YSU biologists contribute to the establishment of a hydrogen economy

YSU researchers use these enzymes to produce biological hydrogen sensors and biofuel devices, trying to generate electric current.

YSU biologists carry out scientific research in cooperation with Belarusian colleagues within the framework of Armenian-Belarusian scientific grant programs. Since 2016, the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology of YSU Faculty of Biology and the Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus have jointly implemented 2 grant programs, publishing articles in international journals with a high impact factor, organizing mutual visits, lectures, scientific experiments, and conferences. The 3rd grant program, launched in 2021 and currently being implemented, is on the research topic "The role of redox enzymes and siderophilic nanoparticle complexes in the improvement of electrocatalytic processes of electrodes of biofuel devices".

Head of the research group, and the Head of the Chair of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology of YSU, Associate Professor, Ph.D. Anna Poladyan emphasized that the Armenian side has a lot of experience working with hydrogenase enzymes, which convert hydrogen into 2 electrons, 2 protons, and vice versa, and the Belarusian side specializes in the production of oxidoreductase enzymes, based on which the development of biological fuel devices in industry, medicine and is a prerequisite for the production of new generation electronic devices for the environment.

The Armenian members of the scientific group are the assistant of the above-mentioned chair, Ph.D. Suzanna Blbulyan, Researcher of YSU Biology Research Institute, Associate Professor Anahit Vasilian, and Master’s student of the Chair Tatev Manutsyan. There are 5 scientists and researchers in the Belarusian group.

Within the scope of the grant program, Deputy Director of the Institute of Microbiology of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus, Tatiana Semashko, visited YSU, Faculty of Biology, and gave a lecture on "Technologies of production of enzyme preparations and their use in medicine" for faculty members, post-graduate students, and students.

In a conversation with us, Tatyana Semashko, referring to the long-term cooperation with YSU biology faculty colleagues, mentioned, "It is very pleasant to communicate and work with our YSU colleagues who have common scientific interests, who have a high level of knowledge, can give ideas and present a new point of view. There is a desire on both sides to continue cooperation and implement new scientific programs."

Anna Poladyan emphasized that they are planning to improve their recorded results by applying nanocomposites that will stimulate the work of hydrogenase enzymes.

The two-year research is coming to an end. The group has joint scientific works, and the publication of a scientific article in an international peer-reviewed journal is also underway.

It should be noted that Anna Poladyan made a presentation presenting the research results at the conference organized by the Federation of European Microbiological Societies (FEMS 2023) held in Hamburg, Germany in July.