| Project Detail |
Redefining microbial cultivation practices
Industries reliant on microbial cultivation face exorbitant production costs, with cultivation processes consuming up to 40 % of total expenses. Yet, conventional methods often overlook the crucial lag phase, a period of limited bacterial growth that elongates production timelines and inflates costs. This oversight poses a significant hurdle to efficiency and profitability within the industry. Addressing this challenge is paramount for advancing microbial cultivation practices and enhancing economic sustainability. With this in mind, the ERC-funded FastMicrobes project incorporates in the lag phase naturally occurring methylated compounds, enabling researchers to expedite bacterial growth by up to 10 hours, slashing production time and costs. This approach promises to revolutionise industrial cultivation, enhancing product yield while reducing expenses.
Accelerating Microbial Cultivation through Lag Phase Shortening using Methylated Compounds
Industries reliant on microbial cultivation face high production costs, with the cultivation process accounting for 20-40% of the total. However, conventional strategies often overlook the lag phase, an early growth phase in which bacteria do not grow that significantly elongates the cultivation process and impacts production costs.
Recent findings arising from our ERC-funded research, reveal a ground-breaking mechanism for modulating bacterial lag phase duration. Through the addition of naturally abundant methylated compounds during the lag phase, we demonstrate a strategy to expedite bacterial growth by up to 10 hours. This approach, previously unexplored due to technical challenges, could revolutionize industrial cultivation, reducing costs and enhancing product yield.
Our ERC-funded research uncovered a novel regulatory circuit influencing the bacterial lag phase. In our research of algal-bacterial routes of metabolic exchange, we discovered that abundant methylated compounds that are produced by algae and plants can significantly expedite the lag phase of various bacteria. Detailed insights into this mechanism enabled tailored treatments that shorten lag phases by utilizing methylated compounds. This approach presents a safe, affordable, and unique solution for industry challenges.
In this proposal, we outline a comprehensive plan to address current industrial cultivation challenges and exploit our innovative approach. By leveraging methylated compounds to expedite lag phases, both in bacteria and yeast, we aim to optimize yield, revolutionize microbial cultivation, and potentially transform an industry with an expected value of $130-180 billion by 2030. |
