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University Jena gets DFG grant for a new graduate school on interaction between microbes and minerals
(Jena) Is there a communication between microorganisms and minerals? Microorganisms communicate chemically and there is evidence for chemical exchange between bacteria or fungi and minerals. Bacteria and fungi produce enzymes that function as bio-catalysts and accelerate chemical reations. Thus, there are indeed interactions between the bio- and the geo-sphere, which will be examinated in Jena using the example of the former uranium mining site Wismut. Starting in April 2006, this research is supported by a 1.7 million Euro grant of the German Research Foundation (DFG) to the University Jena, where a new graduate school will be established. Within the next 41/2 years, 21 fellows can be employed in this new project "Alteration and Mobilization of Elements on Microbe-Mineral-Surfaces", which will be supplemented with additional Ph.D. students of the Jena University.
"The innovation of this new project is the employment of microbacterial processes in remediation" summarizes Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe the principle. The 45 year old microbiologist is the spokeswoman of the project, where the Ph.D. students will be counseled by a team of microbiologists, ecologists, geologists, and physical chemisists of the University Jena and scientists of the Max-Planck-Institute for Biogeochemistry. The interactions of mircobiological reactions with chemical and physico-chemical properties of mineral surfaces are the research goal of these scientists.
Even if the Wismut waste rock piles in the former uranium mining region of Ronneburg are removed to their final underground destination, heavy metals are remaining in the soil of former heap sites. These will have to be separated from surrounding minerals in order to facilitate remediation with the help of micro-organisms. Other microbes might be used to fix the heavy metals to soi matter so they no longer endanger rivers and the ecosystem. "The microorganisms accelerate remediation processes by acting as biochemical catalysts" explains Prof. Kothe. The advantages of these biological strategies are obvious: the process is controlled, affordable, and much faster. "If mankind has to wait one year or one million years makes a relevant difference!" explains Kothe and compares the microbially accelerated process to the operation of a water traetment plant: under controlled conditions a fast purification process is started, for which a river would have needed much longer time.
The scientists from Jena are studying various model mircobes, among them so called "iron-bacteria" or streptomycetes, which are responsible for the smell of fresh soil. From the fungi, a wood-rotting species is used, which already has proven its nutrient recycling capacity.
Aside from an interesting and interdisciplinary field of study the new project at Jena University offers future fellows great opportunities. Within three years they can finish their cumulative dissertations, shortening the time to a doctor's degree and facilitating early publishing of results. Furthermore, every fellow will be staying in an international laboratory abroad with one of many different cooperating partners, thus gaining further methodical skills and experience. Interdisziplinarity is another milestone in education of the fellow Ph.D. students, including yearly summer schools which will attract international specialists to Jena establishing a supportive network. According to the school board members, these and further activities will significantly strengthen Jena's competence in the area of microbiological and geological research.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe
Institute of Microbiology at the University Jena
Neugasse 25, 07743 Jena
Tel.: ++49 (0)3641 949291
E-Mail: erika.kothe[at]rz.uni-jena.de
Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe
Photo: Peter Scheere
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Merkmale dieser Pressemitteilung:
Biologie, Geowissenschaften, Informationstechnik, Meer / Klima, Umwelt / Ökologie
überregional
Forschungsprojekte
Englisch
Prof. Dr. Erika Kothe
Photo: Peter Scheere
None
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