Metabolite-based mutualism enhances hydrogen production in a two-species microbial consortium

• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0331-8
• Publication Date: 2019-02-28T11:05:29Z
• Authors: Shaojie Wang; Hongzhi Tang; Fei Peng; Xijia Yu; Haijia Su; Ping Xu; Tianwei Tan
• Keywords: Microbial consortium; Microbial Metabolism; Metabolic Engineering

Abstract Sustainable hydrogen production from renewable and low-cost substrates is very important to mitigate environmental energy-related issues. Microbial consortia are promising for diverse bioenergy applications, yet microbial interactions not fully understood. Here, we present comprehensive investigation on how two species in an artificial consortium, consisting of Bacillus cereus A1 Brevundimonas naejangsanensis B1, mutually cooperate achieve overall enhancement starch utilization. In this strains B1 secrete α-amylase glucoamylase that functionally complementary hydrolysis. Moreover, strain converts into lactate as a carbon source electron donor, supporting the cell growth generation B1. return, produces formate shuttle enhance production. The co-culture re-directs metabolic flux, facilitates growth, up-regulates key genes