Addressing challenges in microbial manufacturing: Systematic microbial biotechnology

Microbial manufacturing offers an alternative approach to producing chemicals and materials in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Despite its significance and widespread attention, various challenges persist in its industrial application. We propose a systematic approach to microbial biotechnology—a comprehensive framework for developing customized technologies tailored to the unique characteristics of the entire process for specific products. It utilizes approaches such as simplifying the process, sequential rearrangement, and coupling steps to systematically and holistically address the bottlenecks of the entire process in microbial manufacturing, aiming to achieve optimal economic and environmental benefits. This method involves the integration of multiple disciplines, including enzymology, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, fermentation, separation engineering, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Here, we present several cases involving various stages of product bioproduction, developed under the concept of systematic microbial biotechnology, to demonstrate its effectiveness and advantages. The development and application of these technological concepts hold significant potential to shape the future of a sustainable circular bioeconomy driven by microbial manufacturing.

Introduction

The history of microbial biotechnology dates back thousands of years. In ancient times, people unknowingly harnessed the power of microorganisms in the process of bread making, brewing, and dairy production.1 The scientific exploration of microorganisms took a significant leap forward with the pioneering work of scientists like Louis Pasteur in the 19th century. The 20th century witnessed a paradigm shift in microbial biotechnology with the discovery of antibiotics by Alexander Fleming and the subsequent development of industrial fermentation processes. In recent decades, the field of microbial biotechnology has experienced substantial growth, propelled by advancements in genetic engineering, synthetic biology, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence (AI). These developments have opened new avenues in medicine, agriculture, industry, and environmental sustainability, thereby ushering in the era of microbial manufacturing.