Engineering Microbial Systems for Sustainable Bioprocessing and Metabolic Health Applications

Microbial systems such as yeast, bacteria, and microalgae are central to sustainable bioprocessing and industrial biotechnology, enabling the production of chemicals, enzymes, and functional biomolecules. Advances in genetic and metabolic engineering, together with systems biology and data-driven approaches, have significantly expanded the potential of microbial cell factories. However, industrial implementation remains limited by challenges in robustness, secretion efficiency, stress tolerance, and scalability under realistic bioprocess conditions.In parallel, increasing evidence highlights the role of microbial-derived metabolites and biomolecules in modulating metabolic health in humans and animals. Translating these discoveries into practical applications requires not only biological insight but also robust and scalable bioprocesses capable of producing such compounds consistently. A focused framework that integrates microbial engineering and bioprocess development with well-defined downstream validation in human or animal systems is therefore essential.The goal of this Research Topic is to advance bioprocess engineering of microbial systems for the sustainable production of bioproducts with relevance to metabolic health applications. The primary focus is on microorganisms as engineered production platforms, while human and animal studies are included only insofar as they serve to validate, characterize, or contextualize microbially produced biomolecules.This collection aims to bridge microbial strain design, fermentation process optimization, and functional evaluation of bioproducts. Genetic engineering, systems biology, and AI-based methods are considered within scope when they directly support microbial bioprocess performance or product consistency. Studies centered exclusively on human or animal physiology without a clear connection to microbial production or bioprocessing fall outside the scope.This Research Topic focuses on microbial bioprocessing and industrial biotechnology, with defined extensions to human and animal studies where appropriate. Submissions should clearly articulate the role of microbial systems in the overall study design.Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:Engineering and optimization of microbial cell factories for sustainable bioprocessingIndustrial fermentation and scale-up strategiesGenetic and metabolic engineering linked to bioprocess performanceStress tolerance, secretion, and intracellular transport in production strainsMicrobial-derived metabolites and biomolecules relevant to metabolic healthHuman or animal studies that validate or assess the function of microbially produced compoundsHost–microbe interactions examined in the context of engineered microbial productsSystems biology, computational, and AI-assisted approaches supporting microbial bioprocess optimizationPurely clinical, epidemiological, or physiological studies that lack a clear microbial production or bioprocessing component are outside the scope of this Research Topic. Topic editors: Xinqing Zhao, Xu Chen, Chun Wan, Haijia Yu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77006/engineering-microbial-systems-for-sustainable-bioprocessing-and-metabolic-health-applications