DFG Priority Programs

Spokeperson: Professor Johannes Gescher

Duration: since 2025

We pursue with this project the evidence-based hypothesis that productive biofilm systems will be key for future sustainable bioengineering and bio-based production.

In biofilms, microorganisms are typically attached to a surface and occur in high cell density. Also, they are more resilient to growth inhibiting factors which is problematic in the medical context but can be of advantage considering process robustness in biotechnological applications. Although most potential microbial biocatalysts on Earth grow in the form of biofilms and although they can be established in high cell density and can be rather robust life forms, we still operate in biotechnology mainly with planktonic micro-organisms in stirred tank reactor systems. This is also surprising as biofilms have proven in the past that they can be (I) more productive, (II) have higher resilience, and (III) allow easier downstream processing compared to planktonic systems.

Subproject at TUHH:

• 2,3-Butandiol Produktion mit Hilfe von Biofilmenclustern an magnetischen Partikeln. — seit 2025

  Applicant: Johannes Gescher, Karin Jacobs, Rainer Udo Meckenstock

• Mikrobielle Biofilme wandeln Kunststoffe in wertvolle chemische Verbindungen um [BIOCYCLING] — seit 2025

  Applicant: Andreas Liese, Wolfgang Streit

• Streptomyces BioFilme: Biosynthese, Zusammensetzung und ihr Potenzial als Produktionssysteme in tubulären Bioreaktoren (StrepBio2Films) — seit 2025

  Applicant: Anna-Lena Heins, Natalia Tschowri

  Origin: DFG GEPRIS