MiBiPreT: A Prediction Toolkit for Micro-Bioremediation

Technological advancement and industrialisation has led to many improvements in quality of life but comes at the cost of significant pollution in our environment. Petroleum hydrocarbons such as BTEX, being very important petrochemical materials, contaminate the soil and groundwater in many locations, threatening delicate ecosystems and endangering human health. However, such sites may be remediated through the careful introduction and nurturing of specific bacteria in the affected area - a process known as bioremediation. To promote the sustainable and cost-effective application of bioremediation, we are developing a suite of computational tools and libraries to aid in analysis and modelling based on experimental data collected at target sites. These tools help answer questions like Does bioremediation work at this site?, Which bacterial type/consortia are present? and Which nutrients should be added how and where?. In our poster, we present the design and operation of our prediction toolkit as well as some specific use-cases. The work takes place as part of the MIBIREM EU project, in collaboration with the modellers, experimentalists and industrial partners. Ultimately we wish to apply our toolkit to ensuring healthier soils in Europe.