Abstract: Chinese researchers have developed an advanced, high-throughput single-cell sorting platform that enables direct isolation of living cells with targeted metabolic profiles from large mutant libraries. The technology—now commercialized as FlowRACS 3.0—dramatically shortens the traditionally labor-intensive, colony-by-colony screening process for identifying high-value microbial strains. What once took months or even years can now be accomplished in hours or days.

Abstract: Researchers from the Single-Cell Center at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of Chinese Academy of Sciences, in collaboration with Yili Group, COFCO Corporation, and the University of Hong Kong, have developed an innovative method for comprehensive probiotic product evaluation based on a Raman Flow Cytometry (RFC) platform. This method enables rapid, label-free analysis of identity, viability, and metabolic vitality at the single-cell and strain levels in complex probiotic products, effectively generating a "microbial ID card" for each formulation.

Abstract: Researchers have revealed the antibacterial mechanism of cationic and anionic surfactants against S. aureus using single-cell Raman spectroscopy (SCRS) in a multi-dimensional manner. The study provides new theoretical foundations and technical support for the application of surfactants in daily chemicals, medical fields, and beyond.

Abstract: Through metabolic reprogramming and the use of the RamanEye system (a high-throughput flow-mode Raman-activated cell sorter), researchers successfully achieved efficient and stable production of fungal siderophores by overcoming iron repression. This provides a novel technological pathway for the large-scale industrial production of siderophores. Moreover, the study demonstrates that the Raman-based “metabolic quality inspection and enhancement of seed cultures” can significantly improve the yield and efficiency of industrial fermentation.

Abstract: By reconstructing the archaeal membrane lipid biosynthesis pathway in Escherichia coli, researchers successfully synthesized archaeal membrane lipids ranging from simple to complex forms and investigated their effects on bacterial cell physiology. This study, combining experimental investigation with theoretical analysis, offers new perspectives on membrane lipid transitions in early life evolution and provides novel insights into possible pathways for the origin of eukaryotes.

Abstract: The new technology, FISH-scRACS-seq (Fluorescence-In-Situ-Hybridization-guided Single-Cell Raman-activated Sorting and Sequencing), leverages the Raman-activated Optical Tweezers-based Cell Sorter developed by Single-Cell Biotech Inc. to combine species-targeting fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with Raman spectroscopy, enabling the direct identification and isolation of functional single cells and their encoding enzymes from environmental samples. This dual-targeting approach enables researchers to match microbial species to their specific metabolic functions and uncover the underlying genomic resources that drive these processes. The method allows for the high-resolution study of ecological processes, linking species, metabolic abilities, genome sequences, metabolic pathways, and enzyme activities.