Iodobacter

To grow microorganisms such as acteria, yeast, or fungi, several different arameters must be optimized, monitored and controlled. Therefore, a bioreactor with several sensors, pumps, and aeration management is required. The microorganisms are grown under axenic (only one organism is present) conditions to achieve high reproducibility. The microorganisms grow in the dark, using a carbon source such as glucose, depending on their needs. 

Together with specialists from the University of Santiago, Chile we isolated several microorganisms. The expedition took place on a glacier located close to Zermatt, Switzerland, and the goal of the studyas to discover microorganisms that grow in such an environment in spite of the harsh conditions. Due to the constant shrinking of glaciers over the past few decades, microbes that were previously hidden below a permanent layer of ice have now become accessible. Researchers from Mibelle Biochemistry took samples of extremophile bacteria from under the glacier, which was  hidden below the ice for hundreds of years. Samples were then analyzed for their microbial content, and over 80 microbial strains were isolated. Whole-genome sequencing of an isolated strain led to the identification of Iodobacter ssp., which is a psychrotolerant, rod-shaped Gram-negative bacterium. Iodobacter  produces violet pigments and exopolysaccharides. Greek ioeides refers to the violet color. Iodobacter is psychrotolerant, meaning it can tolerate and grow at temperatures close to freezing. We cultivate it in a non-violet form. For biomass production in a bioreactor, extensive development of growth conditions and media composition was necessary.