Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) anabolism in Cupriavidus necator cultivated at various carbon-to-nitrogen ratios: insights from single-cell Raman spectroscopy

Sustainable production of microbial protein from carbon dioxide in the integrated bioelectrochemical system using recycled nitrogen sources

Given the urgency of climate change, it is imperative to develop innovative technologies for repurposing CO2 into value-added products to achieve carbon neutrality. Additionally, repurposing nitrogen-source-derived wastewater streams is crucial, focusing on sustainability rather than conventional nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants. In this context, microbial protein (MP) production presents a sustainable and promising approach for transforming recovered low-value resources into high-quality feed and food. We assessed MP production by hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria (HOB) utilizing CO2 and various nitrogen sources. Specifically, we investigated MP production by two different HOB strains, Cupriavidus necator H16 and Xanthobacter viscosus 7d, within an integrated water-splitting biosynthetic system that generates in situ H2 via water electrolysis. The electroautotrophically produced MPs of C. necator H16 and X. viscosus 7d exhibited amino acid contents of 555 and 717 mg protein/g cell dry weight, with 243 and 299 mg essential amino acid/g cell dry weight, respectively. They could serve as viable alternatives to conventional food/feed sources like fishmeal or soybean protein. Ammonium-rich wastewater streams are preferable for MP production in integrated bioelectrochemical systems. This study provides valuable insights into sustainable, carbon-neutral MP production using CO2, water, renewable electricity, and recycled nitrogen sources.

Trans-cinnamaldehyde fumigation inhibits Escherichia coli by affecting the mechanism of intracellular biological macromolecules

This study aimed to determine the antibacterial mechanism of cinnamaldehyde fumigation in Escherichia coli (E. coli). Through vapour fumigation, cinnamaldehyde was confirmed to exhibit effective antibacterial activity against E. coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC) were 0.25 μL/mL and 0.5 μL/mL, respectively. Based on transmission electron microscopy, the wrinkled bacterial cells observed after fumigation could be related to the leakage of intracellular substances. Laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy revealed changes in the main chain of proteins, the hydrogen bond system and spatial structure, and single- and double-stranded DNA breaks. In addition, breakage of the fatty acyl chain backbone was found to affect the vertical order degree of the lipid bilayer and cell membrane fluidity, thereby inhibiting the growth of E. coli. Overall, our findings indicate that cinnamaldehyde fumigation inhibits E. coli growth by inducing changes in intracellular biological macromolecules.

Laser Tweezers Raman Spectroscopy (LTRS) to Detect Effects of Chlorine Dioxide on Individual Nosema bombycis Spores

The microsporidium Nosema bombycis (Nb) causes pebrine, a fatal disease in sericulture. Nb is effectively killed by chlorine dioxide (ClO₂); however, the precise killing mechanism remains unclear. We used laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy (LTRS) to monitor the action of ClO₂ on individual Nb spores in real time. Raman peaks of ClO₂ appeared in Nb spores, corresponding to decreased peaks of trehalose that gradually disappeared. A peak (1658 cm^-1) corresponding to the protein α-helix significantly weakened while that (1668 cm^-1) corresponding to irregular protein structures was enhanced; their intensities were negatively correlated in a certain time range and dependent on ClO₂ concentration. The intensities of peaks at 782 cm^-1 (nucleic acids) and 1004 cm^-1 (phenylalanine of protein) did not change evidently even under extremely high ClO₂ concentrations. Thus, ClO₂ rapidly permeates the Nb spore wall, changing the protein secondary structure to lose biological function and destroy permeability, causing trehalose to leak out. These effects are ClO₂ concentration-dependent, but no other obvious changes to biomacromolecules were detected. Single-cell analysis using LTRS is an effective method to monitor the action of chemical sporicides on microbes in real time, providing insight into the heterogeneity of cell stress resistance.