Recent advances and prospects of as microbial cell factories: from rational design to industrial applications.

is one of the most characterized Gram-positive bacteria. This species has unique characteristics that are beneficial for industrial applications, including its utilization of: cheap carbon as a substrate, a transparent genetic background, and large-scale robustness in fermentation. Indeed, the productivity characteristics of have been thoroughly analyzed and further optimized through systems biology and synthetic biology techniques. Following the analysis of multiple engineering design strategies, is now considered an efficient cell factory capable of producing large quantities of multiple products from various raw materials. In this review, we discuss the significant potential advantages offered by as a platform for metabolic engineering and industrial applications. In addition, we systematically summarize the recent laboratory research and industrial application of , including: relevant advances in systems and synthetic biology, various strategies adopted to improve the cellular performances of synthetic chemicals, as well as the latest progress in the synthesis of certain important products by . Finally, we propose the current challenges and essential strategies to usher in an era of broader use as microbial cell factories.