Analysis of the biochemical properties, biological activity and biotechnological potential of siderophores and biosurfactants produced by Antarctic psychrotolerant bacteria

The main aim of this project is to perform complex analyses of siderophores, surfactants and cold-active bacteria producing those secondary metabolites in course of revealing their biological activities, ecological role and biotechnological potential. The detailed objectives of the presented research proposal are as follows: (i) identification and analysis of genetic modules responsible for the synthesis of siderophores and biosurfactants by cold-active bacteria; (ii) identification and biochemical analysis of novel, siderophores and surfactants (with unrevealed activities) produced by psychrotolerant bacteria; (iii) determination of the potential role of identified secondary metabolites in biology and adaptation of analyzed psychrotolerant strains; (iv) revealing the ecological role of siderophores, surfactants and cold-active bacteria producing those secondary metabolites, i.e. their influence on both abiotic (participation in biogeochemical processes) and biotic (influence on co-residing organisms, including bacteria, fungi and plants) components of the ecosystems; (v) revealing the biotechnological potential of siderophores, surfactants and cold-active bacteria producing those secondary metabolites as novel bioremediation or antimicrobial agents and plant- or bacteria-promoting factors.