Project description
Improving how microorganisms eliminate contaminants in soils
Biological processes can be used to remove contaminants from the environment. This is called bioremediation. Using microorganisms, this process essentially degrades, breaks down and removes contaminants. The EU-funded BIOTAC project will take a novel approach: the macroscale application of the microscale mechanisms underlying the access of self-propelled bacteria to contaminants with limited availability through enhanced dispersal mechanisms. Specifically, the project will focus on the mechanisms operating with flagellated bacteria for bioavailability enhancements. Using carefully selected biological and chemical effectors that favour flagella-mediated taxis and co-mobilisation of immotile degrading strains, the project will develop strategies to improve bacterial transport to pollutant sources. It will also conduct an analysis of the risks and benefits of the new bioremediation technology.
Objective
Bacterial dispersal is a key driver of pollutant turnover in contaminated soils. Flagellated bacteria able to degrade organic pollutants hold tactic responses to a variety of stimuli and reach pollutant hotspots, enhancing the access to poorly bioavailable carbon sources by steepening pollutant concentration gradients at interfaces. However, bacterial motility in porous media is often restricted due to high cell deposition rates and adhesion to soil particles, and in this sense, the modulating role of biological and chemical effectors is decisive. The aim of BIOTAC is the study of the mechanisms operating with flagellated bacteria for bioavailability enhancements and, therefore, a faster turnover of persistent organic pollutants in soils, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and a pesticide, lindane. We will study, at the microorganism scale, the role of bacterial taxis in chemical gradients (chemotaxis), as well as other tactic responses (repellence, surface taxis) in pollutant bioavailability, modelling and integrating them with other microbial adaptations (i.e. biofilm formation and the production of biosurfactants). We will develop strategies to improve bacterial transport to pollutant sources, using carefully selected biological and chemical effectors (respectively including, mycelial networks and organic compounds -root exudates, humic acids, and fertilizers), that favour flagella-mediated taxis, and co-mobilization of immotile degrading strains. The originality and innovation of the project lies on the macroscale projection of the microscale mechanisms underlying the access of self-propelled bacteria to limitedly available contaminants through an enhanced dispersal. Through experimental and modelling approaches, aiming at balancing biosorption and colloidal transport of the pollutants against biodegradation rates, the project will perform a risk and benefit analysis of the new bioremediation technology.
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.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- engineering and technology environmental biotechnology bioremediation
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
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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-2019
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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.
28006 Madrid
Spain
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.