Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/nrg3094?error=cookies_not_supported&code=5c26da9d-b2b7-46f6-bb6b-12a11d3de8dc
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 02:41:18+00:00

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Wilfried Weber is Professor of Synthetic Biology at the University of Freiburg, Germany. Wilfried studied Biochemistry and Biotechnology and earned his Ph.D. with Martin Fussenegger at the Eigenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland, where he also started his independent research group. His research interest focuses on applying synthetic biology principles for drug discovery as well as for the design of interactive biohybrid materials for biomedical applications.
Martin Fussenegger is Professor of Biotechnology and Bioengineering at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE) of the ETH Zurich in Basel, Switzerland. Martin graduated with Werner Arber at the Biocenter of the Basel University, did his Ph.D. at the Max Planck Institute of Biology, Tübingen, Germany, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the MPI for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany. He joined the ETH Zurich as junior group leader and served in different management positions as professor at the ETH Zurich, most recently he moved to Basel to coordinate the build-up of the D-BSSE. His research focuses on mammalian cell engineering to reach therapeutic goals.
Synthetic biology aims to create functional devices, systems and organisms with novel and useful functions on the basis of catalogued and standardized biological building blocks. Although they were initially constructed to elucidate the dynamics of simple processes, designed devices now contribute to the understanding of disease mechanisms, provide novel diagnostic tools, enable economic production of therapeutics and allow the design of novel strategies for the treatment of cancer, immune diseases and metabolic disorders, such as diabetes and gout, as well as a range of infectious diseases. In this Review, we cover the impact and potential of synthetic biology for biomedical applications.
A decade after the report of the first devices, synthetic biology has developed into an engineering science that provides novel opportunities to understand, diagnose, prevent and treat diseases.
Chemical synthesis and reconstruction of extinct or difficult-to-propagate viral genomes improves our understanding of virulence factors.
The de novo synthesis of deoptimized viral genomes enables the production of safe life vaccines.
Engineering environmentally responsive dominant-lethal genetic circuits into disease-transmitting insects provides a highly specific approach for controlling disease propagation.
The reconstruction of bacterial resistance circuits in mammalian cells enables the integrated discovery of agents to overcome resistance.
Engineered bacteria and synthetic genetic circuits that specifically detect and destroy neoplastic cells will provide momentum to future cancer therapies.
Molecular prostheses that detect disease states and autonomously trigger a therapeutic response in a closed-loop control configuration provide novel opportunities in the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases.
Synthetic gene circuits will provide novel opportunities for future gene and cell-based therapies.
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Work in the laboratory of W.W. is supported by the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) ERC Grant agreement number 259043-CompBioMat and the Excellence Initiative of the German Federal and State Governments (EXC 294). Work in the laboratory of M.F. is supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (grant number 3100A0-112549) and in part by the European Community Framework 7 (Persist).
Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestrasse 1, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Hebelstrasse 25, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland.
An oligonucleic acid that binds to a specific target, such as a chemical compound, a protein or a nucleic acid. Aptamers were found to control riboswitches in natural systems, but they can also be selected in vitro.
Genetic circuits that can be switched between two stable expression states (for example, an 'on' and an 'off' state) by a transient stimulus. In the absence of a switching stimulus, the expression state is locked and inherited across cell generations.
Genetic circuits whose response dynamics depend on a combination of past and present states.
The capacity of a species to sense and score its surrounding ecosystem, for example, to identify the type and population density of neighbouring species.
A small-molecule-based chemical language by which bacteria communicate within and across populations (the 'quorum'). Production and response to quorum-sensing molecules is correlated with population density.
These are devices that are selectively induced within a specific concentration range of the input signal. At lower or higher trigger levels, the band-pass filter shuts down output signals.
Liposomes that are decorated with antigenic peptides or proteins that elicit an immune response.
These are molecular devices that promote the spreading of a specific gene throughout a target population by taking advantage of a mechanism that multiplies the specific gene in the host genome. Gene drive systems produce non-Mendelian patterns of inheritance.
These constitute a group of secondary metabolites produced through linear decarboxylative condensation of acetyl-CoA with several malonyl-CoA-derived extender units to a polyketide chain. Many pharmacologically active compounds, such as antibiotics and anti-cancer drugs, belong to the polyketide class.
Genetically encoded repair program protecting against DNA damage. In prokaryotes, the repair program is coordinated by LexA and RecA.
Dormant individual cells within a bacterial population that show a high tolerance to antimicrobials.
The action of drugs in the body over a period of time. It covers absorption of the drug as well as its distribution, tissue localization, biotransformation and excretion.
Commensal bacteria live in close contact with the host. In this special type of symbiosis, one partner is benefited, whereas the other is neither benefited nor harmed.
Networks that replace existing cellular functionality that is ill-driven or out of order. They represent molecular prostheses for non-functional cellular activity; they differ from other synthetic networks that add useful functionality but do not replace non-functional cellular networks.

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