MICMET

The study of fermentations in complex environments, such as solid-state fermentation or anaerobic conditions, is gaining increasing interest for the production of biomass, molecules of interest, or fermented foods. However, the difficulty in controlling these types of fermentations hinders progress in understanding these bacteria and their large-scale production. The objective of this project is to develop specific sensors to monitor in real-time the development of Bacillus subtilis and Faecalibacterium duncaniae during solid-state and anaerobic fermentations, respectively, as well as the production of secondary metabolites (glutamate and butyrate). To achieve this, mastery of fermentation processes must be established, and a kinetic study of bacterial development ensured. For the sensors, their preparation and calibration in synthetic media must be conducted. Subsequently, a validation step in a real fermentation setup will be carried out. This project aligns directly with WP4, "Developing Microbial Biotechnology," in the HARMI program. Specifically, MICMET project joins Task 4.4 “Developing cheap tools to track microorganisms and their functions in the environments”; and Task 4.5. “Production of microbial metabolites, microbial cell compounds, peptides, and proteins of interest” by creating of new sensors to determine the growth of specific bacteria and their metabolites. Advanced sensing technologies are essential for understanding, managing, and effectively utilizing microbial systems.