Microbial medicine research is one of the core components of modern innovative medicine science. In recent years, the vigorous development of synthetic biology has opened up a new path for the research of microbial medicine. On November 26, 2020, the Agricultural Microbiology Research Group of the Institute of Applied Ecology (IAE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with the Environmental Microbiology Group, Functional Microbial Group, Functional Microbial Discovery and Utilization Team, Youth Innovation Promotion Association Team, and the Science and Technology Division of IAE, organized a seminar on "Microbial Medicine and Synthetic Biology" in order to promote IAE's microbiological research and its industrial applications, strengthen academic exchanges and promote cooperative research.  

Professor Zhang Lixin of East China University of Science and Technology, Prof. Li Jianzhong of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, CAS, Professor Xiang Hongyu of Jilin University, Li Wei, director of Taizhou Medical City, Wang Xugao, Li Liu, Hu Jiangchun, Xu Hui, Zhang Huiwen and other researchers and postgraduate students from IAE, participated in the seminar. The seminar was chaired by Prof. Hu Jiangchun.  

At the beginning of the seminar, Prof. Hu Jiangchun delivered a welcome speech and thanked the participants for their help and support to the microbiological discipline of IAE. Professor Zhang Lixin (graduated from IAE with a Ph.D. degree in 1994) gave a talk on "Microbiology, High Intelligence, Big Industry." He first thanked his mentor, Prof. Wang Shujin, then introduced the scientific layout and long-term planning of the State Key Laboratory of Bioreactors. He also shared the motto of his research team ("basic research first" & "featured research first" ), demonstrated four intelligent platforms and five important biological products, and presented the recent progress in microbial medicine and synthetic biology studies, in particular, the use of CRISPR-Cas12a to develop a rapid and accurate kit for diagnosing COVID-19 and the intelligent manufacturing of abamectin. His report was warmly welcomed by the participants. 

Prof. Li Jianzhong (graduated from IAE with a Ph.D. in 1995) focused on the increasingly serious situation of environmental and health problems caused by man-made chemicals. He argued that one of the key functions of scientific research is to assist the government in formulating regulations and industrial standards, which is the social responsibility of scientists as well. He shared the successful examples of scientists who persisted in conducting scientific research and achieved big achievements, and gave an account of the latest applications of isotope mass spectrometry and modern biotechnology in food safety risk assessment.  

Professor Xiang Hongyu introduced the special medical food research center and platform he established in Fusong, Jilin Province, and shared his research outcomes, such as the probiotics developed by applying the theories of intestinal microecology. He looked forward to working with IAE researchers to develop special microorganism products that benefit ginseng growing.  

Li Wei (graduated from IAE with a master's degree in 2008) outlined the policies and advantages of Taizhou Medical City on transfer and transformation of scientific research outcomes, and shared the examples of high-tech pharmaceutical enterprises settled in Taizhou Medical City in recent years. He welcomed the further cooperation between IAE and Taizhou Medical City. Zhang Huiwen, Wang Xugao, Xu Hui, Liu Li and Pan Huaqi had a heated discussion with the experts who participated in the seminar. 

In the afternoon, the participants visited the campus of IAE. This seminar broadened the horizons of participants, conveyed positive values to postgraduate students, and laid a good foundation for cooperation in the future.