Evidence mapPaperPMID 40604696Full record

ReviewBMC biotechnology2025

Scientific and technological challenges of recombinant egg protein production.

Franziska Beck, Philipp Noll, Ute Schweiggert-Weisz, Marius Henkel

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in BMC biotechnology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Franziska BeckCellular Agriculture, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
Philipp NollCellular Agriculture, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
Ute Schweiggert-WeiszPlant Proteins and Nutrition, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany.
Marius HenkelCellular Agriculture, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany. marius.henkel@tum.de.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Eggs are among the most widely consumed and versatile animal-derived foods and are valued for their exceptional nutritional and functional properties. However, conventional egg production is associated with significant environmental, ethical, and health concerns, increasing the global consumer demand for sustainable animal protein. To address these challenges, recombinant egg protein production through precision fermentation has emerged as a promising alternative. Yet, this alternative production path is still in its infancy, and current efforts in research have not yet led to a widespread adoption of recombinant egg protein. This review provides an overview of the bioprocesses used to produce recombinant egg proteins, highlighting their nutritional, bio-functional, and techno-functional significance. The current state of the art of recombinant egg protein production is presented, with a comparison of different microbial expression hosts in terms of suitability and associated challenges. Only six egg proteins were reported to be expressed at laboratory scale, including ovalbumin (3.7 g/L with Escherichia coli EcN) and ovomucoid (3.2 g/L with Komagataella phaffii). The realization of large-scale production of functional egg proteins remains challenging. These challenges include posttranslational modifications, achieving functionality and cost parity to natural egg proteins, efficient resource bioconversion, and optimizing the bioprocess chain (upstream, bioproduction, and downstream processes). This requires further improvements and research to increase protein titers, space-time yields, and production rates. Nevertheless, recombinant egg protein produced via precision fermentation holds great promise as a functional food ingredient. With further advancements, this approach could contribute to global protein demand, enhance food security, and strengthen food system resilience while providing a more sustainable and ethical alternative to conventional egg production.

Indexed as

BiotechnologyEgg ProteinsRecombinant ProteinsAnimalsEscherichia coliFermentationEgg ProteinsRecombinant ProteinsAlternative proteinCellular agricultureFunctional proteinMicrobial food biotechnologyPrecision fermentationRecombinant egg proteinRecombinant food protein

Identifiers

PMID40604696
PMCPMC12224593

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.