We address the problem of regulating and keeping at a desired balance the relative numbers between cells exhibiting a different phenotype within a monostrain microbial consortium. We propose a strategy based on the use of external control inputs, assuming each cell in the community is endowed with a reversible, bistable memory mechanism. Specifically, we provide a general analytical framework to guide the design of external feedback control strategies aimed at balancing the ratio between cells whose memory is stabilized at either one of two equilibria associated to different cell phenotypes. We demonstrate the stability and robustness properties of the control laws proposed and validate them in silico by means of a realistic agent-based implementation enabling cooperative bioproduction in microbial consortia. The proposed control framework may be used to allow long term coexistence of different populations, with both industrial and biotechnological applications.

中文翻译：

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控制微生物群落分工的可逆细胞分化

我们解决了在单菌株微生物群落中表现出不同表型的细胞之间的相对数量的调节和保持所需平衡的问题。我们提出了一种基于使用外部控制输入的策略，假设社区中的每个细胞都具有可逆的双稳态记忆机制。具体来说，我们提供了一个通用的分析框架来指导外部反馈控制策略的设计，旨在平衡其记忆稳定在与不同细胞表型相关的两个平衡之一的细胞之间的比率。我们展示了所提出的控制律的稳定性和鲁棒性特性，并通过基于现实的基于代理的实现方式在计算机上验证了它们，从而实现了微生物群落中的合作生物生产。