Toward next-generation biosurfactants: Engineering rhamnolipid production from safe chassis design to scalable bioprocessing.

Programmable bioengineering and scalable bioprocessing enable fivefold increases in tailored rhamnolipid production from safe, non-pathogenic cell factories.

• Why it matters: Current rhamnolipid manufacturing relies on pathogenic strains, posing safety risks and limiting scalability, which hampers broader application and industrial adoption.
• What they did: The study combines structural biology, machine learning algorithms like UniESA and MLSmut, and advanced bioprocess strategies, including bubble-free membrane aeration and froth separation, to optimize production.
• The result: This integrated approach achieves high biomass densities, efficient oxygen transfer, and tailored rhamnolipid profiles, paving the way for scalable, application-specific biosurfactant manufacturing.