ERASynBio: MiniCell - A Model-driven Approach to Minimal Cell Engineering

该项目邀请美国、西班牙、德国和法国的研究团队开发设计微生物的工具，以执行有价值的功能，包括以成本效益的方式合成重要化学品或净化有毒废物的能力。研究人员将开发一种细菌细胞的预测性数学模型，该模型将指导设计和基因操作，从而允许开发出最小的有机体，这种微生物被优化为执行特定的功能或行为。该项目将为博士后学者提供跨学科的研究培训，支持一个夏季课程，该课程将提供25名研究生在计算系统生物学方面的培训，并包括传播最先进的计算和实验生物工程方法的活动。该项目解决了合成生物学的关键挑战，如设计、合成和完全理解整个基因组的能力有限。含有最少未定性成分的细菌，如肺炎支原体，是这一目的的理想选择。从生物体的详细实验特征中获得的数据将被用来创建预测模型，这些模型将指导设计和开发简化版本的前体菌株。这个合作项目结合了基因组图谱、全细胞建模和基因组工程方面的专业知识，合理地构建了符合规格的优化细胞底盘。该项目是通过ERASynBio欧盟-美国跨国筹资机制资助的一个项目的美国合作部分。

This project engages research teams in the US, Spain, Germany and France to develop tools for the design of microorganisms to perform valuable functions including cost-effective synthesis of important chemicals or capabilities for the decontamination of toxic waste. The investigators will develop a predictive mathematical model of a bacterial cell that will guide the design and genetic manipulation that will allow the development of a minimal organism that is optimized to perform specific functions or behaviors. This project will provide interdisciplinary research training for postdoctoral scholars, support a summer course that will provide twenty-five graduate students training in computational systems biology, and includes activities that will disseminate the most advanced computational and experimental bioengineering methods.This project addresses key challenges for synthetic biology, such as the limited capabilities to design, synthesize, and fully understand whole genomes. Bacteria with minimal uncharacterized components, such as Mycoplasma pneumonia, are ideal for this purpose. Data derived from detailed experimental characterization of the organism will be used to create predictive models that will guide the design and development of a streamlined version of the progenitor strain. This collaborative project combines expertise in genomic profiling, whole-cell modeling, and genome engineering to rationally construct an optimized cellular chassis to specification. This project is the US collaborative component of a project funded through the ERASynBIO EU-US transnational funding mechanism.