Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: engineering bacteria to grow on carbon monoxide containing waste gases
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: School of Life Sciences
Abstract
This mini project will serve as an introduction into the biology of carbon monoxide (CO)-utilising bacteria. Its scientific objective will be the selection and phenotypic characterisation of CO tolerant Cupriavidus strains, i.e. strains that can grow in the presence of high (> 10% v/v) CO concentrations. Resistant strains will be used for the main PhD project to implement aerobic CO conversion pathways.
The rotation student will:
1. Receive training in general microbiological methods and the use of toxic/ explosive gases
2. Grow Cupriavidus necator wild type on sugars and CO2 in the presence of increasing CO concentrations
3. Record the growth of these cultures in response to CO by taking optical density readings and colony-forming-unit counts
4. Isolate mutant derivatives which show signs of increased resistance
5. Introduce fluorescent reporter genes into CO-resistant strains so that they can be easily distinguished when grown in mixed culture
6. Establish whether mutants can out compete the wild type when grown in mixed culture under various conditions, including CO exposure
7. Isolate genomic DNA from CO-resistant strains and have their sequence determined by Next Generation Sequencing
8. Learn to critically analyse data, qualitatively and quantitatively, and in comparison to the literature
The rotation student will:
1. Receive training in general microbiological methods and the use of toxic/ explosive gases
2. Grow Cupriavidus necator wild type on sugars and CO2 in the presence of increasing CO concentrations
3. Record the growth of these cultures in response to CO by taking optical density readings and colony-forming-unit counts
4. Isolate mutant derivatives which show signs of increased resistance
5. Introduce fluorescent reporter genes into CO-resistant strains so that they can be easily distinguished when grown in mixed culture
6. Establish whether mutants can out compete the wild type when grown in mixed culture under various conditions, including CO exposure
7. Isolate genomic DNA from CO-resistant strains and have their sequence determined by Next Generation Sequencing
8. Learn to critically analyse data, qualitatively and quantitatively, and in comparison to the literature
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1803201 | Studentship | BB/M008770/1 | 01/10/2016 | 31/03/2021 |