Bottom-up assembly of viral replication cycles

Synthetic biology encompasses engineering approaches to either redesign biological organisms with new molecular abilities or build up organism from the bottom to improve our understanding of life. Here, the authors summarize current approaches that can be applied for the synthetic engineering of viral replication cycles and discuss the potential DURC risk associated with such bottom-up approaches in infectious disease. Bottom-up synthetic biology provides new means to understand living matter by constructing minimal life-like systems. This principle can also be applied to study infectious diseases. Here we summarize approaches and ethical considerations for the bottom-up assembly of viral replication cycles.

Automated summary

Synthetic biology is an engineering approach that aims to redesign or build biological organisms to enhance our understanding of life. This article summarizes current methods for synthetic engineering of viral replication cycles and discusses the potential risks associated with this bottom-up approach in infectious diseases.