Synthetic Biology Derived Electroactive Whole Cell Microbial Biosensors. The aim of this project is to develop, using synthetic biology, electrically integrated microbial biosensors for the detection of heavy metals in the environment. Building on our existing technology, this project aims to produce novel ‘biobricks’ capable of electrically integrating electric microbes into real time environmental monitors for heavy metal contaminants. This expansion of synthetic biology, and integration of el ....Synthetic Biology Derived Electroactive Whole Cell Microbial Biosensors. The aim of this project is to develop, using synthetic biology, electrically integrated microbial biosensors for the detection of heavy metals in the environment. Building on our existing technology, this project aims to produce novel ‘biobricks’ capable of electrically integrating electric microbes into real time environmental monitors for heavy metal contaminants. This expansion of synthetic biology, and integration of electric bacteria into sensor systems, will result in a new platform technology that expands our abilities to protect the ecology, agriculture and health of terrestrial, marine and agricultural at risk areas from economic and environmental damage.Read moreRead less
Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. This project aims to elucidate the roles of thiocyanate-degrading microbial consortium members involved in sulphur and nitrogen oxidation, using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. The gold mining industry generates environmentally toxic thiocyanate as a waste by-product, for which the most cost-effective remediation strategy is degradation by natura ....Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. Improving thiocyanate bioremediation with meta-genomics/transcriptomics. This project aims to elucidate the roles of thiocyanate-degrading microbial consortium members involved in sulphur and nitrogen oxidation, using metagenomics and metatranscriptomics. The gold mining industry generates environmentally toxic thiocyanate as a waste by-product, for which the most cost-effective remediation strategy is degradation by natural microbes. Efforts to bioremediate, however, suffer from a lack of understanding of the full metabolic potential of the microbes involved. The intended outcome of this project is the improved design and operation of thiocyanate bioremediation reactor systems.Read moreRead less
Adaptive ecotyping of the toxic cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii to predict its invasive capacity. We change the world while other organisms adapt to these new conditions. Cyanobacteria (blue green algae) increasingly dominate water bodies that were previously free of these harmful blooms. To minimise the spread of these algae, this project will study the genetic basis that determines how rapidly they can evolve and adapt to a changing planet.