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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Biology of Microbial Communities - Interview
Published on: May 28, 2007
Response of Propionate-Degrading Methanogenic Microbial Communities to Inhibitory Conditions
Hui-Zhong Wang1, Ying-Chun Yan2, Min Gou1
1College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, No. 24, South Section 1, First Ring Road, Chengdu, 610065, Sichuan, China.
Abstract:
Propionate is a crucial intermediate during methane fermentation. Investigating the effects of different kinds of inhibitors on the propionate-degrading microbial community is necessary to develop countermeasures for improving process stability. In the present study, under inhibitory conditions (acetate, propionate, sulfide, and ammonium addition), the dynamic changes of the propionate-degrading microbial community from a mesophilic chemostat fed with propionate as the sole carbon source were investigated using high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA. Sulfide and/or ammonia inhibited specific species in the microbial community. Compared with Syntrophobacter, Smithella was more resistant to inhibition by sulfide and/or ammonia. However, Syntrophobacter demonstrated greater tolerance than Smithella under acid inhibition conditions. Some genera that had close phylogenetic relationships and similar functions showed similar responses to different inhibitors.
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