Electrogenetic signaling and information propagation for controlling microbial consortia via programmed lysis
Abstract
To probe signal propagation and genetic actuation in microbial consortia, we have coopted the components of both redox and quorum sensing (QS) signaling into a communication network for guiding composition by “programming” cell lysis. Here, we use an electrode to generate hydrogen peroxide as a redox cue that determines consortia composition. The oxidative stress regulon of Escherichia coli, OxyR, is employed to receive and transform this signal into a QS signal that coordinates the lysis of a subpopulation of cells. We examine a suite of information transfer modalities including “monoculture” and “transmitter‐receiver” models, as well as a series of genetic circuits that introduce time‐delays for altering information relay, thereby expanding design space. A simple mathematical model aids in developing communication schemes that accommodate the transient nature of redox signals and the “collective” attributes of QS signals. We suggest this platform methodology will be useful in understanding and controlling synthetic microbial consortia for a variety of applications, including biomanufacturing and biocontainment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 09, 2023
- Source ID
- 10.1002/bit.28337
Entities
People
- Ali Navid
- Eric Vanarsdale
- Gregory F Payne
- Mimi C. Yung
- Monica J. Chu
- Tiffany M. Halvorsen
- William E. Bentley
- Yongqin Jiao
Organizations
- Defense Threat Reduction Agency
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
- United States Department of Energy
- University of Maryland