OUR RESEARCH
In the Microbial Physiology group, our research is centered around the study of the metabolism of environmental microorganisms and their application for the conversion of pollutants into less harmful substances. For this, different research lines are open:
Physiology of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea
Anaerobic methanotrophic archaea are microorganisms in the environment that convert the strong greenhouse gas methane to the less potent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. They are slow growing archaea that are difficult to cultivate in the laboratory, and much of their lifestyle and central metabolism is still enigmatic. We grow those microorganisms in enrichment bioreactors in the laboratory and investigate their metabolism regarding their adaptations to changing conditions and their possible application in water treatment
Involved project members: Reinier Egas, Adrienn Groza, Martijn Wissink, Maider Echevestre Medrano
Electromicrobiology of uncultivated anaerobic microorganisms
Anaerobic microorganisms such as anaerobic methanotrophic archaea or anaerobic ammonium oxidizing (anammox) bacteria can be cultivated on electrodes and perform extracellular electron transfer. The mechanisms by which such uncultivated microorganisms perform the extracellular electron transfer is not very well understood. We cultivate a variety of anaerobic microorganisms and enrichments on electrodes in bioelectrochemical systems and try to unravel their molecular mechanisms of electricity generation.
Involved project members: Conall Holohan, Peter ter Horst, Adrienn Groza, Martijn Wissink
Methane cycling in the environment
Methane cycling in the environment is catalyzed by methane-producing methanogens and methane-oxidizing archaea and bacteria. We investigate the identity, activity, and roles of different methane cycling microorganisms in environments such as peatlands and coastal ecosystems to learn more about their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
Involved project members: Vojtech Tlaskal, Peter ter Horst, Maider Echeveste Medrano