University of Essex- Boyd McKew
East Anglia: David Lea-Smith
Heriot-Watt university – Tony Gutierrez
Cranfield University – Prof Frederic Coulon and Tao Lyu
University of Glasgow: Cindy Smith
Newcastle University: Thomas Curtis, Natalio Koregaon
Challenges:
Substrate complexity, system robustness, genetic manipulation, consortia design, and scale-up. Industrial effluents and landfills contain diverse and complex pollutants, necessitating a deep understanding of microbial metabolic capabilities. Ensuring system robustness and stability amidst varying environmental conditions is crucial. Genetic manipulation and strain design techniques must be refined to optimise pollutant degradation. Constructing microbial consortia with synergistic interactions poses challenges in maintaining stability and productivity, especially during scale up. All our engineered strains will be version controlled and barcoded.
Potential solutions:
Identifying, isolating, and optimising microorganisms and their enzymes and products (biosurfactants) to target specific pollutants (e.g., hydrocarbons, plastics and PFAS) degradation. This process will be through laboratory screening and detailed characterisation. Biosurfactants for instance, could replace synthetic surfactants for environmental oil spill response and are one of the most in-demand biotechnological compounds as the surfactant market is expected to reach $60 Billion p.a. by 2030. Selected species identified will be tested for their ability to be modified using delivery strategies detailed in Technical Pillar 1, and then engineered for enhanced biodegradation using the modular cloning systems described, via genetic engineering approaches already successfully applied in Alloalcanivorax and Alcanivorax isolates and Pseudomonas putida.
Genetically modifying and enhancing the biodegradation capabilities of strains known for hydrocarbon degradation, including Alcanivorax, Thalassolituus, Oleispira, Oleiphilus, Marinobacter and Cycloclasticus, as well as constructing microbial chassis for the heterologous overexpression of a range of biosurfactants (e.g., rhamnolipids, glucolipids, sophorolipids) that are known to enhance biodegradation (we have a putida model chassis, and Pichia if required). Additionally, strains known for PFAS degradation belonging to Pseudomonas, Acidimicrobium and Rhodococcus, will be targeted for genetic modification using enzymes from Dechloromonas and Rhodopseudomonas spp., to enable biodegradation to kick-start within 24 hours.
Demonstrating the effectiveness of engineered microorganisms and engineered consortia for remediating industrial effluents, seawater and landfills through full scale bioengineered treatment systems and achieving a measurable reduction in pollutant concentrations. Biosurfactant testing as environmental oil dispersants can be facilitated via our Collaborative Partner, Oil Spill Response Ltd. The results will be compared with conventional bioremediation approaches and relevant regulations. Where possible, we will generate markerless mutants. If needed, the integration with other treatment technology will be conducted to ensure safe discharge.
Trusted partners
