Genome engineering of the human gut microbiome

The human gut microbiome,a complex ecosystem,significantly influences host health,impacting crucial aspects such as metabolism and immunity.To enhance our comprehension and control of the molecular mechanisms orchestrating the intricate interplay between gut commensal bacteria and human health,the exploration of genome engineering for gut microbes is a promising frontier.Nevertheless,the complexities and diversities inherent in the gut microbiome pose substantial challenges to the development of effective genome engineering tools for human gut microbes.In this comprehensive review,we provide an overview of the current progress and challenges in genome engineering of human gut commensal bacteria,whether executed in vitro or in situ.A specific focus is directed towards the advancements and prospects in cargo DNA delivery and high-throughput techniques.Additionally,we elucidate the immense potential of genome engineering methods to enhance our understanding of the human gut microbiome and engineer the microorganisms to enhance human health.

工业微生物的噬菌体感染与防治策略

以细菌为基础的生物技术在蓬勃发展的同时也不断受到噬菌体感染的威胁,噬菌体感染已成为微生物发酵过程中的一个顽疾,其实质是噬菌体与细菌之间复杂的共进化关系。在漫长的进化过程中,噬菌体已经形成了多种针对细菌抗性系统的逃逸机制。合理的工厂设计、菌株的轮换策略和传统的基因工程方法能在一定程度上降低噬菌体感染的风险,但仍然无法避免。基于CRISPR-Cas系统的防治策略仅需噬菌体的序列信息就可以理性设计噬菌体抗性菌株,且可以通过叠加效应不断增强菌种抗性,从而避免噬菌体的逃逸;群体感应信号分子则可以从整体水平上调节细菌的噬菌体抗性。这些新发现为噬菌体感染问题的解决带了新的希望,而噬菌体基因组编辑技术和合成生物学的快速发展则将进一步加深人们对噬菌体感染防治领域的认识。