CUBES

Towards an integrated closed-loop autotrophic biomanufacturing plant for deep space

The Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES) was created to develop generalizable approaches to support biomanufacturing for deep space exploration that realizes the inherent mass, power, and volume advantages of space biotechnology over traditional abiotic approaches. We seek to develop nearly closed-loop processes that can use regenerable in situ resources to produce food, pharmaceuticals, and materials to support small colonies of people in resource-poor and extreme environments like deep space. CUBES is specifically focused on developing such a plant for a crewed mission to Mars. However, we are mindful of the applications both for a lunar base and for application right here on earth.

In this center, for which Arkin is the Director and Berliner is the “majordomo”, we specifically work (collaboratively) on model-driven mission specification and process optimization, synthetic biology and production engineering of biopolymer and pharmaceutical producing microbes, and microbial community engineering for optimizing plant productivity and environmental resiliency.

For more information visit https://cubes.space/

Selected Publications

Sander, Kyle; Abel, Anthony J.; Friedline, Skyler; Sharpless, William; Skerker, Jeffrey; Deutschbauer, Adam; Clark, Douglas S.; Arkin, Adam P.

Eliminating genes for a two‐component system increases PHB productivity in Cupriavidus basilensis 4G11 under PHB suppressing, nonstress conditions Journal Article

In: Biotech & Bioengineering, vol. 121, no. 1, pp. 139–156, 2024, ISSN: 1097-0290.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Adams, Jeremy David; Sander, Kyle B.; Criddle, Craig S.; Arkin, Adam P.; Clark, Douglas S.

Engineering osmolysis susceptibility in Cupriavidus necator and Escherichia coli for recovery of intracellular products Journal Article

In: Microb Cell Fact, vol. 22, no. 1, 2023, ISSN: 1475-2859.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Averesch, Nils J. H.; Berliner, Aaron J.; Nangle, Shannon N.; Zezulka, Spencer; Vengerova, Gretchen L.; Ho, Davian; Casale, Cameran A.; Lehner, Benjamin A. E.; Snyder, Jessica E.; Clark, Kevin B.; Dartnell, Lewis R.; Criddle, Craig S.; Arkin, Adam P.

Microbial biomanufacturing for space-exploration—what to take and when to make Journal Article

In: Nat Commun, vol. 14, no. 1, 2023, ISSN: 2041-1723.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Makrygiorgos, Georgios; Berliner, Aaron J.; Shi, Fengzhe; Clark, Douglas S.; Arkin, Adam P.; Mesbah, Ali

Data‐driven flow‐map models for data‐efficient discovery of dynamics and fast uncertainty quantification of biological and biochemical systems Journal Article

In: Biotech & Bioengineering, vol. 120, no. 3, pp. 803–818, 2023, ISSN: 1097-0290.

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

G. Berliner Makrygiorgos, A. J. Shi

Data-driven flow-map models for data-efficient discovery of dynamics and fast uncertainty quantification of biological and biochemical systems Journal Article

In: Biotechnol Bioeng, vol. 120, iss. 3, pp. 803-818, 2022, ISSN: 1097-0290 .

Abstract | Links | BibTeX

Berliner, Aaron; Makrygiorgos, George; Hill, Avery

Extension of Equivalent System Mass for Human Exploration Missions on Mars Journal Article

In: preprints.org, 2021.

Links | BibTeX

Yongao Xiong Matthew J. McNulty, Kevin Yates

Molecular Pharming to Support Human Life on the Moon, Mars, and Beyond Journal Article

In: Preprints, 2020.

Links | BibTeX

Berliner, Aaron; Hilzinger, Jacob M; Abel, Anthony J; McNulty, Matthew; Makrygiorgos, George; Averesch, Nils J H; Gupta, Soumyajit Sen; Benvenuti, Alexander; Caddell, Daniel; Cestellos-Blanco, Stefano

Towards a Biomanufactory on Mars Journal Article

In: preprints.org, 2020.

Links | BibTeX

Abel, Anthony J; Hilzinger, Jacob M; Arkin, Adam P; Clark, Douglas S

Systems-informed genome mining for electroautotrophic microbial production Journal Article

In: bioRxiv, 2020.

BibTeX