Geobacter strains that use alternate organic compounds, methods of making, and methods of use thereof

摘要

In preferred embodiments, the present invention provides new isolated strains of a Geobacter species that are capable of using a carbon source that is selected from C3 to C12 organic compounds selected from pyruvate or metabolic precursors of pyruvate as an electron donor in metabolism and in subsequent energy production. The wild type strain of the microorganisms has been shown to be unable to use these C3 to C12 organic compounds as electron donors. The inventive strains of microorganisms are useful for improving bioremediation applications, including in situ bioremediation (including uranium bioremediation and halogenated solvent bioremediation), microbial fuel cells, power generation from small and large-scale waste facilities (e.g., biomass waste from dairy, agriculture, food processing, brewery, or vintner industries, etc.) using microbial fuel cells, and other applications of microbial fuel cells, including, but not limited to, improved electrical power supplies for environmental sensors, electronic devices, and electric vehicles.

主权项

1. A method of making an isolated adapted strain of an electricigenic microbe that can use an alternative organic compound as an electron donor wherein the alternative organic compound is not preferably used as an electron donor by a parent strain of the electricigenic microbe, comprising the steps of:
a. providing a first vessel that contains a first culture, the first culture comprising the parent strain of the electricigenic microbe, wherein the parent strain is Geobacter sulfurreducens strain identified as ATCC deposit ATCC-51573, and
a first growth medium that includesa preferred organic compound as an electron donor anda corresponding electron acceptor; b. setting n =1, where n is an integer from 1 to 100, inclusive; c. removing an aliquot of the parent strain of the electricigenic microbe after a growth interval; d. inoculating a second vessel that contains
a second growth medium that includesan alternative organic compound that replaces the preferred organic compound as an electron donor anda corresponding electron acceptorwith said aliquot of the parent strain of the electricigenic microbe to form an adapted culture; e. incrementing n by 1 according to the relation n =n +1; f. transferring an aliquot of the (n−1)th adapted culture to another vessel that contains the second growth medium to inoculate an nth adapted culture; g. monitoring the growth rate of the nth adapted culture, noting the start of an exponential phase, and continuing until the growth rate is in mid or late exponential phase; h. repeating steps d-g unless
either the time period from inoculation until the start of the exponential phase of the nth adapted culture is more than 0.4 times the time period from inoculation until the start of the exponential phase of the (n−1)th adapted culture; orthe increase in the growth rate of the nth adapted culture compared to its predecessor is less than that of the (n−1)th adapted culture compared to its predecessor, orthe doubling time of the nth adapted culture in the second growth medium is greater than or equal to the doubling time of the parent strain in the first growth medium; and i. isolating the adapted strain of the electricigenic microbe from the nth adapted culture, wherein the adapted strain is Geobacter sulfurreducens strain identified as ATCC deposit PTA-10250.