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Title: Engineering microbial consortia for controllable outputs

Abstract

Much research has been invested into engineering microorganisms to perform desired biotransformations; nonetheless, these efforts frequently fall short of expected results due to the unforeseen effects of biofeedback regulation and functional incompatibility. In nature, metabolic function is compartmentalized into diverse organisms assembled into resilient consortia, in which the division of labor is thought to lead to increased community efficiency and productivity. Here, we consider whether and how consortia can be designed to perform bioprocesses of interest beyond the metabolic flexibility limitations of a single organism. Advances in post-genomic analysis of microbial consortia and application of high-resolution global measurements now offer the promise of systems-level understanding of how microbial consortia adapt to changes in environmental variables and inputs of carbon and energy. We argue that when combined with appropriate modeling framework that predictive knowledge generates testable hypotheses and orthogonal synthetic biology tools, such understanding can dramatically improve our ability to control the fate and functioning of consortia. In this article, we articulate our collective perspective on the current and future state of microbial community engineering and control while placing specific emphasis on ecological principles that promote control over community function and emergent properties.

Authors:
; ORCiD logo; ; ; ORCiD logo; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1324901
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-110327
Journal ID: ISSN 1751-7362; KP1601010
DOE Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
The ISME Journal
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 1751-7362
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
engineering microbial consortia; controllable outputs

Citation Formats

Lindemann, Stephen R., Bernstein, Hans C., Song, Hyun-Seob, Fredrickson, Jim K., Fields, Matthew W., Shou, Wenying, Johnson, David R., and Beliaev, Alexander S. Engineering microbial consortia for controllable outputs. United States: N. p., 2016. Web. doi:10.1038/ismej.2016.26.
Lindemann, Stephen R., Bernstein, Hans C., Song, Hyun-Seob, Fredrickson, Jim K., Fields, Matthew W., Shou, Wenying, Johnson, David R., & Beliaev, Alexander S. Engineering microbial consortia for controllable outputs. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.26
Lindemann, Stephen R., Bernstein, Hans C., Song, Hyun-Seob, Fredrickson, Jim K., Fields, Matthew W., Shou, Wenying, Johnson, David R., and Beliaev, Alexander S. 2016. "Engineering microbial consortia for controllable outputs". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/ismej.2016.26.
@article{osti_1324901,
title = {Engineering microbial consortia for controllable outputs},
author = {Lindemann, Stephen R. and Bernstein, Hans C. and Song, Hyun-Seob and Fredrickson, Jim K. and Fields, Matthew W. and Shou, Wenying and Johnson, David R. and Beliaev, Alexander S.},
abstractNote = {Much research has been invested into engineering microorganisms to perform desired biotransformations; nonetheless, these efforts frequently fall short of expected results due to the unforeseen effects of biofeedback regulation and functional incompatibility. In nature, metabolic function is compartmentalized into diverse organisms assembled into resilient consortia, in which the division of labor is thought to lead to increased community efficiency and productivity. Here, we consider whether and how consortia can be designed to perform bioprocesses of interest beyond the metabolic flexibility limitations of a single organism. Advances in post-genomic analysis of microbial consortia and application of high-resolution global measurements now offer the promise of systems-level understanding of how microbial consortia adapt to changes in environmental variables and inputs of carbon and energy. We argue that when combined with appropriate modeling framework that predictive knowledge generates testable hypotheses and orthogonal synthetic biology tools, such understanding can dramatically improve our ability to control the fate and functioning of consortia. In this article, we articulate our collective perspective on the current and future state of microbial community engineering and control while placing specific emphasis on ecological principles that promote control over community function and emergent properties.},
doi = {10.1038/ismej.2016.26},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1324901}, journal = {The ISME Journal},
issn = {1751-7362},
number = 9,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 2016},
month = {Fri Mar 11 00:00:00 EST 2016}
}

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Works referencing / citing this record:

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