Periodic Reporting for period 1 - PROMICON (HARNESSING THE POWER OF NATURE THROUGH PRODUCTIVE MICROBIAL CONSORTIA IN BIOTECHNOLOGY – MEASURE, MODEL, MASTER)
Reporting period: 2021-06-01 to 2022-11-30
PROMICON will develop advanced characterization tools to learn from nature which microbial partnerss are needed for a successful microbiome. We will identify the primary producers (farmers), secondary converters (labourers) and essential strains for microbiome stability (balancers). This knowledge will then be used to reduce complexity of natural microbiomes to optimize the production of phycobili protein based pigments, EPS and PHA in a top-down approach and to assemble synthetic microbiomes with increasing complexity (bottom-up) for the production of butanol, H2 and biopolyesters. New reactor concepts will be developed and combined with downstream processing. This will undergo early-stage life cycle assessment to prepare exploitation.
In WP1(Learning from nature - enabling technologies) 4 deliverables have been achieved so far. Through these deliverables, the methodology of on-line single cell analysis and an evaluation pipeline have been developed (D1.4 and D1.5). Besides, datasets of MS-based metabolomics from synthetic consortia and NMR-based datasets of environmental consortia were achieved (D1.8 and D1.9). These deliverables lay the basis for further method development for feature detection, data analysis pipelines and modelling approaches.
In WP2 (Natural consortia for learning and production) one deliverable has been achieved during the reporting time. In this deliverable (D2.1) the natural microbiomes from different habitats have been collected and characterized. After the screening of PHA and EPS producing strains, the production efficiency was further up-scaled and improved under different conditions.
In WP3 (Synthetic consortia for production) two deliverables have been submitted as planned. From these two deliverables (D3.3 and D3.6) two genetically modified strains have been constructed towards specific higher production efficiency.
In WP4 (Reactor concepts) two types of reactors, namely, multi-chamber photobioreactor and biofilm reactor have been established and tested for the performance of targeted product formation.
In WP5 (Exploitation) a milestone 18, which is an intermediate deliverable for D5.3 is completed to introduce the exploitation and business strategy plan, has been carried out.
In WP6 (Dissemination and Communication) two deliverables of project branding, dissemination and communication (D6.1 and D6.2) have been performed to ensure the normal running of PROMICON, as well to rise the impact of PROMICON.
In WP7 (Management & coordination) and WP8 (Ethics) 6 deliverables (D7.1 D7.2 D8.1 D8.2 D8.3 and D8.4) have been submitted. These works specify the data management, coordination strategy and the ethics requirements of the whole project.
In WP2 (Natural consortia for learning and production) one deliverable has been achieved during the reporting time. In this deliverable (D2.1) the natural microbiomes from different habitats have been collected and characterized. After the screening of PHA and EPS producing strains, the production efficiency was further up-scaled and improved under different conditions.
In WP3 (Synthetic consortia for production) two deliverables have been submitted as planned. From these two deliverables (D3.3 and D3.6) two genetically modified strains have been constructed towards specific higher production efficiency.
In WP4 (Reactor concepts) two types of reactors, namely, multi-chamber photobioreactor and biofilm reactor have been established and tested for the performance of targeted product formation.
In WP5 (Exploitation) a milestone 18, which is an intermediate deliverable for D5.3 is completed to introduce the exploitation and business strategy plan, has been carried out.
In WP6 (Dissemination and Communication) two deliverables of project branding, dissemination and communication (D6.1 and D6.2) have been performed to ensure the normal running of PROMICON, as well to rise the impact of PROMICON.
In WP7 (Management & coordination) and WP8 (Ethics) 6 deliverables (D7.1 D7.2 D8.1 D8.2 D8.3 and D8.4) have been submitted. These works specify the data management, coordination strategy and the ethics requirements of the whole project.
All milestones and deliverables have so far been achieved on time. The results showed that the overall project is progressing well towards the final goals and if progress continues at the same rate, it will likely achieve all the objectives. Thus, the expected impact mentioned in 2.1 of the DoA, 1) to raise awareness of microbiomes´ potential to transform and future-proof the bio-based economy, 2) to improve overall knowledge of the industrial microbiome with a view to responding to market needs, 3) to improve the bio-based sector´s overall sustainability and innovation capacity by using microbiome applications and knowledge, 4) to strengthen the market position and increase the market share of bio-based solutions, 5) to deliver results in a form that allows for efficient feedback into policymaking in research, innovation and technology, 6) to demonstrate solutions and develop strategies for innovation based on the microbiome approach, building on enhanced cooperation between all stakeholders and exploiting the opportunities offered by big data, 7) to raise awareness and create a better framework for systemic innovation and uptake of results through broad stakeholder engagement, are still relevant. Our progress secured the basis for expanding our knowledge beyond the state of the art and respective publications are being drafted, or have already been published.