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Meng J, Liu S, Wu X. Engineered probiotics as live biotherapeutics for diagnosis and treatment of human diseases. Crit Rev Microbiol 2024; 50:300-314. [PMID: 36946080 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2023.2190392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
The use of probiotics to regulate the intestinal microbiota to prevent and treat a large number of disorders and diseases has been an international research hotspot. Although conventional probiotics have a certain regulatory role in nutrient metabolism, inhibiting pathogens, inducing immune regulation, and maintaining intestinal epithelial barrier function, they are unable to treat certain diseases. In recent years, aided by the continuous development of synthetic biology, engineering probiotics with desired characteristics and functionalities to benefit human health has made significant progress. In this article, we summarise the mechanism of action of conventional probiotics and their limitations and highlight the latest developments in the design and construction of probiotics as living diagnostics and therapeutics for the detection and treatment of a series of diseases, including pathogen infections, cancer, intestinal inflammation, metabolic disorders, vaccine delivery, cognitive health, and fatty liver. Besides we discuss the concerns regarding engineered probiotics and corresponding countermeasures and outline the desired features in the future development of engineered live biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Meng
- Laboratory of Nutrient Resources and Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Science, Tianjin, China
| | - Shufan Liu
- Laboratory of Nutrient Resources and Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Science, Tianjin, China
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Science and Technology; College of Bioengineering, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Xin Wu
- Laboratory of Nutrient Resources and Synthetic Biology, Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Science, Tianjin, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Agro-Ecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha, China
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2
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Murali SK, Mansell TJ. Next generation probiotics: Engineering live biotherapeutics. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 72:108336. [PMID: 38432422 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2024.108336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The population dynamics of the human microbiome have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, obesity, autoimmune diseases, and many other human disease states. An emerging paradigm in treatment is the administration of live engineered organisms, also called next-generation probiotics. However, the efficacy of these microbial therapies can be limited by the organism's overall performance in the harsh and nutrient-limited environment of the gut. In this review, we summarize the current state of the art use of bacterial and yeast strains as probiotics, highlight the recent development of genetic tools for engineering new therapeutic functions in these organisms, and report on the latest therapeutic applications of engineered probiotics, including recent clinical trials. We also discuss the supplementation of prebiotics as a method of manipulating the microbiome and improving the overall performance of engineered live biotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjeeva Kumar Murali
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
| | - Thomas J Mansell
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA; Interdepartmental Microbiology Graduate Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA.
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3
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Sarker D, Zubair A. Titanium nitride-based hyperbolic metamaterial for near-infrared ultrasensitive sensing of microbes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2024; 26:10273-10283. [PMID: 38497803 DOI: 10.1039/d4cp00302k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
We demonstrate an ultrasensitive microbe sensor for the first time using a titanium nitride (TiN) nanowire-based hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) structure. We detected the change in the resonance wavelength shift due to the inclusion of microbes in a freshwater environment employing the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. Our proposed HMM sensor exhibits strong bulk plasmon polariton (BPP) modes in the anisotropic hyperbolic regime (λ ≥ 590 nm) and operates in the near-infrared (NIR) wavelength region. We studied the impact of structural parameters on the resonance wavelength shift, where our proposed HMM sensor structure exhibited an outstanding sensing capability of 11 nm per bacteria. A limit of detection of 0.00008 RIU was achieved for our proposed HMM sensor structure. Additionally, we verified our results theoretically to calculate mode frequency shift by solving the effective medium theory (EMT). Our study revealed that HMM is the origin of highly sensitive BPP modes. We obtained two BPP modes, where the BPP mode at a longer wavelength (q = 1) exhibited the highest resonance wavelength shift compared to the BPP mode at a shorter wavelength (q = 2). More importantly, we demonstrated numerically the point-detection capability of our proposed HMM microbe sensor structure, which was unattainable in previously reported sensor work. Moreover, this sensor can be adapted to detect different viruses and bacteria. Our proposed TiN-based HMM structure can potentially be an ultrasensitive and straightforward microbe sensor for label-free detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dip Sarker
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh.
| | - Ahmed Zubair
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh.
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4
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Mahdizade Ari M, Dadgar L, Elahi Z, Ghanavati R, Taheri B. Genetically Engineered Microorganisms and Their Impact on Human Health. Int J Clin Pract 2024; 2024:6638269. [PMID: 38495751 PMCID: PMC10944348 DOI: 10.1155/2024/6638269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, the decreased effectiveness of conventional therapies, and the side effects have led researchers to seek a safer, more cost-effective, patient-friendly, and effective method that does not develop antibiotic resistance. With progress in synthetic biology and genetic engineering, genetically engineered microorganisms effective in treatment, prophylaxis, drug delivery, and diagnosis have been developed. The present study reviews the types of genetically engineered bacteria and phages, their impacts on diseases, cancer, and metabolic and inflammatory disorders, the biosynthesis of these modified strains, the route of administration, and their effects on the environment. We conclude that genetically engineered microorganisms can be considered promising candidates for adjunctive treatment of diseases and cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzie Mahdizade Ari
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Dadgar
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Elahi
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Microbial Biotechnology Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Behrouz Taheri
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapour University of medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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5
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Li H, Jia M, Qi Q, Wang Q. Engineered probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum WCSF I for monitoring and treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0182923. [PMID: 37909791 PMCID: PMC10848683 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01829-23] [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: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Bacterial infection and the emergence of drug-resistant strains are major problems in clinical treatment. Staphylococcus aureus, which typically infects the skin and blood of animals, is also a potential intestinal pathogen that needs to be addressed by the emergence of a new treatment approach. Probiotic therapy is the most likely alternative to antibiotic therapy to solve the problem of bacterial drug resistance in clinical practice. In this study, the engineered Lactobacillus plantarum can not only sense the signal AIP to detect S. aureus but also kill S. aureus by secreting the lysostaphin enzyme. Our strategy employed an Agr quorum-sensing genetic circuit to simultaneously detect and treat pathogenic bacteria, which provided a theoretical possibility for solving practical clinical bacterial infection cases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Li
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Minjun Jia
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qingsheng Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qian Wang
- National Glycoengineering Research Center, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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6
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Kim K, Kang M, Cho BK. Systems and synthetic biology-driven engineering of live bacterial therapeutics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1267378. [PMID: 37929193 PMCID: PMC10620806 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1267378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The past decade has seen growing interest in bacterial engineering for therapeutically relevant applications. While early efforts focused on repurposing genetically tractable model strains, such as Escherichia coli, engineering gut commensals is gaining traction owing to their innate capacity to survive and stably propagate in the intestine for an extended duration. Although limited genetic tractability has been a major roadblock, recent advances in systems and synthetic biology have unlocked our ability to effectively harness native gut commensals for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes, ranging from the rational design of synthetic microbial consortia to the construction of synthetic cells that execute "sense-and-respond" logic operations that allow real-time detection and therapeutic payload delivery in response to specific signals in the intestine. In this review, we outline the current progress and latest updates on microbial therapeutics, with particular emphasis on gut commensal engineering driven by synthetic biology and systems understanding of their molecular phenotypes. Finally, the challenges and prospects of engineering gut commensals for therapeutic applications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangsan Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjeong Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- KAIST Institute for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
- Graduate School of Engineering Biology, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon, Republic of Korea
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Marsh JW, Kirk C, Ley RE. Toward Microbiome Engineering: Expanding the Repertoire of Genetically Tractable Members of the Human Gut Microbiome. Annu Rev Microbiol 2023; 77:427-449. [PMID: 37339736 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-032421-112304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/22/2023]
Abstract
Genetic manipulation is necessary to interrogate the functions of microbes in their environments, such as the human gut microbiome. Yet, the vast majority of human gut microbiome species are not genetically tractable. Here, we review the hurdles to seizing genetic control of more species. We address the barriers preventing the application of genetic techniques to gut microbes and report on genetic systems currently under development. While methods aimed at genetically transforming many species simultaneously in situ show promise, they are unable to overcome many of the same challenges that exist for individual microbes. Unless a major conceptual breakthrough emerges, the genetic tractability of the microbiome will remain an arduous task. Increasing the list of genetically tractable organisms from the human gut remains one of the highest priorities for microbiome research and will provide the foundation for microbiome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- James W Marsh
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Christian Kirk
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
| | - Ruth E Ley
- Department of Microbiome Science, Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen, Germany;
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8
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Arcidiacono S, Spangler JR, Litteral V, Doherty LA, Stamps B, Walper S, Goodson M, Soares JW. In Vitro Fermentation Evaluation of Engineered Sense and Respond Probiotics in Polymicrobial Communities. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:5176-5185. [PMID: 37642529 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic biology provides a means of engineering tailored functions into probiotic bacteria. Of particular interest is introducing microbial sense and response functions; however, techniques for testing in physiologically relevant environments, such as those for the intended use, are still lacking. Typically, engineered probiotics are developed and tested in monoculture or in simplified cocultures still within ideal environments. In vitro fermentation models using simplified microbial communities now allow us to simulate engineered organism behavior, specifically organism persistence and intended functionality, within more physiologically relevant, tailored microbial communities. Here, probiotic bacteria Escherichia coli Nissle and Lactobacillus plantarum engineered with sense and response functionalities were evaluated for the ability to persist and function without adverse impact on commensal bacteria within simplified polymicrobial communities with increasing metabolic competition that simulate gut microbe community dynamics. Probiotic abundance and plasmid stability, measured by viability qPCR, decreased for engineered E. coli Nissle relative to monocultures as metabolic competition increased; functional output was not affected. For engineered L. plantarum, abundance and plasmid stability were not adversely impacted; however, functional output was decreased universally as metabolic competition was introduced. For both organisms, adverse effects on select commensals were not evident. Testing engineered probiotics in more physiologically relevant in vitro test beds can provide critical knowledge for circuit design feedback and functional validation prior to the transition to more costly and time-consuming higher-fidelity testing in animal or human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Arcidiacono
- Soldier Effectiveness Directorate, US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, United States
| | - Joseph R Spangler
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.20375, United States
| | - Vaughn Litteral
- UES Inc, US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Laurel A Doherty
- Soldier Effectiveness Directorate, US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, United States
| | - Blake Stamps
- 711th Human Performance Wing, US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Scott Walper
- Center for Bio/Molecular Science & Engineering, US Naval Research Laboratory, Washington, D.C.20375, United States
| | - Michael Goodson
- 711th Human Performance Wing, US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio 45433, United States
| | - Jason W Soares
- Soldier Effectiveness Directorate, US Army DEVCOM Soldier Center, Natick, Massachusetts 01760, United States
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9
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Spangler JR, Cooper DN, Malanoski AP, Walper SA. Promoter Identification and Optimization for the Response of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 to the Gram-Negative Pathogen-Associated Molecule N-3-Oxododecanoyl Homoserine Lactone. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:5111-5122. [PMID: 35708239 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) in bacteria has been well studied as a cellular communication phenomenon for decades. In recent years, such systems have been repurposed for the use of biosensors in both cellular and cell-free contexts as well as for inducible protein expression in nontraditional chassis organisms. Such biosensors are particularly intriguing when considering the association between the pathogenesis of some bacteria and their signaling intermediates. Considering this relationship and considering the recent demonstration of the species Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 as both a synthetic biology chassis and an organism capable of detecting a pathogen-associated QS molecule, we wanted to develop this organism as a QS sentinel. We used an approach combining techniques from both systems and synthetic biology to identify a number of native QS-response genes and to alter associated promoter activity to tune the output of L. plantarum cultures exposed to N-3-oxododecanoyl homoserine lactone. The resulting engineered QS sentinel reinforces the potential of modified lactic acid bacteria (LAB) for use in human-health-promoting applications and also demonstrates a simple rational workflow to engineer sentinel organisms to respond to any environmental or chemical stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R Spangler
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Denver N Cooper
- Spelman College, 350 Spelman Ln SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30314, United States
| | - Anthony P Malanoski
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
| | - Scott A Walper
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, 4555 Overlook Ave SW, Washington, D.C. 20375, United States
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10
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Koehle AP, Brumwell SL, Seto EP, Lynch AM, Urbaniak C. Microbial applications for sustainable space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. NPJ Microgravity 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37344487 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-023-00285-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
With the construction of the International Space Station, humans have been continuously living and working in space for 22 years. Microbial studies in space and other extreme environments on Earth have shown the ability for bacteria and fungi to adapt and change compared to "normal" conditions. Some of these changes, like biofilm formation, can impact astronaut health and spacecraft integrity in a negative way, while others, such as a propensity for plastic degradation, can promote self-sufficiency and sustainability in space. With the next era of space exploration upon us, which will see crewed missions to the Moon and Mars in the next 10 years, incorporating microbiology research into planning, decision-making, and mission design will be paramount to ensuring success of these long-duration missions. These can include astronaut microbiome studies to protect against infections, immune system dysfunction and bone deterioration, or biological in situ resource utilization (bISRU) studies that incorporate microbes to act as radiation shields, create electricity and establish robust plant habitats for fresh food and recycling of waste. In this review, information will be presented on the beneficial use of microbes in bioregenerative life support systems, their applicability to bISRU, and their capability to be genetically engineered for biotechnological space applications. In addition, we discuss the negative effect microbes and microbial communities may have on long-duration space travel and provide mitigation strategies to reduce their impact. Utilizing the benefits of microbes, while understanding their limitations, will help us explore deeper into space and develop sustainable human habitats on the Moon, Mars and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison P Koehle
- Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Brumwell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne M Lynch
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Camilla Urbaniak
- ZIN Technologies Inc, Middleburg Heights, OH, USA.
- NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
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11
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Synthetic biology-inspired cell engineering in diagnosis, treatment, and drug development. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:112. [PMID: 36906608 PMCID: PMC10007681 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01375-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The fast-developing synthetic biology (SB) has provided many genetic tools to reprogram and engineer cells for improved performance, novel functions, and diverse applications. Such cell engineering resources can play a critical role in the research and development of novel therapeutics. However, there are certain limitations and challenges in applying genetically engineered cells in clinical practice. This literature review updates the recent advances in biomedical applications, including diagnosis, treatment, and drug development, of SB-inspired cell engineering. It describes technologies and relevant examples in a clinical and experimental setup that may significantly impact the biomedicine field. At last, this review concludes the results with future directions to optimize the performances of synthetic gene circuits to regulate the therapeutic activities of cell-based tools in specific diseases.
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12
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Nieves M, Buschiazzo A, Trajtenberg F. Structural features of sensory two component systems: a synthetic biology perspective. Biochem J 2023; 480:127-140. [PMID: 36688908 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
All living organisms include a set of signaling devices that confer the ability to dynamically perceive and adapt to the fluctuating environment. Two-component systems are part of this sensory machinery that regulates the execution of different genetic and/or biochemical programs in response to specific physical or chemical signals. In the last two decades, there has been tremendous progress in our molecular understanding on how signals are detected, the allosteric mechanisms that control intramolecular information transmission and the specificity determinants that guarantee correct wiring. All this information is starting to be exploited in the development of new synthetic networks. Connecting multiple molecular players, analogous to programming lines of code, can provide the resources to build new sophisticated biocomputing systems. The Synthetic Biology field is starting to revolutionize several scientific fields, such as biomedicine and agriculture, propelling the development of new solutions. Expanding the spectrum of available nanodevices in the toolbox is key to unleash its full potential. This review aims to discuss, from a structural perspective, how to take advantage of the vast array of sensor and effector protein modules involved in two-component systems for the construction of new synthetic circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Nieves
- Laboratory of Molecular and Structural Microbiology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Alejandro Buschiazzo
- Laboratory of Molecular and Structural Microbiology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Département de Microbiologie, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Felipe Trajtenberg
- Laboratory of Molecular and Structural Microbiology, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
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13
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Recent advances in genetic tools for engineering probiotic lactic acid bacteria. Biosci Rep 2023; 43:232386. [PMID: 36597861 PMCID: PMC9842951 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20211299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthetic biology has grown exponentially in the last few years, with a variety of biological applications. One of the emerging applications of synthetic biology is to exploit the link between microorganisms, biologics, and human health. To exploit this link, it is critical to select effective synthetic biology tools for use in appropriate microorganisms that would address unmet needs in human health through the development of new game-changing applications and by complementing existing technological capabilities. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are considered appropriate chassis organisms that can be genetically engineered for therapeutic and industrial applications. Here, we have reviewed comprehensively various synthetic biology techniques for engineering probiotic LAB strains, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 mediated genome editing, homologous recombination, and recombineering. In addition, we also discussed heterologous protein expression systems used in engineering probiotic LAB. By combining computational biology with genetic engineering, there is a lot of potential to develop next-generation synthetic LAB with capabilities to address bottlenecks in industrial scale-up and complex biologics production. Recently, we started working on Lactochassis project where we aim to develop next generation synthetic LAB for biomedical application.
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14
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Ngashangva L, Chattopadhyay S. Biosensors for point-of-care testing and personalized monitoring of gastrointestinal microbiota. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1114707. [PMID: 37213495 PMCID: PMC10196119 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1114707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The gastrointestinal (GI) microbiota is essential in maintaining human health. Alteration of the GI microbiota or gut microbiota (GM) from homeostasis (i.e., dysbiosis) is associated with several communicable and non-communicable diseases. Thus, it is crucial to constantly monitor the GM composition and host-microbe interactions in the GI tract since they could provide vital health information and indicate possible predispositions to various diseases. Pathogens in the GI tract must be detected early to prevent dysbiosis and related diseases. Similarly, the consumed beneficial microbial strains (i.e., probiotics) also require real-time monitoring to quantify the actual number of their colony-forming units within the GI tract. Unfortunately, due to the inherent limitations associated with the conventional methods, routine monitoring of one's GM health is not attainable till date. In this context, miniaturized diagnostic devices such as biosensors could provide alternative and rapid detection methods by offering robust, affordable, portable, convenient, and reliable technology. Though biosensors for GM are still at a relatively preliminary stage, they can potentially transform clinical diagnosis in the near future. In this mini-review, we have discussed the significance and recent advancements of biosensors in monitoring GM. Finally, the progresses on future biosensing techniques such as lab-on-chip, smart materials, ingestible capsules, wearable devices, and fusion of machine learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) have also been highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lightson Ngashangva
- Transdisciplinary Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- *Correspondence: Lightson Ngashangva,
| | - Santanu Chattopadhyay
- Pathogen Biology, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
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15
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Engineering a "detect and destroy" skin probiotic to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276795. [PMID: 36520793 PMCID: PMC9754240 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence and virulence of pathogens such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (MRSA), which can cause recurrent skin infections, are of significant clinical concern. Prolonged antibiotic exposure to treat or decolonize S. aureus contributes to development of antibiotic resistance, as well as depletion of the microbiome, and its numerous beneficial functions. We hypothesized an engineered skin probiotic with the ability to selectively deliver antimicrobials only in the presence of the target organism could provide local bioremediation of pathogen colonization. We constructed a biosensing S. epidermidis capable of detecting the presence of S. aureus quorum sensing autoinducer peptide and producing lysostaphin in response. Here, we demonstrate in vitro activity of this biosensor and present and discuss challenges to deployment of this and other engineered topical skin probiotics.
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16
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Aggarwal N, Kitano S, Puah GRY, Kittelmann S, Hwang IY, Chang MW. Microbiome and Human Health: Current Understanding, Engineering, and Enabling Technologies. Chem Rev 2022; 123:31-72. [PMID: 36317983 PMCID: PMC9837825 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
The human microbiome is composed of a collection of dynamic microbial communities that inhabit various anatomical locations in the body. Accordingly, the coevolution of the microbiome with the host has resulted in these communities playing a profound role in promoting human health. Consequently, perturbations in the human microbiome can cause or exacerbate several diseases. In this Review, we present our current understanding of the relationship between human health and disease development, focusing on the microbiomes found across the digestive, respiratory, urinary, and reproductive systems as well as the skin. We further discuss various strategies by which the composition and function of the human microbiome can be modulated to exert a therapeutic effect on the host. Finally, we examine technologies such as multiomics approaches and cellular reprogramming of microbes that can enable significant advancements in microbiome research and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikhil Aggarwal
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Shohei Kitano
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore
| | - Ginette Ru Ying Puah
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Wilmar-NUS
(WIL@NUS) Corporate Laboratory, National
University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore,Wilmar
International Limited, Singapore 138568, Singapore
| | - Sandra Kittelmann
- Wilmar-NUS
(WIL@NUS) Corporate Laboratory, National
University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore,Wilmar
International Limited, Singapore 138568, Singapore
| | - In Young Hwang
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Department
of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore,Singapore
Institute of Technology, Singapore 138683, Singapore
| | - Matthew Wook Chang
- NUS
Synthetic Biology for Clinical and Technological Innovation (SynCTI), National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Synthetic
Biology Translational Research Programme, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117456, Singapore,Wilmar-NUS
(WIL@NUS) Corporate Laboratory, National
University of Singapore, Singapore 117599, Singapore,Department
of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117596, Singapore,E-mail:
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17
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Pham HL, Ling H, Chang MW. Design and fabrication of field-deployable microbial biosensing devices. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 76:102731. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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18
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Engineered microbial systems for advanced drug delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 187:114364. [PMID: 35654214 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2022.114364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The human body is a natural habitat for a multitude of microorganisms, with bacteria being the major constituent of the microbiota. These bacteria colonize discrete anatomical locations that provide suitable conditions for their survival. Many bacterial species, both symbiotic and pathogenic, interact with the host via biochemical signaling. Based on these attributes, commensal and attenuated pathogenic bacteria have been engineered to deliver therapeutic molecules to target specific diseases. Recent advances in synthetic biology have enabled us to perform complex genetic modifications in live bacteria and bacteria-derived particles, which simulate micron or submicron lipid-based vectors, for the targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. In this review, we highlight various examples of engineered bacteria or bacteria-derived particles that encapsulate, secrete, or surface-display therapeutic molecules for the treatment or prevention of various diseases. The review highlights recent studies on (i) the production of therapeutics by microbial cell factories, (ii) disease-triggered release of therapeutics by sense and respond systems, (iii) bacteria targeting tumor hypoxia, and (iv) bacteria-derived particles as chassis for drug delivery. In addition, we discuss the potential of such drug delivery systems to be translated into clinical therapies.
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19
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Cruz KCP, Enekegho LO, Stuart DT. Bioengineered Probiotics: Synthetic Biology Can Provide Live Cell Therapeutics for the Treatment of Foodborne Diseases. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:890479. [PMID: 35656199 PMCID: PMC9152101 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.890479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistant microbial pathogens presents an ominous health and economic challenge to modern society. The discovery and large-scale development of antibiotic drugs in previous decades was transformational, providing cheap, effective treatment for what would previously have been a lethal infection. As microbial strains resistant to many or even all antibiotic drug treatments have evolved, there is an urgent need for new drugs or antimicrobial treatments to control these pathogens. The ability to sequence and mine the genomes of an increasing number of microbial strains from previously unexplored environments has the potential to identify new natural product antibiotic biosynthesis pathways. This coupled with the power of synthetic biology to generate new production chassis, biosensors and “weaponized” live cell therapeutics may provide new means to combat the rapidly evolving threat of drug resistant microbial pathogens. This review focuses on the application of synthetic biology to construct probiotic strains that have been endowed with functionalities allowing them to identify, compete with and in some cases kill microbial pathogens as well as stimulate host immunity. Weaponized probiotics may have the greatest potential for use against pathogens that infect the gastrointestinal tract: Vibrio cholerae, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridioides difficile. The potential benefits of engineered probiotics are highlighted along with the challenges that must still be met before these intriguing and exciting new therapeutic tools can be widely deployed.
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20
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León-Buitimea A, Balderas-Cisneros FDJ, Garza-Cárdenas CR, Garza-Cervantes JA, Morones-Ramírez JR. Synthetic Biology Tools for Engineering Microbial Cells to Fight Superbugs. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:869206. [PMID: 35600895 PMCID: PMC9114757 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.869206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
With the increase in clinical cases of bacterial infections with multiple antibiotic resistance, the world has entered a health crisis. Overuse, inappropriate prescribing, and lack of innovation of antibiotics have contributed to the surge of microorganisms that can overcome traditional antimicrobial treatments. In 2017, the World Health Organization published a list of pathogenic bacteria, including Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli (ESKAPE). These bacteria can adapt to multiple antibiotics and transfer their resistance to other organisms; therefore, studies to find new therapeutic strategies are needed. One of these strategies is synthetic biology geared toward developing new antimicrobial therapies. Synthetic biology is founded on a solid and well-established theoretical framework that provides tools for conceptualizing, designing, and constructing synthetic biological systems. Recent developments in synthetic biology provide tools for engineering synthetic control systems in microbial cells. Applying protein engineering, DNA synthesis, and in silico design allows building metabolic pathways and biological circuits to control cellular behavior. Thus, synthetic biology advances have permitted the construction of communication systems between microorganisms where exogenous molecules can control specific population behaviors, induce intracellular signaling, and establish co-dependent networks of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angel León-Buitimea
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - Francisco de Jesús Balderas-Cisneros
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - César Rodolfo Garza-Cárdenas
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - Javier Alberto Garza-Cervantes
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
| | - José Rubén Morones-Ramírez
- Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León (UANL), San Nicolás de los Garza, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Apodaca, Mexico
- *Correspondence: José Rubén Morones-Ramírez,
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21
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Ma J, Lyu Y, Liu X, Jia X, Cui F, Wu X, Deng S, Yue C. Engineered probiotics. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:72. [PMID: 35477497 PMCID: PMC9044805 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01799-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered probiotics are a kind of new microorganisms produced by modifying original probiotics through gene editing. With the continuous development of tools and technology progresses, engineering renovation of probiotics are becoming more diverse and more feasible. In the past few years there have been some advances in the development of engineered probiotics that will benefit humankind. This review briefly introduces the theoretical basis of gene editing technology and focuses on some recent engineered probiotics researches, including inflammatory bowel disease, bacterial infection, tumor and metabolic diseases. It is hoped that it can provide help for the further development of genetically modified microorganisms, stimulate the potential of engineered probiotics to treat intractable diseases, and provide new ideas for the diagnosis of some diseases or some industrial production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junheng Ma
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Medical College, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China.,Non-Coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuhong Lyu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Medical College, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xin Liu
- School of Public Health, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China
| | - Xu Jia
- Non-Coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China.,School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China
| | - Fangyun Cui
- Ecological Environmental Monitoring Center, Luoyang, 471000, Henan, China
| | - Xiaoheng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Medical College, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China.,Non-Coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China
| | - Shanshan Deng
- Non-Coding RNA and Drug Discovery Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, 610500, Sichuan, China.
| | - Changwu Yue
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Drugs Innovation and Transformation, Medical College, Yan'an University, Yan'an, 716000, Shaanxi, China.
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22
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Singh RP, Shadan A, Ma Y. Biotechnological Applications of Probiotics: A Multifarious Weapon to Disease and Metabolic Abnormality. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2022; 14:1184-1210. [PMID: 36121610 PMCID: PMC9483357 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-022-09992-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Consumption of live microorganisms "Probiotics" for health benefits and well-being is increasing worldwide. Their use as a therapeutic approach to confer health benefits has fascinated humans for centuries; however, its conceptuality gradually evolved with methodological advancement, thereby improving our understanding of probiotics-host interaction. However, the emerging concern regarding safety aspects of live microbial is enhancing the interest in non-viable or microbial cell extracts, as they could reduce the risks of microbial translocation and infection. Due to technical limitations in the production and formulation of traditionally used probiotics, the scientific community has been focusing on discovering new microbes to be used as probiotics. In many scientific studies, probiotics have been shown as potential tools to treat metabolic disorders such as obesity, type-2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, digestive disorders (e.g., acute and antibiotic-associated diarrhea), and allergic disorders (e.g., eczema) in infants. However, the mechanistic insight of strain-specific probiotic action is still unknown. In the present review, we analyzed the scientific state-of-the-art regarding the mechanisms of probiotic action, its physiological and immuno-modulation on the host, and new direction regarding the development of next-generation probiotics. We discuss the use of recently discovered genetic tools and their applications for engineering the probiotic bacteria for various applications including food, biomedical applications, and other health benefits. Finally, the review addresses the future development of biological techniques in combination with clinical and preclinical studies to explain the molecular mechanism of action, and discover an ideal multifunctional probiotic bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajnish Prakash Singh
- Department of Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, Jharkhand India
| | - Afreen Shadan
- Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee University, Ranchi, Jharkhand India
| | - Ying Ma
- College of Resource and Environment, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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23
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Parandhaman T, Choudhary P, Ramalingam B, Schmidt M, Janardhanam S, Das SK. Antibacterial and Antibiofouling Activities of Antimicrobial Peptide-Functionalized Graphene-Silver Nanocomposites for the Inhibition and Disruption of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2021; 7:5899-5917. [PMID: 34787388 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.1c01253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Owing to the emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains, bacterial infection and biofilm formation are growing concerns in healthcare management. Herein, we report an eco-benign strategy for the synthesis and functionalization of graphene-silver (rGOAg) nanocomposites with an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infection. The synthesis of rGOAg nanocomposites was carried out by simple microwave reduction, and the as-synthesized rGOAg was covalently functionalized with an AMP. As a natural AMP, poly-l-lysine (PLL) functionalization of rGOAg enhanced the antibacterial efficacy and target specificity against the S. aureus biofilm. The robust bactericidal efficiency and biofilm disruption by AMP-functionalized rGOAg (designated as GAAP) occurred through the "contact-kill-release" mode of action, where the electrostatic interaction with bacterial cells together with intracellular ROS generation induced physical disruption to the cell membrane. The internalization of GAAP into the cytoplasm through the damaged cell membrane caused an outburst of intracellular proteins and DNA. Crystal violet staining along with fluorescence and confocal microscopic images showed an effective inhibition and disruption of the S. aureus biofilm upon treatment with GAAP. PLL functionalization also prevented the dissolution of Ag+ ions and thereby minimized the in vitro toxicity of GAAP to the 3 T6 fibroblast and human red blood cells. The ex vivo rat skin disinfection model further demonstrated the potency of GAAP in eliminating the biofilm formation and disruption of the S. aureus biofilm. The obtained results demonstrated a general approach for designing a functional nanocomposite material to disrupt the mature biofilm and provided a promising strategy for treating bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanusu Parandhaman
- Biological Materials Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai 600020, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Priyadarshani Choudhary
- Biological Materials Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai 600020, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Baskaran Ramalingam
- Biological Materials Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai 600020, India
| | - Michael Schmidt
- Electron Microscopy Facility, Tyndall National Institute, University College Cork (UCC), Lee Maltings Complex, Dyke Parade, Cork T12 R5CP, Ireland
| | - Sridevi Janardhanam
- Centre for Analytical, Testing, Evaluation and Reporting Services, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai 600020, India
| | - Sujoy K Das
- Infectious Diseases and Immunology Division, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology (IICB), Kolkata 700032, India.,Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
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24
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Moraskie M, Roshid MHO, O'Connor G, Dikici E, Zingg JM, Deo S, Daunert S. Microbial whole-cell biosensors: Current applications, challenges, and future perspectives. Biosens Bioelectron 2021; 191:113359. [PMID: 34098470 PMCID: PMC8376793 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2021.113359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Microbial Whole-Cell Biosensors (MWCBs) have seen rapid development with the arrival of 21st century biological and technological capabilities. They consist of microbial species which produce, or limit the production of, a reporter protein in the presence of a target analyte. The quantifiable signal from the reporter protein can be used to determine the bioavailable levels of the target analyte in a variety of sample types at a significantly lower cost than most widely used and well-established analytical instrumentation. Furthermore, the versatile and robust nature of MWCBs shows great potential for their use in otherwise unavailable settings and environments. While MWCBs have been developed for use in biomedical, environmental, and agricultural monitoring, they still face various challenges before they can transition from the laboratory into industrialized settings like their enzyme-based counterparts. In this comprehensive and critical review, we describe the underlying working principles of MWCBs, highlight developments for their use in a variety of fields, detail challenges and current efforts to address them, and discuss exciting implementations of MWCBs helping redefine what is thought to be possible with this expeditiously evolving technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Moraskie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute - BioNIUM, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Md Harun Or Roshid
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute - BioNIUM, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Gregory O'Connor
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute - BioNIUM, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Emre Dikici
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute - BioNIUM, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Jean-Marc Zingg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute - BioNIUM, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Sapna Deo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute - BioNIUM, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; The Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute - BioNIUM, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA; The Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA.
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25
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Pan Y, Chua N, Lim K, Ho CL. Engineering of Human Lactoferrin for Improved Anticancer Activity. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2021; 4:1476-1482. [PMID: 34661069 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.1c00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Protease-digested lactoferrin fragments often exhibit improved therapeutic properties. However, there are limited studies investigating the anticancer properties of these fragments. The fragment with improved anticancer activities is an attractive alternative to chemotherapeutic drugs-presenting severe side effects. Herein, we report the isolation and characterization of recombinant engineered-lactoferrin (rtHLF4), exhibiting up to 100-fold improved anticancer activity compared to the full-length lactoferrin (flHLF). Further, rtHLF4 exerts its anticancer effect in a shorter duration. Through transcriptomic analysis of various cancer biomarkers, rtHLF4 was found to upregulate various pro-apoptotic markers and downregulate signaling proteins involved in angiogenesis and metastasis. We further determined that rtHLF4 showed no hemolytic activity at high concentrations. We believe that this anticancer protein can be further developed as a cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Pan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China
| | - Niying Chua
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive 637551, Jurong West, Singapore
| | - Kaisheng Lim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China
| | - Chun Loong Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, China
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26
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Benítez-Chao DF, Balderas-Cisneros FDJ, León-Buitimea A, Morones-Ramírez JR. Design and in silico analysis of a whole-cell biosensor able to kill methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2021; 69:1373-1382. [PMID: 34081352 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
The rise of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has gained concern throughout the world over the past decades. Alternative therapeutic agents to antibiotics are rapidly growing to impede the proliferation of MRSA-caused infections. Lately, synthetic biology techniques have developed whole-cell biosensors by designing gene circuitry capable of sensing quorum-sensing (QS) molecules of pathogens and triggering expression of an antimicrobial moiety that kills MRSA and therefore prevents its further proliferation. Here, an E. coli was engineered in silico to act as a whole-cell biosensor that senses QS molecules from MRSA and triggers the expression of a bacteriocin that kills MRSA. To achieve this functionality, biosensor and bacteriocin modules were constructed and assembled into a vector. Both modules were codon-optimized to increase the yield production of the recombinant proteins. We then demonstrate in silico that the construction of a dual biosensor-killer plasmid, which holds two genetical modules known as biosensor and bacteriocin modules, enables the recombinant host to sense QS molecules from MRSA. Our designed whole-cell biosensor demonstrates in silico its ability to produce and secrete the bacteriocin as a function of the external concentration of autoinducer peptide from MRSA. These in silico results unravel the possibility of designing antimicrobial smarter therapeutics against resistant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Francisco Benítez-Chao
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, UANL, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad, S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L., 66455, México.,Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Apodaca, Nuevo León, México
| | - Francisco de Jesús Balderas-Cisneros
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, UANL, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad, S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L., 66455, México.,Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Apodaca, Nuevo León, México
| | - Angel León-Buitimea
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, UANL, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad, S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L., 66455, México.,Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Apodaca, Nuevo León, México
| | - José Rubén Morones-Ramírez
- Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, UANL, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Av. Universidad, S/N, Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolas de los Garza, N.L., 66455, México.,Centro de Investigación en Biotecnología y Nanotecnología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Parque de Investigación e Innovación Tecnológica, Apodaca, Nuevo León, México
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27
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Ma J, Du M, Wang C, Xie X, Wang H, Zhang Q. Advances in airborne microorganisms detection using biosensors: A critical review. FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2021; 15:47. [PMID: 33842019 PMCID: PMC8023783 DOI: 10.1007/s11783-021-1420-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Humanity has been facing the threat of a variety of infectious diseases. Airborne microorganisms can cause airborne infectious diseases, which spread rapidly and extensively, causing huge losses to human society on a global scale. In recent years, the detection technology for airborne microorganisms has developed rapidly; it can be roughly divided into biochemical, immune, and molecular technologies. However, these technologies still have some shortcomings; they are time-consuming and have low sensitivity and poor stability. Most of them need to be used in the ideal environment of a laboratory, which limits their applications. A biosensor is a device that converts biological signals into detectable signals. As an interdisciplinary field, biosensors have successfully introduced a variety of technologies for bio-detection. Given their fast analysis speed, high sensitivity, good portability, strong specificity, and low cost, biosensors have been widely used in environmental monitoring, medical research, food and agricultural safety, military medicine and other fields. In recent years, the performance of biosensors has greatly improved, becoming a promising technology for airborne microorganism detection. This review introduces the detection principle of biosensors from the three aspects of component identification, energy conversion principle, and signal amplification. It also summarizes its research and application in airborne microorganism detection. The new progress and future development trend of the biosensor detection of airborne microorganisms are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinbiao Ma
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, 300072 China
| | - Manman Du
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, 300072 China
| | - Can Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072 China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, 300072 China
| | - Xinwu Xie
- Institute of Medical Support Technology, Academy of Military Science, Tianjin, 300161 China
- National Bio-Protection Engineering Center, Tianjin, 300161 China
| | - Hao Wang
- Institute of Medical Support Technology, Academy of Military Science, Tianjin, 300161 China
- School of Electronic Information and Automation, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, 300222 China
| | - Qian Zhang
- School of Mechanical Engineering and Safety Engineering, Institute of Particle Technology, University of Wuppertal, Wuppertal, D-42119 Germany
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Wu Y, Wang CW, Wang D, Wei N. A Whole-Cell Biosensor for Point-of-Care Detection of Waterborne Bacterial Pathogens. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:333-344. [PMID: 33496568 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Water contamination by pathogenic bacteria is a major public health concern globally. Monitoring bacterial contamination in water is critically important to protect human health, but this remains a critical challenge. Engineered whole-cell biosensors created through synthetic biology hold great promise for rapid and cost-effective detection of waterborne pathogens. In this study, we created a novel whole-cell biosensor to detect water contamination by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Burkholderia pseudomallei, which are two critical bacterial pathogens and are recognized as common causative agents for waterborne diseases. The biosensor detects the target bacterial pathogens by responding to the relevant quorum sensing signal molecules. Particularly, this study constructed and characterized the biosensor on the basis of the QscR quorum sensing signal system for the first time. We first designed and constructed a QscR on the basis of the sensing module in the E. coli host cell and integrated the QscR sensing module with a reporting module that expressed an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). The results demonstrated that the biosensor had high sensitivity in response to the quorum sensing signals of the target bacterial pathogens. We further engineered a biosensor that expressed a red pigment lycopene in the reporting module to produce a visible signal readout for the pathogen detection. Additionally, we investigated the feasibility of a paper-based assay by immobilizing the lycopene-based whole-cell biosensor on paper with the aim to build a prototype for developing portable detection devices. The biosensor would provide a simple and inexpensive alternative for timely and point-of-care detection of water contamination and protect human health.
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Engineer probiotic bifidobacteria for food and biomedical applications - Current status and future prospective. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 45:107654. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Kang M, Choe D, Kim K, Cho BK, Cho S. Synthetic Biology Approaches in The Development of Engineered Therapeutic Microbes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21228744. [PMID: 33228099 PMCID: PMC7699352 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21228744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the intimate relationship between microbes and human health has been uncovered, microbes have been in the spotlight as therapeutic targets for several diseases. Microbes contribute to a wide range of diseases, such as gastrointestinal disorders, diabetes and cancer. However, as host-microbiome interactions have not been fully elucidated, treatments such as probiotic administration and fecal transplantations that are used to modulate the microbial community often cause nonspecific results with serious safety concerns. As an alternative, synthetic biology can be used to rewire microbial networks such that the microbes can function as therapeutic agents. Genetic sensors can be transformed to detect biomarkers associated with disease occurrence and progression. Moreover, microbes can be reprogrammed to produce various therapeutic molecules from the host and bacterial proteins, such as cytokines, enzymes and signaling molecules, in response to a disturbed physiological state of the host. These therapeutic treatment systems are composed of several genetic parts, either identified in bacterial endogenous regulation systems or developed through synthetic design. Such genetic components are connected to form complex genetic logic circuits for sophisticated therapy. In this review, we discussed the synthetic biology strategies that can be used to construct engineered therapeutic microbes for improved microbiome-based treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjeong Kang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (M.K.); (D.C.); (K.K.)
| | - Donghui Choe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (M.K.); (D.C.); (K.K.)
| | - Kangsan Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (M.K.); (D.C.); (K.K.)
| | - Byung-Kwan Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (M.K.); (D.C.); (K.K.)
- Innovative Biomaterials Research Center, KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Intelligent Synthetic Biology Center, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Correspondence: (B.-K.C.); (S.C.)
| | - Suhyung Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea; (M.K.); (D.C.); (K.K.)
- Innovative Biomaterials Research Center, KI for the BioCentury, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Korea
- Correspondence: (B.-K.C.); (S.C.)
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Engineering probiotics for therapeutic applications: recent examples and translational outlook. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 65:171-179. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Tan Y, Shen J, Si T, Ho CL, Li Y, Dai L. Engineered Live Biotherapeutics: Progress and Challenges. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e2000155. [DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yang Tan
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Juntao Shen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Tong Si
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen 518055 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
| | - Chun Loong Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, SUSTech Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) Shenzhen 518055 China
| | - Yinqing Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Tsinghua University IDG‐McGovern Institute for Brain Research Beijing 100084 China
| | - Lei Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT) Chinese Academy of Sciences Shenzhen 518055 China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China
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Abstract
The ability to detect disease early and deliver precision therapy would be transformative for the treatment of human illnesses. To achieve these goals, biosensors that can pinpoint when and where diseases emerge are needed. Rapid advances in synthetic biology are enabling us to exploit the information-processing abilities of living cells to diagnose disease and then treat it in a controlled fashion. For example, living sensors could be designed to precisely sense disease biomarkers, such as by-products of inflammation, and to respond by delivering targeted therapeutics in situ. Here, we provide an overview of ongoing efforts in microbial biosensor design, highlight translational opportunities, and discuss challenges for enabling sense-and-respond precision medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eugenia Inda
- MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Timothy K. Lu
- MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Liu Z, Hong CJ, Yang Y, Dai L, Ho CL. Advances in Bacterial Biofilm Management for Maintaining Microbiome Homeostasis. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900320. [PMID: 32510869 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Certain microbial biofilm in the human-microbiota community can negatively impact the host microbiome. This gives rise to various methods to prevent the formation of biofilms or to facilitate biofilm dispersal from surfaces and tissues in the host. Despite all these efforts, these persistent microbial biofilms on surfaces and in the host tissue can result in health problems to the host and its microbiome. It is the adaptive behavior of microbes within the biofilm that confers on these tenacious microbes the resistance to harsh environments, antibiotic treatments, and the ability to evade the host immune system. In this review, the approaches to combat microbial biofilm in the last decade are discussed. The biochemical pathway regulating biofilm formation is first discussed, followed by the discussion of the three approaches to combat biofilm formation: physical, chemical, and biological approaches. The advances in these approaches have given rise to methods of effectively dispersing the microbial biofilm and preventing the adherence of these microbial communities altogether. As there are numerous approaches to target biofilm, in this review the attempt is to provide insights on how these approaches have been used to modulate the host-microbiome by looking at the individual strengths and weaknesses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Can-Jian Hong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Yongshuai Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Lei Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Chun Loong Ho
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech), Shenzhen, 518055, China
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Miller C, Gilmore J. Detection of Quorum-Sensing Molecules for Pathogenic Molecules Using Cell-Based and Cell-Free Biosensors. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9050259. [PMID: 32429345 PMCID: PMC7277912 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9050259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery and subsequent use of penicillin, antibiotics have been used to treat most bacterial infections in the U.S. Over time, the repeated prescription of many antibiotics has given rise to many antibiotic-resistant microbes. A bacterial strain becomes resistant by horizontal gene transfer, where surviving microbes acquire genetic material or DNA fragments from adjacent bacteria that encode for resistance. In order to avoid significant bacterial resistance, novel and target therapeutics are needed. Further advancement of diagnostic technologies could be used to develop novel treatment strategies. The use of biosensors to detect quorum-sensing signaling molecules has the potential to provide timely diagnostic information toward mitigating the multidrug-resistant bacteria epidemic. Resistance and pathogenesis are controlled by quorum-sensing (QS) circuits. QS systems secrete or passively release signaling molecules when the bacterial concentration reaches a certain threshold. Signaling molecules give an early indication of virulence. Detection of these compounds in vitro or in vivo can be used to identify the onset of infection. Whole-cell and cell-free biosensors have been developed to detect quorum-sensing signaling molecules. This review will give an overview of quorum networks in the most common pathogens found in chronic and acute infections. Additionally, the current state of research surrounding the detection of quorum-sensing molecules will be reviewed. Followed by a discussion of future works toward the advancement of technologies to quantify quorum signaling molecules in chronic and acute infections.
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Crook N, Ferreiro A, Condiotte Z, Dantas G. Transcript Barcoding Illuminates the Expression Level of Synthetic Constructs in E. coli Nissle Residing in the Mammalian Gut. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:1010-1021. [PMID: 32324995 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The development of robust engineered probiotic therapies demands accurate knowledge of genetic construct expression in the gut. However, the monetary and ethical costs of testing engineered strains in vertebrate hosts are incompatible with current high-throughput design-build-test cycles. To enable parallel measurement of multiple construct designs, we placed unique DNA barcodes in engineered transcripts and measured barcode abundances via sequencing. In standard curve experiments, the barcode sequences exhibited consistent relationships between input and measured abundances, which allowed us to use transcript barcoding to measure expression levels of 30 GFP-expressing strains of E. coli Nissle in parallel. Applying this technology in culture and in the mouse gut, we found that GFP expression in the gut could often be predicted from expression levels in culture, but several strains exhibited gut-specific expression. This work establishes the experimental design parameters and advantages of transcript barcoding to measure the performance of many engineered probiotic designs in mammalian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Crook
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Aura Ferreiro
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Zevin Condiotte
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
| | - Gautam Dantas
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences & Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri 63130, United States
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, United States
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Huang X, Wang P, Li T, Tian X, Guo W, Xu B, Huang G, Cai D, Zhou F, Zhang H, Lei H. Self-Assemblies Based on Traditional Medicine Berberine and Cinnamic Acid for Adhesion-Induced Inhibition Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:227-237. [PMID: 31829617 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b17722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
S. aureus is resistant to various first-line antibiotics, and seeking multifarious strategies aimed at effective control of antibiotic-resistant behavior is urgently needed. Here, we report a two-component directed self-assembly mode: the phytochemicals berberine and cinnamic acid can directly self-assemble into nanoparticles (NPs) displaying good bacteriostastic activity. Compared with several first-line antibiotics, the obtained nanostructures have a better inhibitory effect on multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and stronger ability for biofilm removal. These qualities are attributed to the fact that organic assemblies can first spontaneously adhere to the surface of the bacteria, infiltrate into the cell, and then lead to converging attack against MRSA; thereafter, multipath bactericidal mechanisms of NPs on MRSA are found by both transcriptomic analysis and quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction analysis. Moreover, when combined with spectral data and single crystal X-ray diffraction, the NPs' self-assembly mechanism governed by hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions is clearly elucidated. These non-covalent interactions induce the NPs' formation of butterfly-like one-dimensional self-assembled units and finally layered three-dimensional spatial configuration. In addition, biocompatibility tests show that the NPs are nonhemolytic with little toxicity in vitro and in vivo. This directed self-assembly mode can offer a new perspective toward the design of biocompatible antimicrobial nanomedicines for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuemei Huang
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Penglong Wang
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Tong Li
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Xuehao Tian
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Wenbo Guo
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Bing Xu
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Guangrui Huang
- School of Life Science , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Desheng Cai
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Fei Zhou
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
| | - Haimin Lei
- School of Chinese Pharmacy , Beijing University of Chinese Medicine , Beijing 102488 , P. R. China
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Rottinghaus AG, Amrofell MB, Moon TS. Biosensing in Smart Engineered Probiotics. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900319. [PMID: 31860168 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Engineered microbes are exciting alternatives to current diagnostics and therapeutics. Researchers have developed a wide range of genetic tools and parts to engineer probiotic and commensal microbes. Among these tools and parts, biosensors allow the microbes to sense and record or to sense and respond to chemical and environmental signals in the body, enabling them to report on health conditions of the animal host and/or deliver therapeutics in a controlled manner. This review focuses on how biosensing is applied to engineer "smart" microbes for in vivo diagnostic, therapeutic, and biocontainment goals. Hurdles that need to be overcome when transitioning from high-throughput in vitro systems to low-throughput in vivo animal models, new technologies that can be implemented to alleviate this experimental gap, and areas where future advancements can be made to maximize the utility of biosensing for medical applications are also discussed. As technologies for engineering microbes continue to be developed, these engineered organisms will be used to address many medical challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin G Rottinghaus
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Matthew B Amrofell
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Tae Seok Moon
- Department of Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.,Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
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40
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Inda ME, Broset E, Lu TK, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Emerging Frontiers in Microbiome Engineering. Trends Immunol 2019; 40:952-973. [PMID: 31601521 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2019.08.007] [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: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiome has a significant impact on health and disease and can actively contribute to obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. We do not yet have the necessary tools to fine-tune the microbial communities that constitute the microbiome, though such tools could unlock extensive benefits to human health. Here, we provide an overview of the current state of technological tools that may be used for microbiome engineering. These tools can enable investigators to define the parameters of a healthy microbiome and to determine how gut bacteria may contribute to the etiology of a variety of diseases. These tools may also allow us to explore the exciting prospect of developing targeted therapies and personalized treatments for microbiome-linked diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Eugenia Inda
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Esther Broset
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Grupo de Genética de Micobacterias, Departamento de Microbiología y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, Department of Biological Engineering and Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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Börner RA, Kandasamy V, Axelsen AM, Nielsen AT, Bosma EF. Genome editing of lactic acid bacteria: opportunities for food, feed, pharma and biotech. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2019; 366:5251984. [PMID: 30561594 PMCID: PMC6322438 DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fny291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This mini-review provides a perspective of traditional, emerging and future applications of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and how genome editing tools can be used to overcome current challenges in all these applications. It also describes available tools and how these can be further developed, and takes current legislation into account. Genome editing tools are necessary for the construction of strains for new applications and products, but can also play a crucial role in traditional ones, such as food and probiotics, as a research tool for gaining mechanistic insights and discovering new properties. Traditionally, recombinant DNA techniques for LAB have strongly focused on being food-grade, but they lack speed and the number of genetically tractable strains is still rather limited. Further tool development will enable rapid construction of multiple mutants or mutant libraries on a genomic level in a wide variety of LAB strains. We also propose an iterative Design–Build–Test–Learn workflow cycle for LAB cell factory development based on systems biology, with ‘cell factory’ expanding beyond its traditional meaning of production strains and making use of genome editing tools to advance LAB understanding, applications and strain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa A Börner
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vijayalakshmi Kandasamy
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Amalie M Axelsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alex T Nielsen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Elleke F Bosma
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet B220, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Coleman MA, Goold HD. Harnessing synthetic biology for kelp forest conservation 1. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2019; 55:745-751. [PMID: 31152453 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental and climatic change is outpacing the ability of organisms to adapt, at an unprecedented level, resulting in range contractions and global ecosystem shifts to novel states. At the same time, scientific advances continue to accelerate, providing never-before imagined solutions to current and emerging environmental problems. Synthetic biology, the creation of novel and engineered genetic variation, is perhaps the fastest developing and transformative scientific field. Its application to solve extant and emerging environmental problems is vast, at times controversial, and technological advances have outpaced the social, ethical, and practical considerations of its use. Here, we discuss the potential direct and indirect applications of synthetic biology to kelp forest conservation. Rather than advocate or oppose its use, we identify where and when it may play a role in halting or reversing global kelp loss and discuss challenges and identify pathways of research needed to bridge the gap between technological advances and organismal biology and ecology. There is a pressing need for prompt collaboration and dialogue among synthetic biologists, ecologists, and conservationists to identify opportunities for use and ensure that extant research directions are set on trajectories to allow these currently disparate fields to converge toward practical environmental solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melinda A Coleman
- Department of Primary Industries, NSW Fisheries, National Marine Science Centre, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, 2450, Australia
- Southern Cross University, National Marine Science Centre, 2 Bay Drive, Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, 2450, Australia
- University of Western Australia Oceans Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | - Hugh D Goold
- Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle, New South Wales, 2568, Australia
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
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Spangler JR, Dean SN, Leary DH, Walper SA. Response of Lactobacillus plantarum WCFS1 to the Gram-Negative Pathogen-Associated Quorum Sensing Molecule N-3-Oxododecanoyl Homoserine Lactone. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:715. [PMID: 31024494 PMCID: PMC6459948 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.00715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 03/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The bacterial quorum sensing phenomenon has been well studied since its discovery and has traditionally been considered to include signaling pathways recognized exclusively within either Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria. These groups of bacteria synthesize structurally distinct signaling molecules to mediate quorum sensing, where Gram-positive bacteria traditionally utilize small autoinducing peptides (AIPs) and Gram-negatives use small molecules such as acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs). The structural differences between the types of signaling molecules have historically implied a lack of cross-talk among Gram-positive and Gram-negative quorum sensing systems. Recent investigations, however, have demonstrated the ability for AIPs and AHLs to be produced by non-canonical organisms, implying quorum sensing systems may be more universally recognized than previously hypothesized. With that in mind, our interests were piqued by the organisms Lactobacillus plantarum, a Gram-positive commensal probiotic known to participate in AIP-mediated quorum sensing, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a characterized Gram-negative pathogen whose virulence is in part controlled by AHL-mediated quorum sensing. Both health-related organisms are known to inhabit the human gut in various instances, both are characterized to elicit distinct effects on host immunity, and some studies hint at the putative ability of L. plantarum to degrade AHLs produced by P. aeruginosa. We therefore wanted to determine if L. plantarum cultures would respond to the addition of N-(3-oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone (3OC12) from P. aeruginosa by analyzing changes on both the transcriptome and proteome over time. Based on the observed upregulation of various two-component systems, response regulators, and native quorum sensing related genes, the resulting data provide evidence of an AHL recognition and response by L. plantarum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph R. Spangler
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowships, NRC Research Associateship Programs, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Scott N. Dean
- National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowships, NRC Research Associateship Programs, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Dagmar H. Leary
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Scott A. Walper
- United States Naval Research Laboratory, Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Washington, DC, United States
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Pedrolli DB, Ribeiro NV, Squizato PN, de Jesus VN, Cozetto DA. Engineering Microbial Living Therapeutics: The Synthetic Biology Toolbox. Trends Biotechnol 2018; 37:100-115. [PMID: 30318171 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Microbes can be engineered to act like living therapeutics designed to perform specific actions in the human body. From fighting and preventing infections to eliminating tumors and treating metabolic disorders, engineered living systems are the next generation of therapeutics. In recent years, synthetic biologists have greatly expanded the genetic toolbox for microbial living therapeutics, adding sensors, regulators, memory circuits, delivery devices, and kill switches. These advances have paved the way for successful engineering of fully functional living therapeutics, with sensing, production, and biocontainment devices. However, some important tools are still missing from the box. In this review, we cover the most recent biological parts and approaches developed and describe the missing tools needed to build robust living therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle B Pedrolli
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, 14800-903 Araraquara, Brazil; Members of Team AQA Unesp at iGEM 2017.
| | - Nathan V Ribeiro
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, 14800-903 Araraquara, Brazil; Members of Team AQA Unesp at iGEM 2017
| | - Patrick N Squizato
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, 14800-903 Araraquara, Brazil; Members of Team AQA Unesp at iGEM 2017
| | - Victor N de Jesus
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, 14800-903 Araraquara, Brazil; Members of Team AQA Unesp at iGEM 2017
| | - Daniel A Cozetto
- Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Bioprocess and Biotechnology, 14800-903 Araraquara, Brazil; Members of Team AQA Unesp at iGEM 2017
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Goold HD, Wright P, Hailstones D. Emerging Opportunities for Synthetic Biology in Agriculture. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:E341. [PMID: 29986428 PMCID: PMC6071285 DOI: 10.3390/genes9070341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid expansion in the emerging field of synthetic biology has to date mainly focused on the microbial sciences and human health. However, the zeitgeist is that synthetic biology will also shortly deliver major outcomes for agriculture. The primary industries of agriculture, fisheries and forestry, face significant and global challenges; addressing them will be assisted by the sector’s strong history of early adoption of transformative innovation, such as the genetic technologies that underlie synthetic biology. The implementation of synthetic biology within agriculture may, however, be hampered given the industry is dominated by higher plants and mammals, where large and often polyploid genomes and the lack of adequate tools challenge the ability to deliver outcomes in the short term. However, synthetic biology is a rapidly growing field, new techniques in genome design and synthesis, and more efficient molecular tools such as CRISPR/Cas9 may harbor opportunities more broadly than the development of new cultivars and breeds. In particular, the ability to use synthetic biology to engineer biosensors, synthetic speciation, microbial metabolic engineering, mammalian multiplexed CRISPR, novel anti microbials, and projects such as Yeast 2.0 all have significant potential to deliver transformative changes to agriculture in the short, medium and longer term. Specifically, synthetic biology promises to deliver benefits that increase productivity and sustainability across primary industries, underpinning the industry’s prosperity in the face of global challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh Douglas Goold
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia.
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia.
| | - Philip Wright
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Locked Bag 21, 161 Kite St, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia.
| | - Deborah Hailstones
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute, Woodbridge Road, Menangle, NSW 2568, Australia.
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