New concepts for bioprocess development.

Efficient cultivation processes for microorganisms based on well characterised cellular physiology, and molecular knowledge are mostly limited to a few frequently used and well-characterized strains like e.g. E.coli or bakers yeast. However, the vast natural diversity of microbes offers many more so far undiscovered opportunities for bio-based production processes than the few well-established standard organisms. Many microorganisms show a beneficial and often essential interaction with eukaryotic hosts. Their mode of interaction ad planta includes, for example, i) antagonism against pathogens, ii) induction of resistance by diverse signalling compounds, iii) growth promotion, and iv) enhancement of stress tolerance, and is regulated by two component systems and/or quorum sensing. Although in many studies successful biotechnological applications have been described, the implementation of this knowledge in industrial biotechnology is still in its infancy. Reasons are a difficult scale-up for production processes, process control, and reliability problems with formulations of bacteria and fungi and their bioactive substances. All these challenges are usually solved by time-consuming individual experimental approaches. There is no general approach based on a global view on the cell linking the individual physiological capabilities of the microbes and their growth behaviour. On the other hand new genomes have been recently sequenced and annotated and provide for the first time complete genomic information for bioprocess development. The focus of this project is on optimizing strains and fermentation processes, molecular understanding of the microorganisms including the induction of secondary metabolism and natural defense systems and the nutrition uptake and metabolization of the organism.