Microbial Cycling of Volatile Organic Compounds: Biogeochemistry to Biotechnology

Microbial Cycling of Volatile Organic Compounds: Biogeochemistry to Biotechnology

07-08 Feb 22, Norwich, Abstract deadline: 4 Oct 21

Microbes are the organisms primarily responsible for degrading, modifying and producing Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs), which are:

  • Responsible for altering the climate and atmosphere
  • Sources of energy, carbon, nitrogen and sulfur
  • Signalling molecules
  • Stress protectants
  • Biomarkers
  • Valuable for biotechnology

This meeting will address recent advances in the field of BVOC microbiology, e.g. their roles in global biogeochemical cycles, the discovery of new degradation pathways, the role of BVOCs in inter- and intra-species signalling, new techniques to explore the volatile metabolome and synthetic biology approaches to create novel BVOC biosynthetic pathways.

BVOCs to be discussed include terpenes, isoprene, methylated amines, dimethylsulfide, gaseous alkanes, alkenes, aromatics, halogenated methanes, acetaldehyde, acetone, propanol, methanol and related gases, such as carbon monoxide, which can react with VOCs to create ozone pollution. All of these volatiles have biogeochemical cycles, some of which are well known, while others are almost unexplored.

Key topics:

  • Biogeochemical cycling of BVOCs
  • Mechanisms of BVOC production and consumption by microbes
  • BVOCs in sustainable biotechnological processes
  • Microbial BVOCs as signalling molecules and metabolic fingerprints

More information here.