Engineering microbes to control heat production
Abstract
Microbes naturally inhabit various human body sites, and microbiotas can affect human functions, including metabolism, immunity, development, and even mood and behavior. Additionally, heat from the human microbiota may contribute to the maintenance of the human body temperature in cold environments. Despite this implication, microbial heat production mechanisms have rarely been investigated, let alone practical applications of microbial heat. This lack of study is partially due to the long-lasting perception of microbial heat as waste. In this project, we aim to investigate this underexplored topic. Specifically, this project aims to identify microbial heat production mechanisms by directly measuring heat from a library of microbial heat producers. In addition, we will develop genetic circuits that allow microbes to increase heat production in response to temperature downshift.This work is impactful for a number of reasons. First, this project may lead to changes in our view on microbial heat by shifting our focus to heat generation from product or biomass generation, in which bioengineers have been interested thus far. To this end, we will provide gene-level insights into microbial heat production processes for the first time. Second, our strain- or system-agnostic approach will guide future real-world applications, such as hypothermia prevention, which may involve engineering of non-model organisms and microbiotas. The health and performance of Sailors and Marines is the big concern for the U.S. Navy, and we envision that engineered human microbiotas would help divers avoid hypothermia by generating heat in an inducible manner. Third, this project will demonstrate the concept of the microbial thermostat for the first time. Creation of this genetic circuit requires the state-of-the-art technology to combine application-relevant genetic sensors with tunable and predictable gene regulators. Once we demonstrate our modular approach by building this circuit in a model organism, the modular platform will become a prototype of the microbial thermostat, potentially allowing other non-model organisms to be engineered for temperature-dependent heat generation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Apr 06, 2021
- Source ID
- N000142112206
Entities
People
- Tae Seok Moon
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- Washington University in St. Louis