Project description
Better understanding of nitrogen transformation for healthier, more productive ecosystems
Nitrification is the procedure by which ammonia is converted to nitrites and then nitrates. This happens naturally in the environment by specific bacteria. In nitrification, ammonia is first oxidised to nitrite by ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB), and then to nitrate by nitrite-oxidising bacteria (NOB). In fertilised soils, nitrification is known to do harm, whereas in biological wastewater treatment, it does the opposite. The EU-funded iNet project will begin by isolating novel AOB and NOB cultures. It will then establish factors that define nitrifiers’ interaction networks and study the metabolic features of this interplay to simplify the intricate interaction networks that occur in nature. The project will provide greater insight into nitrification.
Objective
Microbial interactions drive global biogeochemical cycles and shape functionality and productivity of ecosystems. Autotrophic nitrification is a prime example for a mutualistic interplay of two functional groups. In fertilized soils, nitrification contributes to emission of the ozone-depleting greenhouse gas nitrous oxide and nitrogen (N) run-off into surface waters, resulting in eutrophication and algal blooms. In contrast, in biological wastewater treatment it initiates the removal of excess N to reduce the N load into the environment. In their cross-feeding interaction, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) provide the electron donor for their partner by converting ammonia to nitrite, which is further oxidized to nitrate by nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In addition, nitrifiers also interact with heterotrophic bacteria that feed on metabolites released by nitrifiers or attack them in a predator-prey interaction. In this project, I aim to determine factors defining interaction networks of nitrifiers by analyzing the effect of this interplay on the metabolism of the individual allies and by identifying novel interaction partners of nitrifying microbes. I will analyze the metabolic aspects of this interplay in artificially mixed nitrifying assemblages to simplify the complex interaction networks occurring in nature. Using state-of-the-art isolation techniques, I will first isolate novel AOB and NOB cultures from the same environment to obtain true interaction partners. Physiological key features and gene expression patterns of separately grown and mixed cultures of these isolates will be compared to determine the nature and effects of interactions among nitrifiers. In addition, novel interaction partners of uncultured nitrifiers will be identified by analyzing co-occurrence patterns within spatially structured environments. Overall, this project will greatly expand our understanding of nitrification and the dynamics shaping its stability and process performance.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering water treatment processes wastewater treatment processes
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- social sciences economics and business economics production economics productivity
- natural sciences biological sciences ecology ecosystems
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2018
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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
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.