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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Advances in Microbial Synthetic Biology
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Advances in Microbial Synthetic Biology

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Microbial Biotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 2554

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hailong Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Institute of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao 266000, China
Interests: microbial gene editing; mechanisms of homologous recombination; biosynthesis of antibiotics; metabolic engineering; phage engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Microbial synthetic biology is a rapidly developing field at the intersection of biology, engineering, and computer science. Using microorganisms, researchers can design and construct new biological products and systems for useful purposes. The applications of microbial synthetic biology are vast, ranging from medicine and agriculture to environmental sustainability and bioenergy.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest breakthroughs and innovative approaches in this field. We invite researchers to contribute original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore various aspects of microbial synthetic biology, including but not limited to the following:

  • Genetic design and engineering: Development of novel genetic designs for precise control of gene expression and cellular behavior in microorganisms;
  • Metabolic pathway engineering: Optimization and redesign of microbial metabolic pathways for the efficient production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other valuable chemicals;
  • Synthetic genomics: Advances in the synthesis and assembly of large DNA sequences, including synthetic genomes, to create engineered microorganisms with targeted functions;
  • Microbial consortia and communities: Engineering microbial consortia to perform complex functions, including bioremediation, nutrient cycling, and industrial bioprocesses;
  • Tools and technologies: Development of new tools and technologies for synthetic biology, such as CRISPR-based genome editing and high-throughput screening methods;
  • Biosensors and diagnostics: Development of microbial biosensors for environmental monitoring, disease diagnosis, and harmful substance detection;
  • Applications in medicine: Engineering of microorganisms for therapeutic applications, including drug delivery, microbiome modulation, and the production of biopharmaceuticals;
  • Environmental and agricultural applications: Utilization of synthetic biology to address environmental challenges, such as pollution and waste management, and to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Hailong Wang
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • microbial gene editing
  • metabolic engineering
  • engineered microorganisms
  • microbial biosensors
  • biosynthesis

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 1326 KiB  
Article
Biochemical Features of the Cry3A Toxin of Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis and Its Toxicity to the Red Imported Fire Ant Solenopsis invicta
by Lee A. Bulla, Jr.
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 371; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020371 - 8 Feb 2025
Viewed by 535
Abstract
Bioinsecticides based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are widely used as safe alternatives to chemical insecticides. The insecticidal activity of Bt is occasioned by a protein toxin contained in parasporal crystals (Cry proteins) that are synthesized and laid down alongside the endospore [...] Read more.
Bioinsecticides based on the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) are widely used as safe alternatives to chemical insecticides. The insecticidal activity of Bt is occasioned by a protein toxin contained in parasporal crystals (Cry proteins) that are synthesized and laid down alongside the endospore during sporulation. The specificity of toxin action is associated with the subspecies of Bt and the individual Cry toxins they produce. Although a number of commercial Bt formulations are available to control moths, mosquitoes and beetles, there are none that control the red imported fire ant (RIFA) Solenopsis invicta. The present report is the first to describe the insecticidal activity of the Cry3A protein toxin, produced by Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. tenebrionis (Btt), against the RIFA as well as some of its key biochemical properties. Currently available commercial formulations of Btt are designed to control beetles such as the Colorado potato beetle, not ants. The Cry3A toxin (MW ~66 kDa) is embedded in a larger polypeptide (protoxin, MW ~73 kDa) and is released from the toxin enzymatically. Once activated, it can be administered to the RIFA as a soluble protein that most likely binds to an attendant receptor in the epithelial cells that line the wall of the larval ventriculus, killing the insect. Properly customized, the Cry3A toxin is a potential candidate for fire ant control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Microbial Synthetic Biology)
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17 pages, 3363 KiB  
Article
Pharmacodynamic Evaluation of Phage Therapy in Ameliorating ETEC-Induced Diarrhea in Mice Models
by Yangjing Xiong, Lu Xia, Yumin Zhang, Guoqing Zhao, Shidan Zhang, Jingjiao Ma, Yuqiang Cheng, Hengan Wang, Jianhe Sun, Yaxian Yan and Zhaofei Wang
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2532; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122532 - 8 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1610
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major pathogen causing diarrhea in humans and animals, with increasing antimicrobial resistance posing a growing challenge in recent years. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) offer a targeted and environmentally sustainable approach to combating bacterial infections, particularly in eliminating drug-resistant [...] Read more.
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major pathogen causing diarrhea in humans and animals, with increasing antimicrobial resistance posing a growing challenge in recent years. Lytic bacteriophages (phages) offer a targeted and environmentally sustainable approach to combating bacterial infections, particularly in eliminating drug-resistant strains. In this study, ETEC strains were utilized as indicators, and a stable, high-efficiency phage, designated vB_EcoM_JE01 (JE01), was isolated from pig farm manure. The genome of JE01 was a dsDNA molecule, measuring 168.9 kb, and a transmission electron microscope revealed its characteristic T4-like Myoviridae morphology. JE01 effectively lysed multi-drug-resistant ETEC isolates. Stability assays demonstrated that JE01 retained its activity across a temperature range of 20 °C to 50 °C and a pH range of 3–11, showing resilience to ultraviolet radiation and chloroform exposure. Furthermore, JE01 effectively suppressed ETEC adhesion to porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2), mitigating the inflammatory response triggered by ETEC. To investigate the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of phage JE01 preparations, a diarrhea model was established using germ-free mice infected with a drug-resistant ETEC strain. The findings indicated that 12 h post-ETEC inoculation, intragastric administration of phage JE01 significantly reduced mortality, alleviated gastrointestinal lesions, decreased ETEC colonization in the jejunum, and suppressed the expression of the cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. These results demonstrate a therapeutic benefit of JE01 in treating ETEC-induced diarrhea in mice. Additionally, a fluorescent phage incorporating red fluorescent protein (RFP) was engineered, and the pharmacokinetics of phage therapy were preliminarily assessed through intestinal fluorescence imaging in mice. The results showed that the phage localized to ETEC in the jejunum rapidly, within 45 min. Moreover, the pharmacokinetics of the phage were markedly slowed in the presence of its bacterial target in the gut, suggesting sustained bacteriolytic activity in the ETEC-infected intestine. In conclusion, this study establishes a foundation for the development of phage-based therapies against ETEC. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Microbial Synthetic Biology)
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