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A new research article authored by members of the PURPLE4LIFE consortium has been published in Bioresource Technology, addressing one of the central questions in the development of purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB) as a source of high-value compounds: how these microorganisms capture and use light, and how that process can be optimised for carotenoid production.
The study, titled “Modelling photon absorption rate for predicting optimal carotenoid production in purple phototrophic bacteria under diverse light sources”, was carried out by researchers from Université de Mons (UMONS), a partner in the project. It is authored by Salim Kichouh-Aiadi, Guillaume Bayon-Vicente and Baptiste Leroy.
Light is the driving force behind PPB metabolism, yet conventional light measurements offer only a partial picture of how much energy the bacteria actually absorb and convert. The article introduces a modelling framework that identifies the optimal photon absorption rate for carotenoid production across different PPB strains and light sources. By moving beyond conventional light measurements, the approach makes it possible to compare cultivation conditions on a consistent basis and to predict the conditions under which carotenoid production is most efficient.
The relevance of this work extends beyond the laboratory. A reliable description of photon absorption provides a practical basis for designing more efficient photobioreactors and for supporting the scale-up of PPB-based bioprocesses, a step that remains critical for moving these technologies closer to industrial application.
These findings contribute directly to PURPLE4LIFE’s mission of unlocking the potential of PPB to produce high-value bio-based products from organic waste streams, advancing the transition towards a more circular and sustainable bioeconomy.
Congratulations to the authors on this achievement.
Read the full publication, here.