Stress-Induced Preconditioning for Resilient Engineered Living Materials in Probiotic Architecture

Descrizione del progetto

Precondizionamento indotto dallo stress per materiali viventi ingegnerizzati resilienti

Gli edifici offrono riparo e spazi comuni, ma spesso sono costruiti con materiali dannosi per l’ambiente. I metodi sostenibili che utilizzano materiali ecologici possono ridurre questo impatto. I materiali viventi ingegnerizzati offrono un’alternativa rigenerativa introducendo sistemi viventi nell’edilizia, e le ricerche indicano che uno stress moderato può rafforzare la resistenza biologica a futuri fattori di stress. Con il sostegno del programma di azioni Marie Skłodowska-Curie, il progetto PRO-TECTURE migliorerà la resilienza e le prestazioni dei materiali viventi ingegnerizzati sottoponendo le cellule fungine viventi (biofilm) a uno stress abiotico. Si analizzeranno la memoria dello stress, la comunicazione tra i funghi tramite molecole secrete e le possibili interazioni con le cellule umane. Inserendo i materiali viventi ingegnerizzati nelle pratiche edilizie, il progetto punta a ridurre l’impatto ambientale, promuovere il recupero e migliorare la salute delle persone nel settore dell’edilizia.

Obiettivo

Buildings are an essential part of human life, providing shelter, spaces for work, and hubs for community activities. However, conventional construction methods have a big negative impact on the environment. To achieve sustainability, alternative approaches using natural and environmentally friendly materials, such as wood, are being employed. Regenerative sustainability takes this a step further, not only by minimizing harm but also by creating a net positive impact on both the environment and the community. Engineered living materials (ELMs) represent an innovative frontier in realizing regenerative sustainability. The aim of PRO-TECTURE project is to develop more resilient and efficient ELMs by preconditioning living fungal cells (biofilm used as ELM) with abiotic stress. Previous research has shown that exposure to mild stress can trigger adaptive responses, preconditioning biological systems to be more resilient to future stressors. The PRO-TECTURE project will use stress preconditioning to enhance the resilience of ELMs, investigating the existence and duration of stress memory, as well as intraspecies stress communication through secreted molecules. Furthermore, given the ER’s background in biomedicine, the project will explore the possibility of interkingdom stress communication between pre-stressed fungi and human cells. By integrating ELMs into building practices, it is anticipated that these structures will not only minimize negative environmental impacts but also actively contribute to environmental restoration and enhance human well-being and health in the built environment. The PRO-TECTURE aims to stimulate innovation and facilitate knowledge transfer between the host and the ER by establishing a robust research network, organizing events, mentoring young researchers, and managing projects. Through this fellowship, the ER will gain advanced research and scientific skills, acquiring new competencies to achieve professional maturity and independence.