Periodic Reporting for period 2 - e-MICROBe (Energizing microbes with redox mediators for new bioproductions)
Reporting period: 2022-03-01 to 2023-08-31
WP1: exploration of the physiology of phenazine usage and screening for new, unknown phenazine or redox mediator producers was completed; no direct energy conservation could be deciphered with phenazines in Pseudomonas-like strains. 1 Manuscript published, 1 submitted. Metabolic engineering aprroaches were redirected to synthetic biology concepts and new strains are currently being tested.
WP2: microBES reactor development, involves in-kind contribution not on premises by Fraunhofer IOF; We experienced slight delays for WP2: The collaboration with Fraunhofer IOF for the development of the microBES reactor has been delayed by ~ 6 month due to Institute closures (Corona-related), quarantines of involved people and delivery delays for parts. However, overall the development is progressing well and functional microBES chips are now ready to be used in WP3.
WP3: With function microBES from WP2 experiments with online cultivation of microbial cultures have started. The growth can be observed and the electrochemical measurements are functional. Currently, the tuning of the right operating conditions in the focus before defined hypotheses will be tested.
WP4: biological synthesis and evaluation of a redox negative soluble redox mediator: manuscript in preparation. A proof of concent for cathodic electron uptake with this mediator was achieved. No strains that include a sink for these cathodic electrons are established to create an outlet and a true application example. Bioelectrochemical characterization of this compound is ongoing.