Objective
For over a century it was believed that methane (CH4) could only be oxidized by micro-organisms in the presence of oxygen. The possibility of nitrate-dependent or metal-dependent anaerobic oxidation of CH4 (AOM) was generally dismissed. However, about 6 years ago the microbes responsible for the nitrate-AOM reaction were discovered. This was followed by molecular approaches that resulted in the identification of the responsible Methylomirabilis oxyfera bacteria. Recently, the widespread environmental occurrence of these bacteria was demonstrated leading to the realization that AOM may play a significant role in the CH4 and nitrogen cycles. M. oxyfera is a unique microbe with unusual properties that we only begin to understand: the production of oxygen from NO by a putative NO dismutase and a very unusual polygonal cell shape. Even less is known about metals (Fe3+ or Mn4+) as electron acceptors for AOM. The aim of this project is to obtain a fundamental understanding of the metabolism and ecological importance of the M. oxyfera bacteria, and to enrich new metal-dependent AOM microbes. Such understanding contributes directly to our environment and economy because AOM is a new sustainable opportunity for nitrogen removal from wastewater. The results will show how the CH4, nitrogen and iron cycles are connected and may lead to new ways of mitigating methane emission. The biodiversity and contribution of AOM-microbes to the biogeochemical cycles in oxygen-limited ecosystems will be investigated, and new metal-AOM enrichments will be performed. Together the environmental and metabolic data will help to understand how and to what extent AOM-microbes contribute to the biogeochemical cycles and thus shape atmosphere of our planet. The research lines will employ state-of-the- art methods to unravel the exceptional properties of these highly unusual and important microbes. The experiments will be performed in one of the world best equipped laboratories for microbial ecology.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences chemical sciences electrochemistry electrolysis
- natural sciences physical sciences astronomy planetary sciences planets
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
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Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2013-ADG
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
6525 XZ Nijmegen
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.