Establishing a core microbiome in acetate-fed microbial fuel cells

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bioelectrochemistry
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) rely on anodic biofilms for power generation.
• Understanding the core microbiome is crucial for optimizing MFC efficiency and power output.
• Previous studies have not fully characterized the long-term stability of core communities in MFCs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the core microbial community in anodic biofilms of MFCs.
• To investigate the development and variation of these communities over time and across different reactor designs.
• To determine the key microbial genera associated with high-power MFC performance.

Main Methods:

• Utilized 454 pyrosequencing for high-throughput analysis of microbial communities.
• Monitored biofilm communities over a four-year period under consistent conditions.
• Compared community structures across different MFC reactor designs.

Main Results:

• A stable core anodic microbiome consistently emerged over four years.
• Identified core genera (Geobacter, Aminiphilus, Sedimentibacter, Acetoanaerobium, Spirochaeta) comprising 72% of high-power biofilms.
• Observed higher abundances of Aminiphilus spp. than previously reported in other studies.
• Demonstrated stability at both phylogenetic and functional levels in acetate-fed MFCs.

Conclusions:

• A consistent and stable core microbiome can be established in acetate-fed MFCs.
• Specific microbial genera are key drivers of high power generation in MFCs.
• Findings provide a foundation for targeted optimization of MFC microbial communities for enhanced performance.