Coupling spatial segregation with synthetic circuits to control bacterial survival. Issue 2 (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Shuqiang; Lee, Anna Jisu; Tsoi, Ryan; Wu, Feilun; Zhang, Ying; Leong, Kam W; You, Lingchong
• Is Part Of: Molecular systems biology. Volume 12:Issue 2(2016:Feb.)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: collective survival -- engineered bacteria -- safeguard control -- spatial segregation; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; Systems biology -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.15252/msb.20156567
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-4292

Abstract

Abstract: Engineered bacteria have great potential for medical and environmental applications. Fulfilling this potential requires controllability over engineered behaviors and scalability of the engineered systems. Here, we present a platform technology, microbial swarmbot, which employs spatial arrangement to control the growth dynamics of engineered bacteria. As a proof of principle, we demonstrated a safeguard strategy to prevent unintended bacterial proliferation. In particular, we adopted several synthetic gene circuits to program collective survival in Escherichia coli : the engineered bacteria could only survive when present at sufficiently high population densities. When encapsulated by permeable membranes, these bacteria can sense the local environment and respond accordingly. The cells inside the microbial swarmbot capsules will survive due to their high densities. Those escaping from a capsule, however, will be killed due to a decrease in their densities. We demonstrate that this design concept is modular and readily generalizable. Our work lays the foundation for engineering integrated and programmable control of hybrid biological–material systems for diverse applications. Synopsis: "Microbial swarmbots", a platform technology integrating programmed density sensing by synthetic circuits and spatial confinement by encapsulation achieves efficient and modular control of population dynamics of engineered bacteria. The microbial swarmbots, small populations of engineered bacteria enclosed in a polymeric capsule, employ spatial segregation to control survival and death. As a proof‐of‐principle, a safeguard strategy is presented that allows engineered E. coli survival only at high density based on synthetic gene circuits. The technology is modular and readily generalizable and serves as a foundation for engineering integrated and programmable control of hybrid biological‐material systems for diverse applications. Abstract : "Microbial swarmbots", a platform technology integrating programmed density sensing by synthetic circuits and spatial confinement by encapsulation achieves efficient and modular control of population dynamics of engineered bacteria.