New Scientist
Image: henna lion
A revolution is brewing in Bulgaria – quite literally. In vats similar to those used to ferment beer, genetically modified yeast is churning out tonnes of a molecule that can easily be turned into the most potent antimalarial drug on the market today, artemisinin.
Before the brewing began, all of the world’s artemisinin came from a Chinese plant called sweet wormwood (pictured). The supply of farmed artemisinin has been erratic, and shortfalls have sometimes put lives at risk. The yeast in Bulgaria is supposed to guarantee a plentiful, cheap supply, helping the fight against a terrible disease that blights the lives of hundreds of millions.
It is no surprise, then, that yeast-grown artemisinin is being hailed as a triumph for synthetic biology – the engineering of living organisms to do everything from making drugs to mopping up pollution. Here, say those in the field, is proof that this young science is starting to deliver on its promise.
Except the story isn’t that simple. The problems with the artemisinin supply have largely been ironed out already. The yeast-grown artemisinin could actually trigger a shortfall in the next year or two rather than prevent one. What’s more, it turns out that it would have been quicker and cheaper to make synthetic artemisinin with conventional methods.
So is this really the dawn of a new era? Or are the yeast in Bulgaria a one-off vanity project that will lead nowhere? The answer could soon be arriving on your dinner plate. Read more on newscientist.com…
