Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026
08:19
Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
Interactions between fungi, algae, and bacteria: multispecies engineered living materials leverage function and
Marc Kessels Solé1, Hannelore Wilssens1, Elise Elsacker2
1Centre for Synthetic Biology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent B-9000, Belgium.
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Engineered living materials (ELMs) leverage fungi, bacteria, and algae for sustainable applications. Harnessing natural interactions creates novel, functional materials for industry and environmental solutions.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Synthetic Biology
- Environmental Engineering
Background:
- Engineered living materials (ELMs) integrate living organisms into functional materials.
- Filamentous fungi provide a promising bottom-up scaffold for ELMs.
- Limited dynamic functionalities in single-species ELMs necessitate novel approaches.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review natural mutualistic interactions between fungi, algae, and bacteria.
- To explore harnessing these interactions for designing consortium-based ELMs.
- To discuss applications, challenges, and future perspectives of fungal-based ELMs.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on symbiotic relationships between fungi, algae, and bacteria.
- Analysis of synthetic biology applications in bacteria for novel functions.
- Exploration of algal photosynthetic capabilities for material enhancement.
Main Results:
- Natural interactions like lichens and fungal highways enable consortium ELM design.
- Bacteria offer synthetic biology platforms for diverse functions.
- Algae provide photosynthetic properties, enhancing material capabilities.
- Fungal-based ELMs show potential in wastewater treatment and biotechnological production.
Conclusions:
- Consortium-based ELMs, using filamentous fungi as a backbone, offer enhanced functionalities.
- Harnessing natural microbial interactions is key to advancing ELM design.
- Engineered living materials present sustainable solutions for industrial and environmental challenges.
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