The continuous development of synthetic biology has brought new opportunities and challenges to various directions and fields of biology. Through cross-regional and interdisciplinary cooperation and exchanges, it is possible to better integrate resources, share experiences, and promote the coordinated development of synthetic biology research. This year, we had an exchange with the XJU-China team from Xinjiang University, aiming to share the progress and research results of each team's projects in related fields, explore the possibility of cooperation, and jointly address the opportunities and challenges faced by the development of synthetic biology in the northwest region. The following is the content of the exchange between the two teams.
Project Background: Microbial damage on murals is a major problem in the protection of cultural heritage, causing the surface of the murals to flake off, the deterioration of mineral pigments, and other problems that seriously affect the preservation and display of cultural heritage. Although existing physical and chemical methods can play a certain role, they cause damage to the environment or the murals themselves and are difficult to achieve long-term and effective protection.
Project Design: The Lanzhou University (LZU) team proposed a solution based on synthetic biology. By introducing antibacterial peptides to inhibit microbial growth, using hydrogenase and peroxidase complexes to remove organic pigment stains, and constructing a PH feedback regulation system to improve the antibacterial efficiency. This design aims to control the occurrence and development of microbial damage at the source, while reducing intervention on the murals themselves, and achieving a balance between cultural heritage protection and environmental friendliness.
Human Practices Part: Focusing on the impact of climate change on cultural heritage, a new paradigm for cultural heritage protection based on global climate change was proposed, and popularization and publicity were carried out. Through in-depth research on the relationship between climate change and cultural heritage protection, the team hopes to draw the attention of all sectors of society to this issue, promote the renewal of cultural heritage protection concepts and technological progress, and provide new ideas and methods for the sustainable protection of cultural heritage.
Project Background: The unique natural environment of Xinjiang has given rise to abundant microbial resources. Among them, the antibody functional elements of high lactose-resistant bacteria have significant research value. The exploration and analysis of these elements aim to improve the stress resistance of factory strains, thereby providing support for the application of synthetic biology in extreme environments. This is of great significance for addressing the complex environmental conditions in the northwest region.
Experimental Progress: 10 bacteria containing plasmids were selected from 400 strains, and extreme environment tests were conducted. It was found that Bacillus spores had a significant growth advantage in high salt and acid-base environments. This discovery laid the foundation for the subsequent construction of engineered bacteria and provided new clues for exploring the survival mechanism of microorganisms in extreme environments.
Engineering Bacterial Construction: The open reading frames were introduced into bacteria through recombinant plasmids. The growth curves were tested, and it was found that pRM4 showed functional activity in acid/alkali/heat stress. This indicates that the constructed engineered bacteria have good adaptability in responding to various environmental stresses, providing a powerful tool for the application of synthetic biology in environmental restoration, resource development, and other fields.
Discussion on Climate Change and Cultural Heritage Protection
The climate in the northwest region is complex, with disputes over warming and wetting versus warming and drying. Further research is needed on the impact of precipitation and evaporation changes on cultural heritage. In recent years, the climate in the northwest region has shown a trend of transitioning from warm and dry to warm and wet, but this transition is not uniform, and there are significant differences in changes in different regions and seasons. The overall temperature has significantly increased, with distinct seasonal differences. The warming in winter contributes the most to the warming of the arid regions in the northwest; precipitation has generally increased, with the greatest increase in summer, but the spatial distribution is uneven, with some areas experiencing significant increases in precipitation, while others have increased less or even decreased. These complex climate change characteristics pose many challenges to cultural heritage protection.
On the one hand, the increase in precipitation may lead to an increase in the humidity of the environment where the cultural heritage is located, accelerating the occurrence and development of diseases such as weathering and erosion of the cultural heritage; on the other hand, the increase in temperature may accelerate the aging of cultural heritage materials, affecting the structural stability of the cultural heritage.
Extreme climate events (such as heavy precipitation, mudslides) pose a greater direct threat to cultural heritage protection, and monitoring and early warning systems need to be strengthened. With the intensification of climate change, the frequency and intensity of extreme climate events have increased, such as heavy rain, floods, mudslides, etc. These extreme events often cause catastrophic damage to cultural heritage, such as destroying cultural heritage sites and submerging museums. Therefore, the construction of monitoring and early warning systems is crucial. By real-time monitoring of meteorological data, geological disaster risks, etc., protective measures can be taken in advance to minimize the damage of extreme climate events to cultural heritage.
Domestic research on the correlation between cultural heritage and climate change is relatively new. The relevant discussion was only initiated in 2023, and systematic research still needs to be improved. Currently, China is in the initial stage of research on the correlation between cultural heritage and climate change, with relatively few research institutions and professionals, and the research methods and technical means are not yet mature. To better cope with the threats of climate change to cultural heritage, it is necessary to further strengthen systematic research, integrate the strength of multiple disciplines, establish a complete monitoring, assessment, warning and protection system, and improve the ability of cultural heritage to cope with climate change.
Prospects for Synergistic Biology Cooperation in the Northwest Region
The LZU team proposed to form a multi-university joint team, focusing on the unique problems in the northwest region (such as environmental restoration, agricultural resilience), and proposing synthetic biology solutions. The northwest region has a unique ecosystem and rich biodiversity, but it also faces many environmental and resource problems, such as land degradation, water shortage, climate change, etc. Synthetic biology, as an emerging interdisciplinary field, has great potential and application prospects. By forming a multi-university joint team, the advantages of each university in different disciplines can be fully utilized, and synthetic biology research can be carried out jointly, proposing innovative solutions for the unique problems in the northwest region, and promoting the sustainable development of the northwest region.
The XJU-CHINA team of Xinjiang University believes that bacterial plasmids have potential effects on environmental improvement, such as acid-resistant genes may regulate the pH of the environment through metabolites. This viewpoint provides new ideas for the application of synthetic biology in environmental restoration. Through the research and modification of bacterial plasmids, specific functions can be developed for engineered bacteria, used to improve soil quality, treat water pollution, regulate the pH of the environment, etc., thereby providing strong support for solving environmental problems in the northwest region.
Team Building and iGEM Participation Experience Sharing
The XJU-CHINA team of Xinjiang University is led by teachers and involves students in experiments. The project direction focuses on microbial research. This model to some extent ensures the stability and professionalism of the project, but it may also have problems such as insufficient student autonomy and limited innovation motivation; The LZU team of Lanzhou University proposed the establishment of formal institutions (such as associations or committees) to ensure the stable production of innovative research topics through talent pipelines and inter-university cooperation. This suggestion is highly forward-looking and feasible. By establishing formal team management institutions, resources can be better integrated, talents can be cultivated, and experience can be passed on, forming a good team culture and development mechanism. At the same time, strengthening inter-university cooperation can broaden the team's perspective and thinking, promoting exchanges and cooperation among different universities, and jointly promoting the development of synthetic biology research.
iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine Competition) is an important international event in the field of synthetic biology, providing a platform for university students to showcase their innovative abilities and practical skills. Both teams accumulated certain experience during the competition and agreed to conduct synthetic biology research based on interests. iGEM can serve as a platform for the transformation of achievements.
During the iGEM competition, students can choose research directions based on their interests and fully exert their initiative to carry out innovative research. At the same time, the iGEM competition also provides students with an opportunity to communicate with international peers. Through cooperation and competition with other teams, they can continuously optimize and improve their projects, enhancing the quality and level of the projects. Moreover, the iGEM competition can promote the transformation and application of research results, bringing laboratory research results to the market and creating value for society.
Opportunities and Challenges of Climate Change in the Northwest Region for Synthetic Biology Research
The climate change in the Northwest region provides unique research objects and application scenarios for synthetic biology research. For example, as mentioned in the background of the Lanzhou University LCU project, the warming and humidification of the Northwest climate will exacerbate the damage to murals, providing a broad space for the application of synthetic biology in the field of cultural heritage protection. By studying the impact mechanism of climate change on cultural relics, targeted protection technologies and materials can be developed, providing new means for the protection of cultural heritage.
At the same time, the extreme environment in the Northwest region also provides rich resources for synthetic biology research, such as salt-tolerant and drought-tolerant microbial resources, which can provide support for the development of new biological catalysts, biological sensors or biological materials, promoting the innovation and development of synthetic biology technology.
Climate change also brings some challenges to synthetic biology research. For example, how to ensure the stability of synthetic biological systems in practical applications. In complex natural environments, synthetic biological systems may be affected by various factors, such as temperature, humidity, light, chemical substances, etc., which may lead to the failure of synthetic biological systems or unpredictable consequences. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen the research on the stability of synthetic biological systems and develop synthetic biological systems that can operate stably in complex environments.
In addition, it is also necessary to address the ecological risks brought by climate change, such as changes in biodiversity and destruction of ecosystems. When conducting synthetic biology research, it is necessary to fully consider these ecological risks and follow ecological principles to ensure the friendliness of synthetic biology research to the environment.
Possible Development Directions of Synthetic Biology in the Northwest Region
The Northwest region has a unique ecosystem and rich biodiversity, but it also faces threats such as climate change and human activities. Using synthetic biology technologies, such as gene editing and synthetic gene circuits, can provide new ideas and methods for biodiversity conservation. For example, through genetic engineering to modify microorganisms to improve soil quality and promote plant growth, providing a better ecological environment for biodiversity； Or, synthetic biology methods can be utilized to protect endangered species, such as by using gene editing technology to repair the genetic defects of endangered species and enhance their survival and reproductive capabilities.
The agricultural production in the Northwest region is facing problems such as water shortage and land degradation. Utilizing synthetic biology technology to develop drought-resistant and salt-tolerant crop varieties, improving the stress resistance and yield of crops, and reducing the use of fertilizers and pesticides are important ways to achieve sustainable agricultural development. For example, by introducing drought-resistant and salt-tolerant genes into crops through gene editing technology, excellent varieties adapted to the environment of the Northwest region can be cultivated; or by using synthetic biology technology to develop new types of biological fertilizers and biological pesticides, improving soil fertility, reducing environmental pollution and achieving green and efficient agricultural development.
The Northwest region has many extreme environments, such as deserts and salt lakes, where there are a large number of unique microbial resources. These microorganisms, during their long-term evolution, have formed special physiological mechanisms and metabolic pathways that are adapted to extreme environments and have significant research value and application potential. By exploring and utilizing these microbial resources, new biological catalysts, biological sensors, or biological materials can be developed, providing new tools and ideas for synthetic biology projects. For example, the drought-resistant enzymes extracted from desert microorganisms can be used in industrial drying processes to improve production efficiency; the salt-tolerant genes screened from salt lake microorganisms can be used to modify crops and enhance their salt tolerance.
The Northwest region has a vast area and a sparse population, with relatively insufficient medical resources. Utilizing synthetic biology technology to develop rapid and convenient disease diagnosis methods, or designing new drug delivery systems, can improve the accessibility and effectiveness of medical services. For example, the portable biosensors developed through synthetic biology technology can quickly detect disease markers on-site, enabling early diagnosis and timely treatment of diseases; or by using synthetic biology to design intelligent drug delivery systems, which can precisely release drugs based on the patient's physiological state and disease progression, improving treatment effectiveness and reducing drug side effects.
Current Situation and Prospects of Synthetic Biology Development in the Northwest Region
In recent years, synthetic biology development in the Northwest region has achieved remarkable progress. For example, the "Engineering Bacteria Detective" project of Yan'an University, by modifying the quorum sensing system of Escherichia coli, constructed a dual-modal biosensor to achieve visual and precise detection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water bodies, providing a guarantee for drinking water safety in the arid regions of the Northwest; the "EctoRescue" project jointly carried out by Northeast Forestry University and Ningxia, by cultivating erythromycin-producing strains, enhanced the salt tolerance of crops to restore 500 million mu of saline-alkali land in the Northwest, promoting sustainable agricultural development; the "Excavation of Microbial Pigments from Murals" project of Lanzhou University, by isolating pigment-producing microorganisms from Dunhuang murals, optimized the pigment production and stability through gene circuits, providing new ideas for the restoration of cultural relics.
In the future, the synthetic biology development in the Northwest region has broad prospects. On one hand, with the continuous progress and innovation of technology, synthetic biology will play a greater role in environmental restoration, crop stress resistance, and the development of unique resources, providing strong support for the sustainable development of the Northwest region. For example, through synthetic biology technology, more efficient biological remediation agents can be developed to treat soil pollution and water pollution； cultivating more drought-resistant and salt-tolerant crop varieties can increase agricultural yield and quality； exploring and utilizing the unique microbial resources of the Northwest region can develop high-value-added biological products.
On the other hand, enhancing regional collaboration and building industrial transformation platforms will help promote the transformation and application of synthetic biology research results. By establishing cooperation mechanisms such as multi-university joint teams and industrial alliances, integrating various resources, and forming a collaborative innovation system involving research, education, industry and application, the industrialization process of synthetic biology technology can be accelerated. For example, the saline-alkali land remediation agents produced by Ningxia Wufeng Agriculture and the intercropping disorder remediation agents developed by Northern Minzu University have been applied on a large scale in the northwest region, achieving good economic and social benefits.
The development of synthetic biology in the northwest region is currently in a rapid growth stage. By strengthening scientific research, technological innovation and regional collaboration, it is expected to make greater breakthroughs in multiple fields such as environment, agriculture and culture, and make significant contributions to the sustainable development and cultural heritage protection of the northwest region.