Robust genetic circuits: Engineering various domesticated or undomesticated gram-positive bacteria and pathogens detection in air or water by targeting specific chromosome locations

Genetic circuits designed in the laboratory are often very sensitive to growth conditions of the hosting cell. Many applications of synthetic biology (like agriculture, sustainability or defense systems) are challenging in terms of environmental conditions. We first analyze the robustness of an e.coli based circuit to different conditions as a demonstration of the challenge. A new strategy is to start from samples that are relevant for the application rather than from a model organism. In order to improve the robustness to extreme conditions, we have developed a new engineering technique that can target a wide range of bacteria, including very robust hosts isolated from the field samples (soil and water from various areas and depths). The ability to insert long DNA to specific locations within specific bacteria is also the basis of a new way to detect and identify pathogenic bacteria in the air or in the water.