763-773.
3. Kang MK.; et al. Reconstitution of the mevalonate pathway for improvement of isoprenoid production and industrial applicability in Escherichia coli. J Microbiol Biotechnol. Published online October 11, 2024.