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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Renewable Product Technology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #394540
Research Project: Antimicrobials for Biorefining and Agricultural Applications

Location: Renewable Product Technology Research

Title: Mining the genomes of biofuel contaminants for possible remedies to stuck fermentation

Author
item PATEL, MAULIK - Orise Fellow
item Lu, Shao
item Skory, Christopher

Submitted to: Society of Industrial Microbiology Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/10/2022
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Biofuel fermentation industries are not operated under strict sterile conditions and hence are prone to microbial contamination. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are often pervasive in fermentation tanks, competing for nutrients and producing inhibitory acids that have a negative impact on ethanol producing yeast, resulting in decreased yields and stuck fermentations. Antibiotics and other chemical agents are frequently used to combat contamination. We have demonstrated that endolysins are another effective method for controlling growth of LAB. Endolysins are bacteriophage-encoded peptidoglycan hydrolases that target gram positive bacteria. We sequenced the genomes of over 100 LAB isolated from different fuel ethanol facilities. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that these genomes were rich in phage genes, representing several different catalytic and binding domains. We identified GH25 catalytic domains in 69 genomes, amidase 5/NlpC/P60 coding regions in 10 genomes, and bifunctional autolysin/amidase 2 type domains in 47 genomes. In addition, we observed the presence of a variety of cell wall binding domains such as SH3, SLAP, DUF5776 and LysM. Genome mining further helped to understand the possible mechanism of competition and survival of these contaminants. Several LAB contained unique carbohydrate utilizing genes (CAZymes), PTS component genes, various dehydrogenase genes and other accessory genes that could provide an advantage to survival. This finding may help in designing a strategy to mitigate LAB contamination in biofuel refineries.