Project description:Anaerobic digestion is a popular and effective microbial process for waste treatment. The performance of anaerobic digestion processes is contingent on the balance of the microbial food web in utilizing various substrates. Recently, co-digestion, i.e., supplementing the primary substrate with an organic-rich co-substrate has been exploited to improve waste treatment efficiency. Yet the potential effects of elevated organic loading on microbial functional gene community remains elusive. In this study, functional gene array (GeoChip 5.0) was used to assess the response of microbial community to the addition of poultry waste in anaerobic digesters treating dairy manure. Consistent with 16S rRNA gene sequences data, GeoChip data showed that microbial community compositions were significantly shifted in favor of copiotrophic populations by co-digestion, as taxa with higher rRNA gene copy number such as Bacilli were enriched. The acetoclastic methanogen Methanosarcina was also enriched, while Methanosaeta was unaltered but more abundant than Methanosarcina throughout the study period. The microbial functional diversity involved in anaerobic digestion were also increased under co-digestion.
2017-01-12 | GSE93419 | GEO
Project description:Proteinase K Impact on Anaerobic Co-digestion of Modified Biodegradable Plastic And Food Waste: A Step-by-Step Analysis with Microorganism
Project description:Food waste is a major source of environmental pollution, as its landfills attribute to greenhouse gas emissions. This study developed a robust upcycling bioprocess that converts food waste into lactic acid through autochthonous fermentation and further produces biodegradable polymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). Food can be stored without affecting its bioconversion to lactic acid, making it feasible for industrial application. Mapping autochthonous microbiota in the food waste fermentation before and after storage revealed lactic-acid-producing microorganisms dominate during the indigenous fermentation. Furthermore, through global transcriptomic and gene set enrichment analyses, it was discovered that coupling lactic acid as carbon source with ammonium sulfate as nitrogen source in Cupriavidus necator culture upregulates pathways, including PHB biosynthesis, CO2 fixation, carbon metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and energy metabolism compared to pairing with ammonium nitrate. There was ∼90 % PHB content in the biomass. Overall, the study provides crucial insights into establishing a bioprocess for food waste repurposing.
Project description:Background. Transforming waste and non-food materials into bulk biofuels and chemicals represents a major stride in creating a sustainable bioindustry, optimizing the use of resources while reducing environmental footprints. Yet, despite these advancements, the production of high-value natural products often continues to rely on first-generation substrates, underscoring the intricate processes and specific requirements of their biosynthesis. This is also true for Streptomyces lividans, a renowned host organism celebrated for its capacity to produce and uncover a wide array of natural products, attributed to its genetic versatility and potent secondary metabolism. Given this context, it becomes imperative to assess and optimize this microorganism for the synthesis of natural products specifically from waste and non-food substrates. Results. We metabolically engineered S. lividans TK24 to heterologously produce the ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide, bottromycin, as well as the polyketide, pamamycin. The modified strains successfully produced these compounds using waste and non-food model substrates like protocatechuate (derived from lignin), 4-hydroxybenzoate (sourced from plastic waste), and mannitol (from seaweed). Comprehensive transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses offered insights into how these substrates influenced the cellular metabolism of S. lividans. When evaluating production efficiency, S. lividans showcased remarkable tolerance, especially in a fed-batch process using a mineral medium containing the toxic aromatic 4-hydroxybenzoate, leading to enhanced and highly selective bottromycin production. Additionally, it generated a unique spectrum of pamamycins when cultured in mannitol-rich seaweed extract without the need for added nutrients. Conclusion. Our study showcases the successful production of high-value natural products using varied waste and non-food raw materials, thereby circumventing the reliance on costly, food-competing resources. S. lividans exhibited remarkable adaptability and resilience across these diverse substrates. When cultured on aromatic compounds, it displayed a distinct array of intracellular CoA esters, presenting promising avenues for polyketide production. Future research could focus on enhancing S. lividans' substrate utilization pathways to more efficiently process the intricate mixtures commonly found in waste and non-food sources.
Project description:Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the most commonly used plastics, utilized in synthetic fibers, water containers, and food packaging. From the 1990s onwards, the demand for PET, and therefore its production, increased exponentially. This increased usage of PET has resulted in a staggering accumulation of undegraded plastic waste. Nearly 80% of the 6300 million tons of plastic waste that had been generated as of 2015 were accumulated in landfills or the natural environment. Moreover, the production of PET relies heavily on non‐renewable fossil fuels, exacerbating environmental concerns over its widespread use. In alignment with principles of environmental sustainability, the biotechnological upcycling of PET has recently emerged as a compelling solution. Since the discovery of PETase, a hydrolase capable of depolymerizing this polyester, enzymatic plastic breakdown is increasingly considered as a promising solution for managing PET waste. This enzyme and its improved derivatives, such as Fast‐PETase, enable the breakdown of PET into bis(2‐41 hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (BHET) and mono(2‐hydroxyethyl) terephthalate (MHET). Subsequently, the enzyme MHETase is responsible for further degradation of MHET into ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. The metabolic capability of microorganisms to utilize these monomers of PET for growth has been explored in various biotechnological applications, especially in the context of bioremediation and bioconversion processes aimed at transforming plastic waste into useful products using genetically engineered bacteria.
2025-05-23 | PXD060720 | Pride
Project description:Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Yard Waste, Food Waste, and Pig Slurry