Plasmid DNA is a critical component in the development and manufacture of gene therapies, DNA vaccines, and mRNA-based therapeutics. While Escherichia coli remains the industry standard for pDNA production, its moderate growth rate can limit the speed of upstream bioprocesses, particularly in research and early development settings.
In this proof-of-concept study, the research team systematically evaluated Vibrio natriegens for plasmid DNA production across multiple defined and complex cultivation media. The work was led by former MSc student Lara Sophie Möller, in collaboration with Gabriel Monteiro, Miguel Prazeres, and Ana Rita Santos.
The study directly compared the performance of V. natriegens with E. coli and demonstrated that the alternative host enables significantly earlier plasmid isolation while achieving comparable or, in some cases, higher volumetric and specific plasmid yields.
The researchers also validated the platform using plasmids of different sizes and vector architectures. Although minor differences in plasmid topology were observed, the isolated plasmids remained fully functional and suitable for gene expression applications.
These findings highlight the potential of V. natriegens as a complementary platform for plasmid DNA production, particularly in applications where rapid turnaround is essential, such as cloning, high-throughput screening, and early-stage research. While E. coli is expected to remain the preferred organism for large-scale industrial manufacturing, the adoption of V. natriegens could significantly reduce timelines during upstream development.
The study contributes to ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency and flexibility of plasmid DNA manufacturing, supporting faster innovation in advanced therapeutics and biotechnology.
Read the full paper at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12934-026-03026-6 iBB Study Demonstrates the Potential of Vibrio natriegens to Accelerate Plasmid DNA Production
This work was carried out within the framework of the DIG4BIO European project. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe, grant number 101159993.
Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or REA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.