Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 39-48 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 39 Research Perspective Open Access Synthetic Microbial Communities: Redesigning Genetic Pathways for Enhanced Functional Synergy Ruisheng Song1, Ke Sun1, Yexuan Wang 1, Shenkui Liu 1 , Yuanyuan Bu2 1 State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China 2 Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China Corresponding author: shenkuiliu@zafu.edu.cn; yuanyuanbu@nefu.edu.cn Molecular Microbiology Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.1 doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0005 Received: 22 Dec., 2023 Accepted: 31 Jan., 2024 Published: 18 Feb., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Song et al., 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: Song R.S., Sun K., Wang Y.X., Liu S.K., and Bu Y.Y., 2024, Synthetic microbial communities: redesigning genetic pathways for enhanced functional synergy, Molecular Microbiology Research, 14(1): 39-48 (doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0005) Abstract This study aims to summarize recent advancements in genetic engineering, focusing on the interactions within microbial communities and their implications for improved functionality. Significant progress has been made in the field of synthetic biology, particularly in the design of synthetic microbial communities. Recent studies have demonstrated the use of control engineering concepts to analyze and design microbial systems, enhancing their functional output. The development of robust synthetic communities using quorum sensing and other interaction motifs has shown promise in creating stable and efficient microbial consortia. Additionally, programmable ecological interactions within synthetic consortia have been engineered to achieve specific population dynamics and functional outcomes. Advances in genome-centric metagenomics have provided deeper insights into the metabolic pathways and synergistic networks within microbial communities, revealing novel metabolic interactions and evolutionary insights. Furthermore, the integration of systems biology and synthetic biology approaches has been pivotal in understanding and manipulating the human microbiome for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. The redesign of genetic pathways within synthetic microbial communities holds significant potential for various industrial, environmental, and health-related applications. By leveraging advanced genetic engineering techniques and a deeper understanding of microbial interactions, it is possible to create microbial consortia with enhanced functional synergy. These developments pave the way for innovative solutions in bioremediation, chemical production, and human health, highlighting the importance of continued research in this rapidly evolving field. Keywords Synthetic microbial communities; Genetic pathway redesign; Genetic engineering; Microbial interactions; Quorum sensing; Synthetic biology; Human microbiome; Metabolic pathways Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) are engineered consortia of microorganisms designed to perform specific functions or produce desired outcomes. Unlike natural microbial communities, which are often complex and difficult to manipulate, SynComs offer a controlled environment where interactions between species can be precisely managed. The importance of SynComs lies in their potential to enhance productivity and stability in various applications, ranging from industrial biotechnology to environmental restoration and agriculture (Karkaria et al., 2021). For instance, SynComs can be designed to improve crop resiliency by enhancing plant-microbe interactions, thereby increasing crop productivity under adverse environmental conditions (Souza et al., 2020). Additionally, SynComs can be used to create distributed systems that mitigate issues often found in engineering monocultures, especially as functional complexity increases (Karkaria et al., 2021). Genetic pathway redesign involves modifying the genetic circuits within microbial communities to achieve enhanced functional synergy. This can be accomplished by engineering specific genetic parts and pathways to optimize interactions between different microbial species. For example, quorum sensing mechanisms can be employed to control interactions such as competition and cooperation within the community, thereby stabilizing the system and enhancing its overall functionality (Li et al., 2022). The division of labor among different strains within a community can also reduce the metabolic burden on individual members, leading to more efficient production processes. Moreover, synthetic biology tools and strategies, such as genome mining and bioinformatics,
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