ULIXES

1. ULIXES Unravelling and exploiting Mediterranean Sea microbial diversity and ecology for Xenobiotics’ and pollutants’ clean up Partner 2: “Université de Tunis El Manar” UTUN Research activities in ULIXES

2. Staff from UTUN involved in ULIXES research activities Partner coordinator: Ameur CHERIF Permanent staff: Atef JAOUANI Imene OUZARI Lamia GARGOURI Abdellatif Boudabous PhD students : AmelGUESMI Darine ELHIDRI Eya DHRIF Mouna MAHJOUBI Asma SOUSSI Imene JAOUANI Khaled MANSRI Postdocs: Afef NAJJARI Ahelem JOUINI Université de Tunis El Manar Faculté des Sciences de Tunis Laboratoire Microorganismes et Biomolécules Actives

3. Implication of UTUN staff in ULIXES WPs WP4: Collections of microorganismes and metabolites (36) WP3: Microbial diversity exploration in the MedSea sites (19) WP9: Results dissemination and exploitation (10) WP2: Sampling and characterization of the MedSea sites (6) WP8: Product/processes testing and field bioremediation (4)

4. UTUN contribution in WP2 :Sampling and characterization of the Mediterranean Sea sites • Objectives of WP2: • Common procedures for sampling and for sample exchange • Collection and characterization of samples from polluted sites • Preparation and organization of the three cruises • Geochemical characterization of the target sites • Tasks in WP2: • Task 2.1: sampling of the coastal sites: Two Tunisian sites, the Bizerte lagoon including the STIR refinery and its harbor, and the SolimanSebkha • Task 2.2: Cruise organization for open and deep sea sampling (leaded by IAMC) • Deliverables: D2.1 (M20) and D2.2 (M30)

5. UTUN contribution in WP2 : Sampling and characterization of the MedSea sites The Bizerte lagoon including the STIR refinery and its harbor Italy Mediterranean Sea Sicily Tunisia STIR refinery Hydrocarbon pollution Sea Tunisia

6. UTUN contribution in WP2 : Sampling and characterization of the MedSea sites The Sebkha of Soliman Wastewater treatment plant Oued el Bay Town of Solima n Sebkha of Soli ma n Mediterranean Sea Pollutants from agriculture and industrial activities

7. UTUN contribution in WP3 :Microbial diversity exploration in the Mediterranean Sea sites • Objectives (and tasks) of WP3: • Detailed description of the microbial diversity related to the polluted sites (D3.1, M15) • - Water and core sediments • - PCR-based fingerprinting techniques and clone libraries • - Microarray-based methods • Microbial diversity map and establishment of a complete database of the microorganisms (MO) (D.3.4, M36) • - Comparison of different microniches • - Evaluation of the quantitative importance of specific MO • - Identification of the active microbiota •  Development of microchip detection system (D3.3, M30)

8. UTUN contribution in WP4 (191MM): Establishment of collections of microbial isolates and metabolites (UTUN leaded) • Objective of WP4: From WP2 and WP3 results: • Isolation of bacterial culture with metabolic features of potential application in bioremediation • - Use of selective rich media and mineral media supplemented with pollutants (hydrocarbons, oil, diesel, PCB…) • - Isolates identification and characterization of their physiology and degrading activities • - Screening for specific activities upon subculture enrichments • Tasks in WP4: • Collection 1: Hydrocarbon degrading microbes (UTUN, D4.1, M24) • Three sub-collections (D4.5, D4.6 and D4.7, M26) • Collection 2: Halogenated compounds degrading microbes (UMIL, D4.2, M24) • Collection 3: Biopalladiumnanoparticles precipitating prok(UGENT, D4.3, M24) • Collection 4: Metal biostabilizing microorganisms (ETS, D4.4, M24)

9. UTUN contribution in WP8 :Testing new product/processes by pilot bioremediation treatments in the field • Objectives of WP8: • Simulate bioremediation models for in situ field studies • Evaluation of the effectiveness of the ULIXES approach: bioremediation up to the field scale? • Tasks in WP8, Treatments: • Task 8.1. site 1, El-Max district, Alexandria, Egypt (D8.1, M36) • Task 8.2. site 2, the Elefsina Gulf, Attika, Aegean Sea, Greece(D8.2, M36) • Task 8.3. site 10, the Aqaba Gulf, Red Sea, Jordan(D8.3, M36) • Task 8.4. site 12, shipwreck of the oil tanker Haven, Genoa Gulf, Italy(D8.4, M36)

10. UTUN contribution in WP9 : • Result dissemination and exploitation (UTUN leaded) • Objective of WP9: • Evaluation of ULIXES fundamental and applied research results • Efficient dissemination of the results (scientific, industrials and stakeholders) • Results exploitation for potential field applications in the MedSea • Tasks in WP9: • Evaluation of the scientific value of the results and their potential for applications • Dissemination action for the project valorization • Preparation of a dissemination plan (D9.2, M6)

11. Partner 2: “Université de Tunis El Manar” WP4 Establishment of prokaryote collections, and WP9 ULIXES dissemination and exploitation strategies

12. UTUN contribution in WP4 (191MM): Establishment of collections of microbial isolates and metabolites (UTUN leaded) • Objective of WP4: From WP2 and WP3 results: • Isolation of bacterial culture with metabolic features of potential application in bioremediation • - Use of selective rich media and mineral media supplemented with pollutants (hydrocarbons, oil, diesel, PCB…) • - Isolates identification and characterization of their physiology and degrading activities • - Screening for specific activities upon subculture enrichments • Tasks in WP4: • Collection 1: Hydrocarbon degrading microbes (UTUN, D4.1, M24) • Three sub-collections (D4.5, D4.6 and D4.7, M26) • Collection 2: Halogenated compounds degrading microbes (UMIL, D4.2, M24) • Collection 3: Biopalladiumnanoparticles precipitating prok(UGENT, D4.3, M24) • Collection 4: Metal biostabilizing microorganisms (ETS, D4.4, M24)

13. UTUN in WP4 – Task 1 : • collection 1: Hydrocarbon degrading microbes • Hydrocarbon degrading microbes will be isolated from: • Coastal and harbor sites: • UTUN from the Bizerte lagoon and the Sebkha of Soliman • YU from Aqaba Gulf polluted seashores • MUCSAT from the seashore of El Max district • UH2C from the lagoon of Mar Chica • TUC from the Elefsina Gulf seashore close to oil refinery and from the wetlands of Keri in Zakynthos • IAMC from Milazzo harbor and Augusta bay • Open and deep sea • UTUN, IAMC and UMIL will isolate hydrocarbon degrading microbes from natural deep-sea hydrocarbon and from the tanker Haven sunk offshore Genoa.

14. UTUN in WP4 – Task 1 : • collection 1: Hydrocarbon degrading microbes • Sharing of the strain collectionsamong the partners (no deliverables) • Construction of 3 sub-collections by screening of the isolates for particular metabolic features • Sub-collection 1A: Biofilm forming microbes (leaded by TUC) (D4.5, M26): • BIOFILM: Multitude of interactions, carbon sharing, interspecies communication, steep physicochemical gradients, protection against environmental stress factors. • Understanding of the processes involved in biofilm formation arround oil droplets resulting in biodegradation • Determination of the factors affecting hydrocarbons degradation • Possible scaling-up processes for real hydrocarbon decontamination • Screening of the exopolysaccharides production • Further analysis of the Biofilm/EPS-positive strains by TUC…

15. UTUN in WP4 – Task 1 : • collection 1: Hydrocarbon degrading microbes • Sub-collection 1B: Biosurfactant producing microbes (TUC) (D4.6, M26): • Enhancing of the biodegradation process by the biosurfactants and/or lipophilic fertilizers of natural origin  BIOSTIMULATION • Screening for biosurfactant production (drop collapse, • oil spreading and the blood agar lysis methods) • Evaluation of the nature and diversity the metabolites • and physiology of their production • Sub-collection 1C: High molecular weight hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms (IAMC) (D4.7, M26): • Most recalcitrant molecules, present in the Greek tar seeping saltmarch • Screening of the isolates for the degradation of such molecules (pyrene, cycloterpenoids) as unique carbon source or in mixture with other PAH.

16. UTUN contribution in WP9 : • Result dissemination and exploitation (UTUN leaded) • Objective of WP9: • Evaluation of ULIXES fundamental and applied research results • Efficient dissemination of the results (scientific, industrials and stakeholders) • Results exploitation for potential field applications in the MedSea • Tasks in WP9: • Evaluation of the scientific value of the results and their potential for applications • Dissemination action for the project valorization • Preparation of a dissemination plan (D9.2, M6)

17. UTUN in WP9 – Task 1: • Evaluation of the scientific value of the results and their potential for applications • The obtained results will be evaluated in term of exploitation and/or activities needed for valorization (all partners): • Relevance and possible use of the microbial collections in bioremediation • Feasibility of the acquired processes knowledge in managing polluted marine sites • Implementation and use of microorganisms and processes in bioremediation approaches (in situ or ex situ) • Potential bio-decontamination activities in other matrixes (soil, freshwater) • The updated diversity database of microorganisms: base for the biodegradation monitoring microchip system

18. UTUN in WP9 – Task 2: Dissemination action for the project valorization …and plan (task 3) To efficiently provide ULIXES information to international scientific public, stakeholders, industrial and socioeconomic entities: a) ULIXES website: hosted by UMIL, continuously updated, research forum, podcasts, announcements (seminar, workshop), e-conferences (D9.1, M6) b) ULIXES newsletter in electronic version and hard copy to stakeholders, industrial and socioeconomic entities (UTUN, UMIL and all partners) c) Leaflet/Brochure of the project: in English, French and Arab languages, presenting the project objectives and methodologies and how society could benefit (UTUN, D9.3, M12) d) The stakeholders advisory board (SAB), for promoting ULIXES results dissemination: Preparation of database of stakeholders, (and SMEs and big firms) from the MedSea, operating in marine environmental biotechnology / Invitation of the SAB to the ULIXES meetings / Interconnection between RTD and stakeholders (D9.4, M18)

19. UTUN in WP9 – Task 2: • Dissemination action for the project valorization • e) Publications (list): Results distributed in general and specialized scientific community through articles/reviews…(UTUN, All partners, D9.7, M36) • f) Dissemination through congresses dedicated to microbiology and to bioremediation in general and in marine environments. • Possible specific sessions for ULIXES (FEMS, ASM, BAGECO, ISME, EAGE, EFB, CIESM, Bioremediation conference in Greece…) • g) Participation in meetings dealing with general integrated approaches for addressing pollution, with the intervention of the stakeholders and scientists from other fields. The participation will take advantage of the stakeholder database (UTUN, UMIL). • h) Establishment of a database of SMEs operating in the field of bioremediation in marine environments (UTUN, ETS, D9.5, M18) • i) International conference: The microbial resource management for bioremediation of polluted marine environments, in Tunisia (M36)