QLK3-2001-60077 Quantitative characterisation of industrial microorganisms (QCIM)

Abstract

The completion of an increasing number of microbial genome projects - Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Lactococcus lactis sp. lactis, Escherichia coli, etc. - has introduced the development and construction of a new generation of industrial production organisms. There is a substantial need for advanced training in the techniques of handling the development and utilisation of these organisms. The QCIM site offers high quality advanced training in all the quantitative methods necessary to characterise novel production organisms. The visiting fellows will be encouraged to bring strains of interest for their own thesis work. The proposed training programme focuses on three main core themes of direct relevance to both doctoral research at university and to subsequent industrial research.

An important prerequisite for the quantitative characterisation of microbial cells is their genetic stability, i e novel genetic traits have to be chromosomally integrated. For fellows bringing strains with plasmid born traits the QCIM site offers training in chromosomal integration as part of the fellow's stay. Training will be provided on strains from our stock also for comparative purposes .

Quantitative physiologic al data will be obtained in chemostat cultivation with on- and off-line determination of substrate consumption and product formation, determination of intracellular metabolite pools, intracellular enzyme activities, and genome wide transcription analyses. The obtained data form the basis for modelling of the metabolic network to explore theoretical limitations to product yield and productivity.

Different fermentation control strategies, e.g. feedback controlled fed-batch cultivation and continuous culture will be used for optimisation of cellular productivity. On-line analytical techniques, e.g. FIA analysis and off-gas analysis will be applied for monitoring and control purposes.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Per Goeran NILSSON / Center For Chemistry And Chemical Engineering Lund University / SWEDEN