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Chapter 13 Applications of mixed microbial cultures in industrial biotechnology

  • Sandy Schmidt
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The Autotrophic Biorefinery
This chapter is in the book The Autotrophic Biorefinery

Abstract

Microbial consortia are ubiquitously found in nature and are applied in biotechnological processes such as fermentation, waste treatment and agriculture for millennia. Those consortia consist of member organisms that are together more robust to environmental changes, exhibit reduced metabolic burden, possess expanded metabolic capabilities compared to monocultures and communicate between species. Those unique strengths of microbial consortia make them an attractive production platform for many biotechnological applications. Moreover, mixed cultures of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms open up the possibility to combine the strengths of both; the autotrophic metabolism promoting a sustainable and green bioeconomy with the efficiency of high-performing heterotrophs to manufacture high-value added products. As a result, the field of mixed culture biotechnology has significantly developed and expanded toward the engineering of microbial consortia to expand the scope of possible applications. This chapter provides an outline of the recent developments in mixed culture biotechnology highlighting several examples of mixed cultures used for the production of diverse products. Furthermore, insights into the type of interactions observed in microbial consortia and current limitations associated with these bioproduction systems are discussed.

Abstract

Microbial consortia are ubiquitously found in nature and are applied in biotechnological processes such as fermentation, waste treatment and agriculture for millennia. Those consortia consist of member organisms that are together more robust to environmental changes, exhibit reduced metabolic burden, possess expanded metabolic capabilities compared to monocultures and communicate between species. Those unique strengths of microbial consortia make them an attractive production platform for many biotechnological applications. Moreover, mixed cultures of autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms open up the possibility to combine the strengths of both; the autotrophic metabolism promoting a sustainable and green bioeconomy with the efficiency of high-performing heterotrophs to manufacture high-value added products. As a result, the field of mixed culture biotechnology has significantly developed and expanded toward the engineering of microbial consortia to expand the scope of possible applications. This chapter provides an outline of the recent developments in mixed culture biotechnology highlighting several examples of mixed cultures used for the production of diverse products. Furthermore, insights into the type of interactions observed in microbial consortia and current limitations associated with these bioproduction systems are discussed.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. List of authors VII
  4. Chapter 1 A short recapitulation of the autotrophic metabolism 1
  5. Chapter 2 Metabolic engineering of microbes 19
  6. Chapter 3 Protein engineering 47
  7. Chapter 4 Gas fermentation 85
  8. Chapter 5 Introduction to autotrophic cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors 113
  9. Chapter 6 Synthetic biology of cyanobacteria 131
  10. Chapter 7 Algal biotechnology 173
  11. Chapter 8 Biocatalytic applications of autotrophic organisms 207
  12. Chapter 9 Photocatalysis to promote cell-free biocatalytic reactions 247
  13. Chapter 10 Electroautotrophs: feeding microbes with current for CO2 fixation 277
  14. Chapter 11 Cupriavidus necator – a broadly applicable aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium 297
  15. Chapter 12 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) as renewable resource 319
  16. Chapter 13 Applications of mixed microbial cultures in industrial biotechnology 353
  17. Chapter 14 Economic framework of autotrophic processes 385
  18. Index 397
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110550603-013

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Contents V
  3. List of authors VII
  4. Chapter 1 A short recapitulation of the autotrophic metabolism 1
  5. Chapter 2 Metabolic engineering of microbes 19
  6. Chapter 3 Protein engineering 47
  7. Chapter 4 Gas fermentation 85
  8. Chapter 5 Introduction to autotrophic cultivation of microalgae in photobioreactors 113
  9. Chapter 6 Synthetic biology of cyanobacteria 131
  10. Chapter 7 Algal biotechnology 173
  11. Chapter 8 Biocatalytic applications of autotrophic organisms 207
  12. Chapter 9 Photocatalysis to promote cell-free biocatalytic reactions 247
  13. Chapter 10 Electroautotrophs: feeding microbes with current for CO2 fixation 277
  14. Chapter 11 Cupriavidus necator – a broadly applicable aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium 297
  15. Chapter 12 Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) as renewable resource 319
  16. Chapter 13 Applications of mixed microbial cultures in industrial biotechnology 353
  17. Chapter 14 Economic framework of autotrophic processes 385
  18. Index 397
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