The FEMS congress is the most eminent meeting of microbiologists in Europe and it is a great honor to be an invited speaker at this congress. This achievement shows that the scientific work of IMM is well respected and brings novel and interesting findings that are interesting to a broad society of microbiologists. The work presented at the FEMS congress involves the first discovery of bacterial laccase from the phylum acidobacteria using metagenomics. In addition, a finding of 1,200 putative laccase like genes in 2200 draft and completed genomes by custom using profile Hidden Markov Models was presented. Up to 76 % of laccase genes encoded signal peptides and many were encoded on plasmids suggesting their mobility within bacterial domain. Two of the genes were expressed and proteins purified confirming the findings. The two novel laccases showed high pH optima which is different from well-studied fungal laccases and has relevance for biotechnological applications. Presented results have been partially published in renowned journals including A” and A’.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 4298616Project had positive impact on the university education: as one excelent PhD thesis of. L. Ausec and four master thesis have been linked to this project. The PhD thesis involves three published research topics addressing diversity of prokaryotic genes for bacterial lacacses in published genomes and metagenomes, development of special tools to perform bioinformatics analysis and discovery of 1200 novel putative lacacses. It also addresses diversity of bacteria and their laccase genes in peat soils of Ljubljana marsh. The unpublished part of the PhD thesis describes the heterologous expression , purification and biochemical characterization of ThioLacc enzymes. This alkalophilic enzyme originates from Thioalkalivibri sp. and oxidizes a variety of phenolic compounds at alkaline pH and at 50oC. Thus it could potentially be interesting for future biotechnological applications. Two master thesis brought an insight into response of proteobacterial laccase genes to enrichment of peat soil by lignin and pherulic acid ( Mahnič, 2014; [COBISS.SI-ID 4418936]) and describes the influence of diazepam on bacterial community and laccase composition in wastewater bioreactors ( laboratory scale) (Žalig, 2013; [COBISS.SI-ID 4284792, collaboration with IJS) that were treated with this pharmaceutical. The third master thesis was dedicated to heterologic expression, purification and initial characterization of laccase from Geobacter metalireducens and represent the first report on laccase from an anaerob (Verce, 2013 COBISS.SI-ID 7721337). The fourth MSc thesis is in preparation ( experimental part completed) and it includes experiments of screening the bog soil metagenomics library, the discovery of a putative laccase gene form phylum Acidobacteria, its heterologous expression in E. coli and initial conformation of laccase activity associated with the new enzyme. This is also the first laccase studied in this very interesting phylum (Mesojednik , in prep.). The achievement indicates the exceptional social impact on university education in Slovenia.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
The project leader Prof. Dr Ines Mandić Mulec was the chair of the scientific and also of the organizing committee of the 12th Symposium on Bacterial Genetics and Ecology (BAGECO-12) which took place in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 9-13 June 2013 and attracted 300 participants from 50 different countries. BAGECO meetings are held biannually and have developed into one of the most important international conferences on bacterial ecology. A major motivation of the BAGECO meetings is to open new conceptual avenues leading to better understanding of the ecology and evolution of bacteria. The symposium was a success, opened the doors for collaborations with the best research groups in the world and signifies the international scientific impact of the project leader. Ausec L. presented a talk on bacterial laccases, in addition we presented results of the project in the form of three posters.
B.02 Presiding over the programming board of a conference
COBISS.SI-ID: 4259448The project leader prof. Ines Mandic Mulec was a partner in the six million FP7 EU project Metaexplore, which connected 17 European research institutions and one Argentinian University. The main task of the IMM group was to study diversity of bacterial laccases in soils and other environments, however due to the additional ARRS financing of this project we were able to collaborate and participate in many more tasks of FP7 project that were initially assigned to us and were thus presented as an example of best collaborative practice. The FP7 has already obtained a positive evaluation of the final report to which we significantly contributed. The link between this and the EU project was extremely important as it allowed us to form strong links with many excellent groups in EU in the field of metagenomics ( University of Groningen, University of Copenhagen, University of Lyon, University of Bielefeld) and with those who have strong expertise on enzymes ( VTT- Finland, University of v Insubria).This will increase the final benefits and social contribution of this project. In addition to being a partner in FP7 Metaexplore and in this project IMM also lead ARRS project Ecology of social interactions of B. subtilis and several smaller and targeted industrial project. Altogether this signifies that the project leader has through her leadership responsibilities provided a socially positive impact on our society .
D.01 Chairing over/coordinating (international and national) projects
COBISS.SI-ID: 4299896