Advancements in microbial engineering for natural product synthesis

Synthetic biology has catalyzed significant advancements in the biotechnological sector, notably in the engineering of microbial cells to produce natural products like biochemicals, therapeutics, and food ingredients. This surge is facilitated by powerful genome editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas systems. These advances have transformed microbes into versatile biofactories, redefining possibilities in biomanufacturing and providing scalable solutions.

Despite these groundbreaking advancements, the precise design and modification of microbial genomes to induce desired phenotypes present substantial challenges. Efficiently harnessing microbial systems for the production of complex natural compounds requires a deeper understanding and innovative genome engineering approaches. More robust and versatile engineering strategies are essential to unlock the full potential of microbial production systems effectively.

This Research Topic aims to explore and expand the frontier of microbial engineering, focusing on synthesizing natural products. To gather further insights into this promising area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- Integration of synthetic and natural biological parts to enhance desired phenotypes
- Development of microbial chassis for high-value food additives and medical chemicals
- Challenges and future directions in synthetic biology devices and microbial chassis for food and medical sectors
- Innovative genome editing and recombineering techniques for microbial enhancement
- Novel applications and tools in the field of microbial genome engineering

Contributions may include research articles, reviews, and methodologies that explore and elucidate different aspects of microbial engineering for natural product production.