Lori J. Wilson

Papers

Total Citations

167

H-Index

About

Lori J. Wilson is a pioneering researcher in industrial biotechnology, best known for her foundational work in recombinant enzyme production. Her most cited study, "Commercial Levels of Chymosin Production by Aspergillus" (1991), with 167 citations, revolutionized the cheese-making industry by demonstrating the scalable, cost-effective production of chymosin—a key milk-clotting enzyme—using genetically engineered Aspergillus fungi. This breakthrough provided a reliable alternative to traditional calf rennet, addressing ethical, economic, and supply-chain challenges while maintaining product quality. Wilson’s research bridged molecular biology and industrial fermentation, establishing a framework for large-scale microbial synthesis of food-grade enzymes. Her contributions have had lasting impact on both applied microbiology and the global dairy sector, enabling more sustainable and accessible cheese production. Beyond this seminal work, Wilson’s expertise in fungal expression systems continues to influence bioprocessing and enzyme engineering, cementing her legacy as a key figure in the commercialization of recombinant proteins.