Synthetic Biology for Bioenergy and Biotechnology

Lead Research Organisation: University of Surrey
Department Name: Microbial & Cellular Sciences

Abstract

Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
 
Description We have developed and constructed a metabolic model (i.e. a mathematical representation of a micro-organism's biochemical reactions) of an antibiotic-producing microorganism that has been modified genetically to produce lipids and long chain esters (which are not naturally produced by this microorganism). Using the model, we were able to understand the mechanisms by which the microbe is able to produce these compounds and found strategies to obtain higher yields. If this is achieved, it should be possible to scale this process up to industrial scale. Those compounds (or similar ones) are very important in the pharmaceutical, food and nutraceutical industries, and therefore could have a large impact in the UK economy and in the improvement of the quality of life, as these bioprocesses could effectively replace processes that currently utilise fossil fuel derived precursors, supporting the drive towards a bio-based economy. As part of this research, I have established strong collaboration with scientists in the UK and abroad, which will result in increased research capability, exchange of researchers, support from national and international research-funding agencies, etc.
Exploitation Route The knowledge generated in this research could be used by others by using or modifying the metabolic model and applying it for the analysis of other microbial species and bioprocesses. It should be possible to translate this process to industrial scale by the biotechnology industry, in particular food and nutraceuticals. The strong scientific network that I have constructed will be essential to ensure this potential objective.
Sectors Agriculture, Food and Drink,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
 
Description This award has allowed me and my collaborators in Argentina to establish a good scientific relationship, and we have built a network of scientists interested in the subject of the application of microorganisms for the production of compounds of medical and industrial interest. An early-career scientist from Argentina spent three months in my laboratory learning techniques for the cultivation of antibiotic-producing microorganisms that were metabolically engineered to produce high yields of lipids and long chain esters. Through the development of a mathematical model, we were able to understand the metabolism of the microbe and find possible strategies to improve its performance. This resulted in a scientific article and in a participation in a review paper, both published in high-impact international journals, and the construction of a metabolic model for a strain producing non-natural drenched esters. We have also contacted several biotechnology industries in the UK to discuss the potential use of those microorganisms to produce those and other related compounds for application int he pharmaceutical, food and nutraceutical industries. We are still in conversations with those companies to see how the process could be adopted. I also organised a workshop where academic and industrial scientists and key members of the research councils from UK and from Argentina presented their research interests and potential applications, and discussed policies and strategies for the development of a bio-based economy and collaboration between the two countries. I have also participated in the Memorandum of understanding between the Argentine National Institutes of Industrial Technology (INTI) and the University of Surrey.
First Year Of Impact 2017
Sector Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology
Impact Types Economic,Policy & public services
 
Description KTN BBSRC CASE
Amount £90,000 (GBP)
Organisation Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 10/2016 
End 09/2020
 
Description BEE - NIBB 
Organisation Bristol Robotics Laboratory
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was for a submission for a Phase II Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. My contribution was intellectual and scientific input to the grant proposal in the subject of Bioelectrochemical devices, in particular MFC and MES, as well as in identifying potential members of the network from my network of collaborators.
Collaborator Contribution Similarly, my partners contributed with intellectual and scientific input to prepare the grant proposal.
Impact The proposal for Phase II NIBB was unsuccessful. Collaboration continues with BRL and Warwick in independent projects.
Start Year 2018
 
Description BEE - NIBB 
Organisation University of Warwick
Department School of Life Sciences
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution This collaboration was for a submission for a Phase II Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. My contribution was intellectual and scientific input to the grant proposal in the subject of Bioelectrochemical devices, in particular MFC and MES, as well as in identifying potential members of the network from my network of collaborators.
Collaborator Contribution Similarly, my partners contributed with intellectual and scientific input to prepare the grant proposal.
Impact The proposal for Phase II NIBB was unsuccessful. Collaboration continues with BRL and Warwick in independent projects.
Start Year 2018
 
Description BES for coffee waste 
Organisation University of Antioquia
Country Colombia 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution A senior academic from the Department of Microbiology of the University of Antioquia spent 6 months in the Systems Microbiology Laboratory at the University of Surrey to set up a bioelectrochemical system for the treatment of waste from the coffee industry. Our laboratory contributed with the design of the devices, training in analytical methods and designed strategies for the design and optimisation of the system. We also contributed with the analysis of microbial communities, provided data and training in bioelectrochemistry.
Collaborator Contribution The partners provided expertise in the design and optimisation of media using raw material originated in coffee farms and production sites. The partners had significant input in engineering aspects of the design of the devices and in the use of complex substrates. The visiting researcher collaborated in the training of UG and PG students, and contributed in a public dissemination event organised by the Microbiology Society, the British Ecological Society, the Society for Applied Microbiology among other learned societies.
Impact Award of Newton Prize UK-Colombia 2018; Submission to project Horizon 2020; Manuscript submitted; Collaboration with a Cooperative of Coffee Producers in Colombia;
Start Year 2017
 
Description Collaboration IBR 
Organisation National University of Rosario
Country Argentina 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Discussion and advice on the design and analysis of bioprocesses for microbial oil production by metabolically engineered cells.
Collaborator Contribution Advice on metabolism of lipids by Streptomyces
Impact None yet
Start Year 2014
 
Description Consortium Industrial Biotechnology 
Organisation Jacobs University Bremen
Country Germany 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Led and co-ordinated multidisciplinary ERA CoBiotech submission, consisting of 7 groups from EU and South America. My contribution is in the field of bioinformatics, metabolic modelling, systems microbiology.
Collaborator Contribution Groups provided expertise in Chemistry (Bremen), Solid feedstock MFCs (Poland), liquid feedstock MFCs (Italy), Scale up (Argentina), Life Cycle Analysis and sustainability (Norway)
Impact No outputs or outcomes yet. Disciplines involved: Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioelectrochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Consortium Industrial Biotechnology 
Organisation National Institute of Industrial Technology
Country Argentina 
Sector Public 
PI Contribution Led and co-ordinated multidisciplinary ERA CoBiotech submission, consisting of 7 groups from EU and South America. My contribution is in the field of bioinformatics, metabolic modelling, systems microbiology.
Collaborator Contribution Groups provided expertise in Chemistry (Bremen), Solid feedstock MFCs (Poland), liquid feedstock MFCs (Italy), Scale up (Argentina), Life Cycle Analysis and sustainability (Norway)
Impact No outputs or outcomes yet. Disciplines involved: Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioelectrochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Consortium Industrial Biotechnology 
Organisation Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Country Norway 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Led and co-ordinated multidisciplinary ERA CoBiotech submission, consisting of 7 groups from EU and South America. My contribution is in the field of bioinformatics, metabolic modelling, systems microbiology.
Collaborator Contribution Groups provided expertise in Chemistry (Bremen), Solid feedstock MFCs (Poland), liquid feedstock MFCs (Italy), Scale up (Argentina), Life Cycle Analysis and sustainability (Norway)
Impact No outputs or outcomes yet. Disciplines involved: Microbiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Bioelectrochemistry, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Biotechnology.
Start Year 2017
 
Description Coffee day Darwin House 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach National
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact Presentation (45 min) of the application of bioelectrochemical systems for energy recovery and pollutant removal from waste from the coffee industry (Title: "Never underestimated the power of coffee: Squeezing energy from coffee waste"). The talk was within the event "Darwin's Coffee House: Science and the Future of Coffee" organised by the British Ecological Society and other learned societies. There was a Q&A session with members of the audience and other speakers. The second day was devoted to an interactive exhibition, where I presented an experimental demonstration of a prototype microbial fuel cell using coffee waste as a feedstock to produce electricity by anodophilic microorganisms. The demonstration attracted the interest of most of the visitors to the exhibition, and allowed me to exchange ideas with several members of the coffee trade (importers and producers). This has resulted in contacts with the Colombian federation of coffee farmers and a low-cost device is being developed in my laboratory to be tested in coffee farms.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2017
URL https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/event/darwins-coffee-house/