101
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Schindler D. Genetic Engineering and Synthetic Genomics in Yeast to Understand Life and Boost Biotechnology. Bioengineering (Basel) 2020; 7:E137. [PMID: 33138080 PMCID: PMC7711850 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering7040137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of genetic engineering was born in 1973 with the "construction of biologically functional bacterial plasmids in vitro". Since then, a vast number of technologies have been developed allowing large-scale reading and writing of DNA, as well as tools for complex modifications and alterations of the genetic code. Natural genomes can be seen as software version 1.0; synthetic genomics aims to rewrite this software with "build to understand" and "build to apply" philosophies. One of the predominant model organisms is the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Its importance ranges from ancient biotechnologies such as baking and brewing, to high-end valuable compound synthesis on industrial scales. This tiny sugar fungus contributed greatly to enabling humankind to reach its current development status. This review discusses recent developments in the field of genetic engineering for budding yeast S. cerevisiae, and its application in biotechnology. The article highlights advances from Sc1.0 to the developments in synthetic genomics paving the way towards Sc2.0. With the synthetic genome of Sc2.0 nearing completion, the article also aims to propose perspectives for potential Sc3.0 and subsequent versions as well as its implications for basic and applied research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Schindler
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
- Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Straße 10, 35043 Marburg, Germany; ; Tel.: +49-6421-178533
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102
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Carbonell P, Le Feuvre R, Takano E, Scrutton NS. In silico design and automated learning to boost next-generation smart biomanufacturing. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2020; 5:ysaa020. [PMID: 33344778 PMCID: PMC7737007 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing demand for bio-based compounds produced from waste or sustainable sources is driving biofoundries to deliver a new generation of prototyping biomanufacturing platforms. Integration and automation of the design, build, test and learn (DBTL) steps in centers like SYNBIOCHEM in Manchester and across the globe (Global Biofoundries Alliance) are helping to reduce the delivery time from initial strain screening and prototyping towards industrial production. Notably, a portfolio of producer strains for a suite of material monomers was recently developed, some approaching industrial titers, in a tour de force by the Manchester Centre that was achieved in less than 90 days. New in silico design tools are providing significant contributions to the front end of the DBTL pipelines. At the same time, the far-reaching initiatives of modern biofoundries are generating a large amount of high-dimensional data and knowledge that can be integrated through automated learning to expedite the DBTL cycle. In this Perspective, the new design tools and the role of the learning component as an enabling technology for the next generation of automated biofoundries are discussed. Future biofoundries will operate under completely automated DBTL cycles driven by in silico optimal experimental planning, full biomanufacturing devices connectivity, virtualization platforms and cloud-based design. The automated generation of robotic build worklists and the integration of machine-learning algorithms will collectively allow high levels of adaptability and rapid design changes toward fully automated smart biomanufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Carbonell
- Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre for Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM) and Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK.,Instituto Universitario de Automática e Informática Industrial, Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rosalind Le Feuvre
- Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre for Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM) and Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Eriko Takano
- Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre for Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM) and Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
| | - Nigel S Scrutton
- Manchester Synthetic Biology Research Centre for Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM) and Future Biomanufacturing Research Hub, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN, UK
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103
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High-throughput screening for high-efficiency small-molecule biosynthesis. Metab Eng 2020; 63:102-125. [PMID: 33017684 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Systems metabolic engineering faces the formidable task of rewiring microbial metabolism to cost-effectively generate high-value molecules from a variety of inexpensive feedstocks for many different applications. Because these cellular systems are still too complex to model accurately, vast collections of engineered organism variants must be systematically created and evaluated through an enormous trial-and-error process in order to identify a manufacturing-ready strain. The high-throughput screening of strains to optimize their scalable manufacturing potential requires execution of many carefully controlled, parallel, miniature fermentations, followed by high-precision analysis of the resulting complex mixtures. This review discusses strategies for the design of high-throughput, small-scale fermentation models to predict improved strain performance at large commercial scale. Established and promising approaches from industrial and academic groups are presented for both cell culture and analysis, with primary focus on microplate- and microfluidics-based screening systems.
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104
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Köpke M, Simpson SD. Pollution to products: recycling of ‘above ground’ carbon by gas fermentation. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 65:180-189. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
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105
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Tack DS, Romantseva EF, Tonner PD, Pressman A, Rammohan J, Strychalski EA. Measurements drive progress in directed evolution for precise engineering of biological systems. CURRENT OPINION IN SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2020; 23:32-37. [PMID: 34611570 PMCID: PMC8489032 DOI: 10.1016/j.coisb.2020.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Precise engineering of biological systems requires quantitative, high-throughput measurements, exemplified by progress in directed evolution. New approaches allow high-throughput measurements of phenotypes and their corresponding genotypes. When integrated into directed evolution, these quantitative approaches enable the precise engineering of biological function. At the same time, the increasingly routine availability of large, high-quality data sets supports the integration of machine learning with directed evolution. Together, these advances herald striking capabilities for engineering biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Drew S Tack
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20898, USA
| | | | - Peter D Tonner
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20898, USA
| | - Abe Pressman
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20898, USA
| | - Jayan Rammohan
- National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 20898, USA
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106
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Dixon TA, Pretorius IS. Drawing on the Past to Shape the Future of Synthetic Yeast Research. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7156. [PMID: 32998303 PMCID: PMC7583028 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Some years inspire more hindsight reflection and future-gazing than others. This is even more so in 2020 with its evocation of perfect vision and the landmark ring to it. However, no futurist can reliably predict what the world will look like the next time that a year's first two digits will match the second two digits-a numerical pattern that only occurs once in a century. As we leap into a new decade, amid uncertainties triggered by unforeseen global events-such as the outbreak of a worldwide pandemic, the accompanying economic hardship, and intensifying geopolitical tensions-it is important to note the blistering pace of 21st century technological developments indicate that while hindsight might be 20/20, foresight is 50/50. The history of science shows us that imaginative ideas, research excellence, and collaborative innovation can, for example, significantly contribute to the economic, cultural, social, and environmental recovery of a post-COVID-19 world. This article reflects on a history of yeast research to indicate the potential that arises from advances in science, and how this can contribute to the ongoing recovery and development of human society. Future breakthroughs in synthetic genomics are likely to unlock new avenues of impactful discoveries and solutions to some of the world's greatest challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. Dixon
- Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia;
| | - Isak S. Pretorius
- Chancellery and ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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107
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Liu Y, Su A, Li J, Ledesma-Amaro R, Xu P, Du G, Liu L. Towards next-generation model microorganism chassis for biomanufacturing. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:9095-9108. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10902-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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108
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Biggs BW, Bedore SR, Arvay E, Huang S, Subramanian H, McIntyre EA, Duscent-Maitland CV, Neidle EL, Tyo KEJ. Development of a genetic toolset for the highly engineerable and metabolically versatile Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5169-5182. [PMID: 32246719 PMCID: PMC7229861 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
One primary objective of synthetic biology is to improve the sustainability of chemical manufacturing. Naturally occurring biological systems can utilize a variety of carbon sources, including waste streams that pose challenges to traditional chemical processing, such as lignin biomass, providing opportunity for remediation and valorization of these materials. Success, however, depends on identifying micro-organisms that are both metabolically versatile and engineerable. Identifying organisms with this combination of traits has been a historic hindrance. Here, we leverage the facile genetics of the metabolically versatile bacterium Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1 to create easy and rapid molecular cloning workflows, including a Cas9-based single-step marker-less and scar-less genomic integration method. In addition, we create a promoter library, ribosomal binding site (RBS) variants and test an unprecedented number of rationally integrated bacterial chromosomal protein expression sites and variants. At last, we demonstrate the utility of these tools by examining ADP1’s catabolic repression regulation, creating a strain with improved potential for lignin bioprocessing. Taken together, this work highlights ADP1 as an ideal host for a variety of sustainability and synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley W Biggs
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Biotechnology Training Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Stacy R Bedore
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Erika Arvay
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA.,Biotechnology Training Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Shu Huang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Harshith Subramanian
- Master of Science in Biotechnology Program, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
| | - Emily A McIntyre
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | | | - Ellen L Neidle
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Keith E J Tyo
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60208, USA
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109
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Crone MA, Priestman M, Ciechonska M, Jensen K, Sharp DJ, Anand A, Randell P, Storch M, Freemont PS. A role for Biofoundries in rapid development and validation of automated SARS-CoV-2 clinical diagnostics. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4464. [PMID: 32900994 PMCID: PMC7479142 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18130-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has shown how a rapid rise in demand for patient and community sample testing can quickly overwhelm testing capability globally. With most diagnostic infrastructure dependent on specialized instruments, their exclusive reagent supplies quickly become bottlenecks, creating an urgent need for approaches to boost testing capacity. We address this challenge by refocusing the London Biofoundry onto the development of alternative testing pipelines. Here, we present a reagent-agnostic automated SARS-CoV-2 testing platform that can be quickly deployed and scaled. Using an in-house-generated, open-source, MS2-virus-like particle (VLP) SARS-CoV-2 standard, we validate RNA extraction and RT-qPCR workflows as well as two detection assays based on CRISPR-Cas13a and RT-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). In collaboration with an NHS diagnostic testing lab, we report the performance of the overall workflow and detection of SARS-CoV-2 in patient samples using RT-qPCR, CRISPR-Cas13a, and RT-LAMP. The validated RNA extraction and RT-qPCR platform has been installed in NHS diagnostic labs, increasing testing capacity by 1000 samples per day.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Crone
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, White City Campus, 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research and Technology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Miles Priestman
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, White City Campus, 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Marta Ciechonska
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, White City Campus, 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Kirsten Jensen
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, White City Campus, 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research and Technology, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - David J Sharp
- UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research and Technology, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK
| | - Arthi Anand
- Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Laboratories, Department of Infection and Immunity, North West London Pathology, London, UK
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Paul Randell
- Department of Infection and Immunity, North West London Pathology, London, UK
- Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London, W6 8RF, UK
| | - Marko Storch
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, White City Campus, 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Paul S Freemont
- London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation and Innovation Hub, White City Campus, 80 Wood Lane, London, W12 0BZ, UK.
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
- UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research and Technology, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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110
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Doçi G, Fuchs L, Kharbanda Y, Schickling P, Zulkower V, Hillson N, Oberortner E, Swainston N, Kabisch J. DNA Scanner: a web application for comparing DNA synthesis feasibility, price and turnaround time across vendors. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysaa011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
DNA synthesis has become a major enabler of modern bioengineering, allowing scientists to simply order online in silico-designed DNA molecules. Rapidly decreasing DNA synthesis service prices and the concomitant increase of research and development scales bolstered by computer-aided DNA design tools and laboratory automation has driven up the demand for synthetic DNA. While vendors provide user-friendly online portals for purchasing synthetic DNA, customers still face the time-consuming task of checking each vendor of choice for their ability and pricing to synthesize the desired sequences. As a result, ordering large batches of DNA sequences can be a laborious manual procedure in an otherwise increasingly automatable workflow. Even when they are available, there is a high degree of technical knowledge and effort required to integrate vendors’ application programming interfaces (APIs) into computer-aided DNA design tools or automated lab processes. Here, we introduce DNA Scanner, a software package comprising (i) a web-based user interface enabling users to compare the feasibility, price and turnaround time of synthetic DNA sequences across selected vendors and (ii) a Python API enabling integration of these functionalities into computer-aided DNA design tools and automated lab processes. We have developed DNA Scanner to uniformly streamline interactions between synthetic DNA vendors, members of the Global Biofoundry Alliance and the scientific community at large.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gledon Doçi
- Department of Computer Science, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Lukas Fuchs
- Department of Computer Science, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Yash Kharbanda
- Department of Computer Science, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Paul Schickling
- Department of Computer Science, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Valentin Zulkower
- Edinburgh Genome Foundry, SynthSys, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, Edinburgh, UK
- Software Working Group, Global Biofoundries Alliance
| | - Nathan Hillson
- Software Working Group, Global Biofoundries Alliance
- DOE Agile BioFoundry, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ernst Oberortner
- Software Working Group, Global Biofoundries Alliance
- DOE Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Divisions, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Neil Swainston
- Software Working Group, Global Biofoundries Alliance
- Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | - Johannes Kabisch
- Software Working Group, Global Biofoundries Alliance
- Computer-aided Synthetic Biology, Technical University Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
- Centre for Synthetic Biology, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany
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111
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Laohakunakorn N. Cell-Free Systems: A Proving Ground for Rational Biodesign. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:788. [PMID: 32793570 PMCID: PMC7393481 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free gene expression systems present an alternative approach to synthetic biology, where biological gene expression is harnessed inside non-living, in vitro biochemical reactions. Taking advantage of a plethora of recent experimental innovations, they easily overcome certain challenges for computer-aided biological design. For instance, their open nature renders all their components directly accessible, greatly facilitating model construction and validation. At the same time, these systems present their own unique difficulties, such as limited reaction lifetimes and lack of homeostasis. In this Perspective, I propose that cell-free systems are an ideal proving ground to test rational biodesign strategies, as demonstrated by a small but growing number of examples of model-guided, forward engineered cell-free biosystems. It is likely that advances gained from this approach will contribute to our efforts to more reliably and systematically engineer both cell-free as well as living cellular systems for useful applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadanai Laohakunakorn
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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112
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Sengupta A, Madhu S, Wangikar PP. A Library of Tunable, Portable, and Inducer-Free Promoters Derived from Cyanobacteria. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1790-1801. [PMID: 32551554 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are emerging as hosts for various biotechnological applications. The ability to engineer these photosynthetic prokaryotes greatly depends on the availability of well-characterized promoters. Inducer-free promoters of a range of activities may be desirable for the eventual large-scale, outdoor cultivations. Further, several native promoters of cyanobacteria are repressed by high carbon dioxide or light, and it would be of interest to alter this property. We started with PrbcL and PcpcB, the well-characterized native promoters of the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, found upstream of the two abundantly expressed genes, Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase, and phycocyanin β-1 subunit, respectively. The library of 48 promoters created via error-prone PCR of these 300-bp-long native promoters showed 2 orders of magnitude dynamic range with activities that were both lower and higher than those of the wild-type promoters. A few mutants of the PrbcL showed greater strength than PcpcB, which is widely considered a superstrong promoter. A number of mutant promoters did not show repression by high CO2 or light, typically found for PrbcL and PcpcB, respectively. Further, the wild-type and mutant promoters showed comparable activities in the fast-growing and stress-tolerant strains S. elongatus PCC 11801 and PCC 11802, suggesting that the library can be used in different cyanobacteria. Interestingly, the majority of the promoters showed strong expression in E. coli, thus adding to the repertoire of inducer-free promoters for this heterotrophic workhorse. Our results have implications in the metabolic engineering of cyanobacteria and E. coli.
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113
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Wang Y, Liu Y, Zheng P, Sun J, Wang M. Microbial Base Editing: A Powerful Emerging Technology for Microbial Genome Engineering. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 39:165-180. [PMID: 32680590 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Genome engineering is crucial for answering fundamental questions about, and exploring practical applications of, microorganisms. Various microbial genome-engineering tools, including CRISPR/Cas-enhanced homologous recombination (HR), have been developed, with ever-improving simplicity, efficiency, and applicability. Recently, a powerful emerging technology based on CRISPR/Cas-nucleobase deaminase fusions, known as base editing, opened new avenues for microbial genome engineering. Base editing enables nucleotide transition without inducing lethal double-stranded (ds)DNA cleavage, adding foreign donor DNA, or depending on inefficient HR. Here, we review ongoing efforts to develop and apply base editing to engineer industrially and clinically relevant microorganisms. We also summarize bioinformatics tools that would greatly facilitate guide (g)RNA design and sequencing data analysis and discuss the future challenges and prospects associated with this technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China.
| | - Ye Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Ping Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Jibin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Systems Microbial Biotechnology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Tianjin 300308, China.
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114
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Storch M, Haines MC, Baldwin GS. DNA-BOT: a low-cost, automated DNA assembly platform for synthetic biology. Synth Biol (Oxf) 2020; 5:ysaa010. [PMID: 32995552 PMCID: PMC7476404 DOI: 10.1093/synbio/ysaa010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Multi-part DNA assembly is the physical starting point for many projects in Synthetic and Molecular Biology. The ability to explore a genetic design space by building extensive libraries of DNA constructs is essential for creating programmed biological systems. With multiple DNA assembly methods and standards adopted in the Synthetic Biology community, automation of the DNA assembly process is now receiving serious attention. Automation will enable larger builds using less researcher time, while increasing the accessible design space. However, these benefits currently incur high costs for both equipment and consumables. Here, we address this limitation by introducing low-cost DNA assembly with BASIC on OpenTrons (DNA-BOT). For this purpose, we developed an open-source software package and demonstrated the performance of DNA-BOT by simultaneously assembling 88 constructs composed of 10 genetic parts, evaluating the promoter, ribosome binding site and gene order design space for a three-gene operon. All 88 constructs were assembled with high accuracy, at a consumables cost of $1.50–$5.50 per construct. This illustrates the efficiency, accuracy and affordability of DNA-BOT, making it accessible for most labs and democratizing automated DNA assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marko Storch
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation & Innovation Hub, London, W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Matthew C Haines
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Geoff S Baldwin
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.,Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
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115
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Robinson CJ, Carbonell P, Jervis AJ, Yan C, Hollywood KA, Dunstan MS, Currin A, Swainston N, Spiess R, Taylor S, Mulherin P, Parker S, Rowe W, Matthews NE, Malone KJ, Le Feuvre R, Shapira P, Barran P, Turner NJ, Micklefield J, Breitling R, Takano E, Scrutton NS. Rapid prototyping of microbial production strains for the biomanufacture of potential materials monomers. Metab Eng 2020; 60:168-182. [PMID: 32335188 PMCID: PMC7225752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2020.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bio-based production of industrial chemicals using synthetic biology can provide alternative green routes from renewable resources, allowing for cleaner production processes. To efficiently produce chemicals on-demand through microbial strain engineering, biomanufacturing foundries have developed automated pipelines that are largely compound agnostic in their time to delivery. Here we benchmark the capabilities of a biomanufacturing pipeline to enable rapid prototyping of microbial cell factories for the production of chemically diverse industrially relevant material building blocks. Over 85 days the pipeline was able to produce 17 potential material monomers and key intermediates by combining 160 genetic parts into 115 unique biosynthetic pathways. To explore the scale-up potential of our prototype production strains, we optimized the enantioselective production of mandelic acid and hydroxymandelic acid, achieving gram-scale production in fed-batch fermenters. The high success rate in the rapid design and prototyping of microbially-produced material building blocks reveals the potential role of biofoundries in leading the transition to sustainable materials production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Robinson
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Pablo Carbonell
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Adrian J Jervis
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Cunyu Yan
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Katherine A Hollywood
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Mark S Dunstan
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Andrew Currin
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Neil Swainston
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Reynard Spiess
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Sandra Taylor
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Paul Mulherin
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Steven Parker
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - William Rowe
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Nicholas E Matthews
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M15 6PB, UK.
| | - Kirk J Malone
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Rosalind Le Feuvre
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
| | - Philip Shapira
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M15 6PB, UK.
| | - Perdita Barran
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Nicholas J Turner
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Jason Micklefield
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Rainer Breitling
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Eriko Takano
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Nigel S Scrutton
- Manchester Centre for Synthetic Biology of Fine and Speciality Chemicals (SYNBIOCHEM), Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK; Department of Chemistry, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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Patron NJ. Beyond natural: synthetic expansions of botanical form and function. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2020; 227:295-310. [PMID: 32239523 PMCID: PMC7383487 DOI: 10.1111/nph.16562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Powered by developments that enabled genome-scale investigations, systems biology emerged as a field aiming to understand how phenotypes emerge from network functions. These advances fuelled a new engineering discipline focussed on synthetic reconstructions of complex biological systems with the goal of predictable rational design and control. Initially, progress in the nascent field of synthetic biology was slow due to the ad hoc nature of molecular biology methods such as cloning. The application of engineering principles such as standardisation, together with several key technical advances, enabled a revolution in the speed and accuracy of genetic manipulation. Combined with mathematical and statistical modelling, this has improved the predictability of engineering biological systems of which nonlinearity and stochasticity are intrinsic features leading to remarkable achievements in biotechnology as well as novel insights into biological function. In the past decade, there has been slow but steady progress in establishing foundations for synthetic biology in plant systems. Recently, this has enabled model-informed rational design to be successfully applied to the engineering of plant gene regulation and metabolism. Synthetic biology is now poised to transform the potential of plant biotechnology. However, reaching full potential will require conscious adjustments to the skillsets and mind sets of plant scientists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola J. Patron
- Engineering BiologyEarlham InstituteNorwich Research Park, NorwichNorfolkNR4 7UZUK
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117
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Hauer
- Institute of Biochemistry and Technical Biochemistry, Department of Technical Biochemistry, Universitaet Stuttgart, Allmandring 31, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
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118
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Bioaldehydes and beyond: Expanding the realm of bioderived chemicals using biogenic aldehydes as platforms. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 59:37-46. [PMID: 32454426 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Biofuels and biochemicals derived from renewable resources are sconsidered as potential solutions for the energy crisis and associated environmental problems that human beings are facing today. However, so far the available types of bioderived chemicals are rather limited, and production efficiency is generally low. Expanding the realm of bioderived chemicals and relevant derivatives can help motivate the development of bioenergy and the general bioeconomy. Aldehydes, possessing unique reactivity, hold great promise as platform chemicals for producing a large portfolio of bioproducts. In this review, we focus on production of aldehydes from renewable bioresources and derivatization of aldehydes through chemocatalysis, biocatalysis, or de novo biosynthesis. Perspectives on combining protein engineering and cascade reactions for advanced aldehyde derivatization are also provided.
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119
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Kelwick RJR, Webb AJ, Freemont PS. Biological Materials: The Next Frontier for Cell-Free Synthetic Biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:399. [PMID: 32478045 PMCID: PMC7235315 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancements in cell-free synthetic biology are enabling innovations in sustainable biomanufacturing, that may ultimately shift the global manufacturing paradigm toward localized and ecologically harmonized production processes. Cell-free synthetic biology strategies have been developed for the bioproduction of fine chemicals, biofuels and biological materials. Cell-free workflows typically utilize combinations of purified enzymes, cell extracts for biotransformation or cell-free protein synthesis reactions, to assemble and characterize biosynthetic pathways. Importantly, cell-free reactions can combine the advantages of chemical engineering with metabolic engineering, through the direct addition of co-factors, substrates and chemicals -including those that are cytotoxic. Cell-free synthetic biology is also amenable to automatable design cycles through which an array of biological materials and their underpinning biosynthetic pathways can be tested and optimized in parallel. Whilst challenges still remain, recent convergences between the materials sciences and these advancements in cell-free synthetic biology enable new frontiers for materials research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J. R. Kelwick
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J. Webb
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul S. Freemont
- Section of Structural and Synthetic Biology, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The London Biofoundry, Imperial College Translation & Innovation Hub, London, United Kingdom
- UK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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120
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Genetic Biosensor Design for Natural Product Biosynthesis in Microorganisms. Trends Biotechnol 2020; 38:797-810. [PMID: 32359951 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Low yield and low titer of natural products are common issues in natural product biosynthesis through microbial cell factories. One effective way to resolve such bottlenecks is to design genetic biosensors to monitor and regulate the biosynthesis of target natural products. In this review, we evaluate the most recent advances in the design of genetic biosensors for natural product biosynthesis in microorganisms. In particular, we examine strategies for selection of genetic parts and construction principles for the design and evaluation of genetic biosensors. We also review the latest applications of transcription factor- and riboswitch-based genetic biosensors in natural product biosynthesis. Lastly, we discuss challenges and solutions in designing genetic biosensors for the biosynthesis of natural products in microorganisms.
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121
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Carter S, DiEuliis D. Mapping the Synthetic Biology Industry: Implications for Biosecurity. Health Secur 2020; 17:403-406. [PMID: 31593512 DOI: 10.1089/hs.2019.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Carter
- Sarah R. Carter, PhD, is a Principal at Science Policy Consulting, LLC, Arlington, Virginia
| | - Diane DiEuliis
- Diane DiEuliis, PhD, is a Senior Research Fellow, Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction, National Defense University, Washington, DC
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122
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Meyer V, Basenko EY, Benz JP, Braus GH, Caddick MX, Csukai M, de Vries RP, Endy D, Frisvad JC, Gunde-Cimerman N, Haarmann T, Hadar Y, Hansen K, Johnson RI, Keller NP, Kraševec N, Mortensen UH, Perez R, Ram AFJ, Record E, Ross P, Shapaval V, Steiniger C, van den Brink H, van Munster J, Yarden O, Wösten HAB. Growing a circular economy with fungal biotechnology: a white paper. Fungal Biol Biotechnol 2020; 7:5. [PMID: 32280481 PMCID: PMC7140391 DOI: 10.1186/s40694-020-00095-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi have the ability to transform organic materials into a rich and diverse set of useful products and provide distinct opportunities for tackling the urgent challenges before all humans. Fungal biotechnology can advance the transition from our petroleum-based economy into a bio-based circular economy and has the ability to sustainably produce resilient sources of food, feed, chemicals, fuels, textiles, and materials for construction, automotive and transportation industries, for furniture and beyond. Fungal biotechnology offers solutions for securing, stabilizing and enhancing the food supply for a growing human population, while simultaneously lowering greenhouse gas emissions. Fungal biotechnology has, thus, the potential to make a significant contribution to climate change mitigation and meeting the United Nation’s sustainable development goals through the rational improvement of new and established fungal cell factories. The White Paper presented here is the result of the 2nd Think Tank meeting held by the EUROFUNG consortium in Berlin in October 2019. This paper highlights discussions on current opportunities and research challenges in fungal biotechnology and aims to inform scientists, educators, the general public, industrial stakeholders and policymakers about the current fungal biotech revolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Meyer
- 1Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Evelina Y Basenko
- 2Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, UK
| | - J Philipp Benz
- 3TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Holzforschung München, Hans-Carl-von-Carlowitz-Platz 2, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Gerhard H Braus
- 4Department of Molecular Microbiology & Genetics, Institute of Microbiology & Genetics, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Grisebachstr. 8, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mark X Caddick
- 2Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Biosciences Building, Crown Street, Liverpool, UK
| | - Michael Csukai
- 5Syngenta, Jealott's Hill International Research Centre, Bracknell, Berkshire RG42 6EY UK
| | - Ronald P de Vries
- 6Fungal Physiology, Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute & Fungal Molecular Physiology, Utrecht University Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Drew Endy
- 7Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Jens C Frisvad
- 8Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nina Gunde-Cimerman
- 9Department Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Yitzhak Hadar
- 11Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Kim Hansen
- 12Biotechnology Research, Production Strain Technology, Novozymes A/S, Krogshoejvej 36, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark
| | - Robert I Johnson
- 13Quorn Foods, Station Road, Stokesley, North Yorkshire TS9 7AB UK
| | - Nancy P Keller
- 14Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 53706 USA
| | - Nada Kraševec
- 15Department of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Hajdrihova 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Uffe H Mortensen
- 8Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rolando Perez
- 7Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, 443 Via Ortega, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Arthur F J Ram
- 16Institute of Biology Leiden, Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology, Leiden University, Sylviusweg 72, 2333 BE Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eric Record
- 17French National Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment, INRAE, UMR1163, Biodiversité et Biotechnologie Fongiques, Aix-Marseille Université, Marseille, France
| | - Phil Ross
- MycoWorks, Inc, 669 Grand View Avenue, San Francisco, USA
| | - Volha Shapaval
- 19Faculty of Science and Technology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Droebakveien, 31 1430 Aas, Norway
| | - Charlotte Steiniger
- 1Chair of Applied and Molecular Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Jolanda van Munster
- 21The University of Manchester, Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) & School of Natural Sciences, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN UK
| | - Oded Yarden
- 11Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Han A B Wösten
- 22Department of Biology, Microbiology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
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123
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Laohakunakorn N, Grasemann L, Lavickova B, Michielin G, Shahein A, Swank Z, Maerkl SJ. Bottom-Up Construction of Complex Biomolecular Systems With Cell-Free Synthetic Biology. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:213. [PMID: 32266240 PMCID: PMC7105575 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-free systems offer a promising approach to engineer biology since their open nature allows for well-controlled and characterized reaction conditions. In this review, we discuss the history and recent developments in engineering recombinant and crude extract systems, as well as breakthroughs in enabling technologies, that have facilitated increased throughput, compartmentalization, and spatial control of cell-free protein synthesis reactions. Combined with a deeper understanding of the cell-free systems themselves, these advances improve our ability to address a range of scientific questions. By mastering control of the cell-free platform, we will be in a position to construct increasingly complex biomolecular systems, and approach natural biological complexity in a bottom-up manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadanai Laohakunakorn
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry, and Biotechnology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Grasemann
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbora Lavickova
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Grégoire Michielin
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Amir Shahein
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Zoe Swank
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sebastian J. Maerkl
- School of Engineering, Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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124
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Fabris M, Abbriano RM, Pernice M, Sutherland DL, Commault AS, Hall CC, Labeeuw L, McCauley JI, Kuzhiuparambil U, Ray P, Kahlke T, Ralph PJ. Emerging Technologies in Algal Biotechnology: Toward the Establishment of a Sustainable, Algae-Based Bioeconomy. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:279. [PMID: 32256509 PMCID: PMC7090149 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Mankind has recognized the value of land plants as renewable sources of food, medicine, and materials for millennia. Throughout human history, agricultural methods were continuously modified and improved to meet the changing needs of civilization. Today, our rapidly growing population requires further innovation to address the practical limitations and serious environmental concerns associated with current industrial and agricultural practices. Microalgae are a diverse group of unicellular photosynthetic organisms that are emerging as next-generation resources with the potential to address urgent industrial and agricultural demands. The extensive biological diversity of algae can be leveraged to produce a wealth of valuable bioproducts, either naturally or via genetic manipulation. Microalgae additionally possess a set of intrinsic advantages, such as low production costs, no requirement for arable land, and the capacity to grow rapidly in both large-scale outdoor systems and scalable, fully contained photobioreactors. Here, we review technical advancements, novel fields of application, and products in the field of algal biotechnology to illustrate how algae could present high-tech, low-cost, and environmentally friendly solutions to many current and future needs of our society. We discuss how emerging technologies such as synthetic biology, high-throughput phenomics, and the application of internet of things (IoT) automation to algal manufacturing technology can advance the understanding of algal biology and, ultimately, drive the establishment of an algal-based bioeconomy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Fabris
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Raffaela M. Abbriano
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Mathieu Pernice
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Donna L. Sutherland
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Audrey S. Commault
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Christopher C. Hall
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Leen Labeeuw
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Janice I. McCauley
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Parijat Ray
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Tim Kahlke
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter J. Ralph
- Climate Change Cluster (C3), University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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125
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Weynberg KD, Jaschke PR. Building Better Bacteriophage with Biofoundries to Combat Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria. PHAGE (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2020; 1:23-26. [PMID: 36147618 PMCID: PMC9041446 DOI: 10.1089/phage.2019.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Resistance to antibiotics is an escalating global crisis, presenting a major health, social, and economic burden. An underexplored alternative to antibiotic treatment is phage therapy whereby bacteriophages are used to infect and kill pathogenic multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. A primary challenge is the highly specific infectivity range of phages that can limit their ability to infect across different bacterial strains. Synthetic biology can enable the design, modification, and synthesis of phages with improved antimicrobial performance and efficacy to help realize novel strategies to study and treat bacterial infectious diseases, including those caused by MDR pathogens. In this perspective article, we discuss the potential for an innovative synthetic biology approach to enhance phage therapeutics and the role a biofoundry can play in bringing phage therapy to fruition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen D. Weynberg
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, CSIRO Future Science Platform, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul R. Jaschke
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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126
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A Dixon T, C Curach N, Pretorius IS. Bio-informational futures: The convergence of artificial intelligence and synthetic biology. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e50036. [PMID: 32043291 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202050036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology and artificial intelligence naturally converge in the biofoundry. Navigating the ethical and societal issues of the biofoundry's potential remains a major challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thom A Dixon
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Natalie C Curach
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Bioplatforms Australia, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Isak S Pretorius
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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127
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Kim H. AI, big data, and robots for the evolution of biotechnology. Genomics Inform 2020; 17:e44. [PMID: 31896244 PMCID: PMC6944054 DOI: 10.5808/gi.2019.17.4.e44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and ubiquitous robotic companions —the three most notable technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution—are receiving renewed attention each day. Technologies that can be experienced in daily life, such as autonomous navigation, real-time translators, and voice recognition services, are already being commercialized in the field of information technology. In the biosciences field in Korea, such technologies have become known to the local public with the introduction of the AI doctor Watson in large number of hospitals. Additionally, AlphaFold, a technology resembling the AI AlphaGo for the game Go, has surpassed the limit on protein folding predictions—the most challenging problems in the field of protein biology. This report discusses the significance of AI technology and big data on the bioscience field. The introduction of automated robots in this field is not just only for the purpose of convenience but a prerequisite for the real sense of AI and the consequent accumulation of basic scientific knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haseong Kim
- Synthetic Biology and Bioengineering Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon 34141, Korea.,Biosystems and Bioengineering Program, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
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Diego-Martin B, González B, Vazquez-Vilar M, Selma S, Mateos-Fernández R, Gianoglio S, Fernández-del-Carmen A, Orzáez D. Pilot Production of SARS-CoV-2 Related Proteins in Plants: A Proof of Concept for Rapid Repurposing of Indoor Farms Into Biomanufacturing Facilities. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:612781. [PMID: 33424908 PMCID: PMC7785703 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.612781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The current CoVid-19 crisis is revealing the strengths and the weaknesses of the world's capacity to respond to a global health crisis. A critical weakness has resulted from the excessive centralization of the current biomanufacturing capacities, a matter of great concern, if not a source of nationalistic tensions. On the positive side, scientific data and information have been shared at an unprecedented speed fuelled by the preprint phenomena, and this has considerably strengthened our ability to develop new technology-based solutions. In this work, we explore how, in a context of rapid exchange of scientific information, plant biofactories can serve as a rapid and easily adaptable solution for local manufacturing of bioreagents, more specifically recombinant antibodies. For this purpose, we tested our ability to produce, in the framework of an academic lab and in a matter of weeks, milligram amounts of six different recombinant monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Nicotiana benthamiana. For the design of the antibodies, we took advantage, among other data sources, of the DNA sequence information made rapidly available by other groups in preprint publications. mAbs were engineered as single-chain fragments fused to a human gamma Fc and transiently expressed using a viral vector. In parallel, we also produced the recombinant SARS-CoV-2 N protein and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the Spike protein in planta and used them to test the binding specificity of the recombinant mAbs. Finally, for two of the antibodies, we assayed a simple scale-up production protocol based on the extraction of apoplastic fluid. Our results indicate that gram amounts of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies could be easily produced in little more than 6 weeks in repurposed greenhouses with little infrastructure requirements using N. benthamiana as production platform. Similar procedures could be easily deployed to produce diagnostic reagents and, eventually, could be adapted for rapid therapeutic responses.
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Wurtzel ET, Vickers CE, Hanson AD, Millar AH, Cooper M, Voss-Fels KP, Nikel PI, Erb TJ. Revolutionizing agriculture with synthetic biology. NATURE PLANTS 2019; 5:1207-1210. [PMID: 31740769 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-019-0539-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is here to stay and will transform agriculture if given the chance. The huge challenges facing food, fuel and chemical production make it vital to give synthetic biology that chance-notwithstanding the shifts in mindset, training and infrastructure investment this demands. Here, we assess opportunities for agricultural synthetic biology and ways to remove barriers to their realization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanore T Wurtzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Lehman College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA.
- Graduate School and University Center-CUNY, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Claudia E Vickers
- CSIRO Synthetic Biology Future Science Platform, Canberra, Australia.
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - A Harvey Millar
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mark Cooper
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Kai P Voss-Fels
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture & Food Innovation, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pablo I Nikel
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tobias J Erb
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry & Synthetic Metabolism, Marburg, Germany
- LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology, Marburg, Germany
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Synthetic biology industry: data-driven design is creating new opportunities in biotechnology. Emerg Top Life Sci 2019; 3:651-657. [PMID: 33523172 PMCID: PMC7289019 DOI: 10.1042/etls20190040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is a rapidly emerging interdisciplinary research field that is primarily built upon foundational advances in molecular biology combined with engineering design. The field considers living systems as programmable at the genetic level and has been defined by the development of new platform technologies. This has spurned a rapid growth in start-up companies and the new synthetic biology industry is growing rapidly, with start-up companies receiving ∼$6.1B investment since 2015 and a global synthetic biology market value estimated to be $14B by 2026. Many of the new start-ups can be grouped within a multi-layer ‘technology stack’. The ‘stack’ comprises a number of technology layers which together can be applied to a diversity of new biotechnology applications like consumer biotechnology products and living therapies. The ‘stack’ also enables new commercial opportunities and value chains similar to the software design and manufacturing revolution of the 20th century. However, the synthetic biology industry is at a crucial point, as it now requires recognisable commercial successes in order for the industry to expand and scale, in terms of investment and companies. However, such expansion may directly challenge the ethos of synthetic biology, in terms of open technology sharing and democratisation, which could unintentionally lead to multi-national corporations and technology monopolies similar to the existing biotechnology/biopharma industry.
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