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Chen YC, Destouches L, Cook A, Fedorec AJH. Synthetic microbial ecology: engineering habitats for modular consortia. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae158. [PMID: 38936824 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Microbiomes, the complex networks of micro-organisms and the molecules through which they interact, play a crucial role in health and ecology. Over at least the past two decades, engineering biology has made significant progress, impacting the bio-based industry, health, and environmental sectors; but has only recently begun to explore the engineering of microbial ecosystems. The creation of synthetic microbial communities presents opportunities to help us understand the dynamics of wild ecosystems, learn how to manipulate and interact with existing microbiomes for therapeutic and other purposes, and to create entirely new microbial communities capable of undertaking tasks for industrial biology. Here, we describe how synthetic ecosystems can be constructed and controlled, focusing on how the available methods and interaction mechanisms facilitate the regulation of community composition and output. While experimental decisions are dictated by intended applications, the vast number of tools available suggests great opportunity for researchers to develop a diverse array of novel microbial ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Casey Chen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Louie Destouches
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Alice Cook
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Alex J H Fedorec
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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2
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Jin X, Gao Y, Chen X, Wang S, Qi Q, Liang Q. The Construction of the Self-Induced Sal System and Its Application in Salicylic Acid Production. Molecules 2023; 28:7825. [PMID: 38067556 PMCID: PMC10708014 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28237825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The design and construction of more complex and delicate genetic control circuits suffer from poor orthogonality in quorum sensing (QS) systems. The Sal system, which relies on salicylic acid as a signaling molecule, is an artificially engineered regulatory system with a structure that differs significantly from that of natural QS signaling molecules. Salicylic acid is an important drug precursor, mainly used in the production of drugs such as aspirin and anti-HIV drugs. However, there have been no reports on the construction of a self-induced Sal system in single cells. In this study, a high-copy plasmid backbone was used to construct the regulatory proteins and a self-induced promoter of salicylic acid in E. coli by adjusting the precise regulation of key gene expression; the sensitivity and induction range of this system were improved. Subsequently, the exogenous gene pchBA was introduced in E. coli to extend the shikimate pathway and synthesize salicylic acid, resulting in the construction of the first complete self-induced Sal system. Finally, the self-induced Sal System was combined with artificial trans-encoded sRNAs (atsRNAs) to repress the growth-essential gene ppc and accumulate the precursor substance PEP, thereby increasing the titer of salicylic acid by 151%. This construction of a self-induced artificial system introduces a new tool for selecting communication tools and induction systems in synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, but also demonstrates a self-inducible pathway design strategy for salicylic acid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Quanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; (X.J.); (Y.G.); (X.C.); (S.W.); (Q.Q.)
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3
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Jiang W, Yang X, Gu F, Li X, Wang S, Luo Y, Qi Q, Liang Q. Construction of Synthetic Microbial Ecosystems and the Regulation of Population Proportion. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:538-546. [PMID: 35044170 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
With the development of synthetic biology, the design and application of microbial consortia have received increasing attention. However, the construction of synthetic ecosystems is still hampered by our limited ability to rapidly develop microbial consortia with the required dynamics and functions. By using modular design, we constructed synthetic competitive and symbiotic ecosystems with Escherichia coli. Two ecological relationships were realized by reconfiguring the layout between the communication and effect modules. Furthermore, we designed inducible synthetic ecosystems to regulate subpopulation ratios. With the addition of different inducers, a wide range of strain ratios between subpopulations was achieved. These inducible synthetic ecosystems enabled a larger volume of population regulation and simplified culture conditions. The synthetic ecosystems we constructed combined both basic and applied functionalities and expanded the toolkit of synthetic biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Xiaoya Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Fei Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Xiaomeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Sumeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Yue Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Qingsheng Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Quanfeng Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266000, China
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4
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Kelly EE, Fischer AM, Collins CH. Drawing up a collaborative contract: Amino acid cross-feeding between interspecies bacterial pairs. Biotechnol Bioeng 2021; 118:3138-3149. [PMID: 34027999 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic microbial communities have the potential to enable new platforms for bioproduction of biofuels and biopharmaceuticals. However, using engineered communities is often assumed to be difficult because of anticipated challenges in establishing and controlling community composition. Cross-feeding between microbial auxotrophs has the potential to facilitate coculture growth and stability through a mutualistic ecological interaction. We assessed cross-feeding between 13 Escherichia coli amino acid auxotrophs paired with a leucine auxotroph of Bacillus megaterium. We developed a minimal medium capable of supporting the growth of both bacteria and used the media to study coculture growth of the 13 interspecies pairs of auxotrophs in batch and continuous culture, as well as on semi-solid media. In batch culture, 8 of 13 pairs of auxotrophs were observed to grow in coculture. We developed a new metric to quantify the impact of cross-feeding on coculture growth. Six pairs also showed long-term stability in continuous culture, where coculture growth at different dilution rates highlighted differences in cross-feeding amongst the pairs. Finally, we found that cross-feeding-dependent growth on semi-solid media is highly stringent and enables identification of the most efficient pairs. These results demonstrate that cross-feeding is a viable approach for controlling community composition within diverse synthetic communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Kelly
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Alexandria M Fischer
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.,Department of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Cynthia H Collins
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.,Department of Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
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5
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Wang S, Payne GF, Bentley WE. Quorum Sensing Communication: Molecularly Connecting Cells, Their Neighbors, and Even Devices. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2020; 11:447-468. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-101519-124728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a molecular signaling modality that mediates molecular-based cell–cell communication. Prevalent in nature, QS networks provide bacteria with a method to gather information from the environment and make decisions based on the intel. With its ability to autonomously facilitate both inter- and intraspecies gene regulation, this process can be rewired to enable autonomously actuated, but molecularly programmed, genetic control. On the one hand, novel QS-based genetic circuits endow cells with smart functions that can be used in many fields of engineering, and on the other, repurposed QS circuitry promotes communication and aids in the development of synthetic microbial consortia. Furthermore, engineered QS systems can probe and intervene in interkingdom signaling between bacteria and their hosts. Lastly, QS is demonstrated to establish conversation with abiotic materials, especially by taking advantage of biological and even electronically induced assembly processes; such QS-incorporated biohybrid devices offer innovative ways to program cell behavior and biological function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Wang
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - Gregory F. Payne
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
| | - William E. Bentley
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
- Institute for Bioscience and Biotechnology Research, University of Maryland, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical Devices, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, USA
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Giri S, Waschina S, Kaleta C, Kost C. Defining Division of Labor in Microbial Communities. J Mol Biol 2019; 431:4712-4731. [PMID: 31260694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2019.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
In order to survive and reproduce, organisms must perform a multitude of tasks. However, trade-offs limit their ability to allocate energy and resources to all of these different processes. One strategy to solve this problem is to specialize in some traits and team up with other organisms that can help by providing additional, complementary functions. By reciprocally exchanging metabolites and/or services in this way, both parties benefit from the interaction. This phenomenon, which has been termed functional specialization or division of labor, is very common in nature and exists on all levels of biological organization. Also, microorganisms have evolved different types of synergistic interactions. However, very often, it remains unclear whether or not a given example represents a true case of division of labor. Here we aim at filling this gap by providing a list of criteria that clearly define division of labor in microbial communities. Furthermore, we propose a set of diagnostic experiments to verify whether a given interaction fulfills these conditions. In contrast to the common use of the term, our analysis reveals that both intraspecific and interspecific interactions meet the criteria defining division of labor. Moreover, our analysis identified non-cooperators of intraspecific public goods interactions as growth specialists that divide labor with conspecific producers, rather than being social parasites. By providing a conceptual toolkit, our work will help to unambiguously identify cases of division of labor and stimulate more detailed investigations of this important and widespread type of inter-microbial interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samir Giri
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Silvio Waschina
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christoph Kaleta
- Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Christian Kost
- Department of Ecology, School of Biology/Chemistry, University of Osnabrück, Osnabrück, Germany.
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7
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Tsoi R, Dai Z, You L. Emerging strategies for engineering microbial communities. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:107372. [PMID: 30880142 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
From biosynthesis to bioremediation, microbes have been engineered to address a variety of biotechnological applications. A promising direction in these endeavors is harnessing the power of designer microbial consortia that consist of multiple populations with well-defined interactions. Consortia can accomplish tasks that are difficult or potentially impossible to achieve using monocultures. Despite their potential, the rules underlying microbial community maintenance and function (i.e. the task the consortium is engineered to carry out) are not well defined, though rapid progress is being made. This limited understanding is in part due to the greater challenges associated with increased complexity when dealing with multi-population interactions. Here, we review key features and design strategies that emerge from the analysis of both natural and engineered microbial communities. These strategies can provide new insights into natural consortia and expand the toolbox available to engineers working to develop novel synthetic consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan Tsoi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Zhuojun Dai
- Institute for Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Lingchong You
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
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8
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McCarty NS, Ledesma-Amaro R. Synthetic Biology Tools to Engineer Microbial Communities for Biotechnology. Trends Biotechnol 2019; 37:181-197. [PMID: 30497870 PMCID: PMC6340809 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 225] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 11/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Microbial consortia have been used in biotechnology processes, including fermentation, waste treatment, and agriculture, for millennia. Today, synthetic biologists are increasingly engineering microbial consortia for diverse applications, including the bioproduction of medicines, biofuels, and biomaterials from inexpensive carbon sources. An improved understanding of natural microbial ecosystems, and the development of new tools to construct synthetic consortia and program their behaviors, will vastly expand the functions that can be performed by communities of interacting microorganisms. Here, we review recent advancements in synthetic biology tools and approaches to engineer synthetic microbial consortia, discuss ongoing and emerging efforts to apply consortia for various biotechnological applications, and suggest future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S. McCarty
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
- Imperial College Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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9
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Free A, McDonald MA, Pagaling E. Diversity-Function Relationships in Natural, Applied, and Engineered Microbial Ecosystems. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2018; 105:131-189. [PMID: 30342721 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The connection between ecosystem function and taxonomic diversity has been of interest and relevance to macroecologists for decades. After many years of lagging behind due to the difficulty of assigning both taxonomy and function to poorly distinguishable microscopic cells, microbial ecology now has access to a suite of powerful molecular tools which allow its practitioners to generate data relating to diversity and function of a microbial community on an unprecedented scale. Instead, the problem facing today's microbial ecologists is coupling the ease of generation of these datasets with the formulation and testing of workable hypotheses relating the diversity and function of environmental, host-associated, and engineered microbial communities. Here, we review the current state of knowledge regarding the links between taxonomic alpha- and beta-diversity and ecosystem function, comparing our knowledge in this area to that obtained by macroecologists who use more traditional techniques. We consider the methodologies that can be applied to study these properties and how successful they are at linking function to diversity, using examples from the study of model microbial ecosystems, methanogenic bioreactors (anaerobic digesters), and host-associated microbiota. Finally, we assess ways in which our newly acquired understanding might be used to manipulate diversity in ecosystems of interest in order to improve function for the benefit of us or the environment in general through the provision of ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Free
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Michael A McDonald
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Eulyn Pagaling
- The James Hutton Institute, Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
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10
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11
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Evolutionary Game between Commensal and Pathogenic Microbes in Intestinal Microbiota. GAMES 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/g7030026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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12
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Marchand N, Collins CH. Synthetic Quorum Sensing and Cell-Cell Communication in Gram-Positive Bacillus megaterium. ACS Synth Biol 2016. [PMID: 26203497 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.5b00099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The components of natural quorum-sensing (QS) systems can be used to engineer synthetic communication systems that regulate gene expression in response to chemical signals. We have used the machinery from the peptide-based agr QS system from Staphylococcus aureus to engineer a synthetic QS system in Bacillus megaterium to enable autoinduction of a target gene at high cell densities. Growth and gene expression from these synthetic QS cells were characterized in both complex and minimal media. We also split the signal production and sensing components between two strains of B. megaterium to produce sender and receiver cells and characterized the resulting communication in liquid media and on semisolid agar. The system described in this work represents the first synthetic QS and cell-cell communication system that has been engineered to function in a Gram-positive host, and it has the potential to enable the generation of dynamic gene regulatory networks in B. megaterium and other Gram-positive organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Marchand
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Center for Biotechnology
and Interdisciplinary
Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York 12180, United States
| | - Cynthia H. Collins
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, ‡Center for Biotechnology
and Interdisciplinary
Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, New York 12180, United States
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13
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Abstract
Cooperation between microbes can enable microbial communities to survive in harsh environments. Enzymatic deactivation of antibiotics, a common mechanism of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, is a cooperative behavior that can allow resistant cells to protect sensitive cells from antibiotics. Understanding how bacterial populations survive antibiotic exposure is important both clinically and ecologically, yet the implications of cooperative antibiotic deactivation on the population and evolutionary dynamics remain poorly understood, particularly in the presence of more than one antibiotic. Here, we show that two Escherichia coli strains can form an effective cross-protection mutualism, protecting each other in the presence of two antibiotics (ampicillin and chloramphenicol) so that the coculture can survive in antibiotic concentrations that inhibit growth of either strain alone. Moreover, we find that daily dilutions of the coculture lead to large oscillations in the relative abundance of the two strains, with the ratio of abundances varying by nearly four orders of magnitude over the course of the 3-day period of the oscillation. At modest antibiotic concentrations, the mutualistic behavior enables long-term survival of the oscillating populations; however, at higher antibiotic concentrations, the oscillations destabilize the population, eventually leading to collapse. The two strains form a successful cross-protection mutualism without a period of coevolution, suggesting that similar mutualisms may arise during antibiotic treatment and in natural environments such as the soil.
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Jia X, Liu C, Song H, Ding M, Du J, Ma Q, Yuan Y. Design, analysis and application of synthetic microbial consortia. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2016; 1:109-117. [PMID: 29062933 PMCID: PMC5640696 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Revised: 01/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of synthetic biology has conferred almost perfect modification on single cells, and provided methodological support for synthesizing microbial consortia, which have a much wider application potential than synthetic single cells. Co-cultivating multiple cell populations with rational strategies based on interacting relationships within natural microbial consortia provides theoretical as well as experimental support for the successful obtaining of synthetic microbial consortia, promoting it into extensive research on both industrial applications in plenty of areas and also better understanding of natural microbial consortia. According to their composition complexity, synthetic microbial consortia are summarized in three aspects in this review and are discussed in principles of design and construction, insights and methods for analysis, and applications in energy, healthcare, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiang Jia
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Hao Song
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Mingzhu Ding
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jin Du
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Qian Ma
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yingjin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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15
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Kanakov O, Laptyeva T, Tsimring L, Ivanchenko M. Spatiotemporal dynamics of distributed synthetic genetic circuits. PHYSICA D. NONLINEAR PHENOMENA 2016; 318-319:116-123. [PMID: 26955203 PMCID: PMC4778264 DOI: 10.1016/j.physd.2015.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
We propose and study models of two distributed synthetic gene circuits, toggle-switch and oscillator, each split between two cell strains and coupled via quorum-sensing signals. The distributed toggle switch relies on mutual repression of the two strains, and oscillator is comprised of two strains, one of which acts as an activator for another that in turn acts as a repressor. Distributed toggle switch can exhibit mobile fronts, switching the system from the weaker to the stronger spatially homogeneous state. The circuit can also act as a biosensor, with the switching front dynamics determined by the properties of an external signal. Distributed oscillator system displays another biosensor functionality: oscillations emerge once a small amount of one cell strain appears amid the other, present in abundance. Distribution of synthetic gene circuits among multiple strains allows one to reduce crosstalk among different parts of the overall system and also decrease the energetic burden of the synthetic circuit per cell, which may allow for enhanced functionality and viability of engineered cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg Kanakov
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhniy Novgorod, Prospekt Gagarina 23, 603950 Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia
| | - Tetyana Laptyeva
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhniy Novgorod, Prospekt Gagarina 23, 603950 Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia
| | - Lev Tsimring
- BioCircuits Institute, University of California – San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0328, USA
| | - Mikhail Ivanchenko
- Lobachevsky State University of Nizhniy Novgorod, Prospekt Gagarina 23, 603950 Nizhniy Novgorod, Russia
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16
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An auto-inducible expression system based on the RhlI-RhlR quorum-sensing regulon for recombinant protein production in E. coli. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-015-0507-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Engineering microbial consortia for controllable outputs. ISME JOURNAL 2016; 10:2077-84. [PMID: 26967105 PMCID: PMC4989317 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2016.26] [Citation(s) in RCA: 189] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2015] [Revised: 11/29/2015] [Accepted: 12/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Much research has been invested into engineering microorganisms to perform desired biotransformations; nonetheless, these efforts frequently fall short of expected results due to the unforeseen effects of biofeedback regulation and functional incompatibility. In nature, metabolic function is compartmentalized into diverse organisms assembled into robust consortia, in which the division of labor is thought to lead to increased community efficiency and productivity. Here we consider whether and how consortia can be designed to perform bioprocesses of interest beyond the metabolic flexibility limitations of a single organism. Advances in post-genomic analysis of microbial consortia and application of high-resolution global measurements now offer the promise of systems-level understanding of how microbial consortia adapt to changes in environmental variables and inputs of carbon and energy. We argue that, when combined with appropriate modeling frameworks, systems-level knowledge can markedly improve our ability to predict the fate and functioning of consortia. Here we articulate our collective perspective on the current and future state of microbial community engineering and control while placing specific emphasis on ecological principles that promote control over community function and emergent properties.
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18
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Ramanan R, Kim BH, Cho DH, Oh HM, Kim HS. Algae-bacteria interactions: Evolution, ecology and emerging applications. Biotechnol Adv 2016; 34:14-29. [PMID: 26657897 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 523] [Impact Index Per Article: 65.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Algae and bacteria have coexisted ever since the early stages of evolution. This coevolution has revolutionized life on earth in many aspects. Algae and bacteria together influence ecosystems as varied as deep seas to lichens and represent all conceivable modes of interactions - from mutualism to parasitism. Several studies have shown that algae and bacteria synergistically affect each other's physiology and metabolism, a classic case being algae-roseobacter interaction. These interactions are ubiquitous and define the primary productivity in most ecosystems. In recent years, algae have received much attention for industrial exploitation but their interaction with bacteria is often considered a contamination during commercialization. A few recent studies have shown that bacteria not only enhance algal growth but also help in flocculation, both essential processes in algal biotechnology. Hence, there is a need to understand these interactions from an evolutionary and ecological standpoint, and integrate this understanding for industrial use. Here we reflect on the diversity of such relationships and their associated mechanisms, as well as the habitats that they mutually influence. This review also outlines the role of these interactions in key evolutionary events such as endosymbiosis, besides their ecological role in biogeochemical cycles. Finally, we focus on extending such studies on algal-bacterial interactions to various environmental and bio-technological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rishiram Ramanan
- Sustainable Bioresource Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Hyuk Kim
- Sustainable Bioresource Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae-Hyun Cho
- Sustainable Bioresource Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Mock Oh
- Bioenergy and Biochemical Research Center, KRIBB, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea; Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee-Sik Kim
- Sustainable Bioresource Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea; Green Chemistry and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Science & Technology, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-806, Republic of Korea.
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Zomorrodi AR, Segrè D. Synthetic Ecology of Microbes: Mathematical Models and Applications. J Mol Biol 2015; 428:837-61. [PMID: 26522937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 10/17/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
As the indispensable role of natural microbial communities in many aspects of life on Earth is uncovered, the bottom-up engineering of synthetic microbial consortia with novel functions is becoming an attractive alternative to engineering single-species systems. Here, we summarize recent work on synthetic microbial communities with a particular emphasis on open challenges and opportunities in environmental sustainability and human health. We next provide a critical overview of mathematical approaches, ranging from phenomenological to mechanistic, to decipher the principles that govern the function, dynamics and evolution of microbial ecosystems. Finally, we present our outlook on key aspects of microbial ecosystems and synthetic ecology that require further developments, including the need for more efficient computational algorithms, a better integration of empirical methods and model-driven analysis, the importance of improving gene function annotation, and the value of a standardized library of well-characterized organisms to be used as building blocks of synthetic communities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Segrè
- Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, MA; Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA.
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20
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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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Unraveling interactions in microbial communities - from co-cultures to microbiomes. J Microbiol 2015; 53:295-305. [PMID: 25935300 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-015-5060-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Microorganisms do not exist in isolation in the environment. Instead, they form complex communities among themselves as well as with their hosts. Different forms of interactions not only shape the composition of these communities but also define how these communities are established and maintained. The kinds of interaction a bacterium can employ are largely encoded in its genome. This allows us to deploy a genomescale modeling approach to understand, and ultimately predict, the complex and intertwined relationships in which microorganisms engage. So far, most studies on microbial communities have been focused on synthetic co-cultures and simple communities. However, recent advances in molecular and computational biology now enable bottom up methods to be deployed for complex microbial communities from the environment to provide insight into the intricate and dynamic interactions in which microorganisms are engaged. These methods will be applicable for a wide range of microbial communities involved in industrial processes, as well as understanding, preserving and reconditioning natural microbial communities present in soil, water, and the human microbiome.
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22
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Collective antibiotic tolerance: mechanisms, dynamics and intervention. Nat Chem Biol 2015; 11:182-8. [PMID: 25689336 DOI: 10.1038/nchembio.1754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria have developed resistance against every antibiotic at a rate that is alarming considering the timescale at which new antibiotics are developed. Thus, there is a critical need to use antibiotics more effectively, extend the shelf life of existing antibiotics and minimize their side effects. This requires understanding the mechanisms underlying bacterial drug responses. Past studies have focused on survival in the presence of antibiotics by individual cells, as genetic mutants or persisters. Also important, however, is the fact that a population of bacterial cells can collectively survive antibiotic treatments lethal to individual cells. This tolerance can arise by diverse mechanisms, including resistance-conferring enzyme production, titration-mediated bistable growth inhibition, swarming and interpopulation interactions. These strategies can enable rapid population recovery after antibiotic treatment and provide a time window during which otherwise susceptible bacteria can acquire inheritable genetic resistance. Here, we emphasize the potential for targeting collective antibiotic tolerance behaviors as an antibacterial treatment strategy.
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Jagmann N, Philipp B. Reprint of Design of synthetic microbial communities for biotechnological production processes. J Biotechnol 2014; 192 Pt B:293-301. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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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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Enyeart PJ, Simpson ZB, Ellington AD. A microbial model of economic trading and comparative advantage. J Theor Biol 2014; 364:326-43. [PMID: 25265557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2014.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The economic theory of comparative advantage postulates that beneficial trading relationships can be arrived at by two self-interested entities producing the same goods as long as they have opposing relative efficiencies in producing those goods. The theory predicts that upon entering trade, in order to maximize consumption both entities will specialize in producing the good they can produce at higher efficiency, that the weaker entity will specialize more completely than the stronger entity, and that both will be able to consume more goods as a result of trade than either would be able to alone. We extend this theory to the realm of unicellular organisms by developing mathematical models of genetic circuits that allow trading of a common good (specifically, signaling molecules) required for growth in bacteria in order to demonstrate comparative advantage interactions. In Conception 1, the experimenter controls production rates via exogenous inducers, allowing exploration of the parameter space of specialization. In Conception 2, the circuits self-regulate via feedback mechanisms. Our models indicate that these genetic circuits can demonstrate comparative advantage, and that cooperation in such a manner is particularly favored under stringent external conditions and when the cost of production is not overly high. Further work could involve implementing the models in living bacteria and searching for naturally occurring cooperative relationships between bacteria that conform to the principles of comparative advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Enyeart
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Zachary B Simpson
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Andrew D Ellington
- Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA; Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA.
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26
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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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Jagmann N, Philipp B. Design of synthetic microbial communities for biotechnological production processes. J Biotechnol 2014; 184:209-18. [PMID: 24943116 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2014.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Revised: 05/14/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
In their natural habitats microorganisms live in multi-species communities, in which the community members exhibit complex metabolic interactions. In contrast, biotechnological production processes catalyzed by microorganisms are usually carried out with single strains in pure cultures. A number of production processes, however, may be more efficiently catalyzed by the concerted action of microbial communities. This review will give an overview of organismic interactions between microbial cells and of biotechnological applications of microbial communities. It focuses on synthetic microbial communities that consist of microorganisms that have been genetically engineered. Design principles for such synthetic communities will be exemplified based on plausible scenarios for biotechnological production processes. These design principles comprise interspecific metabolic interactions via cross-feeding, regulation by interspecific signaling processes via metabolites and autoinducing signal molecules, and spatial structuring of synthetic microbial communities. In particular, the implementation of metabolic interdependencies, of positive feedback regulation and of inducible cell aggregation and biofilm formation will be outlined. Synthetic microbial communities constitute a viable extension of the biotechnological application of metabolically engineered single strains and enlarge the scope of microbial production processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Jagmann
- Universität Münster, Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Corrensstr. 3, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Bodo Philipp
- Universität Münster, Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Corrensstr. 3, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
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28
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Synthetic microbial ecosystems for biotechnology. Biotechnol Lett 2014; 36:1141-51. [PMID: 24563311 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-014-1480-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Most highly controlled and specific applications of microorganisms in biotechnology involve pure cultures. Maintaining single strain cultures is important for industry as contaminants can reduce productivity and lead to longer "down-times" during sterilisation. However, microbes working together provide distinct advantages over pure cultures. They can undertake more metabolically complex tasks, improve efficiency and even expand applications to open systems. By combining rapidly advancing technologies with ecological theory, the use of microbial ecosystems in biotechnology will inevitably increase. This review provides insight into the use of synthetic microbial communities in biotechnology by applying the engineering paradigm of measure, model, manipulate and manufacture, and illustrate the emerging wider potential of the synthetic ecology field. Systems to improve biofuel production using microalgae are also discussed.
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Abstract
Herein, I track the evolution of synthetic biology from its earliest incarnations more than 50 years ago, through the DIYbio revolution, to the next 50 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy D Sleator
- Department of Biological Sciences; Cork Institute of Technology; Cork, Ireland
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30
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De Roy K, Marzorati M, Van den Abbeele P, Van de Wiele T, Boon N. Synthetic microbial ecosystems: an exciting tool to understand and apply microbial communities. Environ Microbiol 2013; 16:1472-81. [PMID: 24274586 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Accepted: 11/19/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Many microbial ecologists have described the composition of microbial communities in a plenitude of environments, which has greatly improved our basic understanding of microorganisms and ecosystems. However, the factors and processes that influence the behaviour and functionality of an ecosystem largely remain black boxes when using conventional approaches. Therefore, synthetic microbial ecology has gained a lot of interest in the last few years. Because of their reduced complexity and increased controllability, synthetic communities are often preferred over complex communities to examine ecological theories. They limit the factors that influence the microbial community to a minimum, allowing their management and identifying specific community responses. However, besides their use for basic research, synthetic ecosystems also found their way towards different applications, like industrial fermentation and bioremediation. Here, we review why and how synthetic microbial communities are applied for research purposes and for which applications they have been and could be successfully used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen De Roy
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium
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Marchand N, Collins CH. Peptide-based communication system enablesEscherichia colitoBacillus megateriuminterspecies signaling. Biotechnol Bioeng 2013; 110:3003-12. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.24975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2013] [Revised: 04/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Marchand
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; 110 8th Street Troy New York 12180
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York
| | - Cynthia H. Collins
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; 110 8th Street Troy New York 12180
- Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Troy New York
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Bacchus W, Fussenegger M. Engineering of synthetic intercellular communication systems. Metab Eng 2013; 16:33-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2012.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2012] [Revised: 12/03/2012] [Accepted: 12/05/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Ji W, Shi H, Zhang H, Sun R, Xi J, Wen D, Feng J, Chen Y, Qin X, Ma Y, Luo W, Deng L, Lin H, Yu R, Ouyang Q. A formalized design process for bacterial consortia that perform logic computing. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57482. [PMID: 23468999 PMCID: PMC3585339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2012] [Accepted: 01/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of microbial consortia is of great attractiveness in synthetic biology. Despite of all its benefits, however, there are still problems remaining for large-scaled multicellular gene circuits, for example, how to reliably design and distribute the circuits in microbial consortia with limited number of well-behaved genetic modules and wiring quorum-sensing molecules. To manage such problem, here we propose a formalized design process: (i) determine the basic logic units (AND, OR and NOT gates) based on mathematical and biological considerations; (ii) establish rules to search and distribute simplest logic design; (iii) assemble assigned basic logic units in each logic operating cell; and (iv) fine-tune the circuiting interface between logic operators. We in silico analyzed gene circuits with inputs ranging from two to four, comparing our method with the pre-existing ones. Results showed that this formalized design process is more feasible concerning numbers of cells required. Furthermore, as a proof of principle, an Escherichia coli consortium that performs XOR function, a typical complex computing operation, was designed. The construction and characterization of logic operators is independent of “wiring” and provides predictive information for fine-tuning. This formalized design process provides guidance for the design of microbial consortia that perform distributed biological computation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiyue Ji
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Handuo Shi
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Haoqian Zhang
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
- Center for Quantitative Biology and Peking-Tsinghua Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Sun
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyi Xi
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
- Center for Quantitative Biology and Peking-Tsinghua Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dingqiao Wen
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingchen Feng
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yiwei Chen
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Qin
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanrong Ma
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhan Luo
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Linna Deng
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Hanchi Lin
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruofan Yu
- Peking University Team for the International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition (iGEM), Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Ouyang
- Center for Quantitative Biology and Peking-Tsinghua Joint Center for Life Sciences, Beijing, China
- The State Key Laboratory for Artificial Microstructures and Mesoscopic Physics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
- * E-mail:
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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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35
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The PLOS ONE synthetic biology collection: six years and counting. PLoS One 2012; 7:e43231. [PMID: 22916228 PMCID: PMC3419720 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0043231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Accepted: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Since it was launched in 2006, PLOS ONE has published over fifty articles illustrating the many facets of the emerging field of synthetic biology. This article reviews these publications by organizing them into broad categories focused on DNA synthesis and assembly techniques, the development of libraries of biological parts, the use of synthetic biology in protein engineering applications, and the engineering of gene regulatory networks and metabolic pathways. Finally, we review articles that describe enabling technologies such as software and modeling, along with new instrumentation. In order to increase the visibility of this body of work, the papers have been assembled into the PLOS ONE Synthetic Biology Collection (www.ploscollections.org/synbio). Many of the innovative features of the PLOS ONE web site will help make this collection a resource that will support a lively dialogue between readers and authors of PLOS ONE synthetic biology papers. The content of the collection will be updated periodically by including relevant articles as they are published by the journal. Thus, we hope that this collection will continue to meet the publishing needs of the synthetic biology community.
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Biliouris K, Babson D, Schmidt-Dannert C, Kaznessis YN. Stochastic simulations of a synthetic bacteria-yeast ecosystem. BMC SYSTEMS BIOLOGY 2012; 6:58. [PMID: 22672814 PMCID: PMC3485176 DOI: 10.1186/1752-0509-6-58] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Accepted: 03/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The field of synthetic biology has greatly evolved and numerous functions can now be implemented by artificially engineered cells carrying the appropriate genetic information. However, in order for the cells to robustly perform complex or multiple tasks, co-operation between them may be necessary. Therefore, various synthetic biological systems whose functionality requires cell-cell communication are being designed. These systems, microbial consortia, are composed of engineered cells and exhibit a wide range of behaviors. These include yeast cells whose growth is dependent on one another, or bacteria that kill or rescue each other, synchronize, behave as predator-prey ecosystems or invade cancer cells. RESULTS In this paper, we study a synthetic ecosystem comprising of bacteria and yeast that communicate with and benefit from each other using small diffusible molecules. We explore the behavior of this heterogeneous microbial consortium, composed of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli cells, using stochastic modeling. The stochastic model captures the relevant intra-cellular and inter-cellular interactions taking place in and between the eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. Integration of well-characterized molecular regulatory elements into these two microbes allows for communication through quorum sensing. A gene controlling growth in yeast is induced by bacteria via chemical signals and vice versa. Interesting dynamics that are common in natural ecosystems, such as obligatory and facultative mutualism, extinction, commensalism and predator-prey like dynamics are observed. We investigate and report on the conditions under which the two species can successfully communicate and rescue each other. CONCLUSIONS This study explores the various behaviors exhibited by the cohabitation of engineered yeast and bacterial cells. The way that the model is built allows for studying the dynamics of any system consisting of two species communicating with one another via chemical signals. Therefore, key information acquired by our model may potentially drive the experimental design of various synthetic heterogeneous ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantinos Biliouris
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - David Babson
- University of Minnesota Biotechnology Institute, 140 Gortner Lab, 1479 Gortner Avenue, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Claudia Schmidt-Dannert
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, 140 Gortner Laboratory, Saint Paul, MN 55108, USA
| | - Yiannis N Kaznessis
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Minnesota, 421 Washington Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Shong J, Jimenez Diaz MR, Collins CH. Towards synthetic microbial consortia for bioprocessing. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2012; 23:798-802. [PMID: 22387100 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2012.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 157] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2012] [Accepted: 02/10/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The use of microbial consortia for bioprocessing has been limited by our ability to reliably control community composition and function simultaneously. Recent advances in synthetic biology have enabled population-level coordination and control of ecosystem stability and dynamics. Further, new experimental and computational tools for screening and predicting community behavior have also been developed. The integration of synthetic biology with metabolic engineering at the community level is vital to our ability to apply system-level approaches to building and optimizing synthetic consortia for bioprocessing applications. This review details new methods, tools and opportunities that together have the potential to enable a new paradigm of bioprocessing using synthetic microbial consortia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine Shong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th St, Troy, NY 12180, USA
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Singh D, Singh PK, Chaudhary S, Mehla K, Kumar S. Exome sequencing and advances in crop improvement. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2012; 79:87-121. [PMID: 22989766 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394395-8.00003-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing strategies have opened new vistas for molecular plant breeding. The sequence information obtained by the advent of next-generation sequencing provides a valuable tool not only for improving domesticated crops but also for investigating the natural evolution of crops. Such information provides an enormous potential for sustainable agriculture. In this review, we discuss how such sequencing approaches have transformed exome sequencing into a practical utility that has enormous potential for crop improvement in agriculture. Furthermore, we also describe the future of crop improvement beyond the exome sequencing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devi Singh
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, UP, India
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Pei L, Schmidt M, Wei W. Synthetic biology: an emerging research field in China. Biotechnol Adv 2011; 29:804-14. [PMID: 21729747 PMCID: PMC3197886 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2011.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2011] [Revised: 05/20/2011] [Accepted: 06/11/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is considered as an emerging research field that will bring new opportunities to biotechnology. There is an expectation that synthetic biology will not only enhance knowledge in basic science, but will also have great potential for practical applications. Synthetic biology is still in an early developmental stage in China. We provide here a review of current Chinese research activities in synthetic biology and its different subfields, such as research on genetic circuits, minimal genomes, chemical synthetic biology, protocells and DNA synthesis, using literature reviews and personal communications with Chinese researchers. To meet the increasing demand for a sustainable development, research on genetic circuits to harness biomass is the most pursed research within Chinese researchers. The environmental concerns are driven force of research on the genetic circuits for bioremediation. The research on minimal genomes is carried on identifying the smallest number of genomes needed for engineering minimal cell factories and research on chemical synthetic biology is focused on artificial proteins and expanded genetic code. The research on protocells is more in combination with the research on molecular-scale motors. The research on DNA synthesis and its commercialisation are also reviewed. As for the perspective on potential future Chinese R&D activities, it will be discussed based on the research capacity and governmental policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Pei
- Organisation for International Dialogue and Conflict Management, Vienna, Austria.
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Baquero F. The 2010 Garrod Lecture: The dimensions of evolution in antibiotic resistance: ex unibus plurum et ex pluribus unum. J Antimicrob Chemother 2011; 66:1659-72. [DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkr214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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Mitchell RJ, Lee SK, Kim T, Ghim CM. Microbial linguistics: perspectives and applications of microbial cell-to-cell communication. BMB Rep 2011; 44:1-10. [PMID: 21266100 DOI: 10.5483/bmbrep.2011.44.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Inter-cellular communication via diffusible small molecules is a defining character not only of multicellular forms of life but also of single-celled organisms. A large number of bacterial genes are regulated by the change of chemical milieu mediated by the local population density of its own species or others. The cell density-dependent "autoinducer" molecules regulate the expression of those genes involved in genetic competence, biofilm formation and persistence, virulence, sporulation, bioluminescence, antibiotic production, and many others. Recent innovations in recombinant DNA technology and micro-/nano-fluidics systems render the genetic circuitry responsible for cell-to-cell communication feasible to and malleable via synthetic biological approaches. Here we review the current understanding of the molecular biology of bacterial intercellular communication and the novel experimental protocols and platforms used to investigate this phenomenon. A particular emphasis is given to the genetic regulatory circuits that provide the standard building blocks which constitute the syntax of the biochemical communication network. Thus, this review gives focus to the engineering principles necessary for rewiring bacterial chemo-communication for various applications, ranging from population-level gene expression control to the study of host-pathogen interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Mitchell
- School of Nano-Bioscience and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan, Korea
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Hosoda K, Suzuki S, Yamauchi Y, Shiroguchi Y, Kashiwagi A, Ono N, Mori K, Yomo T. Cooperative adaptation to establishment of a synthetic bacterial mutualism. PLoS One 2011; 6:e17105. [PMID: 21359225 PMCID: PMC3040204 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0017105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2010] [Accepted: 01/20/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand how two organisms that have not previously been in contact can establish mutualism, it is first necessary to examine temporal changes in their phenotypes during the establishment of mutualism. Instead of tracing back the history of known, well-established, natural mutualisms, we experimentally simulated the development of mutualism using two genetically-engineered auxotrophic strains of Escherichia coli, which mimic two organisms that have never met before but later establish mutualism. In the development of this synthetic mutualism, one strain, approximately 10 hours after meeting the partner strain, started oversupplying a metabolite essential for the partner's growth, eventually leading to the successive growth of both strains. This cooperative phenotype adaptively appeared only after encountering the partner strain but before the growth of the strain itself. By transcriptome analysis, we found that the cooperative phenotype of the strain was not accompanied by the local activation of the biosynthesis and transport of the oversupplied metabolite but rather by the global activation of anabolic metabolism. This study demonstrates that an organism has the potential to adapt its phenotype after the first encounter with another organism to establish mutualism before its extinction. As diverse organisms inevitably encounter each other in nature, this potential would play an important role in the establishment of a nascent mutualism in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazufumi Hosoda
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Shingo Suzuki
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Yamauchi
- Department of Frontier Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Yasunori Shiroguchi
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Akiko Kashiwagi
- Faculty of Agriculture and Life Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Naoaki Ono
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Kotaro Mori
- Department of Frontier Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Yomo
- Department of Bioinformatic Engineering, Graduate School of Information Science and Technology, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- Exploratory Research for Advanced Technology (ERATO), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Suita, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Synthetic biology: From the first synthetic cell to see its current situation and future development. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 56:229-237. [PMID: 32214738 PMCID: PMC7088918 DOI: 10.1007/s11434-010-4304-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2010] [Accepted: 10/19/2010] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic biology is an emerging field, which, since its birth, has shown great value and potential in many fields including medicine, energy, environment and agriculture. It is also important for the study of the origin and evolution of life. Since the publication of the first synthetic cell in May, 2010, synthetic biology again attracts high attention and leads to extensive discussions all over the world. There have been a number of researches and achievements on synthetic biology in the United States and European countries. While in China, so far there is no systematic research on synthetic biology. In order to promote the development of this new discipline in China, we organized this review to systematically introduce the concept and research content of synthetic biology, summarize the achievements, and investigate the current situation in both China and abroad. We also analyzed the opportunities and challenges in synthetic biology, and looked forward to the future development of synthetic biology, especially its future development in China.
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