The Microbiology Society Annual Conference 2024 brought together scientists from around the world in Edinburgh this April for four days of talks, workshops, and knowledge-sharing. One of the highlights for us? Seeing David Mark, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Glasgow and a key member of PRISM-LT, presenting his recent work on engineered living materials (ELMs).

David’s poster, Engineered Bacterial Companions to Reprogramme Naïve Stem Cells, explored how E. coli can be transformed into “helper” bacteria for our bioinks. These engineered bacteria play a key role in PRISM-LT’s 3D bioprinting system, helping to create 3D-printed tissues with precise control over stem cell differentiation.

“The bacteria sense metabolites from stem cells and, in turn, direct the stem cells to differentiate into bone or fat cells. This sensing will let us control differentiation in 3D space and print complex tissues.”

His research, which is critical for PRISM-LT’s mission to develop ELMs for biomedical and food applications, focuses on:

• Designing bacteria that can sense and respond to specific stem cell signals.
• Guiding the formation of complex tissues like bone-mimicking organoids.
• Balancing bacterial growth so they work in harmony with the stem cells.

We’re proud to see David representing PRISM-LT at this prestigious conference and sharing how our work is advancing the field of biotechnology. These insights bring us one step closer to creating living materials that could transform healthcare and beyond.