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Desulfovibrio-Methanococcus Syntrophic Consortium

Community ID CommunityMech:000023
Ecological State STABLE
Environment sulfate-free anaerobic environment — ontology label: laboratory environment
ENVO:01001405 · HabitatMech ↗

A syntrophic, obligate two-member anaerobic consortium consisting of Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, which oxidizes lactate to acetate, H2, and CO2 in the absence of sulfate, and Methanococcus maripaludis S2, a hydrogenotrophic methanogen. D. vulgaris can reduce sulfate when available, but in sulfate-free environments it must grow syntrophically by coupling lactate oxidation to interspecies hydrogen transfer. M. maripaludis consumes the H2 and CO2 produced by D. vulgaris to produce methane, maintaining the low H2 partial pressure thermodynamically required for continued lactate oxidation. This syntrophic relationship is fundamental to understanding microbial metabolism in sulfate-depleted anaerobic environments and represents a classic model system for studying syntrophic electron transfer mechanisms.

Taxonomy

Taxon Ontology ID Functional Roles Abundance
Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough — ontology label: Nitratidesulfovibrio vulgaris str. Hildenborough NCBITaxon:882 · TaxonMech · TraitMech
PRIMARY_DEGRADER SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
N/A
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "In this study, comparative transcriptional analysis of a model sulfate-reducing microbe, Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, suggested the use of alternative electron transfer systems dependent on growth modality"
Methanococcus maripaludis S2 NCBITaxon:267377 · TaxonMech · TraitMech
SYNTROPHIC_PARTNER
N/A
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "In this study, comparative transcriptional analysis of a model sulfate-reducing microbe, Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, suggested the use of alternative electron transfer systems dependent on growth modality"

Ecological Interactions

The graph shows only explicitly linked interaction participants. Community members without an asserted participant link are omitted; membership alone does not imply an interaction.

Ecological interaction network for Desulfovibrio-Methanococcus Syntrophic Consortium Bipartite graph where circles represent taxa and non-circular symbols represent interactions, with distinct shapes and colours for syntrophy. Rare or untyped interactions share the Other symbol; exact curated types remain in the interaction details.
Taxon
Syntrophy
Other

Lactate Oxidation and H2 Production

SYNTROPHY

DvH provides hydrogen during lactate fermentation in the no-added-sulfate coculture with M. maripaludis S2. Low hydrogen supports fermentative energetics; the uphill lactate-to-pyruvate step must not be equated with the thermodynamics of the complete fermentation.

Source Taxon: Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

Target Taxon: Methanococcus maripaludis S2

Metabolites: lactate (CHEBI:24996 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech), acetate (CHEBI:30089 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech), dihydrogen (CHEBI:18276 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech), carbon dioxide (CHEBI:16526 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech)

Biological Processes:

Downstream Effects:
→ D. vulgaris Hydrogenase-Cytochrome Electron Transfer

PARTIAL - lactate-derived electrons feed the proposed hydrogenase/cytochrome route. Expression and mutant phenotypes support contributions, not a fully resolved electron path or universal component necessity.

Evidence

  • PMID:19581361 - PARTIAL (IN_VITRO)
    "Additionally, a predicted operon containing genes involved in lactate transport and oxidation exhibited upregulation, further suggesting an alternative pathway for electrons derived from lactate oxidation during syntrophic growth"
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "During syntrophic growth on lactate with a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, numerous genes involved in electron transfer and energy generation were upregulated in D. vulgaris"

D. vulgaris Hydrogenase-Cytochrome Electron Transfer

Coo/Hmc mutations strongly impair lactate syntrophy; Hyd/Hyn mutations slow growth without eliminating final yield. Hmc also affects respiratory growth. This donor machinery is not itself interspecies exchange, and its detailed coupling remains a model.

Source Taxon: Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

Metabolites: dihydrogen (CHEBI:18276 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech)

Biological Processes:

Downstream Effects:
→ Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer and Methanogenesis

PARTIAL - donor electron-transfer machinery supports hydrogen provision to the methanogen. Genetic phenotypes support contribution, while the detailed route and coupling remain unresolved.

Evidence

  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "genes coding for the putative membrane-bound Coo hydrogenase, two periplasmic hydrogenases (Hyd and Hyn), and the well-characterized high-molecular-weight cytochrome (Hmc) were among the most highly expressed and upregulated genes"
  • PMID:19581361 - PARTIAL (IN_VITRO)
    "Mutations in a subset of genes coding for Coo, Hmc, Hyd, and Hyn impaired or severely limited syntrophic growth but had little effect on growth via sulfate respiration"

Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer and Methanogenesis

SYNTROPHY

M. maripaludis consumes hydrogen for methanogenesis, supporting DvH through product removal. This feedback is a hydrogen sink, not reverse nutrient donation.

Source Taxon: Methanococcus maripaludis S2

Target Taxon: Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough

Metabolites: dihydrogen (CHEBI:18276 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech), carbon dioxide (CHEBI:16526 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech), methane (CHEBI:16183 · MediaIngredientMech · CMMMech)

Biological Processes:

Downstream Effects:
→ Lactate Oxidation and H2 Production

Methanogen hydrogen consumption supports the low-hydrogen conditions favorable to continued donor lactate fermentation, closing the physiological feedback loop.

Evidence

  • PMID:19581361 - PARTIAL (IN_VITRO)
    "Interspecies hydrogen transfer between organisms producing and consuming hydrogen promotes the decomposition of organic matter in most anoxic environments"
  • PMID:19581361 - PARTIAL (IN_VITRO)
    "Interspecies hydrogen transfer between organisms producing and consuming hydrogen promotes the decomposition of organic matter in most anoxic environments"

Knowledge gaps & discussions (1)

KNOWLEDGE_GAP OPEN How do donor electron-transfer components couple lactate oxidation to hydrogen provision?

Distinguish measured mutant phenotypes from proposed electron routing and ion coupling. Transcript abundance does not establish flux. Donor lactate/pyruvate and syntrophic/respiratory comparisons are distinct. Preserve the physiological feedback cycle, not an accidental self-edge. Metadata and medium evidence remain open under #1398.

Attaches to: ecological_interactions#Lactate Oxidation and H2 Production, ecological_interactions#D. vulgaris Hydrogenase-Cytochrome Electron Transfer, ecological_interactions#Interspecies Hydrogen Transfer and Methanogenesis

Environmental Factors

Factor Value Unit
Anaerobic Conditions Strict anaerobic N/A
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "Although syntrophic coupling between hydrogen producers and consumers is a major feature of the carbon cycle, mechanisms for energy recovery at the extremely low free energies of reactions typical of these anaerobic communities have not been established"
Sulfate Absence Sulfate-free medium N/A
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "vulgaris compared with their expression in sulfate-limited monocultures"
Hydrogen Partial Pressure Must be maintained at low levels N/A
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "During syntrophic growth on lactate with a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, numerous genes involved in electron transfer and energy generation were upregulated in D"
Dilution Rate 0.039 h^-1 per hour
  • PMID:19581361 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)
    "These results demonstrate that syntrophic growth and sulfate respiration use largely independent energy generation pathways and imply that to understand microbial processes that sustain nutrient cycling, lifestyles not captured in pure culture must be considered."

Growth Media

Anaerobic bicarbonate-buffered mineral medium for syntrophic lactate oxidation (CultureMech:000423)

View in CultureMech →

pH 7.0
Temperature 37 degrees Celsius
Atmosphere ANAEROBIC

Composition

Component Concentration Unit CHEBI
Lactate (sodium salt) · MediaIngredientMech 20 mM CHEBI:232798
Sodium bicarbonate · MediaIngredientMech 30 mM CHEBI:32139
Ammonium chloride · MediaIngredientMech 20 mM CHEBI:31206
Sodium phosphate buffer · MediaIngredientMech 2.8 mM CHEBI:37585
Potassium phosphate buffer · MediaIngredientMech 3.5 mM CHEBI:131527
Magnesium chloride · MediaIngredientMech 1 mM CHEBI:6636
Calcium chloride · MediaIngredientMech 0.5 mM CHEBI:3312
Sodium sulfide · MediaIngredientMech 1 mM CHEBI:76209
L-Cysteine hydrochloride · MediaIngredientMech 1 mM CHEBI:91247
Resazurin · MediaIngredientMech 0.5 mg/L CHEBI:8806
Trace element solution SL-10 · MediaIngredientMech 1 mL/L N/A
Vitamin solution · MediaIngredientMech 1 mL/L N/A
Yeast extract · MediaIngredientMech 0.5 g/L N/A
KNO3 · MediaIngredientMech 0.25 G_PER_L N/A
KH2PO4 · MediaIngredientMech 0.1 G_PER_L N/A
MgSO4 x 7 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 0.05 G_PER_L N/A
CaCl2 x 2 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 0.01 G_PER_L N/A
EDTA · MediaIngredientMech 5 G_PER_L N/A
CuCl2 x 5 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 0.1 G_PER_L N/A
FeSO4 x 7 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 2 G_PER_L N/A
ZnSO4 x 7 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 0.1 G_PER_L N/A
NiCl2 x 6 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 0.02 G_PER_L N/A
CoCl2 x 6 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 0.2 G_PER_L N/A
Na2MoO4 · MediaIngredientMech 0.03 G_PER_L N/A
MnCl2 x 4 H2O · MediaIngredientMech 0.03 G_PER_L N/A

Preparation notes: Medium prepared under strict anaerobic conditions using modified Hungate technique. Boiled and cooled under N2/CO2, dispensed anaerobically into serum bottles, sealed with butyl rubber stoppers, and autoclaved. Reducing agents added from sterile anaerobic stock solutions after autoclaving. Final pH adjusted to 7.0. Resazurin indicator used to monitor anaerobiosis (colorless when reduced).

Evidence

PMID:19581361

"During syntrophic growth on lactate with a hydrogenotrophic methanogen, numerous genes involved in electron transfer and energy generation were upregulated in D"

Cross-Mech Suite Links

Explore related entities across the CultureBotAI X-Mech knowledge bases:

HabitatMech: sulfate-free anaerobic environment ↗ TaxonMech: Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough ↗ TraitMech: Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough ↗ TaxonMech: Methanococcus maripaludis S2 ↗ TraitMech: Methanococcus maripaludis S2 ↗ CMMMech (Critical Minerals & REE) ↗ CultureMech Growth Media ↗ PathwayMech Pathways ↗