Bacteria spin rainbow-colored, sustainable textiles

Cell Press

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During fermentation, the violacein-producing bacteria steadily grows and generates purple pigments.

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Credit: Zhou et al., Trends in Biotechnology

In the future, your clothes might come from vats of living microbes. Reporting in the Cell Press journal Trends in Biotechnology on November 12, researchers demonstrate that bacteria can both create fabric and dye it in every color of the rainbow—all in one pot. The approach offers a sustainable alternative to the chemical-heavy practices used in today’s textile industry. 

“The industry relies on petroleum-based synthetic fibers and chemicals for dyeing, which include carcinogens, heavy metals, and endocrine disruptors,” says senior author and biochemical engineer San Yup Lee of the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. “These processes generate lots of greenhouse gas, degrade water quality, and contaminate the soil, so we want to find a better solution.” 

Known as bacterial cellulose, fibrous networks produced by microbes during fermentation have emerged as a potential alternative to petroleum-based fibers such as polyester and nylon. 

Taking this method a step further, Lee’s team set out to create fibers with vivid natural pigment by growing cellulose-spinning bacteria alongside color-producing microbes. The microbial colors stemmed from two molecular families: violaceins—which range from green to purple—and carotenoids, which span from red to yellow. 

“At first, it completely failed,” says Lee. “Either the cellulose production was much less than expected, or it never got colored.” The team learned that the cellulose-spinning bacteria Komagataeibacter xylinus and the color-producing bacteria Escherichia coli interfered with each other’s growth. 

Tweaking their recipe, the researchers found a way to make peace between the microbes. For the cool-toned violaceins, they developed a delayed co-culture approach by adding in the color-producing bacteria after the cellulose bacteria had already begun growing, allowing each to do its job without thwarting the other. For the warm-toned carotenoids, the team devised a sequential culture method, where the cellulose is first harvested and purified, then soaked in the pigment-producing cultures. Together, the two strategies yielded a vibrant palette of bacterial cellulose sheets in purple, navy, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. 

To see if the colors could survive the rigors of daily life, the team tested the materials by washing, bleaching, and heating them, as well as soaking them in acid and alkali. Most held their hues, and the violacein-based textile even outperformed synthetic dye in washing tests.  

“Our work is not going to change the entire textile industry right now,” says Lee. “But at least we have proposed an environmentally friendly direction toward sustainable textile dyeing while producing cellulose at the same time,” says Lee. 

The bacteria-based fabrics are at least five years from store shelves, Lee estimates. Scaling up production and competing with low-cost petroleum products are among the remaining hurdles. Real progress will also require a shift in the consumer mindset toward prioritizing sustainability over price. 

“It’s our duty as humans to make the world a better place and allow our children to live happier lives,” says Lee. “This research is one of those efforts. Let’s be kind to the environment and do something good for future generations.”  

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This work was supported by the Development of next-generation biorefinery platform technologies for leading bio-based chemicals industry project (2022M3J5A1056072) and Development of platform technologies of microbial cell factories for the next-generation biorefineries project (2022M3J5A1056117) from the National Research Foundation supported by the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT. 

Trends in Biotechnology, Zhou et al., “One-pot production of colored bacterial cellulose” https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/fulltext/S0167-7799(25)00407-X

Trends in Biotechnology (@TrendsinBiotech) is a multi-disciplinary Cell Press journal publishing original research and reviews on exciting developments in biotechnology, with the option to publish open access. This journal is a leading global platform for discussion of significant and transformative concepts across applied life sciences that examine bio-based solutions to real-world problems. Trends in Biotechnology provides cutting-edge research that breaks new ground and reviews that provide insights into the future direction of the field, giving the reader a novel point of view. Visit https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com.      

From fabric to dye, engineered bacteria can produce a full spectrum of colored textile, offering a natural alternative to the chemical-heavy textile industry.

Credit

Zhou et al., Trends in Biotechnology

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Journal

Trends in Biotechnology

DOI

10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.09.019 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

One-pot production of colored bacterial cellulose

Article Publication Date

12-Nov-2025

Opening the door to affordable lab-grown beef, cow cells defy aging

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem




image:  400 Days
Credit: Yaakov Nahmias Lab

A new study shows, for the first time, that cow cells can naturally become immortal—continuing to divide indefinitely without genetic modification or any abnormal transformation. This overturns long-held assumptions that bovine cells could only be immortalized through gene editing, providing a safe, stable, and scalable source of cells for cultivated beef production. The finding removes one of the biggest technical and regulatory barriers to producing affordable cultivated beef, a potential game-changer for creating sustainable, ethical meat without the environmental toll of traditional livestock farming.

On a mission to reshape the future of sustainable food, researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Believer Meats have unlocked a natural pathway to immortalize cow cells, marking a major step toward affordable, cultivated beef. The study, led by Prof. Yaakov Nahmias at the Grass Center for Bioengineering at Hebrew University and now published in Nature Food, reveals that bovine cells can spontaneously renew themselves indefinitely without genetic modification. While similar self-renewal was previously achieved in chicken cells, this study challenges the long-held assumption that such processes were not possible in large mammals due to their natural resistance to cellular transformation. This finding addresses one of the most stubborn bottlenecks in cultivated meat production, paving the way for safe, scalable production of cultivated beef and lamb.

“This work adds valuable new insights to the rapidly expanding knowledge base supporting cultivated meat development. Spontaneous immortalization attempts often fail because researchers simply abandon the process when cell growth slows. This study, demonstrating for the first time that bovine cells can be spontaneously immortalized, marks an exciting advance. By detailing the sequence of events that occur during cell line development, it provides a roadmap for non-GM approaches to be used for commercial cultivated meat production across the full range of animal species used in food production.”
— Dr. Elliot Swartz, Sr. Principal Scientist for Cultivated Meat, The Good Food Institute

Breaking Nature’s Code

In traditional cell biology, animal cells stop dividing after a certain number of generations and enter a state known as senescence. Until now, cattle cells could only be induced to bypass this limit by disabling genes involved in cell cycle regulation, raising regulatory and safety concerns.

“We showed chicken cells can immortalize without such interventions a few years ago, but the consensus in the field was that bovine cells could not do the same,” said Prof. Nahmias. “What worked relatively quickly in chickens became an exhaustive pursuit in bovine cells. We had to continuously culture bovine cells for more than 18 months before the first self-renewing colonies emerged.”

The researchers isolated cells from both Holstein and Simmental cows and grew them in the laboratory for over 500 days, tracking their progression through aging and senescence by day 180 of culture. Despite months of apparent inactivity, the team persisted—and after 240 cell generations, spontaneously renewing bovine cells emerged. Molecular analysis showed that the process did not involve any disruption of normal growth regulation and that the cells retained their DNA repair capabilities, indicating a natural, controlled pathway of renewal.

The researchers discovered that this process was driven by the natural activation of telomerase and PGC1α, allowing cells to reset their biological clocks by extending chromosomal ends and regenerating mitochondria.

Why It Matters

Beef is the most resource-intensive form of agriculture, responsible for deforestation, water depletion, and a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cultivated meat, grown from animal cells rather than livestock, has long been touted as a solution. However, challenges around cost and safety have slowed progress, especially for cultivated beef.

Stable, self-renewing cell lines are the foundation of any large-scale cell culture system, just as yeast or bacterial strains underpin pharmaceutical and food manufacturing. This study demonstrates a natural and safe route to establish these cell lines in cattle, suggesting that price parity with conventional beef could theoretically be reached using continuous cell-based manufacturing—bringing cultivated meat closer to mainstream viability.

Science, Patience, and Serendipity

According to Prof. Nahmias, “Months stretched into years, and perseverance replaced certainty. Then, after over 400 silent days, colonies suddenly appeared—a true eureka moment that overturned what we thought we knew about bovine cells.”

The discovery also sheds light on a long-standing biological puzzle known as Peto’s paradox—the observation that large animals rarely develop uncontrolled cell growth despite having far more cells. The team’s work suggests that the same natural defenses that protect large animals may make their cells more resistant to renewal until time and evolutionary forces allow adaptation.

Next Steps

The researchers are now investigating whether the same natural renewal process can occur in other mammals and whether these cells can be developed into muscle and fat tissues suitable for cultivated meat production.

Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s43016-025-01255-3

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Cells

Article Title

Spontaneous immortalization of bovine fibroblasts following long-term expansion offers a non-transformed cell source for cultivated beef

Article Publication Date

12-Nov-2025

 

Postpandemic recovery of case mix index and risk-adjusted mortality in US hospitals

JAMA Network Open

About The Study: 

In this cohort study of 715 U.S. hospitals from 2019 to 2024, risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality declined significantly following the COVID-19 pandemic, resuming its prepandemic trajectory of improvement, while patient acuity as measured by case mix index remained elevated. These findings suggest a new postpandemic baseline for patient acuity, whereas hospital mortality outcomes have returned to prior improvement trends. 

Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Alyssa Harris, MPH, email alyssa.harris@vizientinc.com.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.43398)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.43398?guestAccessKey=1b34668e-afe8-4888-aa3d-dd05b3b83eff&utm_source=for_the_media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=111225

About JAMA Network Open: JAMA Network Open is an online-only open access general medical journal from the JAMA Network. On weekdays, the journal publishes peer-reviewed clinical research and commentary in more than 40 medical and health subject areas. Every article is free online from the day of publication. 

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Journal

JAMA Network Open

Variety of animals evolved similar genetics solutions to survive on land, study finds

University of Bristol


Transition from water to land
Credit: Dinghua Yang

Animals from completely different branches of the tree of life such as insects, worms and vertebrates independently evolved similar genetic solutions to survive on land, according to a new study from researchers at the University of Bristol and University of Barcelona.

The research, published in Nature today [12 November] suggests that some adaptations are so essential that environmental challenges make evolution predictable.

The researchers decoded the genetic basis of one of evolution’s more extraordinary innovations – the transition from water to land.

Because the transition from water to land happened multiple times during the evolution of the animal kingdom, it presented scientists with a unique opportunity for gaining insight into evolutionary adaptations. By comparing 154 genomes across 21 animal lineages, the team was able to identify the genetic basis for each of these transitions from water to land, analysing what they have in common and what makes them unique.

Lead author Jialin Wei from the School of Biological Sciences said: “We show that despite evolving separately, different groups living on land — from insects to vertebrates — repeatedly gained and lost similar genes to survive outside water.

“Our findings reveal that key biological functions like water regulation, metabolism, reproduction, and sensory perception evolved independently but repeatedly across diverse unrelated lineages, explaining which adaptations were required to conquer land.”

Dr Jordi Paps Monserrat, Associate Professor in Genomics and Evolution in the School of Biological Sciences, added: “Interestingly, animals that still rely partly on aquatic environments (mostly tiny invertebrates) tend to share more adaptations, while fully terrestrial lineages (arthropods or us) show more divergent strategies. Each lineage also carries its own unique innovations, reflecting unique evolutionary paths shaped by ecology, physiology, and chance.”

Dr Marta Álvarez-Presas, project co-lead from the University of Barcelona, explained: “The study identifies three major waves of terrestrialisation over the past 487 million years, lead first by the successful arthropods and ending with land snails like the ones that live in our gardens. By tracing these transitions across millions of years, the study offers a rare glimpse into what might happen if we could ‘replay the tape of life’.

“Some genetic adaptations appear strikingly predictable, emerging again and again in response to life on land, while others are contingent, shaped by the quirks of each. This research offers fresh insight into how genes shape ecosystems and advances of our understanding of adaptation.”

Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-025-09722-4

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Convergent genome evolution shaped the emergence of terrestrial animals

Article Publication Date

12-Nov-2025

 

Nature versus nurture question addressed in landmark study

Genome sequencing has been used to determine how much genes influence human characteristics including height and weight, and susceptibility to diseases like Type 2 diabetes

University of Queensland

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Genome sequencing has been used to determine how much genes influence human characteristics including height and weight, and susceptibility to diseases like Type 2 diabetes, in a study co-led by University of Queensland researchers and collaborators at genomic technology company Illumina, Inc.

This study is the largest of its kind and used the DNA sequences of 347,630 people of European descent from the UK Biobank to quantify how much trait differences between people can be explained by genetic factors, known as heritability.

Professor Loic Yengo from UQ’s Institute for Molecular Bioscience said whole genome sequencing allows the accurate measurement of most genetic variants, unlike traditional methods using data from relatives and twin studies.

“An outstanding question in human genetics has been how much twin-based estimates of heritability could be replicated using modern genomic technologies when applied to unrelated individuals,” Professor Yengo said.

“Our study answers this question and demonstrates for the first time that this approach works.”

Among the 34 characteristics and diseases the researchers studied were height, body mass index (BMI), cholesterol, hypertension, fertility, smoking initiation and heart disease.

“Across the traits studied, we’ve estimated genetic factors can explain on average 30 per cent of differences between people, ranging from 74 per cent for height and 12 per cent for fertility,” Professor Yengo said.

“One of the limitations of the traditional approach is that relatives and twins share not only genes but also environmental factors.

“For example, family-based estimates put genetic influence on a person’s BMI at 50 per cent, but the genomic sequencing determined the influence was 35 per cent.”

The next step is to map the genes or genetic variants between individuals to explain why some people develop disease and others don’t.

“That would allow at-risk individuals to be identified early, and preventative measures taken well in advance of the disease developing,” Professor Yengo said.

The research was funded by the Australian Research Council and the Snow Medical Research Foundation.

Co-author and Illumina Vice President of Artificial Intelligence Kyle Farh said population-level genomic datasets like UK Biobank give researchers access to a wealth of data”.

The research is published in Nature.

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Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-025-09720-6 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Subject of Research

People

Article Title

Estimation and mapping of the missing heritability of human phenotypes

Article Publication Date

13-Nov-2025

COI Statement

No COI

 

Climate change and rising sea levels to worsen urban health risks in Mumbai, study co-led by Princeton and University of Chicago reveals

A Princeton and University of Chicago study finds that rainfall causes more than 8% of deaths in Mumbai during the monsoon season - a figure ten times higher than listed in official statistics.

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs

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Rainfall and flooding frequently disrupt the lives of urban residents worldwide, posing significant public health risks. Mumbai, India - renowned for the ferocity of its monsoon season - stands as a stark example of the human toll that extreme urban flooding can exact. But despite the growing recognition and urgency of these hazards, the health impacts of rainfall remain poorly understood, and those of sea level rise are entirely unquantified.  

A recent study led by Princeton University and the University of Chicago takes a closer look at the intersection between climate change, hazards, and public health in Mumbai, finding that deaths caused by rainfall and rising sea levels are almost ten times higher than the official statistics suggest.  

Background: Monsoon Season in Mumbai

Mumbai is known for its heavy rainfall during the June to September monsoon season.  Located between the coast of the Arabian Sea and the foothills of the Western Ghats mountain range, Mumbai’s climate leads to the city receiving a significant amount of rainfall, with some days bringing more than 300 mm (11.8 inches) of rain.  

One of the most infamous examples is the Maharashtra floods of 2005, that caused a catastrophic level of flooding in Mumbai.  During this flood, the city received a record-breaking 944 mm (37.2 inches) of rainfall, leading to over 1,000 deaths, hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, and the forced evacuation of hundreds of people.  

“Mumbai is one of the world’s largest and  fastest growing cities,” says co-first author and STEP Ph.D. student, Tom Bearpark.  “Each year, torrential monsoon season rains cause widespread disruption, closing roads, damaging infrastructure, and endangering lives.”

The Data and Methods

Drawing on a unique combination of high-resolution datasets, the researchers linked individual death records with sub-daily rainfall data from the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM), encompassing the city’s monsoon seasons from 2006 to 2015. Each death was matched with highly localized rainfall measures using residential addresses and categorized as “slum” or “non-slum” residents based on census lists. 

The team then used an econometric model that captures both the immediate and delayed effects of rainfall on mortality in each of Mumbai’s 89 PIN (i.e., postal) codes, allowing the impact to vary by age, gender, and residential status. They also developed a new method that estimates the mortality impacts of hourly rainfall whilst accounting for  tide height, a crucial factor for a coastal city like Mumbai.

“We developed a model which allows the impacts of rainfall to differ based on the level of the tide during the hour in which the rain fell,” explains Bearpark.  “This model allows us to quantify how rising sea levels could amplify the health impacts of rainfall in the future.”

The Results

The findings are sobering. The results showed that rainfall accounts for more than 8% of deaths during the monsoon season in Mumbai - an estimate that is almost 10 times that of official statistics.  

Slum residents were overwhelmingly represented in monsoon deaths, representing over 80% of rainfall-induced mortality.  Among children under five, 18% of deaths were attributed to rainfall during the monsoon period.  The study also found that women face higher risks than men.  

“Our results illustrate a deep inequality in the impacts of extreme weather and future climate change, with poorer areas facing disproportionate damages,” says Bearpark.  “Differences in drainage, sanitation, and access to healthcare and resources vary greatly within cities, leading to extremely unequal impacts.”

The researchers warn that climate change will likely worsen this crisis. Even a modest sea level rise of 5 centimeters - a change already plausible by 2030 - could increase the share of mortality caused by rainfall from 8.5% to 9.1% of total deaths, a 7% increase. Under 15-centimeters of sea level rise rainfall-related deaths could reach  10% of total deaths, representing a 21% increase. These changes in sea-level are small compared to projections for Mumbai by 2050, underscoring how even modest increments of sea level rise can significantly increase rainfall-induced health risks in low-lying, densely populated cities.

The Implications

Beyond its implications for Mumbai, this study offers vital lessons for cities across the world. The authors emphasize the importance of investing in water infrastructure, sanitation, waste management, and drainage systems when combating rainfall mortality.  

The authors also call for an urgent expansion of climate impact assessments that move beyond the focus of temperature-related mortalities and account for the health risks posed by rainfall and sea level rise.  

"While our study reveals that rainfall and flooding pose major public health challenges, it also points to the value of targeted investments in sanitation, clean water, waste management, and drainage systems in saving lives and reducing inequality,” explains co-first author Ashwin Rode, the Director of Scientific Research at the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute.  “Climate change is already bringing intensified rainfall and rising sea levels worldwide.  The time to make these investments is now."

 

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The paper, “Mortality consequences of rainfall and sea level rise in a developing megacity,” was published in Nature on November 12th, 2025.  The authors include Thomas Bearpark (School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University), Ashwin Rode (Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth, University of Chicago), and Archana Patankar (Green Globe Consulting, Mumbai, India).  This research was supported by Princeton University’s Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment and the Department of Economics at the University of Chicago.  

 

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Journal

Nature

DOI

10.1038/s41586-025-09730-4 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Article Title

Mortality impacts of rainfall and sea-level rise in a developing megacity

Article Publication Date

12-Nov-2025

COI Statement