The meeting of the MOBILES Project partners at the Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute (IUNG) in Puławy, Poland, marked significant progress toward one of the project's key objectives—the collection of soil samples and their metagenomic analysis.
The project focuses not only on developing innovative biosensors for monitoring organic pollutants and antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in various environments but also on conducting metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analyses of microorganisms in contaminated areas across Europe. These analyses will aid in sequencing and bioinformatics processing of genetic data, which will be stored in a dedicated genetic database in Spain at the University of Navarra (UPNA).
The meeting brought together key project members, including Angelo Ferraro (NTUA - The National Technical University of Athens, project coordinator), Anna Marzec-Grządziel (IUNG - Institute of Soil Science and Plant Cultivation – State Research Institute), Giuseppe Puglia (CNR-ISAFOM), Francisco Falcone (UPNA - Public University of Navarre), and José Escola (UPNA - Public University of Navarre). Discussions focused on critical aspects of project implementation, particularly the establishment of a robust database infrastructure, the methodology for soil sample collection across European sites, and protocols for DNA and RNA extraction to facilitate sequencing analysis.
Anna Marzec-Grządziel presented detailed procedures for soil sample collection, emphasizing that sampling will take place twice a year—once in spring and once in autumn. Each sample will undergo chemical analysis to identify selected contaminants, ensuring comprehensive environmental monitoring. Giuseppe Puglia outlined the expected data outputs, which will include DNA sequences, RNA sequences, and chemical composition data from the soil samples. These datasets will play a crucial role in understanding the genetic diversity of microorganisms in contaminated environments.
Further discussions, led by Francisco Falcone and José Javier Astrain Escola, explored the potential database architecture needed to store and manage the diverse data generated within the project. The database will serve as an essential tool for integrating and analysing environmental data, facilitating collaboration among project partners, and supporting the validation of biosensors.
