Biofuel Research Journal

On the Cover

Efficient ethanol fermentation is vital to sustainable biofuel production, but contamination by lactic acid bacteria remains a major challenge. This issue's featured study, conducted by a team of researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (USA), introduces an innovative solution: engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae that secretes bacteriophage endolysin LysKB317 to mitigate bacterial contamination in corn mash fermentation (DOI: 10.18331/BRJ2024.11.4.4). The yeast secretes the endolysin continuously, achieving significant reductions in acetic and lactic acids while improving ethanol yields by up to 16%. This strategy eliminates the need for antibiotics and energy-intensive sterilization, offering a sustainable approach to bioethanol production. The findings highlight a scalable and eco-friendly method to address bacterial contamination, advancing the biofuel industry's move toward greener energy solutions. Cover art by BiofuelResJ. ©2024.