Bioprocess and Microbial Physiology

Bioprocess and Microbial Physiology

– Per Bruheim
Core instrumentation: mass spectrometers and bench-top bioreactors. Photo
Core instrumentation: mass spectrometers and bench-top bioreactors.

Research activity

The Bruheim lab focuses on Deep Phenotyping of prokaryotic and eukaryotic model systems using Advanced Cultivation Technology and Mass Spectrometry based Metabolomics, Fluxomics and Lipidomics. Bruheim is scientific leader of the NV faculty Mass Spectrometry lab. We have developed a suite of target and non-target MS methods, which we apply on a range of biological model systems and research questions.

 

Our model systems

E. coli
Antibiotic resistance development, stress responding, metabolic burden, tolerance and persistence, recombinant protein production

Streptomyces coelicolor
Antibiotic/ secondary metabolite production

Yeast
Beer, wine, basic studies

Zymomonas mobilis
Biofuel production

Thraustochytrids
​​​​​​​Omega3 fatty acid production

Salmon
​​​​​​​Lipid profiling, omega3 fatty acid metabolism

Human cell culture
​​​​​​​Cancer and immune metabolism, hypoxia, “cultured meat”

We have also a number of external collaborations in Metabolomics, Fluxomics and Lipidomics that involves e g. screening of urine, serum, plasma samples and lipid profiling in mouse, goat, dog, cod, etc

 

Core Expertise

  • Bioprocess and fermentation technology, Microbial Physiology
  • MS based Metabolomics, Fluxomics and Lipidomics; focus on both method development and applications

 

Resources

  • Microbial bioreactor lab (9 Eppendorf and Applikon bench-top fermenters, 0.1-2 L) for advanced cultivation studies (batch, fed-batch, continuous, mass spectrometer off-gas analysis)
  • BioLectorPro microbioreactor system
  • Cell culture lab including hypoxia chamber
  • General microbial and biochemistry labs with all equipment needed for state-of-the-art analyses

 

Projects (2023)

  • Trond Mohn Stiftelse: “Targeting AMR by inhibition of bacterial stress responses”
  • RCN Center for Research based Innovation in Industrial Biotechnology
    ​​​​​​​Sub-projects: “Development and application of fluxomic tools to develop microbial cell factories for industrial cultivation conditions” and “Optimized bulk starter cultures for cheese production”
  • NTNU Biotechnology programme: “Chemically defined cell culture media”
  • NTNU IBT PhD: “Inhibition of antibiotic resistance development through targeting bacterial translesion synthesis mechanism with novel peptide drugs”
  • NTNU IBT: “Genetic and molecular investigation of Norwegian Farmhouse Ale yeasts”