Synthetic biology

Genetic engineering of living organisms increases potential bio-risks. Biosecurity is one of the three bio-risks, which are biosafety, biosecurity, and cyberbiosecurity. Biosecurity is the use of proactive measures to avoid intentional biohazards such as theft and misuse of biotechnology and microbiologically hazardous materials. Biosecurity aims to reduce the risks associated with the misuse of synthetic biology which could harm humans, animals, plants, and the environment.

Biosafety is a term whichthat came from the field of microbiology as an abbreviation of safety in biological containment. Biosafety emerged from transgenic biotechnology as an acronym for “safety in biotechnology” and referred to safety associated with genetically modified organisms in the environment. Biosafety can also refer to safety with respect to biological research and the prevention of unintentional biotechnological and microbial biohazards. Vaccination management, exotic species, and access to safe and adequate food supply chains are part of biosafety issues.

Cyberbiosecurity is a hybridized discipline that includes cybersecurity, cyber-physical security and biosecurity applied to biological and biomedical-based systems. Cyberbiosecurity can be thought of as any unforeseeable adverse consequence involving a cyber-physical interface.

• Distributed Bio is developing antibody discovery, engineering, informatics tools, and services for the life sciences research and drug discovery
• Juno Bio - uses machine learning and bioinformatics to analyze microbiomes for the purpose of manipulating them

• Eligo Bioscience uses proprietary methods in synthetic biology, and protein and genome engineering to produce Eligobiotics, delivered CRIPSR-Cas systems, that cut up and destroy the DNA of the target bacteria, and are able to intervene with the microbiome as diagnostics, antimicrobials, and modulators of host-microbiome interactions

Synthetic biology provides new genomes, biological pathways, or organisms for use in biomanufacturing and allows for the redesign of existing genes, cells, or organisms. These have wide utility in biomanufacturing for commerce and medicine. Synthetic biology allows for the manufacture of new novel products as well as new approaches to existing sectors (gene therapy in healthcare for example). Ginko Bioworks and Lumen bioscience are engineering microorganisms for the manufacturing of food ingredients, therapeutic products, and other materials. Deinove genetically engineers bacteria for the biomanufacturing of antibiotics, bio-based ingredients for cosmetics and nutrition as well as organic acids, ethanol, and biofuels.

The following are examples of companies using synthetic biology approaches to produce agricultural products.:

Pheromones, are produced as alternatives to pesticides, using synthetic biology approaches to production.

• Hyasynth Bio engineers microbes for the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and other products, specifically cannabinoids, including THC
• Renew BioPharma produces cannabinoids and derivatives using microalgae for the development of therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injuries (TBI), and pain management
• Teewinot Life Science focuses on the biosynthetic production of pure pharmaceutical gradepharmaceutical-grade cannabinoids from yeast and other microorganisms
• Biosyntia aims to replace chemical-based vitamin production bywith sustainable and fermentation-based processes

Plant synthetic biology approaches are applied to engineering metabolic pathways that increase yield and/or make plantplants resistant to drought or pests. Researchers at Stanford University designed synthetic genetic circuits that modify root structures of plants to make them more efficient at gathering nutrients and water and more resilient to climate challenges.

The phytomicrobiome is the term for the microorganisms that colonize plants. Phytomicrobiome engineering, or plant microbiome engineering, is an area of synthetic biology. Plant-associated microbes have plant growth-promoting traits. Plant growth-promoting microbes have been isolated which are used as biofertilizers, biostimulants and biocontrol agents.

Plant microbiome engineering can take a bottom-up approach whereby specific microbes are isolated, engineered and reintroduced to the plant as synthetic microbial communities. The top-down approach involves synthetic ecology and uses horizontal gene transfer to a wide range of hosts in situ, followed by phenotyping the microbiome. For example, mobile genetic elements can be transferred and integrated into a subpopulation of microbiomes to study plant growth-promoting traits in a holistic manner.

Plant microbiome engineering can take a bottom-up approach whereby specific microbes are isolated, engineered, and reintroduced to the plant as synthetic microbial communities. The top-down approach involves synthetic ecology and uses horizontal gene transfer to a wide range of hosts in situ, followed by phenotyping the microbiome. For example, mobile genetic elements can be transferred and integrated into a subpopulation of microbiomes to study plant growth-promoting traits in a holistic manner.

Phage integrase system

ICE system

CRAGE system

Metabolomics alteration of gut microbiome in situ conjugation (MAGIC) (was first used in mouse gut)

• Phage integrase system
• ICE system
• CRAGE system
• Metabolomics alteration of gut microbiome in situ conjugation (MAGIC) (was first used in mouse gut)