Objective
Anaerobic methanotrophic (ANME) archaea are ecologically critical microorganisms that remove methane from natural environments, thereby reducing emissions of this potent greenhouse gas. However, their physiology and ecology remain vastly unexplored due to the lack of axenic (single species) cultures of ANME archaea, their slow doubling times (in the order of weeks or months) and their complex nutritional requirements and interactions with other organisms. Recently, we achieved a breakthrough in ANME archaea cultivation, developing bioelectrochemical systems with highly enriched (>95% pure) and rapidly growing (doubling time ~4.5 days) cultures of Ca. Methanoperedens, a representative freshwater ANME archaeon. Now, in electroANME, we propose to leverage our expertise in growing and characterizing ANME archaea and our unique access to these near-axenic cultures to address urgent scientific questions related to microbial methane removal. In Aim 1, we will elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in methane oxidation, particularly by elucidating how ANME archaea perform extracellular electron transfer to electron acceptors. In Aim 2, we will identify bacterial partners of ANME archaea and delineate the mechanisms involved in direct interspecies electron transfer between ANME archaea and bacteria. In Aim 3, we will explore the metabolic diversity of ANME archaea, including in the absence of external electron acceptors, and probe the environmental relevance of these metabolic processes. The findings from this project will not only provide novel insights into the physiology and ecology of ANME archaea but also have the potential to improve climate models and inform future biotechnological applications exploring the capacity of these microbes to oxidize methane, thereby helping to address the pressing societal problem of climate change.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
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.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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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.
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.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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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.
(opens in new window) ERC-2025-COG
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
6525 XZ Nijmegen
Netherlands
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