A microfluidic platform for imaging and selecting high-yielding polyphosphate microalgae – Phosphalgue
To secure humanity’s food on a long term requires to close the presently broken biogeochemical phosphorus cycle by recovering phosphorus from wastewater and use it to replenish soils for agriculture. This task could be sustainably accomplished by microalgae. They accumulate polyphosphates (PolyPs), which have been demonstrated to provide excellent soil fertilizers slowly releasing the phosphate nutrient upon hydrolysis. Yet, the dynamic accumulation and mobilization of PolyPs remain poorly characterized and understood. To overcome this situation, this project proposes to develop a microfluidic device enabling us for (i) real time quantitative microscopy and modeling of subcellular dynamics of PolyPs accumulation over a wide range of time scales, and (ii) selection of favorable externally controlled conditions and high-yielding PolyPs microalgae strains. The tools and knowledge gathered in this project are anticipated to boost biotechnological applications.
Project coordination
Jacques FATTACCIOLI (Processus d'Activation Sélectif par Transfert d'Energie Uni-électronique ou Radiatif)
The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.
Partnership
PASTEUR Processus d'Activation Sélectif par Transfert d'Energie Uni-électronique ou Radiatif
IMPMC Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie
BCPLM Biologie du chloroplaste et Perception de la lumière chez les microalgues
IGBMC Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire (UM 41 - UMR 7104 - UMR_S 1258)
GMGM Génétique moléculaire, génomique et microbiologie (UMR 7156)
Help of the ANR 558,577 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project:
January 2022
- 48 Months
