1. Technologies for production of biofuels
IMBM has a well established research platform in the field of biofuels research, funded by the NRF, PlantBio and several industrial partners. We are interested in the enzymology of lignocellulose degradation, and are involved in the discovery, expression and characterization of lignocellulosic degrading enzymes, identified using metagenomic and high throughput screening methods. We are also involved in understanding the physiological responses of ethanologenic microorganisms to solvent and inhibitors, and employ proteomic and transcriptomic technologies to address this.
2. Molecular ecology of freshwater lake systems
In collaboration with researchers from Norway, Ethiopia, Spain and Kenya, we are studying the diversity of culturable and unculturable bacteria in a variety of lakes, including the high salt, high pH Rift Valley lakes of eastern Africa and other African lakes.
3. Characterization of actinomycetes in Western Cape Fynbos
Cape fynbos biome is internationally acknowledged as one of the biodiversity ‘hotspots’ of the world. This research programme focuses on the diversity of the terrestrial actinomycetes in this unique and specialised environment. The diversity of these organisms will be determined by using conventional isolation methods together with modern molecular technologies.
4. Characterization of psychrotrophic microbial communities in Antarctic desert soils
Antarctic desert soils are rich sources of novel cold active microorganisms. IMBM research, in collaboration with other scientists from universities in New Zealand and Hong Kong, aims to investigate the phylogenetic and culturable diversity of groups of industrially important microorganisms (including actinomycetes and cyanobacteria). Other aspects of this program include studies of gene expression and of key nutrient cycling processes in specialized Antarctic habitats.
5. Molecular ecology of the Namib Desert
In collaboration with Dr Chris Mckay from NASA Ames, Dr Frank Eckardt (UCT) and Prof Steve Pointing (Hong Kong University), IMBM have recently begun a research program at the Gobabeb Desert Research Station in Namibia. The Namib desert is an excellent model system for hot desert biology, particularly at Gobabeb where three ecosystems meet. We aim to investigate the phylogenetic and culturable diversity in these ecosystems as a basis for environmental conservation, genetic resource quantification and for identifying the impacts of climate change.
6. Metagenomic mining and characterization of novel extremophilic enzymes
Metagenomic methods are employed to identify new enzymes from a variety of environmental sources. This involves the preparation and screening of large-insert libraries, sub-cloning and expression of selected genes, and detailed structure-function studies on candidate proteins.
7. Plant-associated bacteria as tools for crop improvement
This research program involves a phylogenetic survey of rhizospheric and endophytic microbial populations associated with important South African crop species. Researchers are attempting the culturing of target species, and the development of isolates for constitutive expression of plant-growth promoters. Cultured isolates will also be screened for potentially valuable genes and enzymes.
8. Assembly and annotation of novel cultured and uncultured microbial genomes
Through the use of modern high throughput sequencing and bioinformatic tools, IMBM aim to provide a theoretical and testable basis for microbial “unculturability”, which would drive the conditions for microbial enrichment cultures. In addition, we are interested in the sequencing of novel microbial isolates, and in collaboration with Prof Alan Christoffels of the SA National Bioinformatics Institute, we are involved in the ongoing sequencing, assembly and annotation of several genomes.
9. Structure-function studies with nitrile hydratases and amidases
In collaboration with scientists from UCT, CPUT, UWC and University of Bath, we aim to use mutagenesis to modify the active sites of several enzymes implicated in the degradation of nitriles. One of our objectives is to introduce enantioselectivity into nitrile hydratases using enzyme evolution methods.
10. Biology of extremophilic phage
This project is designed to investigate the more basic and fundamental aspects of phage diversity in extreme environments, particularly in halo-alkaline samples. This will involve the isolation and functional and genetic characterization of the phages.
11. Engineering bacterial magnetic particles
IMBM aim to clone and coordinately express metal uptake genes and the “magnetosome island” genes which together dri
