Is faster always better? A critical assessment of Vibrio natriegens as microbial host for recombinant protein production

The marine bacterium Vibrio natriegens has emerged as a promising candidate for recombinant protein production, primarily due to its rapid growth rate combined with its high protein synthesis capacity. These attributes have the potential to shorten production processes while achieving high yields of heterologously produced proteins. This review provides a concise overview of the substantial progress that has been made in the development of genetic tools and expression systems for V. natriegens, highlighting their successful application to the production of a wide range of proteins, including challenging targets such as membrane proteins. In addition, it critically examines the advantages and limitations of this organism as a production host, with a particular focus on whether its rapid growth translates into a tangible benefit for recombinant protein production. By contrasting the current status of V. natriegens with established Escherichia coli-based systems, key technological and biological developments required for its broader adoption are identified. In particular, the scale-up of protein production for potential industrial implementation remains underexplored and may present significant challenges due to the physiological demands of V. natriegens, including high oxygen requirements and the need for salt-supplemented media. Ultimately, whether fast growth equates to superior productivity, and whether V. natriegens can establish itself as a robust and broadly applicable protein production host, will depend on continued strain development and process intensification.