Design, construction, and characterization methodologies for synthetic microbial consortia.
Engineered microbial consortia are of growing interest to a range of scientists including bioprocess engineers, systems biologists, and microbiologists because of their ability to simultaneously optimize multiple tasks, to test fundamental systems science, and to understand the microbial ecology of environments like chronic wounds. Metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and microbial ecology provide a sound scientific basis for designing, building, and analyzing consortium-based microbial platforms.This chapter outlines strategies and protocols useful for (1) in silico network design, (2) experimental strain construction, (3) consortia culturing including biofilm growth methods, and (4) physiological characterization of consortia. The laboratory and computational methods given here may be adapted for synthesis and characterization of other engineered consortia designs.
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, 173920, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA.
Hans C
HC
Bernstein
Ross P
RP
Carlson
D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005285:Fermentation; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D059013:Microbial Consortia; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D009154:Mutation; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D058615:Synthetic Biology / Q000379:methods; D014161:Transduction, Genetic
D010100:Oxygen