New Microbe with Potential to Revolutionize Biomanufacturing and Carbon Capture

An international team of researchers from the U.S. and Italy has discovered a unique cyanobacteria strain, nicknamed “Chonkus,” in volcanic ocean vents off Vulcano Island, Sicily. This strain thrives in CO2-rich environments and sinks readily in water, making it an ideal candidate for carbon sequestration and biomanufacturing applications.

Published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the study notes that Chonkus, isolated from volcanic seeps, shows unique adaptations to CO2 abundance, potentially overcoming the growth limitations of photosynthetic organisms in typical ocean environments, where dissolved carbon is scarce.

“We explored environments rich in marine CO2, where organisms may have evolved to utilize it for growth,” said Max Schubert, Ph.D., study co-corresponding author and scientist at the Wyss Institute.

Schubert and Braden Tierney, Ph.D., both scientists at Harvard Medical School (HMS), initiated the study, which eventually grew to include experts from the Wyss Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, Colorado State University, MIT, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

During a scuba expedition off Vulcano, the team collected samples from CO2-rich shallow seeps and transported them to Boston. There, Schubert's lab isolated and cultivated two rapidly growing cyanobacteria strains, including the robust UTEX 3222, now dubbed Chonkus due to its dense, peanut-butter-like biomass that quickly sinks in water. This property could make biomass collection for industrial applications far more efficient, as biomass drying and concentration currently account for 15–30% of production costs.

“Many of Chonkus’s traits, like high-density growth, aren’t useful in nature but are ideal for industrial processes,” Tierney explains.

With its high-density, carbon-rich biomass, Chonkus offers a promising natural solution for decarbonization and sustainable manufacturing. Unlike other lab-grown bacteria, which require engineered traits, Chonkus may already possess traits for carbon sequestration, bioproduction of omega-3s, and other valuable compounds.

After initial success, Tierney co-founded The Two Frontiers Project, a nonprofit focused on exploring microbes in extreme environments for applications in coral restoration, CO2 upcycling, and carbon capture. The team has since conducted expeditions to diverse ecosystems, including the Red Sea, Colorado hot springs, and Italy’s “Smoking Lands.”

George Church, Ph.D., of Harvard Medical School, emphasized the significance of leveraging natural evolutionary adaptations for urgent climate solutions:

“Harnessing billions of years of evolution offers a substantial advantage for addressing climate change. But it’s essential to ‘build the seatbelts before you build the car’ – our lab also focuses on biocontainment methods to ensure responsible innovation.”

Wyss Founding Director Don Ingber praised the research as part of their Sustainable Futures Initiative, which pursues innovative, nature-inspired approaches to tackle climate change: “This team embodies our commitment to seeking out Nature’s solutions and applying them to real-world challenges.”