New wheels from the oldest wheel: mining propulsive insight from the optimised evolution of microbia
Abstract
Project Summary:Technical Description:This project uses techniques in synthetic and evolutionary biology to mine insight from microb,ial propulsion and its adaptation across history. We use our unique expertise in the stators which drive the propellers which make m,ost bacteria swim to calculate how these motors looked in the ancient past, and how they have evolved. We then synthesise these anci,ent motor parts in the lab and genetically engineer them into modern strains to see how they affect microbial swimming. From there,,we then evolve them in the laboratory further to optimise their swimming and create entirely new microbial motors that power bacteri,al swimming. In doing this we learn how biology innovates function as well as what constrains the propulsion of micron sized immerse,d swimmers, and how far we can push this into new areas.Relevance to ONR and Naval S&T Strategic Plan:-Marine propulsion is inherent,ly important to the Navy and Marine Corps.-This motor is unique in that it self-assembles, can dynamically rearrange its structure w,hile operating, is ultrasensitive across a large operating range, and can rotate much faster than any man-made nanotechnology.-We fo,cus on the engine that drives this motor, the stators and engineering motors that are powered by new power sources.-We ultimately de,velop new micropropulsion systems, and also simultaneously understand microbial adaptation in the face of increasing climate change,and large scale selection pressure on bacteria.-This project aligns with the "Hedging Against Uncertainty" from the Naval S&T Plan.,We mine insight from biotechnology, and prepare for new methods of propulsion and micropropulsion in the face of changing climate an,d energy availability. This aligns with the strategic goal to: Maximize Systems Performance via Adaptation to the Environment.-This,further aligns with Scalable and Robust Distributed Collaboration, since examining propulsion systems built in bacteria are inherent,ly scalable through industrial processes in synthetic biology; that is, technological infrastructure already exists to grow megalitr,es of culture media to produce industrial quantities of custom motors powered by the novel motors we discover in this project.US Col,laborators: NONEDesired Outcomes: Research will be conducted with the aim of publication in high impact peer-reviewed journals and p,resentation at national and international conferences. We will provide accessibility through online scientific and social platforms,(e.g. ResearchGate, ReadCube, Twitter, bioRxiv), and disseminate research outcomes via Australian broadcast media.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 06, 2022
- Source ID
- N629092212051
Entities
People
- Matthew Baker
Organizations
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy
- University of New South Wales