KAUST Research Conference

Advances in Metagenomics & its Applications

May 23 - 25, 2022,

Building 19, Level 2

Register

Computational Bioscience Research Center (CBRC) at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is pleased to announce the KAUST Research Conference 2022 on Advances in Metagenomics and its applications.

Metagenomics has a potential not only to reveal taxonomic and functional diversity of specific environments that could not be done otherwise, but also to revolutionize areas of biotechnology. The results of metagenomics analysis can be used in many different industrial applications, such as soil management, bioprospecting for industrially relevant enzymes and compounds, detection of novel genes and proteins, medical diagnostics, oil industry, epidemiology, and many others; warranting an additional avenue for the diversification of the Saudi economy. Potential industrial applications are still evolving and new ones are being identified regularly. Most recently, metagenomics allowed for better understanding of the nature of SARS-CoV-2 virus through mapping viral mutation dynamics.

The meeting will address metagenomics tools, resources, approaches, results and practical applications as well as present an opportunity for the participants to exchange data, ideas and practices in this field. I strongly believe that this conference will enrich our experiences through the exchange of ideas and inspire young research to undertake the grand challenges of our time

On behalf of CBRC and the organizing committee, I would like to welcome all participants. As always, I look forward to a fruitful exchange of ideas and hope that you will enjoy your stay at KAUST and Saudi Arabia.


Professor Takashi Gojobori, Acting CBRC Director and Conference Chair

Organizing Committee

Alexandre Rosado

Professor, Bioscience

Biography

Professor Rosado is an environmental microbiologist specialized in Basic and Applied Microbiology, Synthetic microbial communities, Microbiome Science, Microbiome Manipulation and Microbiology of Extreme Environments (source of new biotechnological products). His main research interests are centered around the study of microbial diversity, evolution and new microbial metabolisms, using conventional tools associated to multi-omics approaches to understand the evolutionary history, ecological roles, and physiological capacity and capabilities of free-living and symbiotic microorganisms, including those found at the extremes of where life exists.

Regarding extremophiles (microbes from extreme environments), he also is interested in Astrobiology,  exploring concepts and fundamentals on how the use of extremophiles can be beneficial for crops and other biotechnological developments and, in turn, can also generate technologies with potential application in space colonization. Currently, there are important programs developed by space agencies from different nations and these concepts are within some objectives of the 2030 vision for the kingdom.

Rosado's research is inter- and multidisciplinary, at the interface of basic and applied (biotechnology/nature-based solutions) aspects of environmental processes. The main questions that guide his research are the following: What novel genes / genomes, microorganisms, interaction mechanisms and host x microbial metabolism are present in different ecosystems? Can we use them to promote environmental and human health? How can we define the health of these organisms and ecosystems? What are the microbial components of different environmental samples, including those from extreme ecosystems, and how are these communities affected by environmental (and global) changes and anthropogenic factors?  How can we minimize these impacts by manipulating microbial communities and / or organisms? To try to answer some of these questions, his group applies a plethora of techniques. Complex problems need multidisciplinary approaches.

This may allow us to model, manipulate and "design" metabolic pathways in natural and synthetic microbial systems using innovative technologies, which can generate revolutionary and unique biotechnological products, opening up different possibilities to explore new biotechnological products and providing insights into new enzymes, new metabolism and evolutionary paths.

All sessions by Alexandre Rosado

Metagenomic analysis of bioremediation of extreme environments contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons
10:20 AM

Abstract: Microbial EcoGenomics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.

Cold or hot deserts and volcanic environments are part of the essence of Saudi Arabia and Antarctica. The microbial community that thrives under extreme conditions is underexplored and its potential for application in biotechnology remains hidden. The push towards greener chemistry and less impactful production in industrial processes requires enzymes that can withstand harsh industrial conditions, for example high or low temperatures, pH and pressure. Regarding Saudi extreme soils, for example, there is a huge potential for bioprospecting the extreme Red Sea mangroves, Al Ula desert soil and Al Wahbah volcanic Crater, one of the volcanic sites in Saudi Arabia with highly saline soils (Sodium-23-59 g/kg).On the other hand, Antarctica is also a mosaic of extremes that contains cold deserts and active polar volcanoes, such as Deception Island, a marine stratovolcano with remarkable temperature gradients over very short distances, with temperatures approaching 100°C of fumaroles and sub-zero temperatures observed in glaciers. Here I will present the utilization of metagenomics and cultivation-based framework to describe diversity and function as well biotechnological potential of non-culturable microbes from these two very different extreme sites. Altogether, our data provides insights into the metabolic potential of microbes from Saudi Arabia and Antarctica's extreme environments with great potential for oil industry and other biotechnological applications.

Bio: Professor of Bioscience at KAUST. Former Full Professor at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Visiting Professor at the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California - Davis, USA. Director of the Institute of Microbiology (2010-2014) and Vice-President of the Brazilian Society of Microbiology (2011-2014); holds a BSc in Biological Sciences, MSc (Microbiology), PhD in Microbiology from UFRJ and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), The Netherlands. Associate editor: Journal of Microbiological Methods, Frontiers in Microbiology (Review editor). BMC Microbiology, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (BJM) and International Journal of Biodiversity. His background is on environmental microbiology, with focus on molecular microbial ecology, microbiome sciences and biotechnology.

Alexandre Rosado

Professor, Bioscience

Details

KAUST Speakers

Alexandre Rosado

Professor, Bioscience

Carlos Duarte

Distinguished Professor, Marine Science

Peiying Hong

Associate Professor, Bioscience

Daniele Daffonchio

Professor, Marine Science

Robert Hoehndorf

Associate Professor, Computer Science

Stefan Arold

Professor, Bioscience

Alexandre Rosado

Professor, Bioscience

Biography

Professor Rosado is an environmental microbiologist specialized in Basic and Applied Microbiology, Synthetic microbial communities, Microbiome Science, Microbiome Manipulation and Microbiology of Extreme Environments (source of new biotechnological products). His main research interests are centered around the study of microbial diversity, evolution and new microbial metabolisms, using conventional tools associated to multi-omics approaches to understand the evolutionary history, ecological roles, and physiological capacity and capabilities of free-living and symbiotic microorganisms, including those found at the extremes of where life exists.

Regarding extremophiles (microbes from extreme environments), he also is interested in Astrobiology,  exploring concepts and fundamentals on how the use of extremophiles can be beneficial for crops and other biotechnological developments and, in turn, can also generate technologies with potential application in space colonization. Currently, there are important programs developed by space agencies from different nations and these concepts are within some objectives of the 2030 vision for the kingdom.

Rosado's research is inter- and multidisciplinary, at the interface of basic and applied (biotechnology/nature-based solutions) aspects of environmental processes. The main questions that guide his research are the following: What novel genes / genomes, microorganisms, interaction mechanisms and host x microbial metabolism are present in different ecosystems? Can we use them to promote environmental and human health? How can we define the health of these organisms and ecosystems? What are the microbial components of different environmental samples, including those from extreme ecosystems, and how are these communities affected by environmental (and global) changes and anthropogenic factors?  How can we minimize these impacts by manipulating microbial communities and / or organisms? To try to answer some of these questions, his group applies a plethora of techniques. Complex problems need multidisciplinary approaches.

This may allow us to model, manipulate and "design" metabolic pathways in natural and synthetic microbial systems using innovative technologies, which can generate revolutionary and unique biotechnological products, opening up different possibilities to explore new biotechnological products and providing insights into new enzymes, new metabolism and evolutionary paths.

All sessions by Alexandre Rosado

Metagenomic analysis of bioremediation of extreme environments contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons
10:20 AM

Abstract: Microbial EcoGenomics and Biotechnology Laboratory, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.

Cold or hot deserts and volcanic environments are part of the essence of Saudi Arabia and Antarctica. The microbial community that thrives under extreme conditions is underexplored and its potential for application in biotechnology remains hidden. The push towards greener chemistry and less impactful production in industrial processes requires enzymes that can withstand harsh industrial conditions, for example high or low temperatures, pH and pressure. Regarding Saudi extreme soils, for example, there is a huge potential for bioprospecting the extreme Red Sea mangroves, Al Ula desert soil and Al Wahbah volcanic Crater, one of the volcanic sites in Saudi Arabia with highly saline soils (Sodium-23-59 g/kg).On the other hand, Antarctica is also a mosaic of extremes that contains cold deserts and active polar volcanoes, such as Deception Island, a marine stratovolcano with remarkable temperature gradients over very short distances, with temperatures approaching 100°C of fumaroles and sub-zero temperatures observed in glaciers. Here I will present the utilization of metagenomics and cultivation-based framework to describe diversity and function as well biotechnological potential of non-culturable microbes from these two very different extreme sites. Altogether, our data provides insights into the metabolic potential of microbes from Saudi Arabia and Antarctica's extreme environments with great potential for oil industry and other biotechnological applications.

Bio: Professor of Bioscience at KAUST. Former Full Professor at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and Visiting Professor at the Department of Land, Air and Water Resources, University of California - Davis, USA. Director of the Institute of Microbiology (2010-2014) and Vice-President of the Brazilian Society of Microbiology (2011-2014); holds a BSc in Biological Sciences, MSc (Microbiology), PhD in Microbiology from UFRJ and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), The Netherlands. Associate editor: Journal of Microbiological Methods, Frontiers in Microbiology (Review editor). BMC Microbiology, Brazilian Journal of Microbiology (BJM) and International Journal of Biodiversity. His background is on environmental microbiology, with focus on molecular microbial ecology, microbiome sciences and biotechnology.

Alexandre Rosado

Professor, Bioscience

Details
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https://cbrcconferences.kaust.edu.sa/docs/librariesprovider9/poster/cbrc-travel-grant-metagenomics-conf-2022-interactive-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d2a91983_2
https://cbrcconferences.kaust.edu.sa/docs/librariesprovider9/poster/cbrc-travel-grant-metagenomics-conf-2022-interactive-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d2a91983_2