Unleashing the hidden potential of the anaerobic fungi (Neocallimastigomycota)
At a glance
- Project leader : Dr. Sabine Podmirseg, Dr. Rolf Warthmann
- Co-project leader : Prof. Dr. Heribert Insam, Prof. Dr. Michael Lebuhn
- Deputy of project leader : Prof. Dr. Urs Baier
- Project team : Akshay Joshi, Lona Mosberger, Katharina Schmid Lüdi
- Project budget : EUR 1'198'889
- Project status : ongoing
- Funding partner : SNSF (SNF-Projektförderung / Projekt Nr. 179552), EU and other international programmes (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft DFG / Projekt Nr. 399668713), Other (Fonds zur Förderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung Österreich)
- Project partner : Universität Innsbruck, Bayerische Landesanstalt für Landwirtschaft
- Contact person : Rolf Warthmann
Description
The microorganisms thriving in the ruminant’s digestive tract
deliver the metabolic potential for degrading recalcitrant
lignocellulose-rich organic matter and rendering it digestible.
Amongst the microbiota thriving in the rumen, anaerobic fungi (AF)
with the unpronounceable name Neocallimastigomycota host a complex
array of enzymes that are especially adapted for degradation of
lignocellulosic biomass like straw. In addition, their appressoria
attach to the macromolecule structures and physically penetrate
them, thus enhancing the enzymatic action.
Cultivation of these fungi has often ended in frustration for
researchers as the understanding of cultivation requirements is
very poor. However, scientists see the great potential of these
organisms for biotechnological use, in particular for the
utilization of lignocellulosic residues (LCR) in closed loop
recycling management. For this project, a consortium from Austria
(leading agency; PI: Dr. Sabine Marie Podmirseg), Germany (PI: Dr.
Michael Lebuhn) and Switzerland (PI: Prof. Urs Baier), all engaged
in the harnessing of AF, is cooperating in close connection with
research groups in the United Kingdom and in the Czech
Republic.
The overarching aim of the proposed project will be to remove
existing methodological obstacles preventing the biotechnological
utilization of anaerobic fungi. For that purpose, the consortium
starts with the crucial basics, explores the cultivation
requirements of Neocallimastigomycota, develops suitable culturing
and detection methods and finally evaluates their biotechnological
application for LCR disintegration.
The working hypotheses are, amongst others: (i) the ecological
niche for AF is larger than assumed to date; (ii) distinct
requirements for micronutrients or supplements have to be met for
long-time cultivation; (iii) cultivation without rumen fluid is
possible for many strains; (iv) novel AF can be isolated from
various also non-rumen habitats.
The project will combine classical microbiological methods
(microscopy, batch and continuous cultivation, enzymology) with
molecular approaches (fluorescence in situ hybridization,
quantitative PCR, direct RNA and next generation sequencing). It is
expected to develop suitable protocols for the cultivation of
anaerobic fungi and provide the basics for up-scaled production.
The project’s goal is to enable researchers and the society to make
use of the AF for energetic and material use of LCR.