Biotechnology/Systems biology

In biotechnology, microorganisms have long been used to manufacture products for medicine, agriculture or the chemical industry or to boost industrial processes. However, bacteria are also becoming increasingly important in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. New possibilities could now open up in the biotechnological application of bacteria. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have laid the foundation.

Just under 40% of global CO₂ emissions are attributable to the construction industry. In Germany, 12% of greenhouse gas emissions are attributed to the sector. Large quantities of the climate-damaging greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO₂) are produced, particularly during the manufacture of cement, an important binding agent for concrete.

Anaerobic bacteria are among the oldest organisms on earth. As oxygen is life-threatening for them, they have developed special metabolic pathways that enable them to survive in oxygen-free regions. Anaerobic bacteria are also found in the human intestine, where they have a considerable influence on health. But that's not all. Their special metabolism also makes them sought-after tools in biotechnology. So far, they have played a subordinate role here. With the "AnoxyGen" project, Jena-based natural product researcher Christian Hertweck wants to change this.

Peacock feathers or butterfly wings, such as those of the peacock butterfly, fascinate with their splendid colours. However, it is not pigments that are responsible for this iridescent effect, but tiny structures that reflect the light in a special way. Some bacteria also have the talent to form similarly glittering and iridescent structures. Researchers from the Cluster of Excellence ‘Balance of the Microverse’ at the University of Jena have now taken a closer look at bacterial colonies with this talent.

Whether in seafood, drinking water or vegetables, microplastics have already been detected in numerous foods. The tiny, barely visible particles are the remnants of plastic waste that ends up in the sea or gets into our food, for example through fertilisers and pesticides from sewage sludge. There are filter technologies to remove microplastics from wastewater. However, the treated water is not completely free of microplastics. Researchers at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences have now succeeded in doing just that.

Sustainable, efficient and resilient production systems in agriculture are of fundamental importance on the way to a functioning sustainable bioeconomy. The Coordination and Support Action (CSA) "Green ERA-Hub", launched in September 2022 and funded by the European Commission, represents 15 former and still active EU initiatives from the fields of agriculture, food production and biotechnology.