School of Microbiology

Z7_NQ5E12C0LOF160QDKRNCOGGJA1

Research group

Spanish

Microbial Bioprocesses Group - BIOMICRO

Academic Unit: School of Microbiology

Colombian Ministry of Science

B

Call

894 GrupLAC

OECD

Area

Natural sciences

Subarea

Biological sciences

Download Fact Sheet

Strategic Focus

The Microbial Bioprocesses Group — Biomicro — is oriented towards training in research and generating new fundamental and applied knowledge through the use of microorganisms with potential application in processes involved in both the industry and the environment. Our projects aim to design, assess, and implement innovative strategies as an alternative solution to various pollution and waste management problems.

Research Lines and/or Areas

Bioprospecting: search for microorganisms of industrial value.
Bioremediation of polluted environments.
Assessment and improvement of water quality.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Group Coordinator

Lida Arias Marín, Ph.D.

Ph.D. in Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology.

Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia.

Coordinator's Email

lida.arias@udea.edu.co

Scientific Cooperation

Collaborative Relationships

Microba Research Group.
Biotransformation Research Group.
Universidad Icesi, Cali.

College of Biological Science, University of Minnesota.
Sofasa Company S.A.

Highlighted Projects

Bioprospecting of white-rot fungi as an alternative for the treatment of industrial residual dyes.
Presence of antibiotics and resistant bacteria in affluents and effluents of the municipal wastewater treatment plant of the metropolitan area of Medellin.
Systematization of professional practices of the Industrial and Environmental Microbiology course of the School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, from 2009 to 2017.

Key Research Findings

An investigation into the occurrence and removal of pharmaceuticals in Colombian wastewater. DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.088
High clonal diversity of multidrug-resistant and extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli in a wastewater treatment plant. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.05.073
High frequency of gram-negative bacilli harboring blaKPC-2 in the different stages of wastewater treatment plant: A successful mechanism of resistance to carbapenems outside the hospital settings. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111046
Impacto de las prácticas profesionales sobre las competencias de investigación formativa en estudiantes de Microbiología de la UdeA-Colombia. (Impact of professional practices on formative investigation competences in undergraduate students of Microbiology from Universidad de Antioquia, Colombia.) ISSN-0124-5821.

Services and/or Products Portfolio

Bioprospecting of microorganisms of biotechnological interest.
Identification of fungal strains with potential application in the industry or in recovering polluted environments.
Degradation tests of residual dye using white-rot fungi.
Safety tests on various surfaces.
Determination of the quality of waters, along with physicochemical and microbiological parameter.