Project description:Anaerobic microbial communities play a critical role in biogeochemical cycles through complex networks of interactions that influence community structure, stability, and functionality. This study investigates the metabolic interactions within synthetic communities composed of a cellulolytic bacterium (Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum), a hydrogenotrophic methanogen (Methanospirillum hungatei), an acetoclastic methanogen (Methanosaeta concilii), and a sulfate-reducing bacterium (Desulfovibrio vulgaris). Through proteogenomic analysis and metabolic modeling, we quantified the metabolic interaction potential and metabolic resource overlap across bi-, tri-, and quad-cultures.
Project description:In this study, we created a synthetic mucin-degrading microbial community to specifically study mucin-driven ecological interactions in vitro. The synthetic community consisted of primary mucin degraders and cross-feeders. We tracked community composition and dynamics and the mucin-degrading enzymes that were produced.
Project description:Purpose: Identification of transcriptionally active genes in the unculturable community constituent, Smithella, during hexadecane degradation; Differential gene expression analysis of hexadecane-relevant genes acoss three different conditions; Extension of metatranscriptomic datasets to other community constituents to identify interspecies relationships. mRNA profiles were generated for this community across three different conditions (hexadecane-, butyric acid-, caprylic acid-degrading conditions) using a modified version of Nextera and sequenced using Illumina's Miseq platform.