The era of bio-economy is accelerating, and people are having move in-depth discussions about the scope of the bio-economy concept. Different countries are proposing their own priority areas for bio-economy development, and have initially established ways to measure the bio-economy. From the perspective of bio-technology and bio-resources, China’s bio-economy, covering a wide range of fields, including agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, health services, resources and environmental protection, and materials and chemicals, can be grouped into four main systems: bio-medicine, bio-agriculture, bio-manufacturing, and “bio+unknown”. With the help of scenario analysis, we believe China’s bio-economy is expected to reach 38~50 trillion yuan by 2035. It is recommended to build consensus on a broader scale, further explore the demand for “Beautiful China”, and release the huge potential of the bio-economy development through further reform.
The industries of the future are the primary arena of the transformative productive forces. The industries of the future biopharmaceuticals primarily refer to the industries that are currently in the incubation stage, driven by cutting-edge biopharmaceutical technologies, and have the potential to have a wide range of applications in disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in the future. However, the development of the industries of the future biopharmaceuticals is subject to great uncertainty due to factors such as the difficulty of technological breakthroughs and the prospects for industry development. To cultivate China’s system of the industries of the future biopharmaceuticals in a more scientific, precise, and efficient manner, this study innovatively uses artificial intelligence text analysis technology to analyze biopharmaceutical technology research projects from renowned research institutions in major developed countries over the past five years. Combined with expert research, we have identified the key technologies that are currently the focus of global biopharmaceutical technology research and development. Based on this, and in consideration of China’s national conditions, we propose targeted policy recommendations.
Spatiotemporal omics technology is a collective term for technologies that observe or detect the multi-omics expression and regulatory features of life in tissues or cells in successive temporal and spatial dimensions, which enables analysis of the nature of life phenomena determined by genetic molecules at the subcellular, cellular, tissue, organ, individual, population, and evolutionary levels. Multi-omics mainly include genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. Among them, spatial transcriptomics has been developing rapidly in recent years and is more widely used. Based on the principles, spatiotemporal omics techniques can be categorized into imaging-based techniques and sequencing-based techniques. Imaging-based technologies include spatial in situ hybridization technologies(SISH), such as smFISH, seqFISH and MERFISH, and spatial in situ sequencing technologies(SISS), such as ISS, FISSEQ and STARmap. Sequencing-based technologies include spatial in situ microsection(SISM) technologies such as tomo-seq, Geo-seq and DSP, and spatial in situ barcoding(SISB) technologies such as ST, Stereo-seq and seq-Scope technologies. The performance difference between different technologies is mainly reflected in the number of captured genes, spatial resolution, capture area, etc. Imaging-based technologies generally have higher spatial resolution, which can reach the level of cellular and subcellular resolution. However, because of the physical limitations brought by optical crowding and experimental complexity, the number and types of genes captured by the target are limited and difficult to improve. Sequencing-based technologies use polyT to specifically capture polyA, which enables unbiased capture at the whole transcriptome level and greatly improves the variety and number of captured genes. However, due to the mechanical limitations received from microsection and capture barcode planting, their spatial resolution generally falls short of single-cell resolution and is mostly a multicellular region with a mixture of multiple cells. Currently, benefiting from the nanoscale realization of nucleic acid binding site spacing on the surface of sequencing microarrays, Stereo-seq and seq-Scope have for the first time achieved nucleic acid capture at subcellular resolution and cell segmentation through integration with cellular staining profiles, which can truly achieve spatial single-cell resolution. The rapid development of spatial transcriptome technology has laid the foundation for the development of spatiotemporal multi-omics technology. Based on the existing experimental flow of spatial transcriptome or capture chip, through the transformation of the capture target and the supporting experimental flow, spatial genome, epigenome and proteome technologies have appeared one after another, and are gradually developing towards the ability to detect multiple histologists simultaneously in a single slice. The wide application of spatiotemporal genomics technologies has brought many challenges and targeted solutions for data analysis. Some of the more important current analysis methods include cell segmentation, spatial domain identification, and cell interactions. Significant challenges remain in the future for de-batching and integrative analysis of large amounts of data. The spatial information of nucleic acids and cells provided by spatiotemporal genomics can be constructed to detect macroscopic life activities and identify microscopic regulatory information at subcellular, cellular, tissue, organ, and holistic levels in both temporal and spatial dimensions. This has led to breakthroughs in important life science research areas such as developmental biology, complex diseases, neuroscience, and botany. Here, the development history of spatiotemporal omics technology, the characteristics of technical principles and physical limits are summarized, and the overall analysis process of spatiotemporal omics and classical spatiotemporal algorithms are outlined. The breakthroughs brought by spatiotemporal omics to the fields of developmental biology, complex diseases, neuroscience, and botany are summarized. The challenges of spatiotemporal omics in terms of technology iteration, analytical method development, and experimental design are also presented, as well as the outlook for the future development of spatiotemporal omics.
Life and health sciences and technology is one of the key areas that are most expected to achieve revolutionary breakthroughs in the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation. Through the convergence and integration of disciplines and technologies, it has shown a new development trend, givenrise to new disciplines, new directions, and new frontiers, and created new subdivisions and growth points in the industry. In recent years, innovation in the field of life and health sciences and technology has been active, and major achievements in frontier areas such as gene editing, synthetic biology, life omics, regenerative medicine, and organoids have been intensively developed. Based on the in-depth analysis of the current development trends and frontier directions in the field of life and health sciences and technology, its future development prospects are discussed and the key layout direction is proposed to provide reference for the development of life and health sciences and technology innovation.
Biological agriculture, a new model utilizing modern biotechnology to enhance the production efficiency and sustainability of traditional agriculture, is both a strategic high ground in international agricultural competition and a crucial sector for China’s bioeconomy. In recent years, modern biotechnological approaches such as genetic engineering, protein engineering, enzyme engineering, and fermentation engineering have made certain progress in developing new varieties with high yield and high quality, efficient and environmentally-friendly fertilizers, healthy and green feed, as well as safe pesticides with low residues. However, there are still numerous bottlenecks in terms of theory, technology, and commercialization. In this paper, addressing the strategic needs of comprehensive rural revitalization and the accelerated construction of an agricultural powerhouse for the future, the innovative advances in advanced technologies in biological agriculture are reviewed. Strategies and suggestions in response to the five major challenges facing the development of biological agriculture are proposed, aiming to provide insights and references for the future development of agriculture in China.
Synthetic biology, as a groundbreaking and transformative technology for understanding life, has opened the door to the transformation of non-living matter into living matter. It enables the rational design and editing of biological systems, providing a new paradigm for life science research and catalyzing the iterative development of biotechnology. Over the past two decades, synthetic biology has achieved a series of breakthroughs, gradually realizing innovative applications and establishing a disciplinary framework. The development of synthetic biology can be broadly grouped into three directions: first, a series of breakthroughs in enabling technologies; second, the iterative improvement of the synthesis and assembly capabilities of biological genomes; and third, the construction and application of cell factories and novel biological systems (“build to learn” and “build to use”). Based on the progress in life sciences, we attempt to elucidate the disciplinary framework of synthetic biology, and envision future trends.
Food is a cornerstone industry for ensuring national prosperity and people’s well-being. However, with the increasing challenges posed by population growth, environmental pollution, and climate change, it is crucial to transform and upgrade traditional food manufacturing processes. The development of synthetic biology provides technological support for the revolution of food manufacturing processes. Synthetic biology can convert renewable raw materials into important food ingredients and components by constructing cell factories, enabling green, efficient, and sustainable bioproduction of food. This article discusses the characteristics and advantages of future food manufacturing compared to traditional methods, as well as the cutting-edge technologies and specific implementation cases driven by synthetic biology in food biomanufacturing. Finally, this review discusses the prospects and challenges facing China in the future food manufacturing based on synthetic biology.
Natural products are a treasure trove given to mankind by nature and are intimately linked to human quality of life and health. Traditional methods of obtaining natural products face challenges such as low natural biocontent, complex and time-consuming extraction processes, and unsustainable resource utilization. The intricate structures of natural products also severely impede the commercialization of chemical total synthesis. Microbial cell factories, empowered by synthetic biology, have the potential to revolutionize the current approaches to natural product extraction, with the goal of efficient, eco-friendly, and controllable biomanufacturing. This review discusses the challenges posed by traditional methods of obtaining natural products and summarizes the characteristics of different types of cell factories along with examples of natural product synthesis. Considering the complexity of natural product metabolic pathways and issues such as unpredictable product structure and properties, low purity, and low yield due to the stability of chassis cells, the article analyzes the challenges in designing microbial cell factories from the perspective of catalytic component limitations, pathway assembly regulation, and chassis cell network remodeling. Strategies and countermeasures are discussed. Moreover, recommendations are proposed to address the current regulatory constraints in microbial manufacturing.
Energy is the foundation of the economy and society. Carbon emission reduction during energy use has been an important symbol of sustainable development. Carbon emissions of fossil energy used in transportation contributes around 20% to the global energy system, putting enormous pressure on carbon emission reduction. Due to the significant property of carbon reduction, liquid biofuel is an ideal alternative in the transition from fossil fuels to electrification and hydrogen fuel, and has gradually become an important choice to facilitate carbon neutrality in the transportation sector. The global industrial development status and progress of three main liquid biofuels, bio-ethanol, biodiesel and bio-jet fuel, were reviewed in this paper. The existing problems and the carbon reduction potential of bio-liquid fuels under different application scenarios were deeply discussed. The challenges and opportunities of the bio-liquid fuel industry in China were summarized on the basis of double carbon development goal, and some proposals for industrial development were put forward. In the long run, cellulosic ethanol and bio-jet fuel through alcohol-to-jet fuel are two promising technologies to alleviate the pressure of raw material supply in the liquid biofuel industry of China.
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a type of endogenous, non-coding, single-stranded RNA that specifically regulates post-transcriptional gene expression in eukaryotic cells. In recent years, miRNA regulation has been utilized in the design of oncolytic viruses. By inserting a target sequence of a tissue-specific miRNA that is down-regulated in the tumor into the viral genome, the tissue tropism of the oncolytic virus can be altered, and the anti-tumor activity of the virus can be remained during viral attenuation. Additionally, natural or artificially modified miRNAs can be inserted and expressed in viral genomes to promote viral replication and improve the tumor microenvironment, thereby enhancing the therapeutic effect of oncolytic viruses. This paper reviews and discusses the utilization of miRNA regulation in oncolytic virology, with the aim of providing insights into the optimization of existing oncolytic virotherapy strategies.
During the extensive co-evolutionary process, complex interactions have emerged between phages and bacterial hosts. Quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms play a prominent role in governing the interactions between phages and bacteria. This article begins by elucidating the exploitation of QS mechanisms by bacterial hosts, providing an overview of their consequential impacts on biofilm regulation, phage adsorption processes, and the modulation of the CRISPR-Cas system. Furthermore, the involvement of phages in QS mechanisms is expounded upon, encompassing a comprehensive survey of their role in phage lytic-lysogenic regulations and the suppression of QS mechanisms. Finally, this article presents a prospective investigation and explanation of phage QS mechanisms, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation for the application of QS mechanisms in the field of phage therapy and related areas.
Quorum sensing(QS), known as the language of intercellular communication is a gene regulatory system that relies on colony density. It is found in many natural and wastewater treatment engineering systems and plays an important role in environmental remediation and wastewater biotreatment.At present,there is a lack of systematic summary of the research methods and related applications of QS regulating bacterial function.In this paper,the QS mechanism mediated by three types of typical signal molecules(N-Acyl homoserine 1actones,autoinducing peptides and furanosyl borate diEnvironmental Science & Technologyer)of bacteria was summarized.The three techniques of adding or quenching signal molecules,genetic manipulation of genes,and omics techniques to study the function of the QS system were reviewed,and their advantages and disadvantages were compared and analyzed.The application of QS in activated sludge,biofilm and biological nitrogen removal in the field of industrial wastewater biological treatment was discussed.Finally,combined with the current application potential of QS cross-border communication in wastewater treatment and the limitations of known research contents,some studies on QS system-mediated bacterial-plant,bacterial-phage,bacterial-fungal cross-border communication mechanisms were discussed,in order to provide new ideas for using QS regulation strategies to enhance wastewater treatment efficiency in the future.
Carbon dioxide (CO2) as the next-generation feedstock for bio-manufacturing holds significant importance for achieving low-carbon, green, and sustainable development. The development of CO2 bioconversion technology contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, facilitating carbon neutrality goals, and driving economic growth and industrial innovation, playing a crucial role in building a sustainable future. This study presents the current development status and research activities of CO2 bioconversion technology by systematically investigating global policy frameworks, scientific advancements, and industrialization efforts. The research reveals that major countries and regions such as the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Japan have introduced strategies for carbon-negative bio-manufacturing. Key research focuses include strain exploration, metabolic engineering, scale-up production, product innovation and process improvement. However, the industrialization of CO2 bioconversion faces challenges such as limited product categories and high production costs. Therefore, this paper suggests that governments and industries implement incentive measures and create an environment conducive to technological innovation and industrial transformation.
In recent years, the range of applications for green, low-carbon, environmentally-friendly and resource-saving bio-based materials in production and life has expandecl. This paper uses the Incopat patent database to analyze the main technology composition, thematic clustering, and high-value patents in bio-based materials around the world over the past five years, and reviews the hot-spot literature at home and abroad to analyze the research status and prospects for the application of different types of bio-based materials, such as bio-based plastics, bio-based chemical fibers, bio-based rubber, bio-based coatings, bio-based material auxiliaries, bio-based composites and other bio-based products.
The emergence of drug resistant pathogens has posed a major challenge to global public health. Phage therapy, as an alternative therapy for the treatment of bacterial infections, has received renewed attention from clinicians, researchers and industrialists in recent years. Phages are a kind of viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Phage therapy can precisely target and eliminate pathogens without harming the natural environment or human microbiota. Due to the characteristics of phages such as live virus property and bactericidal specificity, the pharmacological, non-clinical and clinical studies of phages are different from those of traditional drugs. Currently, there is still a lack of relevant standards and guidelines worldwide, which has severely limited the translational application of phages and their products. To this end, based on the experience of clinical studies on phage therapy in the early stage, and referring to the literature reports on phage therapy, we organized experts including researchers, clinicians, and pharmacologists to draft this consensus. Requirements for phage source, phage host, biological properties of phages, and packaging and labelling of phages are proposed. The aim is to standardize the standards for phage applications and to meet the needs of phage library sharing, so as to accelerate the research, translation and application of phages.
