Summary of research
Micro-organisms play vital roles in the functioning of the planet. Beneficial forms remove environmental contaminants and can convert wastes to valuable products, such as methane and energy. In contrast, pathogenic species have the potential to cause the spread of infection which must be controlled by antibiotics. However, with the growing reported incidence of resistance to antibiotics this route of microbial control is proving to be increasingly ineffective. Thus a key issue in terms of exploiting microbial populations, so their beneficial activities are stimulated and enhanced, whilst their potential to cause disease is inhibited, is en masse control and manipulation of microbial cells. However, the control and manipulation of microbial populations for the betterment of man-kind is challenging since of the enormous number of cells involved and their minute size.
The novel approach we have taken is the deployment of physical and engineered approaches for stimulating beneficial activities and suppression, and killing of pathogenic strains. This includes the application of ultrasound to stimulate microbial degradation of man-made contaminants and genes transfer, as well as the use of electrokinetics for formation artificial microbial biofilms in bioreactors. A particular area of interest has been the synthesis of novel manufactured nanomaterials for the attachment and killing of specific bacterial cell types. The development of novel manufactured nanomaterials as alternative means of killing pathogenic bacteria is a particular area of interest.
A parallel group interest is the microbial conversion of plants and industrial wastes into energy and high value product, such as methane and succinate. Such studies include the development of bioreactors for treating specific industrial effluent, both aerobically and anaerobically, converting them to clean water, which can be recycled for subsequent reuse.
Recent projects
- Development of a hybrid system, incorporating microbial biodegradation and catalysis by nanomaterials for the treatment of industrial waste.
- Anaerobic microbial degradation on industrial waste to methane and energy.
- Microbial transformation of industrial and plant waste into sustainable energy and high value products.
- Design and application of manufactured nanomaterials for attachment and killing of pathogenic bacteria.
- Fate and impact of nanomaterials introduced into the environment.
- Uptake of manufactured nanomaterials by plants.
- Application of ultrasound for stimulating microbial activity and gene transfer.
