Engineering bacterial cell morphology for the design of robust cell factories

Abstract

Bacteria come in a wide variety of shapes, ranging from spherical or rod-shaped unicellular cells to complex multicellular structures. These shapes have evolved to benefit the organism in its natural environment. However, industry often takes such organisms from their natural environment to produce useful molecules that favor mankind. Their natural morphology is often far from optimal for use in an industrial setting. Filamentous bacteria, for instance, have a morphology that presents unique challenges for industrial settings. Therefore, various engineering approaches have been developed to optimize their morphology. This review explores a spectrum of successful engineering strategies, offering insights and providing inspiration for future advancements. It holds the potential to lead the way in optimizing morphology in challenging microorganisms and thus improve their exploitability in biotechnology.