Microbial dark matter defines the vast majority of microbial organisms (generally bacteria and archaea) unable to be cultivated in vitro but highly abundant in many ecosystems (oceans, soils, sediments) but having a real environmental impact and participating in many activities including many biogeochemical cycles.

The general objective of the project will be to set up an innovative strategy to access microbial dark matter and to isolate microorganisms not isolated so far, and playing a role in the biogeochemical cycle of carbon and nitrogen in connection with the degradation of lignocellulose, which is the main component of grassland soils, carried out by the phylum Acidobacteria, which is highly abundant in these ecosystems (up to 52%). Indeed, this phylum plays a role in the degradation of lignocellulose and may have a long-term role in white biotechnologies.

Contact : Ludovic Besaury, ludovic.besaury@univ-reims.fr