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Schultz J, Modolon F, Peixoto RS, Rosado AS. Shedding light on the composition of extreme microbial dark matter: alternative approaches for culturing extremophiles. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1167718. [PMID: 37333658 PMCID: PMC10272570 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1167718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 20,000 species of prokaryotes (less than 1% of the estimated number of Earth's microbial species) have been described thus far. However, the vast majority of microbes that inhabit extreme environments remain uncultured and this group is termed "microbial dark matter." Little is known regarding the ecological functions and biotechnological potential of these underexplored extremophiles, thus representing a vast untapped and uncharacterized biological resource. Advances in microbial cultivation approaches are key for a detailed and comprehensive characterization of the roles of these microbes in shaping the environment and, ultimately, for their biotechnological exploitation, such as for extremophile-derived bioproducts (extremozymes, secondary metabolites, CRISPR Cas systems, and pigments, among others), astrobiology, and space exploration. Additional efforts to enhance culturable diversity are required due to the challenges imposed by extreme culturing and plating conditions. In this review, we summarize methods and technologies used to recover the microbial diversity of extreme environments, while discussing the advantages and disadvantages associated with each of these approaches. Additionally, this review describes alternative culturing strategies to retrieve novel taxa with their unknown genes, metabolisms, and ecological roles, with the ultimate goal of increasing the yields of more efficient bio-based products. This review thus summarizes the strategies used to unveil the hidden diversity of the microbiome of extreme environments and discusses the directions for future studies of microbial dark matter and its potential applications in biotechnology and astrobiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Júnia Schultz
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Flúvio Modolon
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Raquel Silva Peixoto
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alexandre Soares Rosado
- Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
- Computational Bioscience Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia
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A miniaturized bionic ocean-battery mimicking the structure of marine microbial ecosystems. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5608. [PMID: 36153325 PMCID: PMC9509365 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-33358-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractMarine microbial ecosystems can be viewed as a huge ocean-battery charged by solar energy. It provides a model for fabricating bio-solar cell, a bioelectrochemical system that converts light into electricity. Here, we fabricate a bio-solar cell consisting of a four-species microbial community by mimicking the ecological structure of marine microbial ecosystems. We demonstrate such ecological structure consisting of primary producer, primary degrader, and ultimate consumers is essential for achieving high power density and stability. Furthermore, the four-species microbial community is assembled into a spatial-temporally compacted cell using conductive hydrogel as a sediment-like anaerobic matrix, forming a miniaturized bionic ocean-battery. This battery directly converts light into electricity with a maximum power of 380 μW and stably operates for over one month. Reproducing the photoelectric conversion function of marine microbial ecosystems in this bionic battery overcomes the sluggish and network-like electron transfer, showing the biotechnological potential of synthetic microbial ecology.
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Jiao Y, Yuan Y, He C, Liu L, Pan X, Li P. Enrichment culture combined with microbial electrochemical enhanced low-temperature anaerobic digestion of cow dung. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 360:127636. [PMID: 35853591 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Enrichment culture combined with the microbial electrochemical system was used to co-enhance the low-temperature (20 °C) anaerobic digestion. The results showed that enrichment culture combined with microbial electrochemical system increased the cumulative methane production in low-temperature anaerobic digestion system by 39.64 % and 133.29 % compared to single and no enrichment culture, respectively. Enrichment culture combined with microbial electrochemical system increased the relative abundance of methanogenic archaea (Methanomassiliicoccus, Methanocorpusculum, unclassified Methanomicrobiaceae, Methanobacterium, Methanoculleus, Methanocalculus) and the relative abundance of cold-tolerant hydrolytic acidifying bacteria (unclassified Bacteroidetes, Treponema). The expressions of specific enzyme genes in the methanogenesis pathway were enhanced, including acetyl-CoA synthetase, formylmethanofuran dehydrogenase, methanol cobalamin methyltransferase, etc. These results indicated that enrichment culture combined with microbial electrochemical system enhanced low-temperature anaerobic digestion methanogenesis by altering microbial communities and stimulating enzyme gene expression to affect volatile fatty acids, pH, redox potential, and reducing sugar parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youzhou Jiao
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Nanomaterials, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yongkang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Nanomaterials, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chao He
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Nanomaterials, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Liang Liu
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Nanomaterials, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xiaohui Pan
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Nanomaterials, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Panpan Li
- Key Laboratory of New Materials and Facilities for Rural Renewable Energy of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; Henan International Joint Laboratory of Biomass Energy and Nanomaterials, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
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Zhang J, Chen Z, Liu C, Li J, An X, Wu D, Sun X, Zhang B, Fu L, Li F, Song H. Construction of an Acetate Metabolic Pathway to Enhance Electron Generation of Engineered Shewanella oneidensis. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:757953. [PMID: 34869266 PMCID: PMC8640130 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.757953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a novel bioelectrochemical devices that can use exoelectrogens as biocatalyst to convert various organic wastes into electricity. Among them, acetate, a major component of industrial biological wastewater and by-product of lignocellulose degradation, could release eight electrons per mole when completely degraded into CO2 and H2O, which has been identified as a promising carbon source and electron donor. However, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, a famous facultative anaerobic exoelectrogens, only preferentially uses lactate as carbon source and electron donor and could hardly metabolize acetate in MFCs, which greatly limited Coulombic efficiency of MFCs and the capacity of bio-catalysis. Results: Here, to enable acetate as the sole carbon source and electron donor for electricity production in S. oneidensis, we successfully constructed three engineered S. oneidensis (named AceU1, AceU2, and AceU3) by assembling the succinyl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase (SCACT) metabolism pathways, including acetate coenzyme A transferase encoded by ato1 and ato2 gene from G. sulfurreducens and citrate synthase encoded by the gltA gene from S. oneidensis, which could successfully utilize acetate as carbon source under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. Then, biochemical characterizations showed the engineered strain AceU3 generated a maximum power density of 8.3 ± 1.2 mW/m2 with acetate as the sole electron donor in MFCs. In addition, when further using lactate as the electron donor, the maximum power density obtained by AceU3 was 51.1 ± 3.1 mW/m2, which approximately 2.4-fold higher than that of wild type (WT). Besides, the Coulombic efficiency of AceU3 strain could reach 12.4% increased by 2.0-fold compared that of WT, which demonstrated that the engineered strain AceU3 can further utilize acetate as an electron donor to continuously generate electricity. Conclusion: In the present study, we first rationally designed S. oneidensis for enhancing the electron generation by using acetate as sole carbon source and electron donor. Based on synthetic biology strategies, modular assembly of acetate metabolic pathways could be further extended to other exoelectrogens to improve the Coulombic efficiency and broaden the spectrum of available carbon sources in MFCs for bioelectricity production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junqi Zhang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zheng Chen
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Changjiang Liu
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jianxun Li
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingjuan An
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Deguang Wu
- Department of Brewing Engineering, Moutai Institute, Renhuai, China
| | - Xi Sun
- College of Biological Engineering, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin, China
| | - Baocai Zhang
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Longping Fu
- College of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Feng Li
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Hao Song
- Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, China.,Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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Pillot G, Amin Ali O, Davidson S, Shintu L, Combet-Blanc Y, Godfroy A, Bonin P, Liebgott PP. Evolution of Thermophilic Microbial Communities from a Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Chimney under Electrolithoautotrophic Conditions with Nitrate. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9122475. [PMID: 34946077 PMCID: PMC8705573 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9122475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown the presence of an abiotic electrical current across the walls of deep-sea hydrothermal chimneys, allowing the growth of electroautotrophic microbial communities. To understand the role of the different phylogenetic groups and metabolisms involved, this study focused on electrotrophic enrichment with nitrate as electron acceptor. The biofilm density, community composition, production of organic compounds, and electrical consumption were monitored by FISH confocal microscopy, qPCR, metabarcoding, NMR, and potentiostat measurements. A statistical analysis by PCA showed the correlation between the different parameters (qPCR, organic compounds, and electron acceptors) in three distinct temporal phases. In our conditions, the Archaeoglobales have been shown to play a key role in the development of the community as the first colonizers on the cathode and the first producers of organic compounds, which are then used as an organic source by heterotrophs. Finally, through subcultures of the community, we showed the development of a greater biodiversity over time. This observed phenomenon could explain the biodiversity development in hydrothermal contexts, where energy sources are transient and unstable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Pillot
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Oulfat Amin Ali
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Sylvain Davidson
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Laetitia Shintu
- Aix Marseille Université, CNRS Centrale Marseille, iSm2, 13284 Marseille, France;
| | - Yannick Combet-Blanc
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Anne Godfroy
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CNRS, IFREMER, 29280 Plouzané, France;
| | - Patricia Bonin
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
| | - Pierre-Pol Liebgott
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, CNRS, IRD, MIO UM 110, 13288 Marseille, France; (G.P.); (O.A.A.); (S.D.); (Y.C.-B.); (P.B.)
- Correspondence:
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Pillot G, Amin Ali O, Davidson S, Shintu L, Godfroy A, Combet-Blanc Y, Bonin P, Liebgott PP. Identification of enriched hyperthermophilic microbial communities from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney under electrolithoautotrophic culture conditions. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14782. [PMID: 34285254 PMCID: PMC8292307 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-94135-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are extreme and complex ecosystems based on a trophic chain. We are still unsure of the identities of the first colonizers of these environments and their metabolism, but they are thought to be (hyper)thermophilic autotrophs. Here we investigate whether the electric potential observed across hydrothermal chimneys could serve as an energy source for these first colonizers. Experiments were performed in a two-chamber microbial electrochemical system inoculated with deep-sea hydrothermal chimney samples, with a cathode as sole electron donor, CO2 as sole carbon source, and nitrate, sulfate, or oxygen as electron acceptors. After a few days of culturing, all three experiments showed growth of electrotrophic biofilms consuming the electrons (directly or indirectly) and producing organic compounds including acetate, glycerol, and pyruvate. Within the biofilms, the only known autotroph species retrieved were members of Archaeoglobales. Various heterotrophic phyla also grew through trophic interactions, with Thermococcales growing in all three experiments as well as other bacterial groups specific to each electron acceptor. This electrotrophic metabolism as energy source driving initial microbial colonization of conductive hydrothermal chimneys is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Pillot
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, IRD, CNRS, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Oulfat Amin Ali
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, IRD, CNRS, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Sylvain Davidson
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, IRD, CNRS, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Laetitia Shintu
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, Centrale Marseille, iSm2, Marseille, France
| | - Anne Godfroy
- IFREMER, CNRS, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes-UMR6197, Ifremer, Centre de Brest CS10070, Plouzané, France
| | - Yannick Combet-Blanc
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, IRD, CNRS, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Patricia Bonin
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, IRD, CNRS, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France
| | - Pierre-Pol Liebgott
- Aix Marseille Université, Université de Toulon, IRD, CNRS, MIO UM 110, 13288, Marseille Cedex 09, France.
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Zheng T, Li J, Ji Y, Zhang W, Fang Y, Xin F, Dong W, Wei P, Ma J, Jiang M. Progress and Prospects of Bioelectrochemical Systems: Electron Transfer and Its Applications in the Microbial Metabolism. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:10. [PMID: 32083069 PMCID: PMC7004955 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems are revolutionary new bioengineering technologies which integrate microorganisms or enzymes with the electrochemical method to improve the reducing or oxidizing metabolism. Generally, the bioelectrochemical systems show the processes referring to electrical power generation or achieving the reducing reaction with a certain potential poised by means of electron transfer between the electron acceptor and electron donor. Researchers have focused on the selection and optimization of the electrode materials, design of electrochemical device, and screening of electrochemically active or inactive model microorganisms. Notably, all these means and studies are related to electron transfer: efflux and consumption. Thus, here we introduce the basic concepts of bioelectrochemical systems, and elaborate on the extracellular and intracellular electron transfer, and the hypothetical electron transfer mechanism. Also, intracellular energy generation and coenzyme metabolism along with electron transfer are analyzed. Finally, the applications of bioelectrochemical systems and the prospect of microbial electrochemical technologies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Jiangfeng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, China
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