AIBN Seminar Series: Drafting a molecular MAP for biological carbon recycling

The AIBN Seminar Committee advises that Professor Anthony Ryan has had to cancel his presentation due to health concerns and will no longer be able to present his seminar as advertised. We wish Professor Ryan a speedy recovery and will invite him to speak at a later date, as we know there was great interest in his presentation.

We would like to thank Dr Esteban Marcellin who has agreed to present the seminar this afternoon on drafting a molecular MAP for biological carbon recycling.

Date: Thursday, 12 August 

Time: 4 - 5pm

Venue: Online Via Zoom

Click here to access the free seminar.

Abstract

We aim to develop platforms that recycle waste-carbon feedstocks to valuable products (e.g. carbon monoxide/ carbon dioxide to fuels/ chemicals). Utilizing a systems biology approach, we aim to understand and overcome fundamental energy and metabolic limitations in gas-fermenting microbes. Gas fermentation recently had its first industrial-scale process implemented by LanzaTech, which employs an ancient carbon-assimilation pathway in a simple, robust, and efficient manner. By making use of the gas fermentation facilities at AIBN, we are able to quantify the metabolism of a model-acetogen, Clostridium autoethanogenum, using modelling and rational engineering of the system. Using modelling methods, coupled with ‘omics data (proteomics and metabolomics) we have recently expanded the understanding the bioprocess as well as investigated co-uptake of CO and CO2. Our future objectives focus on developing novel modelling tools and methods for phenomic investigation that facilitate industrially relevant improvements to the biological system.

Presenter: Dr Esteban Marcellin, Group Leader, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland
After completing his B. Chem. Eng in Mexico and after working for a polymer company, Dr Marcellin moved to Australia to obtain his PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Queensland. After completing his PhD in 2010, Dr Marcellin has developed systems Biology platforms for Dow, Dow AgroSciences, Zoetis, Pfizer Animal Healthcare, Lanzatech and Novozymes. Dr Marcellin is currently a group Leader at AIBN and the node leader of the Queensland Node of Metabolomics Australia, an NCRIS funded bioplatform aiming at providing world class systems Biology for Australia.