Presented work was focused on biodegradability of bacterial natural and modified polyesters and their composites. The first part of the work was focused on study of influence of PHA granules structure on their biodegradability using selected enzymes and influence of physiological conditions on PHA stability. Overall, tested polymer either in crytalinne or amorphous phase seems to be rezistent to attack of seleced hydrolytic enzymes such as lipases or proteases and is stable in simulated physiological fluids as well. Because of thies results, it is possible to use tested PHA materials in biomedical applications requiring rather resistant biomaterials. Second part of the work was focused on microbial degradation of modified PHA materials considering their potential environmental impact. Both mixed thermophillic culture originaly used in wastewater treatment plant and bacterial strain Delftia acidovorans were employed for biodegradation tests. Composites containing chlorine PHB and PHB films modified using plasticizers were tested. Films containing chlorine PHB cause inhibition of biomass growth to both tested cultures. The highest rate of degradation (31%) was observed in presence of bacterial culture with film containing 10% chlorine PHB. The results show that used microbial population is important factor affecting biodegradability.

O trabalho é proposto visando melhorar o consumo de xilose na bactéria Burkholderia sacchari utilizando o acúmulo de PHB como modelo de produção Foi desenvolvido um processo de evolução por meio da aplicação de feast and famine e Cultivos sequenciais em fase exponencial. Foi obtida uma linhagem mutante com uma velocidade especifica de crescimento de 0,24 h -1. Foi feita uma análise de fluxos metabólicos da qual foi possível concluir que o metabolismo da xilose acontecia em sua maioria pela VP junto com a ED. Foi feito um ensaio de acumulo com carbono marcado utilizando uma solução de xilose, de 20:80 de xilose marcada 13C em todos os carbonos e xilose não marcado, para determinar quais seriam as possíveis vias metabólicas no uso da xilose por parte de B. sacharia LFM 101 e da linhagem evoluída BSEV11. Foi determinado que houve embaralhamento de carbonos, fato que só acontece quando o metabolismo da xilose e feito pela VP junto com a via ED, assim foi possível conferir a via ED como principal via para o metabolismo da xilose em B. sacchari LFM 101. / To evaluate the possibilities of improving the productivity of PHA production from xylose, evolutionary engineering techniques were applied to B. sacchari to select cells with maximum specific growth rates (max) higher than the wild type. Metabolic flux analysis was also performed to evaluate the fluxes through central pathways and the possibility of further improvements by modifying fluxes rates. The evolved strain reached a max of 0.24 ± 0.01 h-1 at the end of the evolutionary process. Strains were submitted to bioreactor experiments. A metabolic network of the strain was usedn to determine the possible distribution of metabolic fluxes. A total of 19 elementary modes were obtained. It was concluded that the metabolism of xylose occurred mostly by VP along with the ED. The ED pathway has the major activity going on in a cyclic way. It was also performed a 13C labeled xylose assay, in which it was possibly to confirm the obtained results from the metabolic flux analyses.

O trabalho é proposto visando melhorar o consumo de xilose na bactéria Burkholderia sacchari utilizando o acúmulo de PHB como modelo de produção Foi desenvolvido um processo de evolução por meio da aplicação de feast and famine e Cultivos sequenciais em fase exponencial. Foi obtida uma linhagem mutante com uma velocidade especifica de crescimento de 0,24 h -1. Foi feita uma análise de fluxos metabólicos da qual foi possível concluir que o metabolismo da xilose acontecia em sua maioria pela VP junto com a ED. Foi feito um ensaio de acumulo com carbono marcado utilizando uma solução de xilose, de 20:80 de xilose marcada 13C em todos os carbonos e xilose não marcado, para determinar quais seriam as possíveis vias metabólicas no uso da xilose por parte de B. sacharia LFM 101 e da linhagem evoluída BSEV11. Foi determinado que houve embaralhamento de carbonos, fato que só acontece quando o metabolismo da xilose e feito pela VP junto com a via ED, assim foi possível conferir a via ED como principal via para o metabolismo da xilose em B. sacchari LFM 101. / To evaluate the possibilities of improving the productivity of PHA production from xylose, evolutionary engineering techniques were applied to B. sacchari to select cells with maximum specific growth rates (max) higher than the wild type. Metabolic flux analysis was also performed to evaluate the fluxes through central pathways and the possibility of further improvements by modifying fluxes rates. The evolved strain reached a max of 0.24 ± 0.01 h-1 at the end of the evolutionary process. Strains were submitted to bioreactor experiments. A metabolic network of the strain was usedn to determine the possible distribution of metabolic fluxes. A total of 19 elementary modes were obtained. It was concluded that the metabolism of xylose occurred mostly by VP along with the ED. The ED pathway has the major activity going on in a cyclic way. It was also performed a 13C labeled xylose assay, in which it was possibly to confirm the obtained results from the metabolic flux analyses.

The proposed diploma thesis aims to study the biotechnological production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate) copolymer. The subject of the experimental part was first to select a suitable bacterial strain from five selected microorganisms with different carbon precursors applied at various concentrations. The five selected microorganisms used in the experimental part include bacterial strains Cupriavidus malaysiensis DSM 19416, DSM 19379, and DSM 25816. Furthermore, the strain Thermomonas hydrothermalis DSM 14834 and Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus H1 CCM 8960. The experiment shows that the most suitable candidate for biotechnological production is the bacterial microorganism Cupriavidus malaysiensis DSM 19379. Finally, the biotechnological production of the copolymer was investigated utilizing a batch cultivation technique in a laboratory bioreactor.

This diploma thesis focuses on the molecular characterization of selected PHA producers. Within this work, the PHA producing thermophilic isolates originating from the samples of activated sludge and compost were identified and characterized using molecular biological methods. By sequencing the 16S rRNA gene, the thermophilic isolates were identified and taxonomically classified into the Firmicutes bacterial phylum. In these bacterial isolates, the ability to produce PHA at the genotype level was determined by conventional PCR detection of the phaC gene encoding PHA synthase, which is a key enzyme in PHA biosynthesis. Class I, II and IV PHA synthases were detected in most of the isolated bacteria, wherein class I and II PHA synthases are not characteristic for these bacterial genera. The largest proportion of isolates was identified for the species of thermophilic bacterium Aneurinibacillus thermoaerophilus, in which class IV PHA synthase was detected. In the second part of the diploma thesis, the RT-qPCR method was implemented to study the expression of selected genes of the bacterium Cupriavidus necator H16 involved in PHA metabolism. As part of the implementation of this method, PCR-based detection of selected genes was optimized and quantification of genes using real-time PCR was performed. The tested method included steps of RNA isolation, cDNA synthesis and quantification of gene segments for which the critical points of the method were determined based on the obtained data.

The aim of this work is study of utilization of PHA producing bacteria in bioremediation technologies. For this study were used bacteria Pseudomonas putida KT2440 and two isolates from soil contaminated by petroleum - Pseudomonas gessardii (D2) a Pseudomonas fulva (D3). The experimental part describes especially study of feather biodegradation using selected microbial strains. All the tested bacterial strains were capable of feather degradation and utilization as the sole carbon source. During biodegradation experiment, we monitored weight loss of feather, protease and keratinase activity, concentration of bacterial biomass and PHA content as well as pH. The highest biodegradation ability and keratinase activity was observed in Pseudomonas putida. None of tested bacteria accumulated detectable amount of PHA during growth on waste feather, nevertheless, bacterial biomass grown during feather degradation can be used as an inoculum for PHA production on waste frying oil and octanoic acid. Using this experimental setup, high PHA content (54% of cell dry weight) was achiaved in Pseudomonas putida. Another part of the thesis deals with biodegradation of petroleum oil. The highest capability of growth on this carbon source were determined in Pseudomonas fulva.

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are a family of biodegradable polyesters naturally synthesised by some bacteria and archaea. PHA have high industrial value as bioplastics for packaging and biomedical applications. However, their broader use is hindered by high production costs and uncontrolled variation of polymer properties. The extreme halophile Haloferax mediterranei shows bioprocess advantages that can be exploited for the low cost production of the PHA copolymer Poly(3-hydroxbutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalterate) (PHBV). The focus of this thesis is to identify process variables responsible for the uncontrolled variation of PHA properties in order to progress towards the robust production of PHBV using H. mediterranei. The outcome of the investigation is a novel cultivation strategy for the reliable synthesis of PHBV copolymers with controlled composition and microstructure showing minor differences in material characteristics. Initially, growth kinetics and PHBV synthesis were characterised under nitrogen-excess and nitrogen-limiting conditions in ammonium and for the first time, nitrate. The nitrogen source and concentration influenced PHBV accumulation and variations in polymer composition were observed with ammonium, highlighting the importance of the control of cultivation conditions. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) were found to be a more direct approach to determine PHBV composition and for the first time were used as substrates in H. mediterranei cultures. When the cells were grown in C4:0/C5:0 mixtures, the 3HV fraction in the PHBV was proportional to the percentage of C5:0 in the feed mixture, allowing the synthesis of copolymers with a predefined composition ranging from pure PHB to pure PHV. The cultivation strategy proved effective for the synthesis of HV rich PHBV, which is not easily obtained due to the 3HV precursor toxicity. The polymer microstructure was controlled using different feeding strategies: co-feeding generated random copolymers, while sequential feeding created block and blend copolymers. The synthesis of block copolymers is of interest because the materials show enhanced yield strength and mechanical strength, making such materials more suitable for commodity uses. Bespoke random, block, and blend copolymers with 0−100 mol% 3HV were synthesized and their thermal and mechanical properties studied. Lastly, high temperature cultivation and several surfactants were tested to enhance the production of bespoke PHBV from VFA. PHBV productivity and accumulation was greatly improved in a fed-batch bioreactor fermentation at 37°C with Tween-80 and the maximum PHBV content 58.9% was obtained. The polymers from shake-flasks and from bioreactors showed minor variations in their material properties, demonstrating the scalability and the robustness of the process developed. Further understanding of the different process variables affecting polymer synthesis and composition was gained in this thesis. It is now possible to produce PHBV with controllable composition, microstructure and minor differences in material characteristics. The novel and robust production strategy developed address the bioprocess challenge of minimising the uncontrolled variation of polymer characteristics that is currently hindering the wider use of PHA hence allowing the production of high quality polymers for commodity goods, packaging and biomedical applications.

The aim of this diploma thesis was to subject selected cyanobacterial strains to adaptive evolution and subsequently investigate the properties of the resulting adapted strains, especially their changes related to polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) accumulation. The theoretical part of the work describes in more detail the issue of cyanobacteria, PHA and their interconnection in the field of evolutionary engineering. Cyanobacterial strains Synechocystis sp 6803 and. Synechocystis salina CCALA 192 were used for evolutionary experiments. Selection pressures of hydrogen peroxide and copper. were applied to selected representatives. The resulting cultures and their ability to accumulate PHA were subsequently assessed by gas chromatography. Both of these selection pressures proved to be unsuitable, as strong growth inhibition was observed after their application to cultures, which did not allow the application of evolutionary engineering methods. In the second half of the experimental part, the provided adapted strains to 6% NaCl were monitored. Adaptation has been shown to have a positive effect on microorganisms, as they have a higher biomass content, better stress resistance and a slight increase in PHA accumulation.

This diploma thesis deals with the application of evolutionary engineering to PHA producing bacterial strains. The aim of the thesis is to prepare strains adapted to levulinic acid, a selected stress factor, by methods of evolutionary engineering, and then to characterize these strains. The theoretical part deals with evolutionary engineering and polyhydroxyalkanoates predominantly. The bacterial strain Cupriavidus necator H16 was used for evolutionary experiments. Levulinic acid and levulinic acid in the presence of the MMS mutagen were applied to prepare adapted strains. Selection of mutants was evaluated on the basis of growth potential and PHA content in biomass. Polymers produced by five obtained PHA-producing mutants and control were characterized using GC-FID, SEC-MALS, DSC and FT-IR. It was found that a higher content of 3HV in the copolymer led to a lower crystallinity and hence to a lower melting point, nevertheless, only the copolymer of the M0151 strain did not fit this trend. In addition to the characteristics of the polymers, the strains themselves were evaluated from the biochemical point of view by determining the activities of selected enzymes of the citrate, glyoxalate and 2-methylcitrate cycle, selected enzymes generating NADPH, levulic acid catabolism enzyme and PHA biosynthesis enzymes. On the basis of the obtained data, the possible adaptation strategies were discussed, when the E0575 strain was most differentiated from original culture. Values of specific enzyme activities were subjected to AHC and PCA statistical analysis methods.

This diploma thesis deals with application of evolutionary engineering on PHA producing bacterial strains. Two bacterial strains, Cupriavidus necator H16 and Halomonas halophila, were chosen for the evolutionary experiments. Copper cations (Cu2+) and sodium chloride (NaCl) were chosen as the selective pressure for C. necator H16; acetic acid (AA) and levulinic acid (LA) for Halomonas halophila. The adapted strains were during long-time evolutionary experiments characterized by GC-FID and SEC-MALS. The growth of the adapted strains was studied by the mean of optical density measurement. The amount of viable cells was determined by spectral FC after their expositon to selected stress factors. Specific enzyme activities of enzymes involved in citrate and glyoxalate cycle, enzymes generating NADPH, LA metabolism enzyme and PHA biosynthesis enzymes were determined. The adapted strains were compared with the wild-type of strains. The successfull adaptation of C. necator H16 adapted to Cu2+ was detected. Biomass and PHA production of both wild and adapted H. halophila strains cultivated in lignocellulosis waste were determined. It was found out that H. halophila adapted to the LA is capable of producing more PHA than the wild strain of this bacteria.