Developing a Genomic Toolkit to Harness Bacterial Cellulose Biosynthesis for Energy Applications (RPA Pilot / Seed Project)

Cellulose-producing bacteria, particularly those within the genera Komagataeibacter, Novacetimonas, and Gluconacetobacter, hold significant commercial potential and are promising candidates for molecular enhancement. Bacterial cellulose (BC) possesses distinctive structural and chemical properties, making it highly attractive for applications across industries including electronics, energy, and pharmaceuticals. Despite its potential as a sustainable biomaterial, the commercial use of bacterial cellulose is limited by high production costs, slow bacterial growth rates, low cellulose yields, and challenges in scaling up fermentation processes. In this project, we propose to integrate pangenomic and biochemical datasets to uncover the underlying mechanisms governing cellulose production. This work aims to identify genetic and biochemical factors limiting BC yield, providing a framework for strain improvement.