Project description:Genomic and proteomic characterization of the Aspergillus niger isolate, JSC-093350089, collected from U.S. segment surfaces of the International Space Station (ISS) is reported, along with a comparison to the experimentally established strain ATCC 1015. Whole-genome sequencing of JSC-093350089 revealed enhanced genetic variance when compared to publicly available sequences of A. niger strains. Analysis of the isolate’s proteome revealed significant differences in the molecular phenotype of JSC-093350089, including increased abundance of proteins involved in the A. niger starvation response, oxidative stress resistance, cell wall integrity and modulation, and nutrient acquisition. Together, these data reveal the existence of a distinct strain of A. niger onboard the ISS and provide insight into the molecular phenotype that is selected for by melanized fungal species inhabiting spacecraft environments.
Project description:Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) production using cellulosic biomass is a promising way for sustainable manufacturing of bioplastics. The famous bacterium, Priestia megaterium, is an ideal choice because it can utilize glucose and xylose for PHA synthesis. In the present study, we engineered the genome of P. megaterium by CRISPR-Cas9 system to enhance cellobiose utilization and PHA production. The genes encoding for β-glucosidases (Bgls) from different microbes were introduced into the P. megaterium to improve the cellobiose utilization.
