Engineered lichens and the future of applied symbiosis

Sevindik M., Yalpa B. G., AKATA I., Aslan H., Krupodorova T., Gürgen A., ...Daha Fazla

Symbiosis, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s13199-025-01098-3
  • Dergi Adı: Symbiosis
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, BIOSIS, Geobase
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Biomaterials, Bioremediation, Engineering-based consortia, Environmental biotechnology, Lichen biology, Microbial partnerships, Symbiotic design, Synthetic symbiosis
  • Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Engineered fungal-photobiont consortia are emerging as design-driven symbiotic systems that extend beyond the structural and physiological constraints of natural lichens. While classical lichen symbioses provide the ecological and evolutionary foundation for this concept, their slow growth, culturing difficulties, and genetic intractability limit direct translation into scalable biotechnological applications. In this context, synthetic and engineered fungal-photobiont consortia have emerged as a new generation of symbiotic structures composed of fungi and photosynthetic microorganisms combined under controlled conditions. This review examines the biological basis, design strategies, tools, and potential applications of “synthetic lichens” in detail, highlighting their innovative contributions in areas such as bioremediation, biosensor development, biomaterial production, and soil restoration. Furthermore, issues such as the ecological risks of release into the environment, biosafety strategies, and ethical governance requirements are also evaluated. It is concluded that an approach based on interdisciplinary collaborations and multi-level data integration will be crucial for realizing the potential of synthetic lichens in terms of both fundamental scientific understanding and sustainable applications.