Anaerobic growth of aerobic methane-oxidising bacteria (AnGer-MOB)
Navn på bevillingshaver
Ian Marshall
Titel
Associate Professor
Institution
Aarhus University
Beløb
DKK 6,994,234
År
2025
Bevillingstype
Semper Ardens: Accelerate
Hvad?
This study focuses on Methylobacter and Crenothrix, bacterium commonly found in freshwater sediment. These bacteria consume methane, produced by other microorganisms in the sediment, in the presence of oxygen. However, Methylobacter and Crenothrix are also found in subsurface oxygen-free sediments. This project aims to learn how these bacteria can grow without oxygen.
Hvorfor?
Methane emissions from anoxic freshwater contribute to global warming. This impact is set to worsen with increased temperatures and nutrient inputs making more anoxic freshwater, increasing methane emission rates. This project will help us understand how methane is consumed under anoxic conditions in freshwater.
Hvordan?
Through genome sequencing and experiments we will test a variety of hypotheses about how Crenothrix and Methylobacter survive without oxygen, testing different nutrient sources and alternatives to oxygen. There are indications that these bacteria can use iron minerals in the place of oxygen, so this will be the main focus of the project.