CSIRO Future Fellow
Overview
Moved to Australia as CSIRO Future Science SynBio Fellow to work on synthetic biology and metabolic engineering applications of cyanobacteria. I did my PhD in Biotechnology at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, focusing on the photosynthetic production of diterpenoids. I obtained my B.Sc in Biology from the University of Athens, Greece, and my M.Sc. in Applied Biotechnology from Uppsala University, Sweden.
I am a member of the executive board (communications) of Synthetic Biology Australasia, and I actively engage with the synthetic biology communities (e.g. via societies, blogs, and iGEM)
Research Interests
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Genetic engineering of Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria are a promising platform for the renewable production of high-value chemicals, as they combine photosynthetic growth with simple cellular organization; however their potential has not been fully explored. One of the reasons is the lack of a synthetic biology toolbox for the rapid generation of a large number of constructs, allowing the engineering and testing of multiple production strains. My research aims to overcome this limitation by generating a modular synthetic biology kit, and apply it to the bioproduction of commercially interesting compounds.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science in Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
- Master of Science
- Doctor of Philosophy
Publications
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Journal Article: Harnessing transcription for bioproduction in cyanobacteria
Stensjö, Karin, Vavitsas, Konstantinos and Tyystjärvi, Taina (2017) Harnessing transcription for bioproduction in cyanobacteria. Physiologia Plantarum, . doi:10.1111/ppl.12606
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Journal Article: Responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to heterologous biosynthetic pathways
Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Rue, Emil Ostergaard, Stefansdottir, Lara Kristin, Gnanasekaran, Thiyagarajan, Blennow, Andreas, Crocoll, Christoph, Gudmundsson, Steinn and Jensen, Poul Erik (2017) Responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to heterologous biosynthetic pathways. Microbial Cell Factories, 16 1: . doi:10.1186/s12934-017-0757-y
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Journal Article: PhD supervisors: be better mentors
Mehta, Devang and Vavitsas, Konstantinos (2017) PhD supervisors: be better mentors. Nature, 545 7653: 158-158.
Grants
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Travel Grant to Metabolic Engineering 12
(2018) Ian Potter Foundation
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A modular design and construction platform for high-throughput strain engineering in cyanobacteria
(2017–2020) CSIRO Synthetic Biology Fellowship
Publications
Journal Article
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Harnessing transcription for bioproduction in cyanobacteria
Stensjö, Karin, Vavitsas, Konstantinos and Tyystjärvi, Taina (2017) Harnessing transcription for bioproduction in cyanobacteria. Physiologia Plantarum, . doi:10.1111/ppl.12606
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Responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to heterologous biosynthetic pathways
Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Rue, Emil Ostergaard, Stefansdottir, Lara Kristin, Gnanasekaran, Thiyagarajan, Blennow, Andreas, Crocoll, Christoph, Gudmundsson, Steinn and Jensen, Poul Erik (2017) Responses of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to heterologous biosynthetic pathways. Microbial Cell Factories, 16 1: . doi:10.1186/s12934-017-0757-y
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PhD supervisors: be better mentors
Mehta, Devang and Vavitsas, Konstantinos (2017) PhD supervisors: be better mentors. Nature, 545 7653: 158-158.
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Photosynthetic fuel for heterologous enzymes: the role of electron carrier proteins
Mellor, Silas Busck, Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Nielsen, Agnieszka Zygadlo and Jensen, Poul Erik (2017) Photosynthetic fuel for heterologous enzymes: the role of electron carrier proteins. Photosynthesis Research, . doi:10.1007/s11120-017-0364-0
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Moparthi, Vamsi K., Li, Xin, Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Dzhygyr, Ievgen, Sandh, Gustaf, Magnuson, Ann and Stensjo, Karin (2016) The two Dps proteins, NpDps2 and NpDps5, are involved in light-induced oxidative stress tolerance in the N2-fixing cyanobacterium Nostoc punctiforme. Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta-Bioenergetics, 1857 11: 1766-1776. doi:10.1016/j.bbabio.2016.08.003
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Extending the biosynthetic repertoires of cyanobacteria and chloroplasts
Nielsen, Agnieszka Zygadlo, Mellor, Silas Busck, Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Wlodarczyk, Artur Jacek, Gnanasekaran, Thiyagarajan, de Jesus, Maria Perestrello Ramos H., King, Brian Christopher, Bakowski, Kamil and Jensen, Poul Erik (2016) Extending the biosynthetic repertoires of cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. Plant Journal, 87 1: 87-102. doi:10.1111/tpj.13173
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In vivo assembly of DNA-fragments in the moss, Physcomitrella patens
King, Brian Christopher, Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Ikram, Nur Kusaira Binti Khairul, Schroder, Josephine, Scharff, Lars B., Hamberger, Bjorn, Jensen, Poul Erik and Simonsen, Henrik Toft (2016) In vivo assembly of DNA-fragments in the moss, Physcomitrella patens. Scientific Reports, 6 . doi:10.1038/srep25030
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Gnanasekaran, Thiyagarajan, Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Andersen-Ranberg, Johan, Nielsen, Agnieszka Zygadlo, Olsen, Carl Erik, Hamberger, Boejrn and Jensen, Poul Erik (2015) Heterologous expression of the isopimaric acid pathway in Nicotiana benthamiana and the effect of N-terminal modifications of the involved cytochrome P450 enzyme. Journal of Biological Engineering, 9 1: . doi:10.1186/s13036-015-0022-z
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Modeling the mechanisms of biological GTP hydrolysis
Carvalho, Alexandra T. P., Szeler, Klaudia, Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Aqvist, Johan and Kamerlin, Shina C. L. (2015) Modeling the mechanisms of biological GTP hydrolysis. Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 582 80-90. doi:10.1016/j.abb.2015.02.027
Grants (Administered at UQ)
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Travel Grant to Metabolic Engineering 12
(2018) Ian Potter Foundation
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A modular design and construction platform for high-throughput strain engineering in cyanobacteria
(2017–2020) CSIRO Synthetic Biology Fellowship
