1
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Canadell D, Ortiz-Vaquerizas N, Mogas-Diez S, de Nadal E, Macia J, Posas F. Implementing re-configurable biological computation with distributed multicellular consortia. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:12578-12595. [PMID: 36454021 PMCID: PMC9757037 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac1120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of synthetic biological circuits to deal with numerous biological challenges has been proposed in several studies, but its implementation is still remote. A major problem encountered is the complexity of the cellular engineering needed to achieve complex biological circuits and the lack of general-purpose biological systems. The generation of re-programmable circuits can increase circuit flexibility and the scalability of complex cell-based computing devices. Here we present a new architecture to produce reprogrammable biological circuits that allow the development of a variety of different functions with minimal cell engineering. We demonstrate the feasibility of creating several circuits using only a small set of engineered cells, which can be externally reprogrammed to implement simple logics in response to specific inputs. In this regard, depending on the computation needs, a device composed of a number of defined cells can generate a variety of circuits without the need of further cell engineering or rearrangements. In addition, the inclusion of a memory module in the circuits strongly improved the digital response of the devices. The reprogrammability of biological circuits is an intrinsic capacity that is not provided in electronics and it may be used as a tool to solve complex biological problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Canadell
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain,Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicolás Ortiz-Vaquerizas
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona 08028, Spain,Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sira Mogas-Diez
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain,Synthetic Biology for Biomedical Applications Group, Department of Medicine and Life Sciences (MELIS), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eulàlia de Nadal
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Eulàlia de Nadal. Tel: +34 93 40 39895;
| | - Javier Macia
- Correspondence may also be addressed to Javier Macia. Tel: +34 93 316 05 39;
| | - Francesc Posas
- To whom correspondence should be addressed. Tel: +34 93 40 37110;
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2
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Bonforti A, Solé R. Unicellular-multicellular evolutionary branching driven by resource limitations. J R Soc Interface 2022; 19:20220018. [PMID: 35642429 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2022.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Multicellular life forms have evolved many times on our planet, suggesting that this is a common evolutionary innovation. Multiple advantages have been proposed for the emergence of multicellularity (MC). In this paper, we address the problem of how the first precondition for MC, namely 'stay together', might have occurred under spatially limited resources exploited by a population of unicellular agents. Using a minimal model of evolved cell-cell adhesion among growing and dividing cells that exploit a localized resource with a given size, we show that a transition occurs at a critical resource size separating a phase of evolved multicellular aggregates from a phase where unicellularity (UC) is favoured. The two phases are separated by an intermediate domain where both UC and MC can be selected by evolution. This model provides a minimal approach to the early stages that were required to transition from individuality to cohesive groups of cells associated with a physical cooperative effect: when resources are present only in a localized portion of the habitat, MC is a desirable property as it helps cells to keep close to the available local nutrients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriano Bonforti
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, UPF-PRBB, Dr. Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF, Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Solé
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, UPF-PRBB, Dr. Aiguader 80, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF, Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.,Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
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3
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Wang Y, Xue P, Cao M, Yu T, Lane ST, Zhao H. Directed Evolution: Methodologies and Applications. Chem Rev 2021; 121:12384-12444. [PMID: 34297541 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 184] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Directed evolution aims to expedite the natural evolution process of biological molecules and systems in a test tube through iterative rounds of gene diversifications and library screening/selection. It has become one of the most powerful and widespread tools for engineering improved or novel functions in proteins, metabolic pathways, and even whole genomes. This review describes the commonly used gene diversification strategies, screening/selection methods, and recently developed continuous evolution strategies for directed evolution. Moreover, we highlight some representative applications of directed evolution in engineering nucleic acids, proteins, pathways, genetic circuits, viruses, and whole cells. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives in directed evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Wang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Pu Xue
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Mingfeng Cao
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Tianhao Yu
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Stephan T Lane
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Huimin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States.,Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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4
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Wu S, Xu C, Liu J, Liu C, Qiao J. Vertical and horizontal quorum-sensing-based multicellular communications. Trends Microbiol 2021; 29:1130-1142. [PMID: 34020859 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2021.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) plays an important role in both natural and synthetic microbial systems. The complexity of QS entails multilayer controls, biomolecular crosstalk, and population-based interactions. In this review, we divide complex QS-based interactions into vertical and horizontal interactions. With respect to the former, we discuss QS-based interactions among phages, bacteria, and hosts in natural microbial systems, which are based on various QS signals and hormones. With regard to the latter, we highlight manipulations of QS-based interactions for multicomponent synthetic microbial consortia. We further present the recent and emerging applications of manipulating these interactions (collectively referred to as 'QS communication networks') in natural and synthetic microbiota. Finally, we identify key challenges in engineering diverse QS communication networks for various future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengbo Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Chengyang Xu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education (Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jiaheng Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education (Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Chunjiang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China.
| | - Jianjun Qiao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China; Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education (Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300072, China.
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5
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Patel K, Rodriguez C, Stabb EV, Hagen SJ. Spatially propagating activation of quorum sensing in Vibrio fischeri and the transition to low population density. Phys Rev E 2020; 101:062421. [PMID: 32688581 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.101.062421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria communicate by secreting and detecting diffusible small molecule signals or pheromones. Using the local concentrations of these signals to regulate gene expression, individual cells can synchronize changes in phenotype population-wide, a behavior known as quorum sensing (QS). In unstirred media, the interplay between diffusion of signals, bacterial growth, and regulatory feedback can generate complex spatial and temporal patterns of expression of QS-controlled genes. Here we identify the parameters that allow a local signal to trigger a self-sustaining, traveling activation of QS behavior. Using the natural bioluminescence of wild-type Vibrio fischeri as a readout of its lux QS system, we measure the induction of a spreading QS response by a localized triggering stimulus in unstirred media. Our data show that a QS response propagates outward, sustained by positive feedback in synthesis of the diffusible signal, and that this response occurs only if the triggering stimulus exceeds a critical threshold. We also test how the autonomous or untriggered activation of the V. fischeri QS pathway changes at very low initial population densities. At the lowest population densities, clusters of cells do not transition to a self-sensing behavior, but rather remain in communication via signal diffusion until they reach sufficiently large size that their own growth slows. Our data, which are reproduced by simple growth and diffusion simulations, indicate that in part owing to bacterial growth behavior, natural QS systems can be characterized by long distance communication through signal diffusion even in very heterogeneous and spatially dispersed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keval Patel
- Physics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-8440, USA
| | - Coralis Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
| | - Eric V Stabb
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Stephen J Hagen
- Physics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611-8440, USA
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6
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Wu S, Liu J, Liu C, Yang A, Qiao J. Quorum sensing for population-level control of bacteria and potential therapeutic applications. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1319-1343. [PMID: 31612240 PMCID: PMC11104945 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03326-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 09/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS), a microbial cell-to-cell communication process, dynamically regulates a variety of metabolism and physiological activities. In this review, we provide an update on QS applications based on autoinducer molecules including acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), auto-inducing peptides (AIPs), autoinducer 2 (AI-2) and indole in population-level control of bacteria, and highlight the potential in developing novel clinical therapies. We summarize the development in the combination of various genetic circuits such as genetic oscillators, toggle switches and logic gates with AHL-based QS devices in Gram-negative bacteria. An overview is then offered to the state-of-the-art of much less researched applications of AIP-based QS devices with Gram-positive bacteria, followed by a review of the applications of AI-2 and indole based QS for interspecies communication among microbial communities. Building on these general-purpose QS applications, we highlight the disruptions and manipulations of QS devices as potential clinical therapies for diseases caused by biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance and the phage invasion. The last part of reviewed literature is dedicated to mathematical modelling for QS applications. Finally, the key challenges and future perspectives of QS applications in monoclonal synthetic biology and synthetic ecology are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengbo Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Jiaheng Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education (Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Chunjiang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Aidong Yang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PJ, UK.
| | - Jianjun Qiao
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin, 300072, China.
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education (Tianjin University), Tianjin, 300072, China.
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7
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Synthetic microbial consortia for biosynthesis and biodegradation: promises and challenges. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 46:1343-1358. [PMID: 31278525 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-019-02211-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Functional differentiation and metabolite exchange enable microbial consortia to perform complex metabolic tasks and efficiently cycle the nutrients. Inspired by the cooperative relationships in environmental microbial consortia, synthetic microbial consortia have great promise for studying the microbial interactions in nature and more importantly for various engineering applications. However, challenges coexist with promises, and the potential of consortium-based technologies is far from being fully harnessed. Thorough understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of microbial interactions is greatly needed for the rational design and optimization of defined consortia. These knowledge gaps could be potentially filled with the assistance of the ongoing revolution in systems biology and synthetic biology tools. As current fundamental and technical obstacles down the road being removed, we would expect new avenues with synthetic microbial consortia playing important roles in biological and environmental engineering processes such as bioproduction of desired chemicals and fuels, as well as biodegradation of persistent contaminants.
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8
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Osmekhina E, Jonkergouw C, Schmidt G, Jahangiri F, Jokinen V, Franssila S, Linder MB. Controlled communication between physically separated bacterial populations in a microfluidic device. Commun Biol 2018; 1:97. [PMID: 30271977 PMCID: PMC6123784 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-018-0102-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The engineering of microbial systems increasingly strives to achieve a co-existence and co-functioning of different populations. By creating interactions, one can utilize combinations of cells where each population has a specialized function, such as regulation or sharing of metabolic burden. Here we describe a microfluidic system that enables long-term and independent growth of fixed and distinctly separate microbial populations, while allowing communication through a thin nano-cellulose filter. Using quorum-sensing signaling, we can couple the populations and show that this leads to a rapid and stable connection over long periods of time. We continue to show that this control over communication can be utilized to drive nonlinear responses. The coupling of separate populations, standardized interaction, and context-independent function lay the foundation for the construction of increasingly complex community-wide dynamic genetic regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Osmekhina
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Christopher Jonkergouw
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Georg Schmidt
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Farzin Jahangiri
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Ville Jokinen
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Sami Franssila
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, School of Chemical Engineering, 02150, Espoo, Finland
| | - Markus B Linder
- Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, 02150, Espoo, Finland.
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9
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Volke DC, Nikel PI. Getting Bacteria in Shape: Synthetic Morphology Approaches for the Design of Efficient Microbial Cell Factories. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201800111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C. Volke
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability; Technical University of Denmark; Kemitorvet 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
| | - Pablo I. Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability; Technical University of Denmark; Kemitorvet 2800 Kgs. Lyngby Denmark
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10
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Dolinšek J, Goldschmidt F, Johnson DR. Synthetic microbial ecology and the dynamic interplay between microbial genotypes. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2018; 40:961-979. [PMID: 28201744 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Assemblages of microbial genotypes growing together can display surprisingly complex and unexpected dynamics and result in community-level functions and behaviors that are not readily expected from analyzing each genotype in isolation. This complexity has, at least in part, inspired a discipline of synthetic microbial ecology. Synthetic microbial ecology focuses on designing, building and analyzing the dynamic behavior of ‘ecological circuits’ (i.e. a set of interacting microbial genotypes) and understanding how community-level properties emerge as a consequence of those interactions. In this review, we discuss typical objectives of synthetic microbial ecology and the main advantages and rationales of using synthetic microbial assemblages. We then summarize recent findings of current synthetic microbial ecology investigations. In particular, we focus on the causes and consequences of the interplay between different microbial genotypes and illustrate how simple interactions can create complex dynamics and promote unexpected community-level properties. We finally propose that distinguishing between active and passive interactions and accounting for the pervasiveness of competition can improve existing frameworks for designing and predicting the dynamics of microbial assemblages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Dolinšek
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Felix Goldschmidt
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - David R Johnson
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Dübendorf, Switzerland
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11
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Chait R, Ruess J, Bergmiller T, Tkačik G, Guet CC. Shaping bacterial population behavior through computer-interfaced control of individual cells. Nat Commun 2017; 8:1535. [PMID: 29142298 PMCID: PMC5688142 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01683-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteria in groups vary individually, and interact with other bacteria and the environment to produce population-level patterns of gene expression. Investigating such behavior in detail requires measuring and controlling populations at the single-cell level alongside precisely specified interactions and environmental characteristics. Here we present an automated, programmable platform that combines image-based gene expression and growth measurements with on-line optogenetic expression control for hundreds of individual Escherichia coli cells over days, in a dynamically adjustable environment. This integrated platform broadly enables experiments that bridge individual and population behaviors. We demonstrate: (i) population structuring by independent closed-loop control of gene expression in many individual cells, (ii) cell–cell variation control during antibiotic perturbation, (iii) hybrid bio-digital circuits in single cells, and freely specifiable digital communication between individual bacteria. These examples showcase the potential for real-time integration of theoretical models with measurement and control of many individual cells to investigate and engineer microbial population behavior. Individual bacteria interact with each other and their environment to produce population-level patterns of gene expression. Here the authors use an automated platform combined with optogenetic feedback to manipulate population behaviors through dynamic control of individual cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remy Chait
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
| | - Jakob Ruess
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria.,Inria Saclay, Ile-de-France, Palaiseau, 91120, France.,Institut Pasteur, 75724, Paris Cedex 15, France
| | - Tobias Bergmiller
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
| | - Gašper Tkačik
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria
| | - Călin C Guet
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg, 3400, Austria.
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12
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Duran-Nebreda S, Bonforti A, Montañez R, Valverde S, Solé R. Emergence of proto-organisms from bistable stochastic differentiation and adhesion. J R Soc Interface 2016; 13:rsif.2016.0108. [PMID: 27053655 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The rise of multicellularity in the early evolution of life represents a major challenge for evolutionary biology. Guidance for finding answers has emerged from disparate fields, from phylogenetics to modelling and synthetic biology, but little is known about the potential origins of multicellular aggregates before genetic programmes took full control of developmental processes. Such aggregates should involve spatial organization of differentiated cells and the modification of flows and concentrations of metabolites within well-defined boundaries. Here, we show that, in an environment where limited nutrients and toxic metabolites are introduced, a population of cells capable of stochastic differentiation and differential adhesion can develop into multicellular aggregates with conflict mediation mechanisms and a complex internal structure. The morphospace of possible patterns is shown to be very rich, including proto-organisms that display a high degree of organizational complexity, far beyond simple heterogeneous populations of cells. Our findings reveal that there is a potentially enormous richness of organismal complexity between simple mixed cooperators and embodied living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salva Duran-Nebreda
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, UPF-CSIC, Psg Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adriano Bonforti
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, UPF-CSIC, Psg Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raúl Montañez
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, UPF-CSIC, Psg Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Valverde
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, UPF-CSIC, Psg Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Solé
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, UPF-CSIC, Psg Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
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13
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Abstract
The power of a single engineered organism is limited by its capacity for genetic modification. To circumvent the constraints of any singular microbe, a new frontier in synthetic biology is emerging: synthetic ecology, or the engineering of microbial consortia. Here we develop communication systems for such consortia in an effort to allow for complex social behavior across different members of a community. We posit that such communities will outpace monocultures in their ability to perform complicated tasks if communication among and between members of the community is well regulated. Quorum sensing was identified as the most promising candidate for precise control of engineered microbial ecosystems, due to its large diversity and established utility in synthetic biology. Through promoter and protein modification, we engineered two quorum sensing systems (rpa and tra) to add to the extensively used lux and las systems. By testing the cross-talk between all systems, we thoroughly characterized many new inducible systems for versatile control of engineered communities. Furthermore, we've identified several system pairs that exhibit useful types of orthogonality. Most notably, the tra and rpa systems were shown to have neither signal crosstalk nor promoter crosstalk for each other, making them completely orthogonal in operation. Overall, by characterizing the interactions between all four systems and their components, these circuits should lend themselves to higher-level genetic circuitry for use in microbial consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Spencer R. Scott
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
| | - Jeff Hasty
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- Molecular Biology Section, Division of Biological Science, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
- BioCircuits Institute, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, United States
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14
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Solé R. Synthetic transitions: towards a new synthesis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2016; 371:20150438. [PMID: 27431516 PMCID: PMC4958932 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2015.0438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolution of life in our biosphere has been marked by several major innovations. Such major complexity shifts include the origin of cells, genetic codes or multicellularity to the emergence of non-genetic information, language or even consciousness. Understanding the nature and conditions for their rise and success is a major challenge for evolutionary biology. Along with data analysis, phylogenetic studies and dedicated experimental work, theoretical and computational studies are an essential part of this exploration. With the rise of synthetic biology, evolutionary robotics, artificial life and advanced simulations, novel perspectives to these problems have led to a rather interesting scenario, where not only the major transitions can be studied or even reproduced, but even new ones might be potentially identified. In both cases, transitions can be understood in terms of phase transitions, as defined in physics. Such mapping (if correct) would help in defining a general framework to establish a theory of major transitions, both natural and artificial. Here, we review some advances made at the crossroads between statistical physics, artificial life, synthetic biology and evolutionary robotics.This article is part of the themed issue 'The major synthetic evolutionary transitions'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricard Solé
- ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Dr Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Institut de Biologia Evolutiva, CSIC-UPF, Pg Maritim de la Barceloneta 37, 08003 Barcelona, Spain Santa Fe Institute, 1399 Hyde Park Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501, USA
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Macia J, Manzoni R, Conde N, Urrios A, de Nadal E, Solé R, Posas F. Implementation of Complex Biological Logic Circuits Using Spatially Distributed Multicellular Consortia. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1004685. [PMID: 26829588 PMCID: PMC4734778 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1004685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered synthetic biological devices have been designed to perform a variety of functions from sensing molecules and bioremediation to energy production and biomedicine. Notwithstanding, a major limitation of in vivo circuit implementation is the constraint associated to the use of standard methodologies for circuit design. Thus, future success of these devices depends on obtaining circuits with scalable complexity and reusable parts. Here we show how to build complex computational devices using multicellular consortia and space as key computational elements. This spatial modular design grants scalability since its general architecture is independent of the circuit’s complexity, minimizes wiring requirements and allows component reusability with minimal genetic engineering. The potential use of this approach is demonstrated by implementation of complex logical functions with up to six inputs, thus demonstrating the scalability and flexibility of this method. The potential implications of our results are outlined. Synthetic biological circuits have been built for different purposes. Nevertheless, the way these devices have been designed so far present several limitations: complex genetic engineering is required to implement complex circuits, and once the parts are built, they are not reusable. We proposed to distribute the computation in several cellular consortia that are physically separated, thus ensuring implementation of circuits independently of their complexity and using reusable components with minimal genetic engineering. This approach allows an easy implementation of multicellular computing devices for secretable inputs or biosensing purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Macia
- ICREA-Complex Systems Laboratory, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Romilde Manzoni
- Cell Signaling Research Group, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Conde
- ICREA-Complex Systems Laboratory, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Cell Signaling Research Group, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arturo Urrios
- Cell Signaling Research Group, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eulàlia de Nadal
- Cell Signaling Research Group, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ricard Solé
- ICREA-Complex Systems Laboratory, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- Santa Fe Institute, Santa Fe, New Mexico, United States of America
- * E-mail: (RS); (FP)
| | - Francesc Posas
- Cell Signaling Research Group, Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail: (RS); (FP)
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Artificial cell-cell communication as an emerging tool in synthetic biology applications. J Biol Eng 2015; 9:13. [PMID: 26265937 PMCID: PMC4531478 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-015-0011-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 07/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-cell communication is a widespread phenomenon in nature, ranging from bacterial quorum sensing and fungal pheromone communication to cellular crosstalk in multicellular eukaryotes. These communication modes offer the possibility to control the behavior of an entire community by modifying the performance of individual cells in specific ways. Synthetic biology, i.e., the implementation of artificial functions within biological systems, is a promising approach towards the engineering of sophisticated, autonomous devices based on specifically functionalized cells. With the growing complexity of the functions performed by such systems, both the risk of circuit crosstalk and the metabolic burden resulting from the expression of numerous foreign genes are increasing. Therefore, systems based on a single type of cells are no longer feasible. Synthetic biology approaches with multiple subpopulations of specifically functionalized cells, wired by artificial cell-cell communication systems, provide an attractive and powerful alternative. Here we review recent applications of synthetic cell-cell communication systems with a specific focus on recent advances with fungal hosts.
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Heng BC, Aubel D, Fussenegger M. Prosthetic gene networks as an alternative to standard pharmacotherapies for metabolic disorders. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2015; 35:37-45. [PMID: 25679308 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2015.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 01/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology makes inroads into clinical therapy with the debut of closed-loop prosthetic gene networks specifically designed to treat human diseases. Prosthetic networks are synthetic sensor/effector devices that could functionally integrate and interface with host metabolism to monitor disease states and coordinate appropriate therapeutic responses in a self-sufficient, timely and automatic manner. Prosthetic networks hold particular promise for the current global epidemic of closely interrelated metabolic disorders encompassing obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, which arise from the unhealthy lifestyle and dietary factors in the modern urbanised world. This review will critically examine the various attempts at constructing prosthetic gene networks for the treatment of these metabolic disorders, as well as provide insight into future developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boon Chin Heng
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sunway University, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Aubel
- IUTA Département Génie Biologique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Boulevard du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622 Villeurbanne Cedex, France
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland; Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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Goers L, Freemont P, Polizzi KM. Co-culture systems and technologies: taking synthetic biology to the next level. J R Soc Interface 2014; 11:rsif.2014.0065. [PMID: 24829281 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 343] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Co-culture techniques find myriad applications in biology for studying natural or synthetic interactions between cell populations. Such techniques are of great importance in synthetic biology, as multi-species cell consortia and other natural or synthetic ecology systems are widely seen to hold enormous potential for foundational research as well as novel industrial, medical and environmental applications with many proof-of-principle studies in recent years. What is needed for co-cultures to fulfil their potential? Cell-cell interactions in co-cultures are strongly influenced by the extracellular environment, which is determined by the experimental set-up, which therefore needs to be given careful consideration. An overview of existing experimental and theoretical co-culture set-ups in synthetic biology and adjacent fields is given here, and challenges and opportunities involved in such experiments are discussed. Greater focus on foundational technology developments for co-cultures is needed for many synthetic biology systems to realize their potential in both applications and answering biological questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Goers
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Paul Freemont
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Karen M Polizzi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK Centre for Synthetic Biology and Innovation, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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Kong W, Celik V, Liao C, Hua Q, Lu T. Programming the group behaviors of bacterial communities with synthetic cellular communication. BIORESOUR BIOPROCESS 2014. [DOI: 10.1186/s40643-014-0024-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Synthetic biology is a newly emerged research discipline that focuses on the engineering of novel cellular behaviors and functionalities through the creation of artificial gene circuits. One important class of synthetic circuits currently under active development concerns the programming of bacterial cellular communication and collective population-scale behaviors. Because of the ubiquity of cell-cell interactions within bacterial communities, having an ability of engineering these circuits is vital to programming robust cellular behaviors. Here, we highlight recent advances in communication-based synthetic gene circuits by first discussing natural communication systems and then surveying various functional engineered circuits, including those for population density control, temporal synchronization, spatial organization, and ecosystem formation. We conclude by summarizing recent advances, outlining existing challenges, and discussing potential applications and future opportunities.
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A yeast pheromone-based inter-species communication system. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 99:1299-308. [PMID: 25331280 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-6133-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2014] [Revised: 10/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/03/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
We report on a pheromone-based inter-species communication system, allowing for a controlled cell-cell communication between the two species Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a proof of principle. It exploits the mating response pathways of the two yeast species employing the pheromones, α- or P-factor, as signaling molecules. The authentic and chimeric pheromone-encoding genes were engineered to code for the P-factor in S. cerevisiae and the α-factor in S. pombe. Upon transformation of the respective constructs, cells were enabled to express the mating pheromone of the opposite species. The supernatant of cultures of S. pombe cells expressing α-factor were able to induce a G1 arrest in the cell cycle, a change in morphology to the typical shmoo effect and expression driven by the pheromone-responsive FIG1 promoter in S. cerevisiae. The supernatant of cultures of S. cerevisiae cells expressing P-factor similarly induced cell cycle arrest in G1, an alteration in morphology typical for mating as well as the activation of the pheromone-responsive promoters of the rep1 and sxa2 genes in a pheromone-hypersensitive reporter strain of S. pombe. Apparently, both heterologous pheromones were correctly processed and secreted in an active form by the cells of the other species. Our data clearly show that the species-specific pheromone systems of yeast species can be exploited for a controlled inter-species communication.
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Song H, Ding MZ, Jia XQ, Ma Q, Yuan YJ. Synthetic microbial consortia: from systematic analysis to construction and applications. Chem Soc Rev 2014; 43:6954-81. [PMID: 25017039 DOI: 10.1039/c4cs00114a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is an emerging research field that focuses on using rational engineering strategies to program biological systems, conferring on them new functions and behaviours. By developing genetic parts and devices based on transcriptional, translational, post-translational modules, many genetic circuits and metabolic pathways had been programmed in single cells. Extending engineering capabilities from single-cell behaviours to multicellular microbial consortia represents a new frontier of synthetic biology. Herein, we first reviewed binary interaction modes of microorganisms in microbial consortia and their underlying molecular mechanisms, which lay the foundation of programming cell-cell interactions in synthetic microbial consortia. Systems biology studies on cellular systems enable systematic understanding of diverse physiological processes of cells and their interactions, which in turn offer insights into the optimal design of synthetic consortia. Based on such fundamental understanding, a comprehensive array of synthetic microbial consortia constructed in the last decade were reviewed, including isogenic microbial communities programmed by quorum sensing-based cell-cell communications, sender-receiver microbial communities with one-way communications, and microbial ecosystems wired by two-way (bi-directional) communications. Furthermore, many applications including using synthetic microbial consortia for distributed bio-computations, chemicals and bioenergy production, medicine and human health, and environments were reviewed. Synergistic development of systems and synthetic biology will provide both a thorough understanding of naturally occurring microbial consortia and rational engineering of these complicated consortia for novel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Song
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, and Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, P. R. China.
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Ortiz-Marquez JCF, Do Nascimento M, Zehr JP, Curatti L. Genetic engineering of multispecies microbial cell factories as an alternative for bioenergy production. Trends Biotechnol 2013; 31:521-9. [PMID: 23791304 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2013.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2013] [Revised: 05/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
There is currently much interest in developing technology to use microlgae or cyanobacteria for the production of bioenergy and biomaterials. Here, we summarize some remarkable achievements in strains improvement by traditional genetic engineering and discuss common drawbacks for further progress. We present general knowledge on natural microalgal-bacterial mutualistic interactions and discuss the potential of recent developments in genetic engineering of multispecies microbial cell factories. This synthetic biology approach would rely on the assembly of complex metabolic networks from optimized metabolic modules such as photosynthetic or nitrogen-fixing parts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Cesar Federico Ortiz-Marquez
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Biotecnología - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Mar del Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Engineered cell-cell communication and its applications. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2013; 146:97-121. [PMID: 24002441 DOI: 10.1007/10_2013_249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Over the past several decades, biologists have become more appreciative of the fundamental role of intercellular communication in natural systems spanning prokaryotic biofilms to eukaryotic developmental systems and neurological networks. From an engineering perspective, the use of cell-cell communication provides an opportunity to engineer more complex and robust functions using cellular components. Indeed, this strategy has been adopted in synthetic biology in the creation of diverse gene circuits that program spatiotemporal dynamics in one or multiple populations. Gene circuits such as these may offer insights regarding basic biological questions and motifs or serve as a basis for novel applications.
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Schaerli Y, Isalan M. Building synthetic gene circuits from combinatorial libraries: screening and selection strategies. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2013; 9:1559-67. [DOI: 10.1039/c2mb25483b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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