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

该项目与美国、西班牙、德国和法国的研究团队合作，开发微生物设计工具，以执行有价值的功能，包括经济有效地合成重要化学品或净化有毒废物的能力。研究人员将开发一个细菌细胞的预测数学模型，该模型将指导设计和基因操作，从而允许开发一个最小的有机体，以优化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研究培训，支持一个夏季课程，该课程将为25名计算系统生物学研究生提供培训，并包括将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，例如设计、合成和完全理解全基因组的有限能力。具有最小未表征成分的细菌，如肺炎支原体，是理想的。从生物体的详细实验特征中获得的数据将用于创建预测模型，该模型将指导祖先菌株的流线型版本的设计和开发。这个合作项目结合了基因组分析、全细胞建模和基因组工程方面的专业知识，合理地构建了一个优化的细胞底盘。该项目是通过ERASynBIO欧盟-美国跨国资助机制资助的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.