Harnessing the potential of Archaea - Training Europe's next visionaries for an innovative and sustainable future
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Archaea form one of the three domains of life, next to bacteria and eukaryotes. Archaea have unique cellular characteristics that allow them to thrive in extreme environments, for example at high pressures, salt concentrations or temperatures. Although their biochemical and metabolic properties show great potential for a wide range of biotechnological applications, our lack of knowledge about the structure and function of the archaeal cell surface and its role in formation of communities, such as biofilms, is currently hampering the large-scale industrial use of these organisms. Indeed, several prominent questions remain unanswered due to the small scientific community working in the field, and the lack of methods and technologies enabling research under extreme conditions.
ARCTECH proposes the first training initiative on archaea, aiming to foster the next generation of European visionaries in 'fundamental archaeal research and their application in biotechnology'. The 11 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will address key knowledge gaps and develop methods and technologies for archaeal research, which are needed to unleash the industrial potential that archaea hold. The scientific outcomes of ARCTECH will be applicable to several biotech areas, such as Green Energy production, Sustainable Biomaterials, Biocorrosion, Enzyme production and Drug Delivery.
This project will directly impact the European Higher Education Sector as the first research training initiative embarking into the unchartered world of archaea. The DCs will be trained by world experts from European academic and industrial institutions, benefiting from strong interdisciplinary exposure (e.g. microbiology, bioimaging, biogas production). These entrepreneurial, innovative, and resilient DCs will be of great value both to the academic and non-academic sectors, bringing unique capacity to inspire/spawn new fields of innovation in European industries.
ARCTECH proposes the first training initiative on archaea, aiming to foster the next generation of European visionaries in 'fundamental archaeal research and their application in biotechnology'. The 11 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) will address key knowledge gaps and develop methods and technologies for archaeal research, which are needed to unleash the industrial potential that archaea hold. The scientific outcomes of ARCTECH will be applicable to several biotech areas, such as Green Energy production, Sustainable Biomaterials, Biocorrosion, Enzyme production and Drug Delivery.
This project will directly impact the European Higher Education Sector as the first research training initiative embarking into the unchartered world of archaea. The DCs will be trained by world experts from European academic and industrial institutions, benefiting from strong interdisciplinary exposure (e.g. microbiology, bioimaging, biogas production). These entrepreneurial, innovative, and resilient DCs will be of great value both to the academic and non-academic sectors, bringing unique capacity to inspire/spawn new fields of innovation in European industries.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Bertram Daum (Principal Investigator) |
| Title | Molecular model of an archaeal S-layer |
| Description | We have worked with Darren Gowers of the company Molecular Models to create a 3D printed model of an archaeal S-layer, which will be used in outreach activities. |
| Type Of Art | Artwork |
| Year Produced | 2025 |
| Impact | The product has only recently been created but will be used in outreach events in the future |
| Description | Exeter - Groningen |
| Organisation | University of Groningen |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have provided structural analysis based on Alphafold predictions and cryoEM. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided assistance and expertise in setting up cell culture of a halophile archaeon called Haloferax Gibbonsii |
| Impact | This multidisciplinary collaboration involves microbiology, virology, genetics, molecular biology, cell biology, cryoEM and structural biology. The project aims to investigate how viruses infect archaeal cells. We use Haloferax gibbonsii and its virus HFTV1 as model system. So far, we have successfully established Haloferax gibbonsii in our lab, harnessing the experience of the Lab of Tessa Quax in Groningen. Furthermore, we have recorded cryoEM data of the cells, showing their cell morphology at high resolution. Moreover, we have established new protocols to purify exosomes from the cell culture. The exosomes will be used in infection assays in the future. Finally, we have performed Alphafold predictions of cel surface proteins of wild type cells and escape mutants, which elucidate, why wt cells can be infected, while escape mutants cannot. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Exeter-Helsinki |
| Organisation | University of Helsinki |
| Country | Finland |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We have generated cryoEM / cryoET data of Haloferax gibbonsii cells and their exosomes to investigate the cell surface of this archaeal model organism. We also generated cryoEM datasets of the virus HSTV2. The aim is to understand the structure of the cell surface, as well as host-virus interactions, by visualising Haloferax gibbonsii infected with HSTV2, as well as another virus, HFTV1. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided purified exosomes and viruses (HFTV1 and HSTV2). |
| Impact | CryoET datasets of exosomes and cryoEM datasets of HSTV2. |
| Start Year | 2024 |