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Overview
BayGenetics was founded in April 2008 as a spin-off from Bayreuth University by Dr. Markus Helfrich (CEO), Dr. Gunter Festel (CFO) and Prof. Wolfgang Schumann (CSO).
BayGenetics is a service provider for established companies in the chemistry, biotechnology and pharma industry. Also, the development and commercialisation of own intellectual property (IP) in specific areas is part of its concept.
BayGenetics is active in the field of the microorganism Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis). The genome of B. subtilis has been fully sequenced and most of the metabolic pathways are known. B. subtilis can be easily genetically modified and various genetic systems have been established, in order to integrate genes into the chromosome and to establish them onto stable replicating plasmids. Advantages of B. subtilis over E. coli are the possibility of easily releasing produced enzymes into the surrounding medium and the anchoring of produced proteins on the cell wall and on spores.
BayGenetics has already identified interesting applications in the areas of protein synthesis and enzyme catalysis. A highly efficient intracellular protein expression system is to be further developed into a secretion system for the release of recombinant proteins in the surrounding medium. Furthermore, a process exists which efficiently anchors proteins on the cell wall of the B. subtilis and on spores. The modified cells and spores could subsequently be used as potential catalysts for various biotechnological processes. Applications in molecular diagnostics and the development of vaccines are planned in the medium to long term. Since spores are produced within the cytoplasm (hence endospores), the cytoplasmic repertoire of molecular chaperones allows the correct folding of these recombinant proteins.
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