Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.1, 39-48 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 44 functional core microbiomes have identified key microbial species that control rhizosphere microbiomes and suppress pathogens, offering potential applications in agroecosystems (Toju et al., 2020). 4.3 Medical applications Synthetic microbial communities also hold promise for medical applications, particularly in modulating the gut microbiome and treating diseases. The ability to monitor and model metabolite exchange in dynamic microbial consortia is crucial for understanding community-level behaviors and designing consortia with novel functions. For example, an in-silico model of a synthetic microbial community consisting of sucrose-secreting Synechococcus elongatus and Escherichia coli W demonstrated the importance of spatial organization and metabolite exchange in predicting colony fitness (Sakkos et al., 2023). This approach can be applied to engineer designer consortia for personalized probiotics and disease treatment (Figure 2). Additionally, the framework for scoring species within a microbial community based on their functional roles can be used to design functional core microbiomes for medical applications, such as organizing gut microbiome processes and functions (Toju et al., 2020). Figure 2 Study overview diagram (Adopted from Sakkos et al., 2023) Image caption: Experimental growth, sucrose secretion, and biomass apportionment data were used to construct an Individual-based NUFEB model of an S. elongatus andE. coli consortium(Adapted from Sakkos et al., 2023) The research from Sakkos et al. (2023) provides an overview of constructing an Individual-based NUFEB model for a consortium of Synechococcus elongatus and Escherichia coli. Experimental data, including growth curves, sucrose secretion, and carbon partitioning, were gathered from cultures of S. elongatus and E. coli. These data are crucial for modeling the interactions and behavior of the microbial consortium. The NUFEB (Newcastle University Frontiers in Environmental Biology) model simulates the dynamics of the consortium by integrating cell-environment interactions, such as nutrient uptake, secretion, cell division, and diffusion, along with cell-cell interactions like physical contact and metabolite exchange. This model provides insights into the interactions between the two species within their environment, optimizing conditions for mutual growth and productivity. The visual representation underscores the complexity of interactions and highlights the importance of both environmental and interspecies factors in shaping the consortium's dynamics. This integrative approach facilitates a deeper understanding of microbial consortia, potentially advancing biotechnological applications. The redesign of genetic pathways in synthetic microbial communities offers numerous applications and implications across industrial biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, and medical fields. By leveraging computational models and advanced screening methods, researchers can optimize microbial interactions and enhance the functional synergy of these communities for various practical applications.
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