Filamentous fungal synthetic biology: Current applications and ongoing developments

Area of Science:

• Mycology and Synthetic Biology
• Biotechnology and Materials Science

Background:

• Filamentous fungi are ancient organisms with a long history of use in food and medicine.
• Emerging applications include materials science, bioremediation, and industrial biotechnology.
• Advances in genetic sequencing and computing are expanding our understanding of fungal diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current and emerging applications of engineering and synthetic biology in filamentous fungi.
• To promote understanding, standardization of language, and innovation in fungal biotechnology.
• To identify challenges, research gaps, opportunities, and the impact of new technologies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of interdisciplinary research in filamentous fungi and synthetic biology.
• Analysis of existing and emerging applications across various fields.
• Exploration of technological advancements such as 3D printing and cell-free systems.

Main Results:

• Synthetic biology offers significant potential to harness and expand unique fungal traits.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is crucial for advancing fungal biotechnology.
• Developing technologies like 3D printing and cell-free systems present new opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Filamentous fungi are versatile biological resources with expanding applications driven by synthetic biology.
• Standardization of language and continued research are essential for innovation.
• The integration of engineering and synthetic biology holds promise for future advancements in fungal applications.