Molecular Microbiology Research 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 65-78 http://microbescipublisher.com/index.php/mmr 65 Review Article Open Access Beyond Agriculture: Engineered SynComs for Large-Scale Environmental Remediation HaodaLiu 1,2, XuLiu 1,2, ZiangLiu 1,2, Shenkui Liu 3, Yuanyuan Bu 1,2 1 Key Laboratory of Saline-Alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China 2 College of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040, Heilongjiang, China 3 State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, 311300, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: yuanyuanbu@nefu.edu.cn Molecular Microbiology Research, 2024, Vol.14, No.2 doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0008 Received: 25 Jan., 2024 Accepted: 29 Feb., 2024 Published: 12 Mar., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Liu 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: Liu D.D., Liu X., Liu Z.A., Liu S.K., and Bu Y.Y., 2024, Beyond agriculture: engineered syncoms for large-scale environmental remediation, Molecular Microbiology Research, 14(2): 65-78 (doi: 10.5376/mmr.2024.14.0008) Abstract Environmental pollution poses a serious threat to ecosystems and human health, while traditional remediation methods often have problems such as high cost, low efficiency and possible toxic byproducts. Therefore, the design and application of SynComs using innovative engineering methods provides a sustainable and efficient solution for environmental remediation. This study explores the pollutant degradation mechanism of SynComs based on biological pathways and methods to enhance its efficiency through genetic engineering. Through specific case studies, the application results, successful cases and lessons learned of SynComs are deeply analyzed, and the existing limitations and areas for improvement are pointed out. Technical difficulties, ecological and environmental considerations, economic scalability issues, and regulatory and safety issues are the main challenges that need to be overcome in the current application of SynComs. This paper also looks forward to the emerging trends and technologies of SynComs engineering and explores the potential of integrating SynComs into a wider range of environmental management practices. By exploring and optimizing the application of SynComs, this study hopes to make substantial contributions to solving global environmental pollution problems, restoring ecological balance and promoting sustainable development. Keywords Environmental remediation; Engineered synComs; Pollutant degradation; Bioremediation; Sustainability 1 Introduction Environmental pollution is a critical issue that poses significant threats to human health, ecosystems, and biodiversity. It is characterized by the contamination of the physical and biological components of the atmosphere, leading to harmful consequences for normal environmental processes (Baroudi et al., 2020). The rapid industrialization and modernization of agricultural systems have exacerbated the contamination of soil, water, and air, resulting in severe ecological and health impacts (Kumar et al., 2021a; 2021b). Traditional remediation techniques, while effective to some extent, often face challenges related to cost, efficacy, and the generation of toxic byproducts, making them unsustainable in the long term (Sabreena et al., 2022; Xiang et al., 2022). Therefore, there is an urgent need for innovative and sustainable approaches to mitigate environmental pollution and restore ecological balance. Engineered synthetic communities (SynComs) represent a promising frontier in the field of environmental remediation. SynComs are designed microbial consortia that can be tailored to perform specific functions, such as the degradation of pollutants or the enhancement of soil health. While the application of SynComs has been extensively studied in agriculture, particularly in promoting plant growth and health (Xiang et al., 2022), their potential extends far beyond this domain. SynComs can be engineered to tackle a wide range of environmental pollutants, including heavy metals, organic contaminants, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs) (Ali et al., 2020; Rai and Singh, 2020; Bartlow et al., 2021). By leveraging the synergistic interactions between different microbial species, SynComs can enhance the efficiency and sustainability of bioremediation processes, offering a versatile tool for large-scale environmental remediation.
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