Delivery of a sebum modulator by an engineered skin microbe in mice

Synthetic Ecosystems: From the Test Tube to the Biosphere

The study of ecosystems, both natural and artificial, has historically been mediated by population dynamics theories. In this framework, quantifying population numbers and related variables (associated with metabolism or biological-environmental interactions) plays a central role in measuring and predicting system-level properties. As we move toward advanced technological engineering of cells and organisms, the possibility of bioengineering ecosystems (from the gut microbiome to wildlands) opens several questions that will require quantitative models to find answers. Here, we present a comprehensive survey of quantitative modeling approaches for managing three kinds of synthetic ecosystems, sharing the presence of engineered strains. These include test tube examples of ecosystems hosting a relatively low number of interacting species, mesoscale closed ecosystems (or ecospheres), and macro-scale, engineered ecosystems. The potential outcomes of synthetic ecosystem designs and their limits will be relevant to different disciplines, including biomedical engineering, astrobiology, space exploration and fighting climate change impacts on endangered ecosystems. We propose a space of possible ecosystems that captures this broad range of scenarios and a tentative roadmap for open problems and further exploration.

Utilizing Engineered Bacteria as "Cell Factories" In Vivo for Intracellular RNA-Loaded Outer Membrane Vesicles' Self-Assembly in Tumor Treatment

Delivery systems play a crucial role in RNA therapy. However, the current RNA delivery system involves complex preparation and transport processes, requiring RNA preassembly in vitro, transportation at low temperatures throughout, and possibly multiple injections for improved therapeutic efficacy. To address these challenges, we developed a simple and efficient RNA delivery system. This system only requires the injection of engineered bacteria, which serve as in vivo "cell factories" for continuous production of the target RNA. The RNA can self-assemble with engineered bacteria's outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), facilitating in vivo RNA delivery. Experimental results demonstrated that this system allowed effective delivery with excellent stability and continuity for various types of RNA, including mRNA, miRNA, and siRNA. And the relative abundance of target RNA in the OMVs was 104-107 times higher than that in the mock group. We took the delivery of PD-L1 siRNA for tumor treatment as an example and found that this system could effectively downregulate the gene expression of PD-L1 by approximately twofold. Notably, a single injection of engineered bacteria achieved a significant tumor suppression of 49.37% in vivo. This research provides promising insights into the RNA delivery system for tumor therapy.

Bacterial live therapeutics for human diseases

The genomic revolution has fueled rapid progress in synthetic and systems biology, opening up new possibilities for using live biotherapeutic products (LBP) to treat, attenuate or prevent human diseases. Among LBP, bacteria-based therapies are particularly promising due to their ability to colonize diverse human tissues, modulate the immune system and secrete or deliver complex biological products. These bacterial LBP include engineered pathogenic species designed to target specific diseases, and microbiota species that promote microbial balance and immune system homeostasis, either through local administration or the gut-body axes. This review focuses on recent advancements in preclinical and clinical trials of bacteria-based LBP, highlighting both on-site and long-reaching strategies.

Commensal microbe regulation of skin cells in disease

Human skin is the host to various commensal microbes that constitute a substantial microbial community. The reciprocal communication between these microbial inhabitants and host cells upholds both the morphological and functional attributes of the skin layers, contributing indispensably to microenvironmental and tissue homeostasis. Thus, disruption of the skin barrier or imbalances in the microbial communities can exert profound effects on the behavior of host cells. This influence, mediated by the microbes themselves or their metabolites, manifests in diverse outcomes. In this review, we examine existing knowledge to provide insight into the nuanced behavior exhibited by the microbiota on skin cells in health and disease states. These interactions provide insight into potential cellular targets for future microbiota-based therapies to prevent and treat skin disease.

Roots of synthetic ecology: microbes that foster plant resilience in the changing climate

Microbes orchestrate nearly all major biogeochemical processes. The ability to program their influence on plant growth and development is attractive for sustainable agriculture. However, the complexity of microbial ecosystems and our limited understanding of the mechanisms by which plants and microbes interact with each other and the environment make it challenging to use microbiomes to influence plant growth. Novel technologies at the intersection of microbial ecology, systems biology, and bioengineering provide new tools to probe the role of plant microbiomes across environments. Here, we summarize recent studies on plant and microbe responses to abiotic stresses, showcasing key molecules and micro-organisms that are important for plant health. We highlight opportunities to use synthetic microbial communities to understand the complexity of plant-microbial interactions and discuss future avenues of programming ecology to improve plant and ecosystem health.