goodwater

WP 1 aims at understanding the in situ physiological state of microorganisms able to degrade environmental pollutants at contaminated groundwater sites. Diverse metabolic capabilities of indigenous anaerobic bacteria contribute successfully to the natural attenuation of aromatic contaminants in groundwater ecosystems. However, our knowledge of the mechanisms that control growth and activity of the responsible microorgansims and their function in situ is far from complete. Therefore, fellow 1 (SV: R.U. Meckenstock, HMGU) will explore organisms which are actively utilising aromatic contaminants by applying proteome-based techniques to mesocosm-exposed bacteria and to environmental microbial communities. Metaproteomes will be compared under different implemented conditions and related to community function and activity data in the same experimental mesocosms from fellow 5 and fellow 8 (both HMGU). In order to correlate the proteomic data with the genetic potential, the work will be performed in close collaboration with fellow 9 (UCLOUVAIN). The knowledge will establish a fundamental understanding about external parameters influencing the in situ physiology of contaminant-degrading bacteria and the concept can be transferred to bioaugmentation and remediation studies of contaminated sites. Therefore, further collaborations are intended for the development of reactive biofilm barriers (fellow 15, DTU) and bioaugmentation strategies of chlorinated compounds (fellow 14, UGent). To gain more insight into practice work of remediation strategies fellow 1 will be sent to the technical consulting bureau Dr. Stupp GmbH for a training period of altogether 4 weeks.