Project description
Biobased compounds engineered from marine and extremophilic microorganisms
The EU-funded SECRETed project will develop novel hybrid molecules with tailor-made properties obtained from the combination of biosynthetic genes of amphiphilic compounds produced by marine and extremophilic microorganisms. Researchers will screen microbial collections from earlier European initiatives and apply machine-learning algorithms to identify the genetic mechanisms responsible for their biosynthesis. Biosynthetic gene clusters in charge of the production of these molecules will be reverse engineered to expand the chemical diversity and improve the industrial sustainable exploitation of such biobased compounds. New strains will then be designed, built and tested in an iterative process for the development of viable and sustainable industrial processes.
Objective
SECRETed is an EU-H2020 multidisciplinary project involving multiple stakeholders and with a strong participation of SMEs to fully exploit the potential of aquatic biotechnology and produce novel industrial products for the agrochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and chemistry sectors. SECRETed will develop novel hybrid molecules with tailor-made properties obtained from the combination of biosynthetic genes of amphiphilic compounds (biosurfactants and siderophores) produced by marine and extremophilic microorganisms. The project will focus on reutilizing previous sampling efforts by screening already collected microbial collections from previous European initiatives. Machine Learning algorithms (ML) will be deployed to reveal the genetic mechanisms responsible for their biosynthesis and to expand the chemical diversity of such bio-based compounds. To this end, databases inspection and new collected data will be employed to construct a unique microbial amphiphilic compound chemical space comprehending molecular structures, physicochemical characteristics, associated bioactivities and revealed genetic mechanisms responsible for their biosynthesis. To expand the chemical diversity and enhance the industrial sustainable exploitation of such bio-based compounds, Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in charge of the production of these molecules will be reverse engineered by standardizing and modularizing the genetic elements comprising such clusters. Their potential benefits will be broadened by looking for Industry-driven (agrochemical, cosmetic, nutrition and health) formulations based on the engineered combinations of the genetic elements expressed in suitable microbial hosts. New strains will then be designed, built and tested in an iterative process for the development of viable and sustainable industrial processes.
Fields of science
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Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
41300 La Rinconada
Spain