BACSIN

Bacterial Abiotic Cellular Stress and Survival Improvement Network

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'BACSIN is a 16-member consortium with the main focus to improve rational exploitation of the catalytic properties of bacteria for the treatment and prevention of environmental pollution. Current application of bacteria in the environment is hindered by the lack of knowledge on the effects of stresses on cellular activity, most importantly abiotic stresses prevailing on site (e.g., desiccation or nutrient starvation), stresses as a result of pollution itself (e.g., toxicity), and those during strain preparation and formulation. BACSIN proposes four iterative poles of research and technology to overcome this hindrance for subsequent improved microbial usage. The 1st pole will investigate genome-wide catabolic and stress expression in a set of different pollutant degrading bacteria (the ‘BACSINs’). Key cellular factors and regulatory networks determining the interplay between stress-survival and pollutant catabolism will be unveiled, and faithful predictive models for cell behaviour produced. The 2nd pole will study stress resistance, survival and activity of BACSINs in real polluted environments, via microcosms and in situ ‘traps’, plant roots and leaves, while accentuating possible effects on native communities. The 3d pole will focus on the original microbial communities at contaminated sites, to discover and exploit more optimal stress and survival resistance among resident pollutant-degrading bacteria. We will develop molecular diagnostics tools to screen contaminated sites for catabolic and stress parameters, and decide whether BACSIN complementation should be considered. Promising isolates of resident bacteria will be studied as new BACSINs, to show the usefulness of the ‘diagnosis-isolation-reintroduction’ approach for enhancing pollutant biodegradation rates. Finally, we will focus on BACSIN formulations, to understand the stresses on bacteria during growth, preservation and resuscitation, and to produce optimally active cells for environmental application.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Specific bacterial strains are used for targeted biodegradation in polluted sites. An EU project has outlined the molecular basis of their secret of success under environmentally stressful conditions.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

The EU-funded BACSIN (Bacterial abiotic cellular stress and survival improvement network) project investigated the environmental survival regimes of a number of bacterial strains with good catabolic potential (so-called bacsins). Systems biology, single cell microbiology, classical genetics and modelling all contributed to a holistic picture of bacsin biology under stress.

Bacterial strains were selected on the basis of target pollutants including alkanes and chlorophenols. Their preferred ecological niches were tested to assess behaviour under a range of exposures and environments. Membrane changes, synthesis of compatible solutes or operation of parallel and redundant metabolic pathways were all active in the microbes' survival arsenal.

Microcosm studies using plant leaves, plant roots, soils, sediments, marine beaches, biofilms and reactors showed clearly which strains have superior survival ability. Emphasis was placed on formulations that would enable the microbes to fulfil their degradation function.

Site tests involved a catabolic gene chip and corresponding protocol developed by BACSIN. After extensive testing at varying locations and by different operators, two areas of decontamination were successful. Rhizoremediation using a combination of planting and inoculation with bacsins was a successful strategy for petroleum-contaminated sites. Vermiculite-formulated bacsins gave good degradation results in chlorophenol-contaminated soil.

Surprisingly, more abundant strains isolated at polluted sites presumed to be superior survivors were not so superior after all. However, most of the preselected bacsins survived and aided contaminant degradation during field trials. The conclusion is that pretesting will reveal the most appropriate bacsin for survival and aid in contaminant degradation.

Particular highlights for dissemination included the http://www.bacsin.org (project website), an international student summer course in July 2011 in Lausanne and a final international symposium on rational use of bacteria for bioaugmentation in April 2012 in Amsterdam. Around 60 papers have been published in peer-reviewed journals.

These findings, together with the isolation of natural bacsins from environmental sites, stand to improve the exploitation of bacterial catalytic activities for targeted pollution treatment. Implementation of the Bacsin findings at contaminated sites could improve biodegradation with obvious benefits for the environment.