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Chhun A, Moriano-Gutierrez S, Zoppi F, Cabirol A, Engel P, Schaerli Y. An engineered bacterial symbiont allows noninvasive biosensing of the honey bee gut environment. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002523. [PMID: 38442124 PMCID: PMC10914260 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
The honey bee is a powerful model system to probe host-gut microbiota interactions, and an important pollinator species for natural ecosystems and for agriculture. While bacterial biosensors can provide critical insight into the complex interplay occurring between a host and its associated microbiota, the lack of methods to noninvasively sample the gut content, and the limited genetic tools to engineer symbionts, have so far hindered their development in honey bees. Here, we built a versatile molecular tool kit to genetically modify symbionts and reported for the first time in the honey bee a technique to sample their feces. We reprogrammed the native bee gut bacterium Snodgrassella alvi as a biosensor for IPTG, with engineered cells that stably colonize the gut of honey bees and report exposure to the molecules in a dose-dependent manner through the expression of a fluorescent protein. We showed that fluorescence readout can be measured in the gut tissues or noninvasively in the feces. These tools and techniques will enable rapid building of engineered bacteria to answer fundamental questions in host-gut microbiota research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audam Chhun
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Florian Zoppi
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Amélie Cabirol
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Engel
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yolanda Schaerli
- Department of Fundamental Microbiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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2
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Arbel-Groissman M, Menuhin-Gruman I, Naki D, Bergman S, Tuller T. Fighting the battle against evolution: designing genetically modified organisms for evolutionary stability. Trends Biotechnol 2023; 41:1518-1531. [PMID: 37442714 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology has made significant progress in many areas, but a major challenge that has received limited attention is the evolutionary stability of synthetic constructs made of heterologous genes. The expression of these constructs in microorganisms, that is, production of proteins that are not necessary for the organism, is a metabolic burden, leading to a decrease in relative fitness and make the synthetic constructs unstable over time. This is a significant concern for the synthetic biology community, particularly when it comes to bringing this technology out of the laboratory. In this review, we discuss the issue of evolutionary stability in synthetic biology and review the available tools to address this challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Arbel-Groissman
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Itamar Menuhin-Gruman
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Doron Naki
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Shaked Bergman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Tamir Tuller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel; The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel.
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3
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Martinelli S, Nannini G, Cianchi F, Staderini F, Coratti F, Amedei A. Microbiota Transplant and Gynecological Disorders: The Bridge between Present and Future Treatments. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2407. [PMID: 37894065 PMCID: PMC10609601 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a procedure that involves transferring fecal bacteria from a healthy donor to a patients' intestines to restore gut-immunity homeostasis. While FMT was primarily supposed to treat gastrointestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome-and especially Clostridium difficile infection (currently the only used as clinical treatment)-recent research has suggested that it may also become a potential treatment for gynecological disorders, including endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). On the contrary, vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT) is a newer and less commonly used procedure than the FMT approach, and its potential applications are still being explored. It involves direct grafting of the entire vaginal microbiota of healthy women into the vaginal tract of patients to easily rebuild the local microbiota environment, restoring vaginal eubiosis and relieving symptoms. Like FMT, VMT is thought to have potential in treating different microbiota-related conditions. In fact, many gynecological disorders, such as bacterial vaginosis and vulvovaginal candidiasis, are thought to be caused by an imbalance in the vaginal microbiota. In this review, we will summarize the development, current challenges, and future perspectives of microbiota transplant, with the aim of exploring new strategies for its employment as a promising avenue for treating a broad range of gynecological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena Martinelli
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (G.N.); (F.C.); (F.S.); (F.C.)
| | - Giulia Nannini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (G.N.); (F.C.); (F.S.); (F.C.)
| | - Fabio Cianchi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (G.N.); (F.C.); (F.S.); (F.C.)
| | - Fabio Staderini
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (G.N.); (F.C.); (F.S.); (F.C.)
| | - Francesco Coratti
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (G.N.); (F.C.); (F.S.); (F.C.)
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (G.N.); (F.C.); (F.S.); (F.C.)
- SOD of Interdisciplinary Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Careggi (AOUC), 50139 Florence, Italy
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4
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Kim J, Atkinson C, Miller MJ, Kim KH, Jin YS. Microbiome Engineering Using Probiotic Yeast: Saccharomyces boulardii and the Secreted Human Lysozyme Lead to Changes in the Gut Microbiome and Metabolome of Mice. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0078023. [PMID: 37436157 PMCID: PMC10433837 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00780-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii has great potential for use as a chassis for microbiome engineering because of its high resistance to environmental stress, well-developed genetic tools, and the ability to secrete recombinant proteins in the intestine. As oral feeding of lysozyme has been reported to change the gut microbiome and fecal metabolites, we engineered S. boulardii to secrete human lysozyme, and investigated the changes in the microbiome and fecal metabolites in response to the administration of the engineered probiotic yeast into mice. Administration of S. boulardii changed the structure of the gut microbiome by promoting the growth of clostridia and increasing the diversity of strains. The human lysozyme secreted by S. boulardii in the intestine resulted in a unique gut microbiome structure through selective growth. In addition, the administration of probiotic yeast S. boulardii affected host energy metabolism and decreased blood urea and fructose levels, suggesting a mechanism of health benefits in mice. IMPORTANCE Our study identified changes in the microbiome by administering wild-type S. boulardii in mice to healthy mice based on long-read sequencing and demonstrated that a recombinant protein secreted by engineered S. boulardii in the intestine could change the microbiome. Our results provide valuable information for the development of therapeutics using engineered S. boulardii that changes the gut microbiome and host physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jungyeon Kim
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Christine Atkinson
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael J. Miller
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Kyoung Heon Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Su Jin
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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5
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Tanna T, Platt RJ. Microbial medics diagnose and treat gut inflammation. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:164-166. [PMID: 36758514 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Engineered microbes show potential for diagnosing and treating diseases. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Zou et al. develop an "intelligent" bacterial strain that detects and monitors an inflammation biomarker in the gut and responds by releasing an immunomodulator, thereby combining diagnosis and therapy for intestinal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanmay Tanna
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich; Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Computer Science, ETH Zurich; Universitätstrasse 6, 8092 Zurich Switzerland
| | - Randall J Platt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich; Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Botnar Research Center for Child Health, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland; NCCR MSE, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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6
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Zou ZP, Du Y, Fang TT, Zhou Y, Ye BC. Biomarker-responsive engineered probiotic diagnoses, records, and ameliorates inflammatory bowel disease in mice. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:199-212.e5. [PMID: 36758520 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Rapid advances in synthetic biology have fueled interest in engineered microorganisms that can diagnose and treat disease. However, designing bacteria that detect dynamic disease-associated biomarkers that then drive treatment remains difficult. Here, we have developed an engineered probiotic that noninvasively monitors and records inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) occurrence and progression in real time and can release treatments via a self-tunable mechanism in response to these biomarkers. These intelligent responsive bacteria for diagnosis and therapy (i-ROBOT) consists of E. coli Nissle 1917 that responds to levels of the inflammatory marker thiosulfate by activating a base-editing system to generate a heritable genomic DNA sequence as well as producing a colorimetric signal. Fluctuations in thiosulfate also drive the tunable release of the immunomodulator AvCystatin. Orally administering i-ROBOT to mice with colitis generated molecular recording signals in processed fecal and colon samples and effectively ameliorated disease. i-ROBOT provides a promising paradigm for gastrointestinal and other metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Ping Zou
- Laboratory of Biosystems and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Yue Du
- Laboratory of Biosystems and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ting-Ting Fang
- Laboratory of Biosystems and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Ying Zhou
- Laboratory of Biosystems and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Bang-Ce Ye
- Laboratory of Biosystems and Microanalysis, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China; Institute of Engineering Biology and Health, Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, Zhejiang, China.
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Hamidi Nia L, Claesen J. Engineered Cancer Targeting Microbes and Encapsulation Devices for Human Gut Microbiome Applications. Biochemistry 2022; 61:2841-2848. [PMID: 35868631 PMCID: PMC9785036 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The gut microbiota produce specialized metabolites that are important for maintaining host health homeostasis. Hence, unstable production of these metabolites can contribute to diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. While fecal transplantation or dietary modification approaches can be used to correct the gut microbial community's metabolic output, this Perspective focuses on the use of engineered bacteria. We highlight recent advances in bacterial synthetic biology approaches for the treatment of colorectal cancer and systemic tumors and discuss the functionality and biochemical properties of novel containment approaches using hydrogel-based and electronic devices. Synthetic circuitry refinement and incorporation of novel functional modules have enabled more targeted detection of colonic tumors and delivery of anticancer compounds inside the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, as well as the design of tumor-homing bacteria capable of recruiting infiltrating T cells. Engineering challenges in these applications include the stability of the genetic circuits, long-term engraftment of the chosen chassis, and containment of the synthetic microbes' activity to the diseased tissues. Hydrogels are well-suited to the encapsulationo of living organisms due to their matrix structure and tunable porosity. The matrix structure allows a dried hydrogel to collect and contain GI contents. Engineered bacteria that sense GI tract inflammation or tumors and release bioactive metabolites to the targeted area can be encapsulated. Electronic devices can be enabled with additional measuring and data processing capabilities. We expect that engineered devices will become more important in the containment and delivery of synthetic microbes for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layan Hamidi Nia
- Department
of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States,Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Cleveland State
University, Cleveland, Ohio 44115, United
States
| | - Jan Claesen
- Department
of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Lerner Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States,Center
for Microbiome and Human Health, Lerner
Research Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States,Department
of Molecular Medicine, Cleveland Clinic
Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44195, United States,
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8
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Fecal Microbiota Transplantation and Other Gut Microbiota Manipulation Strategies. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10122424. [PMID: 36557677 PMCID: PMC9781458 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10122424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The gut microbiota is composed of bacteria, archaea, phages, and protozoa. It is now well known that their mutual interactions and metabolism influence host organism pathophysiology. Over the years, there has been growing interest in the composition of the gut microbiota and intervention strategies in order to modulate it. Characterizing the gut microbial populations represents the first step to clarifying the impact on the health/illness equilibrium, and then developing potential tools suited for each clinical disorder. In this review, we discuss the current gut microbiota manipulation strategies available and their clinical applications in personalized medicine. Among them, FMT represents the most widely explored therapeutic tools as recent guidelines and standardization protocols, not only for intestinal disorders. On the other hand, the use of prebiotics and probiotics has evidence of encouraging findings on their safety, patient compliance, and inter-individual effectiveness. In recent years, avant-garde approaches have emerged, including engineered bacterial strains, phage therapy, and genome editing (CRISPR-Cas9), which require further investigation through clinical trials.
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9
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Willman J, Willman M, Reddy R, Fusco A, Sriram S, Mehkri Y, Charles J, Goeckeritz J, Lucke-Wold B. Gut microbiome and neurosurgery: Implications for treatment. CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL DISCOVERY 2022; 2:e139. [PMID: 36268259 PMCID: PMC9577538 DOI: 10.1002/ctd2.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The aim of this review is to summarize the current understanding of the gut-brain axis (GBA), its impact on neurosurgery, and its implications for future treatment. Background An abundance of research has established the existence of a collection of pathways between the gut microbiome and the central nervous system (CNS), commonly known as the GBA. Complicating this relationship, the gut microbiome bacterial diversity appears to change with age, antibiotic exposure and a number of external and internal factors. Methods In this paper, we present the current understanding of the key protective and deleterious roles the gut microbiome plays in the pathogenesis of several common neurosurgical concerns. Results Specifically, we examine how spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury and stroke may cause gut microbial dysbiosis. Furthermore, this link appears to be bidirectional as gut dysbiosis contributes to secondary CNS injury in each of these ailment settings. This toxic cycle may be broken, and the future secondary damage rescued by timely, therapeutic, gut microbiome modification. In addition, a robust gut microbiome appears to improve outcomes in brain tumour treatment. There are several primary routes by which microbiome dysbiosis may be ameliorated, including faecal microbiota transplant, oral probiotics, bacteriophages, genetic modification of gut microbiota and vagus nerve stimulation. Conclusion The GBA represents an important component of patient care in the field of neurosurgery. Future research may illuminate ideal methods of therapeutic microbiome modulation in distinct pathogenic settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Willman
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Matthew Willman
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ramya Reddy
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Anna Fusco
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Sai Sriram
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Yusuf Mehkri
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jude Charles
- Department of Neurosurgery, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Joel Goeckeritz
- College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Brandon Lucke-Wold
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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10
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Ma Z, Meliana C, Munawaroh HSH, Karaman C, Karimi-Maleh H, Low SS, Show PL. Recent advances in the analytical strategies of microbial biosensor for detection of pollutants. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 306:135515. [PMID: 35772520 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microbial biosensor which integrates different types of microorganisms, such as bacteria, microalgae, fungi, and virus have become suitable technologies to address limitations of conventional analytical methods. The main applications of biosensors include the detection of environmental pollutants, pathogenic bacteria and compounds related to illness, and food quality. Each type of microorganisms possesses advantages and disadvantages with different mechanisms to detect the analytes of interest. Furthermore, there is an increasing trend in genetic modifications for the development of microbial biosensors due to potential for high-throughput analysis and portability. Many review articles have discussed the applications of microbial biosensor, but many of them focusing only about bacterial-based biosensor although other microbes also possess many advantages. Additionally, reviews on the applications of all microbes as biosensor especially viral and microbial fuel cell biosensors are also still limited. Therefore, this review summarizes all the current applications of bacterial-, microalgal-, fungal-, viral-based biosensor in regard to environmental, food, and medical-related applications. The underlying mechanism of each microbes to detect the analytes are also discussed. Additionally, microbial fuel cell biosensors which have great potential in the future are also discussed. Although many advantageous microbial-based biosensors have been discovered, other areas such as forensic detection, early detection of bacteria or virus species that can lead to pandemics, and others still need further investigation. With that said, microbial-based biosensors have promising potential for vast applications where the biosensing performance of various microorganisms are presented in this review along with future perspectives to resolve problems related on microbial biosensors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zengling Ma
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Catarina Meliana
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Life Science, Indonesia International Institute of Life Sciences, Jakarta, 13210, Indonesia
| | - Heli Siti Halimatul Munawaroh
- Study Program of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry Education, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Jalan Dr. Setiabudhi 229, Bandung, 40154, Indonesia
| | - Ceren Karaman
- Akdeniz University, Department of Electricity and Energy, Antalya, 07070, Turkey
| | - Hassan Karimi-Maleh
- School of Resources and Environment, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, P.O. Box 611731, Xiyuan Ave, Chengdu, PR China; Department of Chemical Engineering and Energy, Quchan University of Technology, Quchan, 9477177870, Iran
| | - Sze Shin Low
- Research Centre of Life Science and Healthcare, China Beacons Institute, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, 199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo, 315100, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Pau Loke Show
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Subtropical Water Environment and Marine Biological Resources Protection, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou, 325035, China; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, 43500 Semenyih, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia.
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11
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Huang Y, Lin X, Yu S, Chen R, Chen W. Intestinal Engineered Probiotics as Living Therapeutics: Chassis Selection, Colonization Enhancement, Gene Circuit Design, and Biocontainment. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3134-3153. [PMID: 36094344 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal probiotics are often used for the in situ treatment of diseases, such as metabolic disorders, tumors, and chronic inflammatory infections. Recently, there has been an increased emphasis on intelligent, customized treatments with a focus on long-term efficacy; however, traditional probiotic therapy has not kept up with this trend. The use of synthetic biology to construct gut-engineered probiotics as live therapeutics is a promising avenue in the treatment of specific diseases, such as phenylketonuria and inflammatory bowel disease. These studies generally involve a series of fundamental design issues: choosing an engineered chassis, improving the colonization ability of engineered probiotics, designing functional gene circuits, and ensuring the safety of engineered probiotics. In this review, we summarize the relevant past research, the progress of current research, and discuss the key issues that restrict the widespread application of intestinal engineered probiotic living therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huang
- Team SZU-China at iGEM 2021, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xiaojun Lin
- Team SZU-China at iGEM 2021, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Siyang Yu
- Team SZU-China at iGEM 2021, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Ruiyue Chen
- Team SZU-China at iGEM 2021, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Weizhao Chen
- Team SZU-China at iGEM 2021, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.,Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Microbial Gene Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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12
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Al KF, Chmiel JA, Stuivenberg GA, Reid G, Burton JP. Long-Duration Space Travel Support Must Consider Wider Influences to Conserve Microbiota Composition and Function. LIFE (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:life12081163. [PMID: 36013342 PMCID: PMC9409767 DOI: 10.3390/life12081163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
The microbiota is important for immune modulation, nutrient acquisition, vitamin production, and other aspects for long-term human health. Isolated model organisms can lose microbial diversity over time and humans are likely the same. Decreasing microbial diversity and the subsequent loss of function may accelerate disease progression on Earth, and to an even greater degree in space. For this reason, maintaining a healthy microbiome during spaceflight has recently garnered consideration. Diet, lifestyle, and consumption of beneficial microbes can shape the microbiota, but the replenishment we attain from environmental exposure to microbes is important too. Probiotics, prebiotics, fermented foods, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and other methods of microbiota modulation currently available may be of benefit for shorter trips, but may not be viable options to overcome the unique challenges faced in long-term space travel. Novel fermented food products with particular impact on gut health, immune modulation, and other space-targeted health outcomes are worthy of exploration. Further consideration of potential microbial replenishment to humans, including from environmental sources to maintain a healthy microbiome, may also be required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kait F. Al
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (K.F.A.); (J.A.C.); (G.A.S.); (G.R.)
| | - John A. Chmiel
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (K.F.A.); (J.A.C.); (G.A.S.); (G.R.)
| | - Gerrit A. Stuivenberg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (K.F.A.); (J.A.C.); (G.A.S.); (G.R.)
| | - Gregor Reid
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (K.F.A.); (J.A.C.); (G.A.S.); (G.R.)
- Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
| | - Jeremy P. Burton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 3K7, Canada; (K.F.A.); (J.A.C.); (G.A.S.); (G.R.)
- Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
- Lawson Health Research Institute, London, ON N6A 4V2, Canada
- Correspondence:
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Yang L, Hung LY, Zhu Y, Ding S, Margolis KG, Leong KW. Material Engineering in Gut Microbiome and Human Health. RESEARCH (WASHINGTON, D.C.) 2022; 2022:9804014. [PMID: 35958108 PMCID: PMC9343081 DOI: 10.34133/2022/9804014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Tremendous progress has been made in the past decade regarding our understanding of the gut microbiome's role in human health. Currently, however, a comprehensive and focused review marrying the two distinct fields of gut microbiome and material research is lacking. To bridge the gap, the current paper discusses critical aspects of the rapidly emerging research topic of "material engineering in the gut microbiome and human health." By engaging scientists with diverse backgrounds in biomaterials, gut-microbiome axis, neuroscience, synthetic biology, tissue engineering, and biosensing in a dialogue, our goal is to accelerate the development of research tools for gut microbiome research and the development of therapeutics that target the gut microbiome. For this purpose, state-of-the-art knowledge is presented here on biomaterial technologies that facilitate the study, analysis, and manipulation of the gut microbiome, including intestinal organoids, gut-on-chip models, hydrogels for spatial mapping of gut microbiome compositions, microbiome biosensors, and oral bacteria delivery systems. In addition, a discussion is provided regarding the microbiome-gut-brain axis and the critical roles that biomaterials can play to investigate and regulate the axis. Lastly, perspectives are provided regarding future directions on how to develop and use novel biomaterials in gut microbiome research, as well as essential regulatory rules in clinical translation. In this way, we hope to inspire research into future biomaterial technologies to advance gut microbiome research and gut microbiome-based theragnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letao Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lin Y. Hung
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yuefei Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Suwan Ding
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kara G. Margolis
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kam W. Leong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Menuhin-Gruman I, Arbel M, Amitay N, Sionov K, Naki D, Katzir I, Edgar O, Bergman S, Tuller T. Evolutionary Stability Optimizer (ESO): A Novel Approach to Identify and Avoid Mutational Hotspots in DNA Sequences While Maintaining High Expression Levels. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1142-1151. [PMID: 34928133 PMCID: PMC8938948 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
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Modern
synthetic biology procedures rely on the ability to generate
stable genetic constructs that keep their functionality over long
periods of time. However, maintenance of these constructs requires
energy from the cell and thus reduces the host’s fitness. Natural
selection results in loss-of-functionality mutations that negate the
expression of the construct in the population. Current approaches
for the prevention of this phenomenon focus on either small-scale,
manual design of evolutionary stable constructs or the detection of
mutational sites with unstable tendencies. We designed the Evolutionary
Stability Optimizer (ESO), a software tool that enables the large-scale
automatic design of evolutionarily stable constructs with respect
to both mutational and epigenetic hotspots and allows users to define
custom hotspots to avoid. Furthermore, our tool takes the expression
of the input constructs into account by considering the guanine-cytosine
(GC) content and codon usage of the host organism, balancing the trade-off
between stability and gene expression, allowing to increase evolutionary
stability while maintaining the high expression. In this study, we
present the many features of the ESO and show that it accurately predicts
the evolutionary stability of endogenous genes. The ESO was created
as an easy-to-use, flexible platform based on the notion that directed
genetic stability research will continue to evolve and revolutionize
current applications of synthetic biology. The ESO is available at
the following link: https://www.cs.tau.ac.il/~tamirtul/ESO/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itamar Menuhin-Gruman
- School of Mathematical Sciences, The Raymond and Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Matan Arbel
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Niv Amitay
- School of Electrical Engineering, The Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Karin Sionov
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Doron Naki
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Itai Katzir
- Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Omer Edgar
- School of Medicine, The Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Shaked Bergman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
| | - Tamir Tuller
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel 6997801
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15
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Meiser LC, Nguyen BH, Chen YJ, Nivala J, Strauss K, Ceze L, Grass RN. Synthetic DNA applications in information technology. Nat Commun 2022; 13:352. [PMID: 35039502 PMCID: PMC8763860 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27846-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic DNA is a growing alternative to electronic-based technologies in fields such as data storage, product tagging, or signal processing. Its value lies in its characteristic attributes, namely Watson-Crick base pairing, array synthesis, sequencing, toehold displacement and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) capabilities. In this review, we provide an overview of the most prevalent applications of synthetic DNA that could shape the future of information technology. We emphasize the reasons why the biomolecule can be a valuable alternative for conventional electronic-based media, and give insights on where the DNA-analog technology stands with respect to its electronic counterparts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda C Meiser
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Jeff Nivala
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | | | - Luis Ceze
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Robert N Grass
- Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1, CH-8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
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16
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González-Delgado A, Mestre MR, Martínez-Abarca F, Toro N. Prokaryotic reverse transcriptases: from retroelements to specialized defense systems. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2021; 45:fuab025. [PMID: 33983378 PMCID: PMC8632793 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuab025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reverse transcriptases (RTs) catalyze the polymerization of DNA from an RNA template. These enzymes were first discovered in RNA tumor viruses in 1970, but it was not until 1989 that they were found in prokaryotes as a key component of retrons. Apart from RTs encoded by the 'selfish' mobile retroelements known as group II introns, prokaryotic RTs are extraordinarily diverse, but their function has remained elusive. However, recent studies have revealed that different lineages of prokaryotic RTs, including retrons, those associated with CRISPR-Cas systems, Abi-like RTs and other yet uncharacterized RTs, are key components of different lines of defense against phages and other mobile genetic elements. Prokaryotic RTs participate in various antiviral strategies, including abortive infection (Abi), in which the infected cell is induced to commit suicide to protect the host population, adaptive immunity, in which a memory of previous infection is used to build an efficient defense, and other as yet unidentified mechanisms. These prokaryotic enzymes are attracting considerable attention, both for use in cutting-edge technologies, such as genome editing, and as an emerging research topic. In this review, we discuss what is known about prokaryotic RTs, and the exciting evidence for their domestication from retroelements to create specialized defense systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro González-Delgado
- Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Mario Rodríguez Mestre
- Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas “Alberto Sols”, CSIC-UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Martínez-Abarca
- Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
| | - Nicolás Toro
- Department of Soil Microbiology and Symbiotic Systems, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Structure, Dynamics and Function of Rhizobacterial Genomes, Grupo de Ecología Genética de la Rizosfera, C/ Profesor Albareda 1, 18008 Granada, Spain
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17
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Leggieri PA, Liu Y, Hayes M, Connors B, Seppälä S, O'Malley MA, Venturelli OS. Integrating Systems and Synthetic Biology to Understand and Engineer Microbiomes. Annu Rev Biomed Eng 2021; 23:169-201. [PMID: 33781078 PMCID: PMC8277735 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-bioeng-082120-022836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Microbiomes are complex and ubiquitous networks of microorganisms whose seemingly limitless chemical transformations could be harnessed to benefit agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology. The spatial and temporal changes in microbiome composition and function are influenced by a multitude of molecular and ecological factors. This complexity yields both versatility and challenges in designing synthetic microbiomes and perturbing natural microbiomes in controlled, predictable ways. In this review, we describe factors that give rise to emergent spatial and temporal microbiome properties and the meta-omics and computational modeling tools that can be used to understand microbiomes at the cellular and system levels. We also describe strategies for designing and engineering microbiomes to enhance or build novel functions. Throughout the review, we discuss key knowledge and technology gaps for elucidating the networks and deciphering key control points for microbiome engineering, and highlight examples where multiple omics and modeling approaches can be integrated to address these gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A Leggieri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA;
| | - Yiyi Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA;
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Madeline Hayes
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA;
| | - Bryce Connors
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA;
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
| | - Susanna Seppälä
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA;
| | - Michelle A O'Malley
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA;
| | - Ophelia S Venturelli
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA;
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA
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18
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Gushchin I, Aleksenko VA, Orekhov P, Goncharov IM, Nazarenko VV, Semenov O, Remeeva A, Gordeliy V. Nitrate- and Nitrite-Sensing Histidine Kinases: Function, Structure, and Natural Diversity. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:5933. [PMID: 34072989 PMCID: PMC8199190 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Under anaerobic conditions, bacteria may utilize nitrates and nitrites as electron acceptors. Sensitivity to nitrous compounds is achieved via several mechanisms, some of which rely on sensor histidine kinases (HKs). The best studied nitrate- and nitrite-sensing HKs (NSHKs) are NarQ and NarX from Escherichia coli. Here, we review the function of NSHKs, analyze their natural diversity, and describe the available structural information. In particular, we show that around 6000 different NSHK sequences forming several distinct clusters may now be found in genomic databases, comprising mostly the genes from Beta- and Gammaproteobacteria as well as from Bacteroidetes and Chloroflexi, including those from anaerobic ammonia oxidation (annamox) communities. We show that the architecture of NSHKs is mostly conserved, although proteins from Bacteroidetes lack the HAMP and GAF-like domains yet sometimes have PAS. We reconcile the variation of NSHK sequences with atomistic models and pinpoint the structural elements important for signal transduction from the sensor domain to the catalytic module over the transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions spanning more than 200 Å.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Gushchin
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Vladimir A. Aleksenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Philipp Orekhov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
- Faculty of Biology, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ivan M. Goncharov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Vera V. Nazarenko
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Oleg Semenov
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Alina Remeeva
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
| | - Valentin Gordeliy
- Research Center for Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Age-Related Diseases, Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141700 Dolgoprudny, Russia; (V.A.A.); (P.O.); (I.M.G.); (V.V.N.); (O.S.); (A.R.)
- Institut de Biologie Structurale J.-P. Ebel, Université Grenoble Alpes-CEA-CNRS, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
- JuStruct: Jülich Center for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
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19
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Rivera-Tarazona LK, Campbell ZT, Ware TH. Stimuli-responsive engineered living materials. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:785-809. [PMID: 33410841 DOI: 10.1039/d0sm01905d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Stimuli-responsive materials are able to undergo controllable changes in materials properties in response to external cues. Increasing efforts have been directed towards building materials that mimic the responsive nature of biological systems. Nevertheless, limitations remain surrounding the way these synthetic materials interact and respond to their environment. In particular, it is difficult to synthesize synthetic materials that respond with specificity to poorly differentiated (bio)chemical and weak physical stimuli. The emerging area of engineered living materials (ELMs) includes composites that combine living cells and synthetic materials. ELMs have yielded promising advances in the creation of stimuli-responsive materials that respond with diverse outputs in response to a broad array of biochemical and physical stimuli. This review describes advances made in the genetic engineering of the living component and the processing-property relationships of stimuli-responsive ELMs. Finally, the implementation of stimuli-responsive ELMs as environmental sensors, biomedical sensors, drug delivery vehicles, and soft robots is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura K Rivera-Tarazona
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, 101 Bizzell Street, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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