Healthy poultry require high quality sources of protein and carbohydrates. Modern feeds for poultry consists largely of grain and protein sources such as soybean, which can be in direct competition with human food consumption. Countries like Canada and US have recently been active in producing high protein insects for animal feeds (Enterra Feed Corporation), and received national regulatory approval for use in broiler feed and pet food, the first ingredient of its kind to do so. Similarly, the EU recently (August 2021) approved the use of processed insect protein in poultry and pig feed. To meet poultry feed market demand in a way that tackles both environmental and economic concerns, we propose a novel route to poultry feed using methane (CH4) fixing bacteria, methanotrophs. These bacteria have a proven commercial track record for single cell protein production (for fish feed), as well as naturally producing lipids.
As the world-leading methane-based protein producer, Calysta has demonstrated the use of methanotrophs in the commercial-scale production of nutritional ingredients and feed from methane. Methylococcus capsulatus is their process organism, which has already been approved in the EU for feeding to farmed fish and livestock such as pigs. Methane fermentations on a large scale would reduce the demand for land to grow food for livestock. However, more research is needed on methanotroph-based poultry feed and the workhorse of the process, methane-fixing bacteria.
In this project, we will work closely with our industrial partner (https://www.calysta.com/) to explore the suitability of methane-fixing bacteria in the form of single cell protein as a potential high quality protein source in chicken feed. Our group recently established an arsenal of genetic tools in M. capsulatus, including CRISPR/Cas9, CRISPRi, Tn5 transposon, which will allow us to investigate and improve the methane fixation rate in M. capsulatus and manipulate the biomass composition of bacteria to enhance their functionality as an ingredient of chicken feed. This 4-year PhD project will be hosted in Nottingham BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre (https://sbrc-nottingham.ac.uk/). The study will allow for training in a unique multidisciplinary environment, incorporating gas fermentation, synthetic biology, microbial physiology, metabolic engineering and nutritional sciences.
Applicants should have (or expected ) at least a 2.1 degree or equivalent in Biochemistry; Bioengineering; Biology; Biotechnology; Life Sciences or other relevant subjects. A relevant Master's degree and/or research experience will be an advantage. The student appointed will participate in training opportunities provided by the BBSRC DTP, home School’s and Researcher Academy, as well as a 3-6 months placement with Calysta, at sites in the UK and USA . Funding covers both the fees and maintenance for 4 years for UK/International students. Those whose first language is not English will require IELTS 6.5 (minimum 6.0 in each element). Informal inquiries are welcome and should be sent to Dr Zhang: [Email Address Removed]
Please submit your application via our web https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/bbdtp/apply/apply-online.aspx
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