Jeff Hasty

About

The Biodynamics Laboratory at UCSD, part of the UCSD Synthetic Biology Institute, focuses on the use of engineering methods in the theoretical design and experimental construction of synthetic gene networks. The laboratory's work involves applying engineering principles to understand and manipulate biological systems, particularly through the development of synthetic gene networks. The research aims to advance the field of synthetic biology by designing and constructing gene networks with specific functions, contributing to the broader understanding of biological systems and their engineering.

Research topics

• Genetics
• Biology
• Computational biology
• Computer Science
• Cell biology
• Microbiology
• Evolutionary biology
• Mathematics
• Combinatorics
• Cancer research

Selected publications

• The microbiome and human cancer

  Science · 2021 · 1230 citations

  Microbial roles in cancer formation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment have been disputed for centuries. Recent studies have provocatively claimed that bacteria, viruses, and/or fungi are pervasive among cancers, key actors in cancer immunotherapy, and engineerable to treat metastases. Despite these findings, the number of microbes known to directly cause carcinogenesis remains small. Critically evaluating and building frameworks for such evidence in light of modern cancer biology is an import…

  DOI

• The Balance of Stromal BMP Signaling Mediated by GREM1 and ISLR Drives Colorectal Carcinogenesis

  Gastroenterology · 2020 · 163 citations

  DOI

• Intestinal transgene delivery with native E. coli chassis allows persistent physiological changes

  Cell · 2022 · 135 citations

  Live bacterial therapeutics (LBTs) could reverse diseases by engrafting in the gut and providing persistent beneficial functions in the host. However, attempts to functionally manipulate the gut microbiome of conventionally raised (CR) hosts have been unsuccessful because engineered microbial organisms (i.e., chassis) have difficulty in colonizing the hostile luminal environment. In this proof-of-concept study, we use native bacteria as chassis for transgene delivery to impact CR host physiology…

  DOI

• Engineering longevity—design of a synthetic gene oscillator to slow cellular aging

  Science · 2023-04-27 · 89 citations

  articleOpen access

  Synthetic biology enables the design of gene networks to confer specific biological functions, yet it remains a challenge to rationally engineer a biological trait as complex as longevity. A naturally occurring toggle switch underlies fate decisions toward either nucleolar or mitochondrial decline during the aging of yeast cells. We rewired this endogenous toggle to engineer an autonomous genetic clock that generates sustained oscillations between the nucleolar and mitochondrial aging processes…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Engineered bacteria detect tumor DNA

  Science · 2023-08-10 · 75 citations

  articleOpen accessSenior authorCorresponding

  Synthetic biology has developed sophisticated cellular biosensors to detect and respond to human disease. However, biosensors have not yet been engineered to detect specific extracellular DNA sequences and mutations. Here, we engineered naturally competent Acinetobacter baylyi to detect donor DNA from the genomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, organoids, and tumors. We characterized the functionality of the biosensors in vitro with coculture assays and then validated them in vivo with sensor…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Recent grants

• Engineered Gene Circuits for Basic Science and Biotechnology

  NIH · $13.6M · 2004–2029

• Delays and variability in single-cell NFkB signaling

  NIH · $2.0M · 2010–2015

• Engineered Selective Pressure: Challenges and Opportunities

  NSF · $1.2M · 2016–2020

Frequent coauthors

• Lev S. Tsimring

  University of California, San Diego

  164 shared

• Andriy Didovyk

  Vertex Pharmaceuticals (United States)

  36 shared

• Richard O’Laughlin

  Weizmann Institute of Science

  34 shared

• Nan Hao

  University of California, San Diego

  31 shared

• Robert M. Cooper

  University of California, San Diego

  28 shared

• Philip Bittihn

  Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization

  27 shared

• William Mather

  Quantitative BioSciences

  24 shared

• Tal Danino

  Columbia University

  22 shared

Similar researchers at University of California, San Diego

• James Kadonagah-91
• Ananda Goldrathh-76
• Eric Allenh-65