Skip to main content
Publications | Persons | Institutes | Projects
[ report an error in this record ] Print this page

Molecular Approaches and MetaGenomic Investigations for optimizing Clean-up of PAH contaminated sites
www.magicpah.org/

Funder identifier: FP7-KBBE-2009-3 (Other contract id)
Acronym: MAGICPAH
Period: April 2010 till March 2014
Status: Completed
 Institutes 

Institutes (13)  Top 
  • Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), more, partner
  • Italian National Research Council; Institute for Coastal Marine Environment (IAMC), more
  • Bangor University, more, partner
  • Technical University of Denmark (DTU), more, partner
  • AECOM (ACM), more, partner
  • Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), more, partner
  • University of Aarhus (AU), more, partner
  • University of Toronto; Governing Council, more, partner
  • Universität Leipzig, more, partner
  • Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung, more, co-ordinator
  • Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies Commission; Genoscope, more
  • Syndial SpA Attivita diversificate, more, partner
  • CorpoGen, more, partner

Abstract
MAGICPAH aims to explore, understand and exploit the catalytic activities of microbial communities involved in the degradation of persistent PAHs. It will integrate (meta- ) genomic studies with in-situ activity assessment based on stable isotope probing particularly in complex matrices of different terrestrial and marine environments.
PAH degradation under various conditions of bioavailability will be assessed as to improve rational exploitation of the catalytic properties of bacteria for the treatment and prevention of PAH pollution. We will generate a knowledge base not only on the microbial catabolome for biodegradation of PAHs in various impacted environmental settings based on genome gazing, retrieval and characterization of specific enzymes but also on systems related bioavailability of contaminant mixtures. MAGICPAH takes into account the tremendous undiscovered metagenomic resources by the direct retrieval from genome/metagenome libraries and consequent characterization of enzymes through activity screens. These screens will include a high-end functional small-molecule fluorescence screening platform and will allow us to directly access novel metabolic reactions followed by their rational exploitation for biocatalysis and the re-construction of biodegradation networks. Results from (meta-) genomic approaches will be correlated with microbial in situ activity assessments, specifically dedicated to identifying key players and key reactions involved in anaerobic PAH metabolism. Key processes for PAH metabolism particularly in marine and composting environments and the kinetics of aerobic degradation of PAH under different conditions of bioavailability will be assessed in model systems, the rational manipulation of which will allow us to deduce correlations between system performance and genomic blueprint. The results will be used to improve treatments of PAH-contaminated sites.

All data in the Integrated Marine Information System (IMIS) is subject to the VLIZ privacy policy Top | Institutes