Genomics and Applied Biology 2024, Vol.15, No.2, 64-74 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/gab 64 Research Report Open Access Beyond Traditional Bioremediation: The Potential of Engineered SynComs in Tackling Complex Environmental Pollutants LizhenHan College of Life Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, 550025, China Corresponding author email: lzhan1@gzu.edu.cn Genomics and Applied Biology, 2024, Vol.15, No.2 doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0009 Received: 04 Feb., 2024 Accepted: 06 Mar., 2024 Published: 18 Mar., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Han, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Han L.Z., 2024, Beyond traditional bioremediation: the potential of engineered SynComs in tackling complex environmental pollutants, Genomics and Applied Biology, 15(2): 64-74 (doi: 10.5376/gab.2024.15.0009) Abstract Environmental pollution remains a critical global challenge, necessitating innovative and effective remediation strategies. Traditional bioremediation methods, while eco-friendly and socially acceptable, often fall short in addressing complex and recalcitrant pollutants. Recent advancements in systems biology and metabolic engineering have paved the way for the development of engineered synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) with enhanced bioremediation capabilities. This systematic review explores the potential of engineered SynComs in tackling complex environmental pollutants. By integrating systems biology approaches, we can analyze microbial behavior at a community level under various environmental stresses, providing crucial insights for metabolic engineering. Techniques such as recombinant DNA technology, gene editing tools, and the CRISPR-Cas system have been instrumental in constructing metabolically engineered microbial strains capable of degrading complex pollutants. Furthermore, the co-cultivation of multiple engineered microbial communities presents a promising avenue for the bioremediation of mixed and complex wastes. This review highlights the significant strides made in synthetic biology and multidisciplinary technologies, emphasizing their role in developing efficient and safe microbial scavengers for environmental recovery. Keywords Bioremediation; Engineered SynComs; Systems biology; Metabolic engineering; Synthetic biology; Environmental pollutants; Microbial scavengers; CRISPR-Cas; Recombinant DNA technology Environmental pollution, driven by the persistent disposal of xenobiotic compounds such as insecticides, pesticides, fertilizers, plastics, and hydrocarbons, poses a significant threat to ecosystems and human health (Sharma et al., 2018). Traditional bioremediation methods, which leverage the natural metabolic capabilities of microorganisms to degrade pollutants, have been widely employed to mitigate this issue. These methods include the use of microbial consortia and enzyme-based technologies to break down hazardous substances into less harmful forms (Jiao et al., 2016; Sharma et al., 2018). Despite their potential, traditional bioremediation approaches often fall short in addressing the complexity and diversity of environmental pollutants. One of the primary limitations of traditional bioremediation is the insufficient degradation efficiency of naturally occurring microorganisms, which are not evolved to tackle the wide array of synthetic pollutants introduced by human activities (Sharma et al., 2018). Additionally, the stability and activity of microbial enzymes in natural environments can be compromised, limiting their effectiveness (Sharma et al., 2018). The complexity of environmental matrices and the presence of multiple contaminants further complicate the bioremediation process, often requiring prolonged treatment times and extensive monitoring (Jiao et al., 2016). These challenges highlight the need for more advanced and efficient bioremediation strategies. Recent advancements in synthetic biology have paved the way for the development of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), which are engineered consortia of microorganisms designed to enhance bioremediation efficiency (Dvořák et al., 2017; Sharma et al., 2018). SynComs are constructed using multidisciplinary technologies, including genetic engineering, systems biology, and metabolic engineering, to optimize the degradation pathways and improve the resilience of microbial communities in polluted environments (Sharma et al., 2018). These engineered communities can be tailored to target specific pollutants, offering a more robust and versatile solution to environmental contamination.
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