Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, United States.
Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, United States; Program of Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77840, United States.
Curr Opin Biotechnol. 2024 Jun;87:103113. doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103113. Epub 2024 Apr 1.
A central goal of synthetic biology is the reprogramming of living systems for predetermined biological functions. While many engineering efforts have been made in living systems, these innovations have been mainly employed with microorganisms or cell lines. The engineering of multicellular organisms including animals remains challenging owing to the complexity of these systems. In this context, microbes, with their intricate impact on animals, have opened new opportunities. Through the utilization of the symbiotic relationships between microbes and animals, researchers have effectively manipulated animals in various ways using engineered microbes. This focused approach has demonstrated its significance in scientific exploration and engineering with model animals, coral preservation and restoration, and advancements in human health.
合成生物学的一个核心目标是对生物系统进行重新编程，以实现预定的生物学功能。虽然已经在生物系统中进行了许多工程方面的努力，但这些创新主要应用于微生物或细胞系。由于这些系统的复杂性，包括动物在内的多细胞生物的工程设计仍然具有挑战性。在这种情况下，微生物因其对动物的复杂影响而开辟了新的机会。通过利用微生物和动物之间的共生关系，研究人员已经成功地使用工程微生物以各种方式对动物进行了操作。这种集中的方法在利用模式动物进行科学探索和工程设计、珊瑚保护和修复以及人类健康的进步方面已经证明了其重要性。
