Biocontrol of foaming in activated sludge plants with bacteriophages. Activated sludge systems are the most widely used processes for treating wastewater in Australia. Yet most eventually suffer from episodes of bulking and foaming, where high levels of biosolids leave the plant with the treated waste, representing serious pollution hazards. Attempts to solve these problems have met with limited success.The highly novel biocontrol method proposed here will provide a specific, environmentally fri ....Biocontrol of foaming in activated sludge plants with bacteriophages. Activated sludge systems are the most widely used processes for treating wastewater in Australia. Yet most eventually suffer from episodes of bulking and foaming, where high levels of biosolids leave the plant with the treated waste, representing serious pollution hazards. Attempts to solve these problems have met with limited success.The highly novel biocontrol method proposed here will provide a specific, environmentally friendly and safe method to protect our rivers, streams and oceans form the harmful consequences of these problemsRead moreRead less
Environmental genomics and novel bioactives from microbial communities on living marine surfaces. This project has three linked benefits to Australia. One, it is the first study to use environmental genomics analysis in an Australian marine ecosystem, thus bringing into the Australian scientific community the cutting edge technology for studying diverse microbial communities. Two, by using this technology we will be able to investigate Australian marine biodiversity to an unprecedented extent. ....Environmental genomics and novel bioactives from microbial communities on living marine surfaces. This project has three linked benefits to Australia. One, it is the first study to use environmental genomics analysis in an Australian marine ecosystem, thus bringing into the Australian scientific community the cutting edge technology for studying diverse microbial communities. Two, by using this technology we will be able to investigate Australian marine biodiversity to an unprecedented extent. Three, this newly revealed diversity will then be mined for novel bioactives for use in pharmaceutical and other human health applications. Read moreRead less
Microbial Ecology and Control of Foaming in Anaerobic Digesters. One of the world's most common treatments of biosolids (product of wastewater treatment), anaerobic digestion often suffers from accumulation of biological foam. This foam hinders treatment, personnel health and safety, legal requirements for environmental protection are jeopardised and attempts to control digester foaming are costly. There is a clear lack of knowledge about the organisms involved and causes, therefore no informe ....Microbial Ecology and Control of Foaming in Anaerobic Digesters. One of the world's most common treatments of biosolids (product of wastewater treatment), anaerobic digestion often suffers from accumulation of biological foam. This foam hinders treatment, personnel health and safety, legal requirements for environmental protection are jeopardised and attempts to control digester foaming are costly. There is a clear lack of knowledge about the organisms involved and causes, therefore no informed solutions exist. Molecular DNA techniques, 16SrDNA sequencing and DGGE, will assist in deciphering causes and organisms involved. Research outcomes will present environmental, legal and economical acceptable control strategies for digester foaming to the waste management and water industries.Read moreRead less
Managing acid mine drainage in northern Australia using microbial mats. One of the most difficult environmental issues for the mining industry is acid mine drainage (AMD) that can lead to significant environmental damage. This project aims to identify microbes and characterise their roles in AMD formation in north Australia. We will use our new knowledge to design and trial microbial mats for the treatment of AMD. A successful AMD microbial treatment technology will minimise the risk of acid run ....Managing acid mine drainage in northern Australia using microbial mats. One of the most difficult environmental issues for the mining industry is acid mine drainage (AMD) that can lead to significant environmental damage. This project aims to identify microbes and characterise their roles in AMD formation in north Australia. We will use our new knowledge to design and trial microbial mats for the treatment of AMD. A successful AMD microbial treatment technology will minimise the risk of acid runoff and metal seepage into rivers and through groundwater. AMD treatment technology we develop in the tropics where we experience the extremes of dry and wet seasons will require only minor modification to operate in temperate climates however the reverse is not true. Read moreRead less
Microbiology of Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digester (ATAD) Systems for Biosolids Disposal in Wastewater Treatment Systems. The disposal of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants is expensive and troublesome. ATAD systems utilise microbes and are claimed to overcome many of the problems of more conventional disposal methods. Two have been installed in plants in central Victoria. However, virtually nothing is known about their microbiology. The study will determine which microbial popula ....Microbiology of Autothermal Thermophilic Aerobic Digester (ATAD) Systems for Biosolids Disposal in Wastewater Treatment Systems. The disposal of biosolids from wastewater treatment plants is expensive and troublesome. ATAD systems utilise microbes and are claimed to overcome many of the problems of more conventional disposal methods. Two have been installed in plants in central Victoria. However, virtually nothing is known about their microbiology. The study will determine which microbial populations are present and responsible for biosolids digestion, how these populations might change with changing operational conditions, and whether these changes in populations relate to production of odors. This information will enable these digesters to be better managed and operated.Read moreRead less
Coastal monitoring using metal resistant microbes. We will develop an early warning, rapid biological assessment (RBA) for sediment toxicity that can be used alongside chemical tests to detect sub-chronic changes in the environment. The assessment will be validated by extensive testing of impacted sediment. We will show how the RBA fits into existing decision trees defined by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000 Guidelines. The biological tests result ....Coastal monitoring using metal resistant microbes. We will develop an early warning, rapid biological assessment (RBA) for sediment toxicity that can be used alongside chemical tests to detect sub-chronic changes in the environment. The assessment will be validated by extensive testing of impacted sediment. We will show how the RBA fits into existing decision trees defined by the Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) 2000 Guidelines. The biological tests resulting from this project will be as rapid and straightforward as existing chemical tests, which will facilitate industry acceptance. The project has strong industry involvement from mining companies, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and traditional owners. These partners will guide this project and facilitate communication to the wider industry to aid acceptance and uptake.Read moreRead less
Investigating the Ability of Honey to Inhibit Bacterial Biofilms Found in Chronic Wounds. Chronic (non-healing) wounds are a serious health problem in Australia. One quarter of our institutionalized aged population have pressure ulcers. The difficulty in treating these wounds is that most contain communities of bacteria, called biofilms, that are not killed by conventional antibiotics. Special honeys from Australia and NZ that are effective in chronic wound treatment can eradicate these biofilms ....Investigating the Ability of Honey to Inhibit Bacterial Biofilms Found in Chronic Wounds. Chronic (non-healing) wounds are a serious health problem in Australia. One quarter of our institutionalized aged population have pressure ulcers. The difficulty in treating these wounds is that most contain communities of bacteria, called biofilms, that are not killed by conventional antibiotics. Special honeys from Australia and NZ that are effective in chronic wound treatment can eradicate these biofilms. This project will identify the components in honey that do this and determine how they do it, to provide a more effective chronic wound treatment. It will decrease the prevalence of these wounds in Australia and the associated personal trauma and health costs.Read moreRead less
Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a ....Improved biosecurity through the engineering of microbial ecosystems. This project aims to provide data and understanding that will help develop predictive models for changes in the distribution of drug-resistant bacteria, and surveillance and response programs for key biosecurity threats. Microorganisms, including commensals and pathogens, can live in complex communities in a range of environments including animal hosts. It is now known that these communities (known as microbiomes) can exert a profound effect on animal health. This project seeks to understand where antimicrobial resistance genes reside in pig gut microbiotia and how they move between members of this complex microbial community, and to provide information on how probiotics may be used to reduce dependence on antibiotics.Read moreRead less
Developing and testing a novel biological reduction cell to remediate heavy metal and acid-containing industrial and mine leachates. Echo Remediation Ltd. has a new reduction cell that uses sulfur and bacteria to remove heavy metals and acidity from mine leachates, but development is now required to make it viable. The project aims to optimise the process using molecular approaches to study the effects of operating conditions on the bacterial communities. As part of the investigation, active iro ....Developing and testing a novel biological reduction cell to remediate heavy metal and acid-containing industrial and mine leachates. Echo Remediation Ltd. has a new reduction cell that uses sulfur and bacteria to remove heavy metals and acidity from mine leachates, but development is now required to make it viable. The project aims to optimise the process using molecular approaches to study the effects of operating conditions on the bacterial communities. As part of the investigation, active iron reducers will be selected and introduced to the cell (in conjunction with chemical amendments) and their colonization monitored. The new technology once developed has the potential to be used at mine sites in Australia and overseas and its employment offers a sustainable, biological "green" approach to mine waste remediation.Read moreRead less
Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occu ....Flipping the mattress: infinite polyurethane recycling by synthetic biology. Australia is covered in billions of tonnes of plastic and yet <10% is recycled today. Polyurethane (PU) is ubiquitous in our everyday lives, from lacquer coatings to elastane clothing to durable foam padding in car seats, cushions and mattresses. Currently, there are few avenues for PU recycling and much ends up in landfill e.g., a single mattress produces 15-20kg of PU foam waste. Luckily, biodegradation of PU can occur naturally via various microbial means and from insects, like Galleria mellonella larvae. The overall aim of this research project is to understand plastic biodegradation and translate nature’s solutions into flexible and efficient synthetic enzyme technologies that can sustainably recycle commonly used PU foams. Read moreRead less