The Molecular Engineering group, led by Peter Kristensen, focuses on the development and application of methods that allow directed Darwinian evolution of proteins. In 2018 the importance of the area was recognized by awarding the Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Frances Arnold, George P. Smith and Greg Winter.

The main scientific contributions have more specifically been in the area of recombinant antibodies and methods of isolating such antibodies from large libraries. Especially we have developed novel antibody libraries, where the diversification has been designed to mimic functional human immune response. Also we have pioneered the development of technologies which allow isolation of antibodies specifically recognizing single cells while being in a heterogeneous population. The main platform applied is the phage display technology.

In addition, in pioneering work, technologies that allow isolation of proteins with improved stabilities or changed catalytic properties, from large libraries of mutants displayed on the surface of filamentous bacteriophage, has been developed. The work was initiated in collaboration with Nobel Laureate Greg Winter, when Peter Kristensen worked at the MRC-LMB in Cambridge.

Apart from technological developments, our aim is to apply our technology to solve medical, environmental or industrial problems. Through the years, our phage antibody platform has been used to identify novel diagnostics or therapeutics in infectious diseases, cancer, fetal DNA diagnostics, and age related diseases. Within the industrial biotechnological area, our aim has been to develop improved enzymes allowing bio sustainable production of bioplastic. In general, we have an interest to develop stable, more efficient enzyme catalyzed systems.

Apart from our key competencies in molecular display systems, our work involve heterologous expression, purification and biophysical characterization of proteins. For heterologous expression of proteins, we use bacteria, Leishmania Tarentolae, yeast and mammalian cells. Mammalian cells are also used as a model system for functional analysis.

Current projects funded by external foundations:

• Aquaculturing biochemicals for future: enable production of hydroxyl fatty acids by microbial hydratase (Acronym: AquaBiochems) supported from the Novo Nordisk Foundation – collaboration with DTU, AU and Kyoto University
• RESOLUTE - Research Empowerment on Solute Carriers. Supported by the EU by a grant from the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). Collaboration between 13 partners from academia and industry.
• A.P. Møller fonden, support our efforts to develop antibodies which can cross the blood brain barrier and target amyloid.
• Bio-Y Aps support our effort to develop novel therapeutics for treatment of cancer