CBI Pro-Akademia

MOBILES
Monitoring and detection of biotic and abiotic pollutants (...)

Start date:2024-09-01
Completion date:2028-02-29
Project status:in progress
Topic:Bioeconomy
Scope of the project - Country:, , , , , , , ,
Aim of the project:develop an interdisciplinary framework of expertise, data, methods and tools for the monitoring, detection, and consequently mitigation of pollution from pathogens, contaminants of emerging concern and persistent and mobile chemicals

About the project

MOBILES: Monitoring and detection of biotic and abiotic pollutants by electronic, plants and microorganisms based sensors

Currently there are no portable tests or biosensors validated for air, soil or water quality control for pathogens, Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs) and Persistent Mobile Chemicals (PMCs), so such devices are much awaited by all stakeholders to ensure successful control and prevention of contamination and infections. Mobiles consortium will develop an interdisciplinary framework of expertise, and tools for monitoring, detection, and consequently mitigation of pollution from pathogens, CECs, PMCs, thus benefiting human and environmental health. Mobiles consortium will work to achieve the following objectives:

  • Develop electronic biosensors for monitoring organic chemicals (pesticides, hormones) and antimicrobial resistance bacteria and pathogens in water, soil and air;
  • Develop organism-based biosensor for detection of organic and inorganic pollution in water and soil;
  • Study environmental performance of developed organisms and devices;
  • Metagenomics analysis of organisms leaving in polluted areas in order to enable searches for diverse functionalities across multiple gene clusters
  • Perform safety tests (e.g., EFSA) to assess the impact of developed organisms on the natural environment.

Organism-based biosensor will consist on genetically modified chemiluminescent bacteria able to detect antibiotics, heavy metals, and pesticides in water; genetically modified plants that will change colour when in the soil is present arsenic; and marine diatoms that will be used to detect bioplastic degradation in marine and aquatic environments. Developed devices and organisms will be implemented by using flexible technologies, which can guarantee an easy adaptation to other biotic and abiotic pollutants. Devices and organisms, after proper validation and approval, could be used by consumers, inspection services and industry operators, as well as environmental emergency responders to monitor and detect PMCs, CECs and pathogens in water, air and soil.

As part of the MOBILES project, RIC Pro-Akademia will conduct a risk assessment of the modified organisms, as well as laboratory-scale research on the impact of MOBILES organisms on other organisms. Our research will be carried out to confirm the safety of MOBILES organisms, which will be required for their use as indicators of environmental pollution.

 

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

The experts

Łukasz Gontar

Łukasz Gontar

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Purchaser

European Commission

European Commission

Partners

Agricultural Research Organization of Israel - The Volcani Centre

Agricultural Research Organization of Israel - The Volcani Centre

Bordeaux Institute of Technology

Bordeaux Institute of Technology

Clausthal University of Technology

Clausthal University of Technology

Cyprus University of Technology

Cyprus University of Technology

Eden Tech

Eden Tech

Grant Garant

Grant Garant

Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute

Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute

mat4nrg

mat4nrg

National Institute of Agricultural Research (France)

National Institute of Agricultural Research (France)

National Research Council (Italy)

National Research Council (Italy)

National Technical University of Athens

National Technical University of Athens

Public University of Navarre

Public University of Navarre

Sapienza University of Rome

Sapienza University of Rome

University of Belgrade

University of Belgrade

University of Bordeaux

University of Bordeaux

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