Synthetic microbial communities: from theoretical exploration to applied innovation

Synthetic microbial communities (SynComs), which are artificially designed microbial communities, have shown significant potential for application in agriculture, environmental remediation, and medicine. The research surrounding SynComs is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of the functional mechanisms of natural microbial communities, as well as the pressing need to enhance microbial functions through artificial design. The primary goal of SynComs is to achieve targeted functional outcomes, such as promoting plant growth, inhibiting pathogens, remediating polluted environments, and improving human health, through the thoughtful composition of microbial combinations. This paper systematically gathers and analyzes relevant literature concerning the design, construction, functional validation, and application of SynComs across various fields. It investigates their applications in agriculture, environmental science, and industry, to provide a valuable reference for both research and practical implementation. SynComs have made significant strides in understanding plant-microbe interactions, including elucidating microbial functions and their mechanisms of action, exploring interactions among microbes, and enhancing plant growth and stress resistance. However, research on SynComs continues to encounter considerable challenges. To fully harness their potential in advancing sustainable development goals, future studies should emphasize the standardization and systematization of research methodologies. Furthermore, a deeper integration of multi-omics technologies and strengthened interdisciplinary collaboration are essential.