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Tools for engineering coordinated system behaviour in synthetic microbial consortia

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolas Kylilis

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Zoltan A. Tuza

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Guy-Bart Stan

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Karen M. Polizzi

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

Abstract

Advancing synthetic biology to the multicellular level requires the development of multiple cell-to-cell communication channels that propagate information with minimal signal interference. The development of quorum-sensing devices, the cornerstone technology for building microbial communities with coordinated system behaviour, has largely focused on cognate acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)/transcription factor pairs, while the use of non-cognate pairs as a design feature has received limited attention. Here, we demonstrate a large library of AHL-receiver devices, with all cognate and non-cognate chemical signal interactions quantified, and we develop a software tool that automatically selects orthogonal communication channels. We use this approach to identify up to four orthogonal channels in silico, and experimentally demonstrate the simultaneous use of three channels in co-culture. The development of multiple non-interfering cell-to-cell communication channels is an enabling step that facilitates the design of synthetic consortia for applications including distributed bio-computation, increased bioprocess efficiency, cell specialisation and spatial organisation.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolas Kylilis & Zoltan A. Tuza & Guy-Bart Stan & Karen M. Polizzi, 2018. "Tools for engineering coordinated system behaviour in synthetic microbial consortia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-9, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-05046-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-05046-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Lin Wang & Xi Zhang & Chenwang Tang & Pengcheng Li & Runtao Zhu & Jing Sun & Yunfeng Zhang & Hua Cui & Jiajia Ma & Xinyu Song & Weiwen Zhang & Xiang Gao & Xiaozhou Luo & Lingchong You & Ye Chen & Zhuo, 2022. "Engineering consortia by polymeric microbial swarmbots," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. John P. Marken & Richard M. Murray, 2023. "Addressable and adaptable intercellular communication via DNA messaging," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Brian D. Huang & Dowan Kim & Yongjoon Yu & Corey J. Wilson, 2024. "Engineering intelligent chassis cells via recombinase-based MEMORY circuits," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Chae Won Kang & Hyun Gyu Lim & Jaehyuk Won & Sanghak Cha & Giyoung Shin & Jae-Seong Yang & Jaeyoung Sung & Gyoo Yeol Jung, 2022. "Circuit-guided population acclimation of a synthetic microbial consortium for improved biochemical production," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.

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