Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 39-48 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 40 can be used to identify and optimize biosynthetic pathways for the production of natural products with improved properties (Kang et al., 2020). The primary objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on synthetic microbial communities and the redesign of genetic pathways for enhanced functional synergy. By synthesizing findings from multiple studies, this paper aims to highlight the methodologies, tools, and strategies that have been developed to design and optimize SynComs. The significance of this review lies in its potential to guide future research and applications in various fields, including biotechnology, agriculture, and environmental science. By understanding the principles and techniques involved in creating robust and efficient SynComs, researchers can develop more effective solutions to complex biological and ecological challenges. This study propose directions for future research, thereby contributing to the advancement of synthetic biology and microbial engineering. 1 Synthetic Microbial Communities 1.1 Definition and characteristics Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) are engineered consortia of microorganisms designed to perform specific functions or exhibit particular traits. These communities are constructed by co-cultivating two or more microbial species under controlled environmental conditions. The design of SynComs leverages principles from both synthetic biology and microbial ecology to create systems with high biological processing efficiencies. This is achieved through the division of labor among community members, which reduces the metabolic burden on individual microorganisms and enhances overall functionality (Liang et al., 2022). 1.2 Examples and applications in various fields SynComs have broad applications across multiple fields, including biotechnology, agriculture, and medicine. In biotechnology, SynComs are used to create distributed systems that mitigate issues found in monocultures, especially as functional complexity increases. For instance, they can be designed to include competition for nutrients and use quorum sensing to control interactions, thereby producing stable and robust communities (Karkaria et al., 2021). In agriculture, SynComs are tailored to enhance crop resiliency and productivity by selecting microorganisms with traits beneficial for plant health, such as robust colonization and stress resistance (Souza et al., 2020). In medicine, SynComs are explored for their potential to rewire the human microbiome, offering novel therapeutic and diagnostic interventions. Tools like biosensors and engineered bacteria can be used to modulate the microbiome environment, thereby improving health outcomes (Ezzamouri et al., 2021). 1.3 Advantages over natural microbial communities SynComs offer several advantages over natural microbial communities. One significant advantage is the ability to design and control the community composition and interactions, which can lead to more predictable and stable outcomes. This controlled environment allows for the optimization of microbial traits and functions, enhancing the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the community (Liang et al., 2022). Additionally, SynComs can be engineered to perform specific tasks that natural communities may not be capable of, such as producing particular metabolites or degrading environmental pollutants. The use of computational methods, including machine learning and artificial intelligence, further enhances the design and optimization of SynComs, making them more effective in achieving desired outcomes (Martins et al., 2023). By leveraging the principles of synthetic biology and microbial ecology, SynComs represent a powerful tool for advancing various scientific and industrial applications, offering enhanced functional synergy and efficiency compared to their natural counterparts. 2 Redesigning Genetic Pathways 2.1 Overview of genetic pathway engineering Genetic pathway engineering is a cornerstone of synthetic biology, aiming to rewire and optimize metabolic and
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