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Liu F, Zhang Y, Shen W, Wu Z, Yang J, Zhang Y, Li J, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Yuan Z. Boron induced multiple quorum-sensing circuits in parallel to assist in anaerobic digestion recovery from volatile fatty acids accumulation. CHEMOSPHERE 2024:142640. [PMID: 38901697 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Exogenous quorum sensing (QS) molecular can regulate the activity and granulation process of anaerobic sludge in anaerobic digestion process, but would be impractical as a standalone operation. Here we demonstrated that application of 1 mg·L-1 boric acid assisted in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor recovery from volatile fatty acids (VFAs) accumulation. After VFAs accumulation, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal suddenly reduced from 78.98% to 55.86%. The relative abundance of acetoclastic methanogens decreased from 55.79%∼68.28% to 23.14%∼25.41%, and lead to the acetate accumulate as high as 1317.03 mg·L-1. Granular sludge disintegrated and the average size of sludge decreased to 586.38±42.45 μm. Application of 1 mg·L-1 boric acid activated the interspecies QS signal (AI-2) and then induced the secretion of intraspecies QS signal (N-acyl-homoserine lactones, AHLs). AHLs were then stimulated the growth of syntrophic acetate oxidizing bacteria and hydrogenotrophic methanogen. Moreover, the concentration of acetate decreased to 224.50 mg‧L-1, and the COD removal increased to 75.10% after application of 1 mg·L-1 boric acid. The activated AI-2 may induce multiple quorum-sensing circuits enhance the level of AI-2 and AHLs in parallel, and in turn assisted in anaerobic digestion recovery from VFAs accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqin Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Wenyan Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Zhenguo Wu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Jiale Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Jiuling Li
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yun Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
| | - Yupeng Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China.
| | - Zhiliang Yuan
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, No.63 Agricultural Road, Zhengzhou, 450002, China
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Wu J, Huang H, Wang L, Gao M, Meng S, Zou S, Feng Y, Feng Z, Zhu Z, Cao X, Li B, Kang G. A tailored series of engineered yeasts for the cell-dependent treatment of inflammatory bowel disease by rational butyrate supplementation. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2316575. [PMID: 38381494 PMCID: PMC10883098 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2316575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic disruption are considered essential characteristics in inflammatory bowel disorders (IBD). Reasonable butyrate supplementation can help patients regulate intestinal flora structure and promote mucosal repair. Here, to restore microbiota homeostasis and butyrate levels in the patient's intestines, we modified the genome of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to produce butyrate. We precisely regulated the relevant metabolic pathways to enable the yeast to produce sufficient butyrate in the intestine with uneven oxygen distribution. A series of engineered strains with different butyrate synthesis abilities was constructed to meet the needs of different patients, and the strongest can reach 1.8 g/L title of butyrate. Next, this series of strains was used to co-cultivate with gut microbiota collected from patients with mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis. After receiving treatment with engineered strains, the gut microbiota and the butyrate content have been regulated to varying degrees depending on the synthetic ability of the strain. The abundance of probiotics such as Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus increased, while the abundance of harmful bacteria like Candidatus Bacilloplasma decreased. Meanwhile, the series of butyrate-producing yeast significantly improved trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice by restoring butyrate content. Among the series of engineered yeasts, the strain with the second-highest butyrate synthesis ability showed the most significant regulatory and the best therapeutic effect on the gut microbiota from IBD patients and the colitis mouse model. This study confirmed the existence of a therapeutic window for IBD treatment by supplementing butyrate, and it is necessary to restore butyrate levels according to the actual situation of patients to restore intestinal flora.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Wu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - He Huang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengxue Gao
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuxian Meng
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shaolan Zou
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanhang Feng
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zeling Feng
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhixin Zhu
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaocang Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Bingzhi Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangbo Kang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- Frontiers Research Institute for Synthetic Biology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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Chen X, Gao M, Wang L, Qiang G, Wu Y, Huang H, Kang G. A synthetic microbial consortium protects against obesity by regulating vitamin B6 metabolism. Gut Microbes 2024; 16:2304901. [PMID: 38269591 PMCID: PMC10813659 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2024.2304901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Constructing synthetic microbial consortia is a challenging task but holds enormous potential for various applications. Our previous droplet-based microfluidic approach allowed for the isolation of bacteria that could utilize metabolites from an engineered bacterium BsS-RS06551 with anti-obesity potential, facilitating the construction of synthetic microbial consortia. Here, we identified a strain of Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum JJ3 that interacted with BsS-RS06551, and in vitro coculture showed that BsS-RS06551 was likely to interact with JJ3 through five dipeptides. Pathway analysis revealed that the vitamin B6 metabolism pathway was enriched in the coculture of BsS-RS06551 and JJ3 compared with the individual culture of BsS-RS06551. Additionally, we confirmed that the administration of JJ3 significantly alleviated obesity and related disorders in mice fed a high-fat diet. Notably, continuous ingestion of the synthetic microbial consortium comprising BsS-RS06551 and JJ3 not only exhibited a more pronounced impact on alleviating obesity compared to the individual administration of BsS-RS06551 or JJ3 but also enriched the population of Bifidobacterium longum and perturbed the vitamin B6 metabolism pathway in the gut. Synthetic microbial consortia represent a promising frontier for synthetic biology, and our strategy provides guidance for constructing and applying such consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuzhao Chen
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Mengxue Gao
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guifen Qiang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College and Beijing Key Laboratory of Drug Target and Screening Research, Beijing, China
| | - Yili Wu
- Oujiang Laboratory, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - He Huang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Guangbo Kang
- Frontiers Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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Su Y, Ding T. Targeting microbial quorum sensing: the next frontier to hinder bacterial driven gastrointestinal infections. Gut Microbes 2023; 15:2252780. [PMID: 37680117 PMCID: PMC10486307 DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2023.2252780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteria synchronize social behaviors via a cell-cell communication and interaction mechanism termed as quorum sensing (QS). QS has been extensively studied in monocultures and proved to be intensively involved in bacterial virulence and infection. Despite the role QS plays in pathogens during laboratory engineered infections has been proved, the potential functions of QS related to pathogenesis in context of microbial consortia remain poorly understood. In this review, we summarize the basic molecular mechanisms of QS, primarily focusing on pathogenic microbes driving gastrointestinal (GI) infections. We further discuss how GI pathogens disequilibrate the homeostasis of the indigenous microbial consortia, rebuild a realm dominated by pathogens, and interact with host under worsening infectious conditions via pathogen-biased QS signaling. Additionally, we present recent applications and main challenges of manipulating QS network in microbial consortia with the goal of better understanding GI bacterial sociality and facilitating novel therapies targeting bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Su
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Guangzhou, China
| | - Tao Ding
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-Sen University), Guangzhou, China
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5
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Yuan P, Xu M, Mao C, Zheng H, Sun D. Dynamically Regulating Glucose Uptake to Reduce Overflow Metabolism with a Quorum-Sensing Circuit for the Efficient Synthesis of d-Pantothenic Acid in Bacillus subtilis. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:2983-2995. [PMID: 37664894 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
In response to a high concentration of glucose, Bacillus subtilis, a microbial chassis for producing many industrial metabolites, rapidly takes up glucose using the phosphotransferase system (PTS), leading to overflow metabolism, a common phenomenon observed in many bacteria. Although overflow metabolism affects cell growth and reduces the production of many metabolites, effective strategies that reduce overflow metabolism while maintaining normal cell growth remain to be developed. Here, we used a quorum sensing (QS)-mediated circuit to tune the glucose uptake rate and thereby relieve overflow metabolism in an engineered B. subtilis for producing d-pantothenic acid (DPA). A low-efficiency non-PTS system was used for glucose uptake at the early growth stages to avoid a rapid glycolytic flux, while an efficient PTS system, which was activated by a QS circuit, was automatically activated at the late growth stages after surpassing a threshold cell density. This strategy was successfully applied as a modular metabolic engineering process for the high production of DPA. By enhancing the translation levels of key enzymes (3-methyl-2-oxobutanoate hydroxymethytransferase, pantothenate synthetase, aspartate 1-decarboxylase proenzyme, 2-dehydropantoate 2-reductase, dihydroxy-acid dehydratase, and acetolactate synthase) with engineered 5'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs, the metabolic flux was promoted in the direction of DPA production, elevating the yield of DPA to 5.11 g/L in shake flasks. Finally, the engineered B. subtilis produced 21.52 g/L of DPA in fed-batch fermentations. Our work not only revealed a new strategy for reducing overflow metabolism by adjusting the glucose uptake rate in combination with promoting the translation of key metabolic enzymes through engineering the 5'-UTR of mRNAs but also showed its power in promoting the bioproduction of DPA in B. subtilis, exhibiting promising application prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panhong Yuan
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mengtao Xu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengyao Mao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Han Zheng
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dongchang Sun
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China
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