Projects / Programmes
Microbiology and biotechnology of food and environment
January 1, 2004
- December 31, 2008
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.06.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Biotechnology |
|
| 4.03.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
|
| 1.05.00 |
Natural sciences and mathematics |
Biochemistry and molecular biology |
|
| 4.04.00 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Veterinarian medicine |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B230 |
Biomedical sciences |
Microbiology, bacteriology, virology, mycology |
microbiology, biotechnology, nutrients, environment, microorganisms, stress factors, antibiotics, microbial interactions, Bacillus, Campylobacter, Listeria, Shigella, Vibrio, Streptomyces, Saccharomyces, Zygosaccharomyces, micotoxicogenic fungi, viruses, biofilms, starter cultures, sporulation, competence, apoptosis, microbial communities, yeast biomass, resistance, food spoilage microorganisms, patogenic microorganisms, membranes, cell surfaces, nutrient circulation, adaptive mechanisms, bioprocesses
Researchers (43)
Organisations (1)
Abstract
The proposed research program focuses on microorganisms and their significant role in natural and industrial environments. Understanding microbial function at the cellular level and at the level of microbial communities enables one to exploit their industrial potential and to control the negative consequences of their action. Microorganisms adapt to changes in physical and chemical parameters in their environment by inducing mechanisms that allow them to overcome the stress conditions and are therefore of grate importance for the action and survival of microbes in their environment. The effect of biological factors and their interactions (viruses, bacteria, fungi and higher organisms) as well as physical and chemical stress parameters (nutrients supply, temperature, humidity, concentrations of salts, metal ions and different anti-microbial agents) on microorganisms will be studied in laboratory model systems. Beside the physiological the ecological aspect of the problem will be studied. The ecology of microbial populations and communities will be studied in complex model systems and also in natural (soil, water) and bioprocess environments (grapes/must and other foods; anti-microbial agents production).The impact of various stress factors on, the flow of nutrients, structure, dinamics and functioning of microbial communities, will be studied. Classical and molecular-biological methods for detection, identification and tipization of microorganisms in food and environment will be developed to enable more efficient detection and monitoring of microorganisms in natural and industrial environments, which will add to the safe food production and the preservation of natural environment.
Significance for science
Our program group comprises activities in the area of microbiology and biotechnology of food and environment. Research activities include fundamental research and its applications in the area of food technology, industrial bioprocess development and environmental technology. The proposed fundamental research is expected to improve our understanding of physiology, genetics, biochemistry and stress-response regulation in eukaryotic as well as in prokaryotic microorganisms, ensuring high-impact scientific publications in the corresponding research fields, thus reflecting our research achievements. As before, our basic research achievements will give a solid support to teaching processes in microbiology, biotechnology and food technology programs, our involvemn in education of young researches and will be of key importance for collaborative research activities with high quality research groups at home and abroad. High quality basic research will be essential to improve our applicable research and we strongly believe this is the great advantage that our program group has. Development of fast methods for identification and profiling of microbial communities will significantly contribute to a faster introduction of novel techniques in food and water safety. Commercially important process development such as the biosynthesis of biologically active secondary metabolites, the wastewater treatment and the current global problem of greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, N2O) emissions will also be an important area of our research activities. Industrial strains producing medically important secondary metabolites and their regulation, exploration of novel strains potential, heterologous expression of biologically active compounds and biosynthetic and metabolic engineering will be studied to a great extend. We expect a significant contribution of novel approaches such as combinatorial and biosynthetic engineering and metagenomics, further enhanced with the use of well developed state of the art genetic-tools and available genomic information to produce novel biologically active metabolites and drug candidates. And finally, a further study of biogeochemical cycles driven by microbial communities in relations to physiological and phylogenetic diversity of microorganisms will be essential for sustainability of all natural and managed ecosystems. This approach will also enable intelligent use of traditional enrichment strategies and advanced metagenomic technologies for mining of diverse habitats for novel bioactive molecules.
Significance for the country
The extensive research activity with industrial partners and public institutions clearly demonstrates significant public and economic importance of the research carried out by the program group. Scientists from our program group have been collaborating with Slovenian pharmaceutical, chemical, food and environmental companies such as the pharmaceutical companies Krka and Lek (Sandoz), the food producing companies Vitiva and Medex, the chemical industry TKI Hrastnik, the waste water treatment plant Domžale-Kamnik, the Nuclear Power Plant - Krško and others. It will be one of the main priorities of the program group to carry out and even expand industrial collaborations and this way contribute to the general competitiveness of the Slovenian economy. The role of microbes and microbial populations in the maintaining of a healthy balance of natural and managed environments is of key importance for long term sustainable economy and environmental protection in addition to the development of novel environment-friendly technologies and processes. We believe that the proposed program describes research which is more than necessary for the development of novel methods and procedures for sustainable and safe production of food and for protection of the costumer. Integral understanding of the biosynthetic pathways for the production of active substances and the regulation of their biosynthetic pathways represents an important knowledge for the production of biologically active compounds, and the development of economically competitive and environmentally friendly processes. The knowledge generated by the program group will be disseminated to the wider community including undergraduate and postgraduate students at home and abroad and industrial partners. The program group has been exceptionally active regarding the organization of the local and international scientific and non-scientific conferences and other events and this tradition will be maintained in the future, thus promoting Slovenian science and Slovenia in general. Members of the program group have actively contributed to various international associations often holding leadership roles, where the role of the program head, prof. Raspor, has been especially a prominent one. In addition, members of the program group have significantly contributed to the development of microbiology, food technology, industrial and environmental biotechnology technology fields and will clearly continue contributing and promoting the area of education, which is linked to these fields.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
complete report on dLib.si
