Training Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius for C1 assimilation

Summary

In my PhD, I explored how we could “train” thermophilic bacteria—microbes that thrive at high temperatures—to live on simple one-carbon compounds like formate or methanol, instead of sugars. These C1 compounds can be made from CO2, offering a promising way to recycle carbon and move toward a more sustainable, circular, bio-based economy. The ultimate goal is to use these C1 compounds as renewable feedstocks to produce sustainable chemicals, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Achieving this requires a deep reprogramming of microbial metabolism, making them capable of efficiently utilizing these non-traditional carbon sources. I focused on training Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius for this transition, which could play a key role in future biotechnological processes aimed at creating sustainable chemicals and materials.