SECRETed H2020 project - 1st Newsletter

The SECRETed project is aligned with the development of novel biosurfactants and siderophore compounds with custom-made properties taking advantage of aquatic micro-organisms. The large demand for surfactants has led to the need of utilizing biorenewable sources (microorganisms) in order to substitute fossil based synthetic surfactants and reduce environmental impacts and fossil resources dependency. In line with this, marine and extremophilic bacteria have been recently identified as a prolific source for the development of biosurfactants and siderophores.

The SECREted project focuses on screening already collected marine and extremophilic microorganisms to develop novel hybrid molecules with tailor-made properties obtained from the combination of biosynthetic genes. Machine Learning algorithms will be employed to reveal the genetic mechanisms responsible for biosurfactants and siderophores biosynthesis in order to expand the chemical diversity of bio-based compounds.

Databases inspection and collected data will result in a unique microbial amphiphilic (holding both hydrophilic and lipophilic properties) compound space to assist in comprehending and investigating molecular structures, physicochemical characteristics, bioactivities, genetic mechanisms and associated biosynthetic gene clusters for compounds biosynthesis with desired properties. The engineered combinations of genetic elements will be tested and validated resulting in the development of sustainable strains designs for industrial applications.