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

ERASynBio：MiniCell - 模型驱动的最小细胞工程方法

• 批准号: 1548123
• 负责人: Jonathan Karr
• 金额: $ 74.2万
• 依托单位: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2015
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2015-08-15 至 2019-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1548123&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: ERASynBio; MiniCell; Model; driven; Approach

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.

该项目吸引了美国、西班牙、德国和法国的研究团队参与，开发设计微生物的工具，以执行有价值的功能，包括具有成本效益的重要化学品合成或有毒废物净化能力。 研究人员将开发一种细菌细胞的预测数学模型，该模型将指导设计和遗传操作，从而允许开发一种最小的生物体，该生物体被优化以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，将为25名研究生提供计算系统生物学培训，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，例如设计，合成和完全理解整个基因组的能力有限。具有最少未表征成分的细菌，如肺炎支原体，是实现这一目的的理想选择。从生物体的详细实验表征中获得的数据将用于创建预测模型，该模型将指导设计和开发简化版本的祖菌株。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，以合理地构建优化的细胞底盘。 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。