A heterogeneous microbial consortium producing short-chain fatty acids from lignocellulose

Shahab, Robert L.; Brethauer Studer, Simone; Davey, Matthew P.; Smith, Alison G.; Vignolini, Silvia; Luterbacher, Jeremy S.; Studer, Michael Hans-Peter (2020). A heterogeneous microbial consortium producing short-chain fatty acids from lignocellulose Science, 369(6507), eabb1214. American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 10.1126/science.abb1214

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Microbial consortia are a promising alternative to monocultures of genetically modified microorganisms for complex biotransformations. We developed a versatile consortium-based strategy for the direct conversion of lignocellulose to short-chain fatty acids, which included the funneling of the lignocellulosic carbohydrates to lactate as a central intermediate in engineered food chains. A spatial niche enabled in situ cellulolytic enzyme production by an aerobic fungus next to facultative anaerobic lactic acid bacteria and the product-forming anaerobes. Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Veillonella criceti, or Megasphaera elsdenii were integrated into the lactate platform to produce 196 kilograms of butyric acid per metric ton of beechwood. The lactate platform demonstrates the benefits of mixed cultures, such as their modularity and their ability to convert complex substrates into valuable biochemicals.

Item Type:	Journal Article (Original Article)
Division/Institute:	School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL > Agriculture > Sustainability and Circular Economy
Name:	Shahab, Robert L.; Brethauer Studer, Simone0000-0001-7755-7593; Davey, Matthew P.; Smith, Alison G.; Vignolini, Silvia; Luterbacher, Jeremy S. and Studer, Michael Hans-Peter0000-0003-1083-0967
Subjects:	Q Science > Q Science (General)
ISSN:	0036-8075
Publisher:	American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Language:	English
Submitter:	Michael Hans-Peter Studer
Date Deposited:	13 Jan 2021 11:56
Last Modified:	02 Oct 2021 02:19
Publisher DOI:	10.1126/science.abb1214
ARBOR DOI:	10.24451/arbor.14125
URI:	https://arbor.bfh.ch/id/eprint/14125