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Updated: Aug 27, 2025
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Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site
Published on: July 24, 2018
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In situ electrosynthetic bacterial growth using electricity generated by a deep-sea hydrothermal vent
Masahiro Yamamoto1, Yoshihiro Takaki2, Hiroyuki Kashima2
1Institute for Extra-cutting-edge Science and Technology Avant-garde Research (X-star), Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Yokosuka, Japan. myama@jamstec.go.jp.
The ISME Journal
|September 23, 2022
Summary
Deep-sea microbes were cultivated using natural electricity from hydrothermal vents. A novel bacterium, Candidatus Thiomicrorhabdus electrophagus, was discovered, demonstrating electrosynthesis in this unique environment.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Geochemistry
- Bioelectrochemistry
Background:
- Electroautotrophic microorganisms represent a novel form of primary production.
- Deep-sea hydrothermal vents are unique environments with potential for microbial energy harvesting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate in situ electrochemical cultivation of microorganisms at a deep-sea hydrothermal vent.
- To identify microbial communities enriched by naturally occurring electromotive forces.
Main Methods:
- In situ electrochemical cultivation using natural voltage and current at a deep-sea hydrothermal vent.
- 12-day monitoring of voltage and current generation.
- Metagenomic analysis to characterize the dominant microbial community and its genome.
Main Results:
- Observed voltage and current generation linked to microbial activity, fluctuating with tidal cycles.
- A novel bacterium, 'Candidatus Thiomicrorhabdus electrophagus', dominated the cathode-enriched microbial community.
- Genomic analysis revealed thio-autotrophic potential and unique genes for extracellular electron transfer.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates the natural occurrence of electrosynthetic microbial populations in deep-sea hydrothermal environments.
- Geoelectricity can support microbial life and primary production in these extreme ecosystems.
- 'Candidatus Thiomicrorhabdus electrophagus' is proposed as a new species adapted to electricity generation.
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