DARPA_ECOCOAT

Screening of genomes, isolates, metagenome for biofilm production, and EPS production for generating a synthetic community of biofilm producers.

Background

Biofouling is the process in which microorganisms and multicellular organisms adhere to a submerged surface and negatively impact the performance of a marine vessel by increasing drag. This drag penalty causes broad issues in aquatic vessels, including battery-powered Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV). Our solution is to create a smooth, invasion-resistant, and stable synthetic community of microbes [Eco-Coating] found naturally in the environment to prevent harmful biofouling.

This is interdisciplinary multinational project and I am handling the following parts of the study along with others:

  1. Bioinformtic analysis of metagenomes biofilm formed on body and tail of underwater UUV and their taxonomy, biofilm related genes and EPS related genes.

  2. Whole genome analysis of isolates of interest of this study and screening of them for antagonistic activity, biofilm production, EPS related genes and so on

  3. Hybrid assembly of the isoaltes (>100) and thier screening.

Abstracts

Sophia Rudolph, Jojy John, and Barbara J. Campbel;2025; Genomic Insights into antibiotic production and antibiotic resistance in environmental bacteria, Regional ASM meeting, South Carolina

Jojy John, David Karig, Barbara J. Campbell;2024,Microbial biofouling interactions on Autonomous Navy Gliders: Insights from Metagenome Analysis, DARPA meeting

Justin Leonhardt, Mir A. Ahmed, Muhammad Suleman, Muhammad Nawaz, Jojy John, Diptee Chaulagain, Bristi Paul, Emma Harrington, Gabrielle Mccarthy, Narges Sadat Shamabadi, David Karig, Barbara J Campbell; 2024, Isolation and Identification of Marine Bacteria to Enhance Antifouling Strategies in Unmanned Underwater Vehicles via a Biofilm Engineering Approach; ASM, Atlanta.

Bristi Paul, Diptee Chaulagain, Reece Fratus, Andrew Derasmo, Muhammad Suleman, Muhammad Nawaz, Jojy John, Zeyu Tang, Adam Hoove3, Barbara J Campbell, David Karig ;2024; Optimizing a Stable and Smooth Biofilm-Forming Bacterial Community to Reduce Drag on Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) ;ICME.

References