Euglena International Network (EIN): Driving euglenoid biotechnology for the benefit of a challenged world

• Published in: Biology open 2022-11, Vol.11 (11)
• Main Authors: Ebenezer, ThankGod Echezona, Low, Ross S, O'Neill, Ellis Charles, Huang, Ishuo, DeSimone, Antonio, Farrow, Scott C, Field, Robert A, Ginger, Michael L, Guerrero, Sergio Adrián, Hammond, Michael, Hampl, Vladimír, Horst, Geoff, Ishikawa, Takahiro, Karnkowska, Anna, Linton, Eric W, Myler, Peter, Nakazawa, Masami, Cardol, Pierre, Sánchez-Thomas, Rosina, Saville, Barry J, Shah, Mahfuzur R, Simpson, Alastair G B, Sur, Aakash, Suzuki, Kengo, Tyler, Kevin M, Zimba, Paul V, Hall, Neil, Field, Mark C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (all); Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (all); Biodiesel fuels; Biofuels; Biology; Bioremediation; Biotechnologie; Biotechnology; Biotechnology industry; Cancer therapies; Ecological distribution; Euglena; Euglena - physiology; Flagellates; Food supplements; Functional foods & nutraceuticals; General Agricultural and Biological Sciences; General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Genetic diversity; Genetics; Genomes; Genomics; Geographical distribution; Life sciences; Metabolic pathways; Metabolism; Networks; Nutrition; Optimization; Parasitology; R&D; Research & development; Research parks; Robotics; Sciences du vivant; Simulators; Symbiosis
• ISSN: 2046-6390; 2046-6390
• DOI: 10.1242/bio.059561

Euglenoids (Euglenida) are unicellular flagellates possessing exceptionally wide geographical and ecological distribution. Euglenoids combine a biotechnological potential with a unique position in the eukaryotic tree of life. In large part these microbes owe this success to diverse genetics including secondary endosymbiosis and likely additional sources of genes. Multiple euglenoid species have translational applications and show great promise in production of biofuels, nutraceuticals, bioremediation, cancer treatments and more exotically as robotics design simulators. An absence of reference genomes currently limits these applications, including development of efficient tools for identification of critical factors in regulation, growth or optimization of metabolic pathways. The Euglena International Network (EIN) seeks to provide a forum to overcome these challenges. EIN has agreed specific goals, mobilized scientists, established a clear roadmap (Grand Challenges), connected academic and industry stakeholders and is currently formulating policy and partnership principles to propel these efforts in a coordinated and efficient manner.