The team around Ya-Jun LIU has used a genome editing system to create a recombinant strain of C. thermocellum wich secretes an additional ß-glucanase. The mutant strain showed twofold increased degradation of 100 g/L Avicel in a two-stage saccharification process. The effect is believed to be due to less inhibition of C. thermocellum’s cellulosome by cellulose degradation products such as cellobiose.

China Industrial Biotechnology Network, May 31, 2017