Synthetically engineered microbial scavengers for enhanced bioremediation

Microbial bioremediation has gained attention as a cheap, efficient, and sustainable technology to manage the increasing environmental pollution. Since microorganisms in nature are not evolved to degrade pollutants, there is an increasing demand for developing safer and more efficient pollutant-scavengers for enhanced bioremediation. In this review, we introduce the strategies and technologies developed in the field of synthetic biology and their applications to the construction of microbial scavengers with improved efficiency of biodegradation while minimizing the impact of genetically engineered microbial scavengers on ecosystems. In addition, we discuss recent achievements in the biodegradation of fastidious pollutants, greenhouse gases, and microplastics using engineered microbial scavengers. Using synthetic microbial scavengers and multidisciplinary technologies, toxic pollutants could be more easily eliminated, and the environment could be more efficiently recovered.

Automated summary

Microbial bioremediation is gaining attention as a cheap, efficient, and sustainable technology for managing environmental pollution. Developments in synthetic biology have led to the creation of microbial scavengers with improved efficiency in biodegradation, minimizing the impact on ecosystems. The use of multidisciplinary technologies in combination with synthetic microbial scavengers has shown promising results in the elimination of toxic pollutants and the efficient recovery of the environment.