Bioluminescent Microbial Bioreporters: A Personal Perspective
Biosensors,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
15(2), P. 111 - 111
Published: Feb. 14, 2025
This
review
attempts
to
summarize
my
three
decades-long
involvement
in,
and
contribution
to,
the
design,
construction
testing
of
bioluminescent
microbial
sensor
strains
(bioreporters).
With
understanding
that
such
a
document
cannot
be
completely
free
bias,
focuses
on
studies
from
own
lab
only,
with
almost
no
coverage
parallel
progress
made
by
others
in
similar
fields.
admittedly
subjective
approach
way
detracts
achievements
countless
excellent
researchers
who
are
not
mentioned
here,
whose
contributions
field
at
least
as
important
own.
The
covers
basic
aspects
then
progresses
describe
approaches
performance
improvement
aimed
detection
either
specific
chemicals,
groups
chemicals
sharing
characteristics,
or
global
effects,
toxicity
genotoxicity.
need
for
integration
live
cells
into
compatible
hardware
platform
is
highlighted,
importance
long-term
maintenance
cells'
viability
activity.
use
multi-member
sensors'
panels
presented
means
enhancing
spectrum
sample
"fingerprinting",
along
list
different
purposes
which
sensors
have
been
put
use.
Language: Английский
A roadmap to understanding and anticipating microbial gene transfer in soil communities
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: April 8, 2025
SUMMARY
Engineered
microbes
are
being
programmed
using
synthetic
DNA
for
applications
in
soil
to
overcome
global
challenges
related
climate
change,
energy,
food
security,
and
pollution.
However,
we
cannot
yet
predict
gene
transfer
processes
assess
the
frequency
of
unintentional
engineered
environmental
when
applying
biology
technologies
at
scale.
This
challenge
exists
because
complex
heterogeneous
characteristics
soils,
which
contribute
fitness
transport
cells
exchange
genetic
material
within
communities.
Here,
describe
knowledge
gaps
about
across
microbiomes.
We
propose
strategies
improve
our
understanding
communities,
highlight
need
benchmark
performance
biocontainment
measures
situ
,
discuss
responsibly
engaging
community
stakeholders.
opportunities
address
gaps,
such
as
creating
a
set
standards
studying
diverse
types
measuring
host
range
microbiomes
emerging
technologies.
By
comparing
rates,
range,
persistence
different
posit
that
community-scale,
environment-specific
models
can
be
built
anticipate
biotechnology
risks.
Such
studies
will
enable
design
safer
biotechnologies
allow
us
realize
benefits
mitigate
risks
associated
with
release
Language: Английский
Preventing escape and malfunction of recoded cells due to tRNA base changes
Published: July 19, 2024
Abstract
Engineering
the
genetic
code
restricts
DNA
transfer
(cellular
bioisolation)
and
enables
new
chemistries
via
non-standard
amino
acid
incorporation.
These
distinct
properties
make
recoded
cells
state-of-the-art
safe
technologies.
However,
evolutionary
pressures
may
endanger
longevity
of
recoding.
Here,
we
reveal
that
Escherichia
coli
lacking
18,214
serine
codons
two
tRNA
Ser
can
express
wild-type
antibiotic
resistance
genes
escape
up
to
seven
orders
magnitude
faster
than
expected.
We
show
a
two-step
process
whereby
mistranslate
survive
until
modified
or
mutated
tRNAs
reintroduce
into
unassigned
codons.
developed
genetic-code-sensitive
kill
switches
sense
incorporation
prevent
cellular
while
preserving
encoding
three
acids.
This
work
lays
foundation
for
long-term
controlled
function
incorporate
chemistries,
with
implications
design,
use,
biosafety
synthetic
genomes
in
clinical
environmental
applications
where
physical
containment
is
insufficient.
Language: Английский
An Autonomous Microbial Sensor Enables Long-term Detection of TNT Explosive in Natural Soil
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Oct. 8, 2024
ABSTRACT
Microbes
can
be
engineered
to
detect
target
chemicals,
but
when
they
operate
in
real-world
environments,
it
remains
unclear
how
competition
with
natural
microbes
affect
their
performance
over
long
time
periods.
We
sensors
and
memory-storing
genetic
circuits
inside
Bacillus
subtilis
sense
respond
the
TNT
explosive,
using
predictive
models
for
rational
design.
characterized
ability
a
soil
system,
measuring
single-cell
population-level
behavior
28-day
period.
The
autonomous
microbial
sensor
activated
its
response
by
14-fold
exposed
low
concentrations
maintained
stable
activation
21
days,
exhibiting
exponential
decay
dynamics
at
half-life
of
about
5
days.
Our
results
show
that
bacteria
carry
out
long-term
detection
an
important
chemical
competitive
growth
serving
as
additional
biocontainment.
Language: Английский