Miao Group

Research

The research in the Miao group focuses on understanding and engineering cyanobacteria, photosynthetic microorganisms that use sunlight and carbon dioxide to support their growth.

Cyanobacteria have enormous potential as sustainable cell factories because they can convert solar energy and CO₂ directly into biomass and useful products. We combine several approaches to understand how these organisms work and to develop new applications in sustainable biotechnology.

Current focus: nitrogen fixation

In the Eco-Nfix project we engineer nitrogen fixation into a fast-growing cyanobacterium, aiming for sustainable biofertilizer production.

Our approaches

High-throughput functional genomics
Systems biology
Metabolic engineering
Synthetic biology

News

POST-DOC OPEN CALL

Postdoc research grant opportunity

Our group is open to host a Swedish speaking Finnish postdoc for applying the Ruth and Nils-Erik Stenbäck Foundation’s postdoctoral research grant.
MSc STUDENT OPEN POSITION

MSc student open position

We are seeking out for a MSc student for a 6-months project involving cyanobacteria, synthetic biology and screening library.
October 2023

Novo Nordisk postdoctoral fellowship and STINT grant

New funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for developing sustainable biofertilizer production via high-throughput protein engineering in cyanobacteria, plus a STINT mobility grant for internationalisation.

People

Rui Miao

Group leader

Ashmeet Singh Dosanjh

Resarch assistant - Dry lab

Eloïse Chafer

Resarch assistant - Wet lab

Publications

2026

The fitness landscape of a form II rubisco in a photosynthetic bacterium guides engineering of oxygen tolerance

Hoffmann, Ute A.; Knave, Axel F.; Schuppe, Anna Z.; Capo-Bauca, Sebastia et al.

Science Advances, Vol 12
2026

The fitness landscape of a form II rubisco in a photosynthetic bacterium guides engineering of oxygen tolerance

Andreas M Enkerlin, Ute A Hoffmann, Johanna Rapp, Rui Miao, Johannes Postma, Michael Feldbrügge, Hannes Link, Elton P Hudson, Khaled A Selim

Plant Physiology, Vol 200
2024

Absence of alka(e)nes triggers profound remodeling of glycerolipid and carotenoid composition in cyanobacteria membrane

Miao, Rui; Légeret, Bertrand; Cuine, Stéphan; Burlacot, Adrien et al.

Plant Physiology, Vol 196, 397–408
2023

CRISPR interference screens reveal growth–robustness tradeoffs in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 across growth conditions

Miao, Rui; Jahn, Michael; Shabestary, Kiyan; Peltier, Gilles; Hudson, Elton P.

The Plant Cell, Vol 35, 3937–3956
2022

Synthetic metabolic pathways for conversion of CO2 into secreted short-to medium-chain hydrocarbons using cyanobacteria

Yunus, Ian S.; Anfelt, Josefine; Sporre, Emil; Miao, Rui; Hudson, Elton P.; Jones, Patrik R.

Metabolic Engineering, Vol 72, 14-23
2022

Metabolic Rewiring and Cultivation Optimization for Photosynthetic Biofuel Production in Cyanobacteria

Xie, Hao; Kukil, Kateryna; Linberg, Pia; Miao, Rui; Lindbald, Peter

Bio-Clean Energy Technologies: Volume 1, 45-80
2021

Cycling between growth and production phases increases cyanobacteria bioproduction of lactate

Shabestary, Kiyan; Pineda Hernández, Hugo; Miao, Rui et al.

Metabolic Engineering, Vol 68, 131-141
2021

Engineering cyanobacteria for photosynthetic butanol production

Liu, Xufeng; Roussou, Stamatina; Miao, Rui; Lindbald, Peter

Photosynthesis: Biotechnological Applications with Microalgae, 33-56
2020

Current processes and future challenges of photoautotrophic production of acetyl-CoA-derived solar fuels and chemicals in cyanobacteria

Miao, Rui; Xie, Hao; Liu, Xufeng; Lindberg, Pia et al.

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology, Vol 59, 69–76
2019

Improved lipid production via fatty acid biosynthesis and free fatty acid recycling in engineered Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Eungrasamee, Kamonchanock; Miao, Rui; Incharoensakdi, Aran; Lindblad, Peter et al.

Biotechnology for Biofuels, Vol 12, 1–13
2019

Modular engineering for efficient photosynthetic biosynthesis of 1-butanol from CO₂ in cyanobacteria

Liu, Xufeng; Miao, Rui; Lindberg, Pia; Lindblad, Peter

Energy & Environmental Science, Vol 2, 2765–2777
2018

Protein engineering of α-ketoisovalerate decarboxylase for improved isobutanol production in Synechocystis PCC 6803

Miao, Rui; Xie, Hao; Ho, Felix M.; Lindblad, Peter

Metabolic Engineering, Vol 47, 42–48
2018

Enhancement of photosynthetic isobutanol production in engineered cells of Synechocystis PCC 6803

Miao, Rui; Xie, Hao; Lindblad, Peter

Biotechnology for Biofuels, Vol 11
2017

Isobutanol production in Synechocystis PCC 6803 using heterologous and endogenous alcohol dehydrogenases

Miao, Rui; Liu, Xufeng; Englund, Elias; Lindberg, Pia et al.

Metabolic Engineering Communications, Vol 5, 45–53
2015

Metabolic Engineering of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for Production of the Plant Diterpenoid Manoyl Oxide

Englund, Elias; Andersen-Ranberg, Johan; Miao, Rui; Hamberger, Björn et al..

ACS Synthetic Biology, Vol 4, 1270-1278

Funding

Since May 2026 NordForsk Next-Generation Nordic Network for Plant and Algal Sugars. Grant 241958
Since January 2025 FORMAS career grant 2024 Eco-Nfix: Engineering nitrogen fixation in a fast-growing cyanobacterium for sustainable bio-fertilizer production. Grant 2023-01059, project 2024-00580
Since October 2023 Novo Nordisk Foundation, Postdoctoral Fellowship 2022 Development of sustainable biofertilizer production via high-throughput protein engineering in cyanobacteria. Grant NNF22OC0079940
Since October 2023 STINT Mobility Grant for Internationalisation

Contact

If you are interested in our research, you are welcome to contact Rui Miao.

Rui Miao
Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry – Ångström Laboratory
Uppsala University, Sweden
rui.miao@kemi.uu.se