In its system-based approach, Nymphe rationally assembles selected biologics (enzymes, microbes, plants, animals) to complement and integrate their degradation abilities, and acclimatizes them to the matrix of the contaminated site to facilitate reimplantation in the site to bioremediate/revitalize. It also exploits natural microbial recruitment processes (e.g. “cry for help” mechanism) for developing optimized and stress resistant plant holobionts for phyto/rhizoremediation, and applies animal ecology principles to boost soil bioremediation (e.g. earthworms “ecosystem engineering” functions) and wastewater treatment (bivalve traits supporting invasion behaviour). Nymphe aims to advance the exploitation of microbiomes in contaminated environments for effective bioremediation through the design, testing, and validation of microbiome modulation strategies and modulators using modern bioinformatics and microbiome modelling approaches. Nymphe also develops and exploits innovative tools to improve the degradation ability and stability of microbial degraders making use of bioinformatic pipelines, novel syntetic biology concepts, additive biomanufacturing, bioelectrochemical systems and supramolecular engineering of enzymes.
In its approach, Nymphe starts at molecular and micro-scale levels and goes through field testing all the way to the macroscopic level. By means of an exhaustive assessment of the technologies’ efficiency and effective communication and dissemination to all relevant stakeholders, including civil society, Nymphe will contribute to overcoming potential technical, environmental, economic, and societal barriers hampering the use of bioremediation, supporting the achievement of a Zero Pollution environment and a healthy planet.
