Description
In a previous project it has been possible to isolate and cultivate from the solar panels a collection of non-sporulated microorganisms that possess several extremophile properties (poly-extremophiles) that confer xerotolerance, growth capacity in wide ranges of temperatures (0-50ºC), resistance to several metals, tolerance to salinity, resistance to solvents, resistance to oxidizing agents, and other resistances or tolerances to different situations of abiotic stress. Some of the metabolic mechanisms responsible for these resistance or tolerance capacities have been studied individually in some bacteria but little is known about several of them and especially little is known about how these mechanisms are coordinated in the poly-extremophile bacteria, where the current model is represented exclusively by the bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans. That is why this project tries to exploit the properties of isolated poly-extremophile bacteria to be used as chassis in different biotechnological applications. The specific objectives of this project are:
Objective 1. Deciphering the mechanisms that confer bacterial poly-extremophile. The first general objective of this project is to explore new models of poly-extremophile microorganisms isolated from an extreme environment such as Helios, and specifically to explore two non-sporulated bacteria of the genera Exiguobacterium (Firmicutes) and Arthrobacter (Actinobacteria) so they can provide us with new information about these poly-extremophile mechanisms. The starting hypothesis is based on preliminary results obtained in the Helios project, which suggest that it is very likely that in these microorganisms there are new alternatives or metabolic solutions to achieve these complex phenotypes and that in this way can shed light on the evolution of the metabolic processes that could have been key for the colonization of the planet in extreme conditions. From a methodological point of view, we will approach these studies using omics tools and the principles of systems biology in order to obtain an integrated model of this phenomenology.
Objective 2. Biotechnological applications of poly-extremophilic bacteria In this objective applications will be developed where precisely the extremophile properties of the bacteria studied in objective 1 confers an operative advantage in relation to the use of non-extremophile chassis. In particular, the usefulness of resistance to desiccation, resistance to metals and other abiotic stress resistance for use in bioremediation or biotransformation processes in extreme conditions will be analyzed. In collaboration with other expert groups in agrobiology the properties of these chassis will be analyzed as biofertilizers, since it is known that some bacteria resistant to drying can act as fertilizers when they are added to the rhizosphere. The methodology to address this objective will be developed using more or less classic tools and guidelines of metabolic engineering combined with new tools of synthetic biology and new technologies less conventional 3D-bio-printing that will allow us to develop new ways to exploit the utility of these bacteria forming part of bacterial consortia created a la carte in 3D formats, and that can be used in environments that are not usually favorable for the use of non-extremophilic bacteria.
Project. RTI2018-095584-B-C44. Ministry of Science and Innovation
Members
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