A heterogeneous 3-member consortium for direct conversion of lignocellulose to short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), specifically butyric acid. The platform consists of Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 (aerobic fungus producing cellulases), Lactobacillus pentosus (facultative anaerobic lactic acid bacterium), and Clostridium tyrobutyricum (obligate anaerobic butyrate producer). Sequential inoculation creates an oxygen gradient allowing coexistence of all members. T. reesei degrades cellulose to sugars, LAB converts sugars to lactate and creates anaerobic conditions, and C. tyrobutyricum ferments lactate to butyrate, achieving 196 kg butyric acid per metric ton of beechwood.
Taxonomy
| Taxon | Ontology ID | Functional Roles | Abundance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30 | NCBITaxon:51453 |
PRIMARY_DEGRADER
|
DOMINANT |
| Lactobacillus pentosus | NCBITaxon:1589 |
SECONDARY_FERMENTER
|
ABUNDANT |
| Clostridium tyrobutyricum | NCBITaxon:1519 |
SECONDARY_FERMENTER
|
ABUNDANT |
Ecological Interactions
Cellulose Hydrolysis to Soluble Sugars
COMMENSALISMSource Taxon: Trichoderma reesei Rut-C30
Metabolites: cellulose (CHEBI:18246), glucose (CHEBI:17234), xylose (CHEBI:18222)
Biological Processes:
- cellulose catabolic process (GO:0030245)
- cellulase activity (GO:0008810)
Evidence
-
PMID:32855308 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"We developed a versatile consortium-based strategy for the direct conversion of lignocellulose to short-chain fatty acids, which included the funneling of the lignocellulosic carbohydrates to lactate as a central intermediate in engineered food chains"
Lactic Acid Fermentation and Oxygen Depletion
SYNTROPHYSource Taxon: Lactobacillus pentosus
Metabolites: glucose (CHEBI:17234), lactate (CHEBI:24996), acetate (CHEBI:30089)
Biological Processes:
- lactate biosynthetic process (GO:0019249)
- fermentation (GO:0006113)
Evidence
-
PMID:32855308 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"A spatial niche enabled in situ cellulolytic enzyme production by an aerobic fungus next to facultative anaerobic lactic acid bacteria and the product-forming anaerobes"
Butyric Acid Production from Lactate
SYNTROPHYSource Taxon: Clostridium tyrobutyricum
Metabolites: lactate (CHEBI:24996), acetate (CHEBI:30089), butyrate (CHEBI:17968)
Biological Processes:
- butyrate biosynthetic process (GO:0019605)
- lactate catabolic process (GO:1903457)
Evidence
-
PMID:32855308 - SUPPORT (IN_VITRO)"Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Veillonella criceti, or Megasphaera elsdenii were integrated into the lactate platform to produce 196 kilograms of butyric acid per metric ton of beechwood"
Environmental Factors
| Factor | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen gradient | aerobic to anaerobic | N/A |
| Inoculation scheme | sequential (T. reesei → L. pentosus → C. tyrobutyricum) | N/A |
| Substrate | lignocellulosic biomass (beechwood) | N/A |
| Product yield | 196 kg butyric acid per metric ton beechwood | N/A |