Syntrophic co-cultures and uses thereof
Inventors
Papoutsakis, Eleftherios T. • Charubin, Kamil • Mitkas, Alexander A.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12338431-B2
Publication Date
2025-06-24
Expiration Date
Abstract
Syntrophic co-cultures containing at least two microorganisms, wherein (a) at least one of the microorganisms is a solventogen able to metabolize biomass to produce metabolic byproduct(s) therefrom, (b) at least one of the microorganisms is a microorganism different from the solventogen, wherein the microorganism different from the primary solventogen depends on the metabolites and/or the metabolism of the primary solventogen for survival and growth and is able to fix or metabolize the metabolic byproducts produced by the solventogen to produce metabolic byproduct(s) therefrom, and (c) the solventogen is able to metabolize the metabolic byproduct(s) produced by the microorganism different from the solventogen to produce further metabolic byproducts, such as liquid fuels and commodity chemicals, as well as methods for using these syntrophic co-cultures to produce such products via fermentation, are disclosed.
Core Innovation
The invention is directed to a syntrophic co-culture comprising a first microorganism that is a solventogenic microorganism selected from multiple Clostridium species and a second microorganism that is different from the first and is selected from acetogenic microorganisms and Clostridium kluyveri. The co-culture is defined such that the first microorganism and the second microorganism are fused together through their respective cell membranes for metabolite exchange during growth.
A growth medium is used that comprises a carbohydrate and exogenous H2, where the carbohydrate is selected from C5 and C6 sugars, oligosaccharides, hemicellulose, cellulose, starches, and combinations thereof. The first microorganism consumes the carbohydrate and produces CO2, electrons, and at least one other first metabolic product.
The produced CO2, electrons, and the at least one other first metabolic product are transferred from the first microorganism into the second microorganism through cell fusion. The second microorganism consumes the transferred CO2, electrons, and the at least one other first metabolic product, as well as the exogenous H2, converts the at least one other first metabolic product into at least one second product, and produces at least one third metabolic product.
The at least one third metabolic product is transferred from the second microorganism to the first microorganism through cell fusion, and the first microorganism consumes the at least one third metabolic product and produces at least one fourth metabolic product. The disclosed examples support metabolic and electron coupling with metabolite exchange and gas consumption consistent with CO2/H2 utilization.
Claims Coverage
The partial independent claim clm-00001 contains a single independent claim structure, defining a fused syntrophic co-culture and the coupled metabolite transfer functions. The inventive features center on the paired selection of solventogenic and acetogenic microorganisms, cell membrane fusion to transfer CO2/electrons and metabolites, a growth medium with carbohydrate and exogenous H2, and a co-culture ratio range.
Fused syntrophic co-culture of solventogen and acetogen
A syntrophic co-culture comprising a first solventogenic microorganism selected from specified Clostridium species and a second microorganism different from the first selected from acetogenic microorganisms and Clostridium kluyveri, wherein the first and second microorganisms are fused together through their respective cell membranes.
Carbohydrate plus exogenous H2 growth medium
A growth medium comprising a carbohydrate selected from C5 and C6 sugars, oligosaccharides, hemicellulose, cellulose, starches and combinations thereof, and exogenous H2.
CO2 and electron/metabolite transfer through cell fusion
The first microorganism consumes the carbohydrate and produces CO2, electrons, and at least one other first metabolic product, and the CO2, electrons, and the at least one other first metabolic product are transferred from the first microorganism into the second microorganism through the cell fusion.
Bidirectional metabolite exchange and conversion to produce multiple product classes
The second microorganism consumes the CO2, the electrons, the at least one other first metabolic product, and the exogenous H2, converts the at least one other first metabolic product into at least one second product, and produces at least one third metabolic product, wherein the at least one third metabolic product is transferred from the second microorganism to the first microorganism through the cell fusion, and the first microorganism consumes the at least one third metabolic product and produces at least one fourth metabolic product.
Specified first-to-second co-culture ratio range
The first microorganism and the second microorganism are present in the co-culture at a ratio in the range of from 1:2.5 to 1:20.
Across clm-00001, the claim coverage is directed to a fused syntrophic co-culture pairing a solventogenic Clostridium species with an acetogenic microorganism or Clostridium kluyveri, operating on a carbohydrate plus exogenous H2 medium, with CO2/electron and metabolite transfer through cell membrane fusion and bidirectional conversion between the two microorganisms producing multiple metabolic products.
Stated Advantages
Improved carbon balance via acetogen CO2 fixation.
Use of mixed sugar feed plus inorganic gases.
Higher solvent titers.
Documented Applications
ABE fermentation in a co-culture that includes a recombinant acetone-producing E. coli strain co-cultured with Clj to produce reduced solvents such as 2-propanol.
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