Novisyntrophococcus fermenticellae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from an anaerobic fermentation cellar of Chinese strong-flavour baijiu

Description of a moderately acidotolerant and aerotolerant anaerobic bacterium Acidilutibacter cellobiosedens gen. nov., sp. nov. within the family Acidilutibacteraceae fam. nov., and proposal of Sporanaerobacteraceae fam. nov. and Tepidimicrobiaceae fam. nov

A Gram-stain positive, moderately thermophilic, acidotolerant and aerotolerant anaerobic bacterium, designated JN-28 ^T, was isolated from the pit mud of Chinese strong-flavor liquor. Growth was observed at 25-50 °C and pH 5.5-8.0 in the presence of 0-25 g l^-1 NaCl (optimally at 45 °C, pH 6.0, without NaCl). Strain JN-28 ^T was heterotrophic, requiring yeast extract for growth. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C_15:0 and C_14:0. The DNA G + C content of genomic DNA was 33.54 mol%. The strain was resistant to vancomycin (10 mg l^-1). Genome analysis revealed the presence of genes involved in the response to mild acid stress and oxidative stress, and resistance to vancomycin. 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis showed that strain JN-28 ^T shares ≤ 89.3 % sequence similarity with its closest relatives Sporanaerobacter acetigenes DSM 13106 ^T and other members in the order Tissierellales. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, Acidilutibacter cellobiosedens gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for the new genus and novel species with the type strain JN-28 ^T (=CCAM 418 ^T = JCM 39087 ^T). Further phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses suggested strain JN-28 ^T represents a novel family within the order Tissierellales, for which Acidilutibacteraceae fam. nov. is proposed. In addition, the family Tissierellaceae was reclassified, Sporanaerobacteraceae fam. nov. and Tepidimicrobiaceae fam. nov. were formally proposed. Emended description of the family Tissierellaceae is also provided.

A new method for screening and culture of Clostridium from pit mud under non-anaerobic conditions

Strong-flavor Baijiu (SFB) is produced in complex fermentation in pits under ground. Clostridium producing hexanoic acid plays a key role in the flavor formation of SFB. The screening and culture for Clostridium are very difficult because of its strict anaerobic characteristics. In this study, electric field assisted screening (EFAS) was used to screen Clostridium from pit mud, and electric culture (EC) was used to cultivate Clostridium under non-anaerobic conditions. A strain with a high yield of hexanoic acid was screened and named as Clostridium sp. EFAS6. Under non-anaerobic conditions, it grew rapidly only near the cathode end in the EFAS device because of the low oxidation-reduction potential of that electrode. In the experiment of high-density culture in the EC device, the cell concentration reached 10⁶-10⁷. After energy consumption was calculated, the optimal loading voltage was found to be 10 V. In the application, the broth of Clostridium sp. EFAS6 increased the content of ethyl hexanoic in SFB. Under non-anaerobic conditions, the anaerobe was screened by EFAS and cultivated in high density by EC. The EFAS and EC could also be used for the screening and culture of other anaerobes under non-anaerobic conditions.

Metabolite-Based Mutualistic Interaction between Two Novel Clostridial Species from Pit Mud Enhances Butyrate and Caproate Production

Pit mud microbial consortia play crucial roles in the formation of Chinese strong-flavor baijiu's key flavor-active compounds, especially butyric and caproic acids. Clostridia, one of the abundant bacterial groups in pit mud, were recognized as important butyric and caproic acid producers. Research on the interactions of the pit mud microbial community mainly depends on correlation analysis at present. Interaction between Clostridium and other microorganisms and its involvement in short/medium-chain fatty acid (S/MCFA) metabolism are still unclear. We previously found coculture of two clostridial strains isolated from pit mud, Clostridium fermenticellae JN500901 (C.901) and Novisyntrophococcus fermenticellae JN500902 (N.902), could enhance S/MCFA accumulation. Here, we investigated their underlying interaction mechanism through the combined analysis of phenotype, genome, and transcriptome. Compared to monocultures, coculture of C.901 and N.902 obviously promoted their growth, including shortening the growth lag phase and increasing biomass, and the accumulation of butyric acid and caproic acid. The slight effects of inoculation ratio and continuous passage on the growth and metabolism of coculture indicated the relative stability of their interaction. Transwell coculture and transcriptome analysis showed the interaction between C.901 and N.902 was accomplished by metabolite exchange, i.e., formic acid produced by C.901 activated the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway of N.902, thereby enhancing its production of acetic acid, which was further converted to butyric acid and caproic acid by C.901 through reverse β-oxidation. This work demonstrates the potential roles of mutually beneficial interspecies interactions in the accumulation of key flavor compounds in pit mud. IMPORTANCE Microbial interactions played crucial roles in influencing the assembly, stability, and function of the microbial community. The metabolites of pit mud microbiota are the key to flavor formation of Chinese strong-flavor baijiu. So far, researches on the interactions of the pit mud microbial community have been mainly based on the correlation analysis of sequencing data, and more work needs to be performed to unveil the complicated interaction patterns. Here, we identified a material exchange-based mutualistic interaction system involving two fatty acid-producing clostridial strains (Clostridium fermenticellae JN500901 and Novisyntrophococcus fermenticellae JN500902) isolated from pit mud and systematically elucidated their interaction mechanism for promoting the production of butyric acid and caproic acid, the key flavor-active compounds of baijiu. Our findings provide a new perspective for understanding the complicated interactions of pit mud microorganisms.