Microbial stress mediated intercellular nanotubes in an anaerobic microbial consortium digesting cellulose.

ABSTRACT: The anaerobic digestion process is a multi - step reaction dependent on concerted activities such as exchange of metabolites among physiologically different microbial communities. This study investigated the impact of iron oxide nanoparticles on the anaerobic sludge microbiota. It was shown there were three distinct microbial phases following addition of the nanoparticles: microbial stress and cell death of approximately one log order of magnitude, followed by microbial rewiring, and recovery. Furthermore, it was noted that cellular stress led to the establishment of intercellular nanotubes within the microbial biomass. Intercellular nanotube - mediated communication among genetically engineered microorganisms and ad hoc assembled co - cultures have been previously reported. This study pre

SUBMITTER: John M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5740137 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature