“Diversity and technological potential of Archaea from Bulgarian hot springs”
Program
BG09 of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area, the measure “draft interinstitutional cooperation ‘
Programme Operator:
Ministry of Education and Science
Beneficiary State Partner:
Institute of Microbiology “Stefan Angelov”, BAS, Sofia, Bulgaria
Donor State Partner:
Prof. Nils-Kare Birkeland
Faculty of Biology with Geobiologiya Center, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
Program number:
BG D03
Project Number:
100
Date of approval:
05/06/2015
Date of funding:
03/09/2015
Date of completion:
09/30/2016
Total grant:
€ 132348.00
Funding from EEA Grants:
€ 119113.00
Aim of the project:
By the current project archaeal diversity in Bulgarian hot springs will be elucidate and new extremophilic archaea offering new biotechnological opportunities will be isolated. Archaea are latest described kingdom of life, information for which is scarce due to their difficult cultivation. The specific role of the project is limited to transfer of the experience of Norwegian scientists in cultivation and characterization of archaea, their mechanisms for high temperature adaptation, genomics and biotechnological potential.
The expected result from the project implementation is the team of Bulgarian and Norwegian scientists to assist European researchers in their efforts to reveal the fundamental, environmental and biotechnological importance of Archaea and to contribute the development of new and promising research field in the beneficiary Bulgarian organization. The planned six months work of a young Bulgarian scientist at the Norwegian lab, who then pass on the knowledge to Bulgarian colleagues is consistent with the Program line for the increase of scientific exchange and increase the expertise and the importance of research of Bulgarian scientists. Identification of new archaeal enzymes and polysaccharides will contribute to the development of new materials and processes with genetic sources of microorganisms isolated from Bulgarian niches.
Coordinator of the project: Assoc. Prof. DSc Margarita Kambourova, Head of Laboratory “Extremophilic bacteria”, Institute of Microbiology “Stefan Angelov”, BAS.
Participants in the project from Bulgarian side:
Assis. Prof. Margarita Stoilova- Disheva
Assis. Prof. Dimitrina Lyutskanova
Assis. Prof. Nadya Radchenkova
Assis. Prof. Ivanka Boyadzhieva
Assist. Prof. Spassen Vassilev
PhD student Nicoleta Boteva
Project Annotation
Project goals:
The project goal is to get knowledge on the inhabitants of the hot springs in Bulgaria belonging to the most recently discovered and still unknown realm of life – Archaea.
The specific role of the project is limited to transfer of the experience of Norwegian scientists in cultivation and characterization of Archaea, their mechanisms for high temperature adaptation, genomics and biotechnological potential.
Terms for project performance:
The total period of the project is 16 months. The project was approved on 6.5.2015, it was funded on 03.09.2015, the ending date – 30.09.2016
Expected results:
– The project implementation will contribute the team of Bulgarian and Norwegian scientists to assist European researchers in their efforts to reveal the fundamental, environmental and biotechnological importance of Archaea.
– The project will contribute the development of new and promising research field at the Institute of Microbiology, Academy of Sciences, which will strengthen its leading role in the country in the area of investigation of extremophilic microorganisms.
– The planned six months working visit of young Bulgarian scientist at the Norwegian laboratory is in agreement with EEA program priorities for enhancing scientific exchange, the expertise and the importance of research on Bulgarian scientists.
– Identification of novel archaeal enzymes and polysaccharides will contribute to the development of biotechnology based on new materials and processes with genetic sources from microorganisms isolated from Bulgarian hot springs.
Team:
Beneficiary Partner – Institute of Microbiology, BAS
Donor Partner – Faculty of Biology and Centre for Geobiology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway, Professor. Nils-Kare Birkeland
Management:
Project leader – Associated Professor, DSc Margarita Kambourova
Director of the Institute of Microbiology, BAS – Corr. Memb. DSc Hristo Naydenski
Chief Accounter Antoaneta Tsareva
Members of the project team:
Associate Professor DSc Margarita Kambourova
Chief Assistant Dr. Nadia Radchenkova
Chief Assistant Prof. Ivanka Boyadjieva
Chief Assistant Dr. Margarita Stoilova-Disheva
Chief Assistant Dr. Dimitrina Lyutskanova
Assistant Spassen Vassilev
PhD student Nicoletta Boteva
Activities:
1: Project Management
2: Experimental work
3: Exchanging visits
4: Information and Publicity
5. Organization on an International Conference
Results and Publicity
Contacts
Project leader: Assoc. Prof. DSc Margarita Kambourova
Tel.:+3592 9793176
Е-mail: margikam@microbio.bas.bg
Director of IMicB, BAS: Corr. Member Hristo Najdenski
Tel.:+3592 8732754
Е-mail: hnajdenski@abv.bg