Workshop A6 - Lactococcus lactis: a promising and efficient platform for the bioproduction of functional proteins (Proposed by the Bourgogne–Franche-Comté Region)
Apr 15, 2026 — 11:45 am - 12:45 PMSalle 6
Description
Lactococcus lactis, a gram-positive bacterium considered the model lactic acid bacteria, emerged at the beginning of the 21st century as a good alternative for protein expression and characterizations. Already largely used in industry for production of fermented foods and consumed by humans for hundreds of years, this “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) microorganism can express soluble and membrane proteins, including therapeutic proteins and bacterial and viral antigens for vaccination even at the industrial scale. L. lactis is an interesting alternative host, especially for MPs, because of its moderate proteolytic activity, the absence of inclusion-body formation and endotoxin production, and its efficient targeting of the MPs into a single plasma membrane.
Among the different gene expression systems, the tightly regulated nisin-controlled gene expression (NICE) system is the most broadly used. This system is based on genes involved in the biosynthesis and regulation of the antimicrobial peptide nisin. Using the NICE system, until 2022, 115 MPs from prokaryotic or eukaryotic origins, with diverse topologies and sizes, have been successfully expressed allowing their functional and/or structural characterizations. In 2023, 21 3D structures of MPs could be determined. This system also allows properly folded MP expression in their native oligomeric form.
Over the last two decades, L. lactis emerged and proved to be an alternative and promising expression system compared to other systems. This attractive cell factory will enrich the knowledge of proteins, including MPs in their functional and structural states, and bring about the development of further biotechnological and biotherapeutic applications in the future.
