Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts are the invisible little helpers of the bioeconomy. With their assistance, biological resources can be utilised, new bio-based products can be manufactured and production processes can be made more sustainable and efficient. In the search for new microorganisms for biotechnological applications, researchers in the newly launched EU project XTREAM now want to take a closer look at the earth's extreme habitats. Thirteen research institutions from seven countries are involved in the project - including the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

Exploring the potential of extremophile microorganisms

‘Microorganisms from extreme habitats are nature's greatest problem solvers. With XTREAM, we want to exploit their full potential to tackle pressing challenges,’ says project leader Antonio García-Moyano from the NORCE Norwegian Research Centre.

Many of the known microbial tools such as the coliform bacterium Escheria coli or the so-called baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are unsuitable for extreme process conditions such as high temperatures. Extremophilic microorganisms are quite different - they have adapted to hostile conditions and have developed characteristics over millions of years to survive under extreme environmental conditions such as high pressure or high temperatures. 

Enzymes from the deep sea for biotechnological use

The GEOMAR team specialises in researching deep-sea sponges and the microbes that live in symbiosis with them. As part of the EU project, the research group led by Erik Borchert will specifically search for new biocatalysts, i.e. enzymes that enable or accelerate biochemical reactions. ‘If we understand their mechanisms, we can open up completely new avenues for biotechnological applications,’ says Borchert, an environmental microbiologist at GEOMAR in Kiel.

The international research team wants to search not only in deep-sea sponges but also in glaciers, hot springs and acidic mining areas for potential microorganisms for innovative applications in pharmacy, medicine, agriculture, feed and food production. The search for new tools for biotechnology should be as environmentally friendly and sustainable as possible. ‘Using state-of-the-art technologies such as microfluidic analyses, artificial intelligence and highly developed drones, we combine innovation with environmental responsibility,’ emphasises García-Moyano.

Key to a sustainable economy in Europe

The researchers are convinced that microbes that survive under such extreme environmental conditions can be ‘the key to new medicines, biochemical substances and stable enzymes’ and thus make a significant contribution ‘to the development of an environmentally friendly, sustainable economy in Europe’. ‘XTREAM accelerates the path from discovery to application and creates bio-based solutions that are in line with European climate goals,’ says García-Moyano.

The XTREAM project is being funded by the European Union as part of the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme from 2025 to 2028 with a total of 4,460,000 euros.

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