[MIXFUN] Unraveling the impact of polyfluoroalkyl substances on aquatic microbial communities to create biodegrading microbial consortia between mixotrophs and fungi
Ente: European Commission
Scadenza: 2028-08-31
Importo max: 194.074,56 EUR
Paese: EU
Descrizione
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are compounds widely used in commercial and industrial applications. Due to their presence in many household products, they are often found in wastewater effluent and urban runoff, from where they reach other aquatic ecosystems. PFAS present several significant issues associated to their persistence, transport (they have been detected in more than 90% of European rivers); and health effects as endocrine disruptors. The main objective of the MIXFUN project is to understand how PFAS may impact the structure of aquatic microbial communities by favoring organisms capable of degrading them, and to use this information to develop biological systems (microbial consortia) based on organisms with high biodegradation potential in combination with physical conditions (ultraviolet radiation-UVR and temperature) that enhance their capacity. We know that the presence of organic carbon in PFAS molecules could be their Achilles' heel, and that those microbial organisms capable of using this carbon could biodegrade the compounds in a cheaper and more sustainable manner than physico-chemical treatments. Additionally, temperature can influence biodegradation metabolism, while UVR has shown a photodegradative effect on PFAS. Since microorganisms coexist in their natural environment with fluctuations in UVR and temperature, our proposal to create a hybrid system of microbial consortia under various UVR and temperature conditions could yield satisfactory results. To achieve this, we plan to identify mixotrophs and fungi that are favored through a gradient of PFAS-contaminated lakes and subsequently develop mixotroph-fungi consortia. By combining empirical data and predictive models, we will be able to determine the optimal growth and biodegradation conditions for these consortia. As a result, we expect to determine how the use of these consortia can take the degradation of PFAS to the next level, benefiting both human health and ecosystems.
Settori: Biodegradation, mixotrophs, fungi, polyfluoroalkyl substances, ultraviolet radiation, microbial consortia, environmental pollution
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