Microbiomes in Uranium Rich-Environment: A Bonanza for Future Biotechnology

Microbiomes inhabiting Australia's Uranium (U) rich environments play a key role in driving the biogeochemistry of this bioactive heavy metal, that offers many opportunities to the Australian economy. The complex interplay between microbes and minerals can be exploited to open exciting biotechnological solutions for U exploration, processing and remediation. Moreover, these specialised microbes can also be a potential source of novel metabolites. This project aims to provide a fundamental understanding of microbial communities and their functions in Australia's U-rich environments. The fundamental understanding of microbes will offer novel biotechnological innovation for the Australian minerals and pharmaceutical industries.