Bioprospecting in the svalbard reindeer microbiome - establishing a Norwegian-Australian joint research effort

Understanding the enzymology of plant biomass conversion is a key issue in the world's desires to establish a sustainable bio-based economy. Currently available enzyme technology is insufficiently effective, and several fundamental key questions as to how enzymes and plant cell walls interact remain. Greater understanding of natural biomass-converting ecosystems that are adapted to the local climate is crucial if advancements are to be made towards addressing these issues. In this context the BILAT pre-p roject aims at creating a high quality international bioprospecting network to explore and exploit the microbial community (microbiome) resident in the digestive tract of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). The main scientific objective of this pre-project will be to use 454 DNA sequencing technology and large-insert cloning to establish a base metagenomic dataset representative of the gastrointestinal microbiome responsible for plant biomass degradation in reindeer. This collection of genetic information will allow for this, and future collaborative bioprospecting projects to gain access to the enormous wealth of genes and enzymes that would otherwise be unattainable by traditional means. In order to reach its objectives this BILAT pre-project seeks to link th e host experts in enzymology (UMB) to one of the world's most competent environments for metagenomics (CSIRO) and to a cluster of world-wide projects on herbivore metagenomes efficient in plant biomass degradation. The proposed Australian link is Norway's unique chance to implement the reindeer microbiome into a top level global effort in microbiome characterization and related enzyme discovery.