Synthetic Biology for Manipulating Quorum Sensing in Microbial Consortia

In nature, microbes exist in diverse communities where interactions amongst and between species contribute to the makeup and function of the community. A cell–cell communication process called quorum sensing is often important in these complex communities. Synthetic biology can be used to manipulate quorum sensing processes in natural microbiomes for positive health or environmental outcomes. Knowledge of quorum sensing processes can be applied to design synthetic consortia. These synthetic ecosystems can be used for manufacture of molecular products or to study social interactions in well-defined systems. Bacteria exist as communities in diverse multispecies environments. Quorum sensing, a process for cell–cell communication, allows individual bacteria to glean information about their surroundings and coordinate activities with their neighbors. Recent studies indicate the importance of quorum sensing in microbiomes, but many questions remain regarding how quorum sensing may influence the composition and function of these communities. Synthetic biology, a field where scientists seek to design biological systems with predictable behavior, may provide tools to probe and manipulate quorum sensing behavior in natural consortia. In parallel, quorum sensing processes can be used as a tool in synthetic biology to construct synthetic cocultures with desired behavior. Here, we review recent synthetic biology strategies for manipulating quorum sensing processes in microbial consortia. Bacteria exist as communities in diverse multispecies environments. Quorum sensing, a process for cell–cell communication, allows individual bacteria to glean information about their surroundings and coordinate activities with their neighbors. Recent studies indicate the importance of quorum sensing in microbiomes, but many questions remain regarding how quorum sensing may influence the composition and function of these communities. Synthetic biology, a field where scientists seek to design biological systems with predictable behavior, may provide tools to probe and manipulate quorum sensing behavior in natural consortia. In parallel, quorum sensing processes can be used as a tool in synthetic biology to construct synthetic cocultures with desired behavior. Here, we review recent synthetic biology strategies for manipulating quorum sensing processes in microbial consortia.