Advances in Synthetic Biological Approaches to Microbial Engineering
A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Biological Processes and Systems".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 April 2026 | Viewed by 834
Special Issue Editors
Interests: genome biology; synthetic biology; metabolic engineering; microbial platform engineering; bioproduction and bioprocess; prion science and engineering; gene therapy and biologics development; vaccine development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Synthetic biology has emerged as a transformative field in microbial engineering, offering unprecedented opportunities to design and construct biological systems with novel functionalities. This rapidly evolving discipline integrates biology, engineering, and computer science principles to create microorganisms with tailored capabilities for diverse applications. Recent advancements in synthetic biology have significantly expanded our capacity to manipulate and program microbial genomes, leading to breakthroughs in biomanufacturing, environmental remediation, biosensing, and medical therapies.
Developing sophisticated tools and techniques has been instrumental in driving progress in synthetic biology. CRISPR-based genome editing has revolutionized the field by enabling precise and efficient genetic modifications in diverse microbial species. This technology, in conjunction with advances in synthetic gene circuits and metabolic pathway optimization, has enabled researchers to engineer microorganisms with increasingly complex functions. Creating minimal genomes and synthetic chromosomes has further expanded the possibilities for customizing microbial chassis for specific purposes.
Complementary approaches, such as directed evolution and cell-free systems, have accelerated the development and testing of novel biological components and pathways. These advancements have facilitated the rapid prototyping of genetic circuits and the optimization of enzymes for enhanced performance. Furthermore, the design of synthetic microbial consortia and the incorporation of non-natural components through xenobiology extend the boundaries of engineered microorganisms’ capabilities.
As synthetic biology continues to advance, it holds the potential to revolutionize various industries and address global challenges. The ability to engineer microbes for specific tasks presents new opportunities for the sustainable production of chemicals, materials, fuels, and innovative solutions for environmental remediation and healthcare. This introduction establishes the foundation for exploring the latest developments in synthetic biology and their potential impact on science.
This Special Issue on “Advances in Synthetic Biological Approaches to Microbial Engineering” aims to convene eminent researchers to support industrial microbiology research, highlight state-of-the-art advancements, and promote practical implementations. It will comprise accepted submissions addressing genetically modified microorganisms’ creation, development, fundamental characteristics, and applications in diverse biochemical processes and biomanufacturing.
Dr. Prihardi Kahar
Dr. Gregory Guirimand
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- synthetic biology
- metabolic engineering
- genetic circuit design
- genome editing
- pathway optimization
- microbial chassis
- bioproduction
- adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE)
- omics integration
- biofoundries
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
