Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 5, 2025
11:58
Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
Published on: December 29, 2013
13.3K
Viral diversity and host associations in microbial electrolysis cells
Marie Abadikhah1, Frank Persson1, Anne Farewell2
1Division of Water Environment Technology, Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Sven Hultins gata 6, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden.
ISME Communications
|December 11, 2024
Summary
Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) host diverse phage communities that interact with key bacteria and archaea. This study reveals prophages within dominant anode and cathode microbes, highlighting phage roles in MEC function.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Environmental Science
- Bioengineering
Background:
- Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are crucial for energy conversion, relying on microbial communities.
- Phages, viruses that infect microbes, are known to interact with bacteria and archaea.
- The role and diversity of phage communities within MECs have not been previously investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the prokaryotic and phage communities in MECs.
- To investigate the interactions between phages and functional microorganisms in MECs.
- To determine the prevalence of prophages in dominant MEC microbial populations.
Main Methods:
- Metagenomic sequencing was employed to analyze prokaryotes and phages.
- Prokaryotic draft genomes and phage contigs were assembled.
- Prophage carriage and CRISPR spacers were analyzed to infer phage-host interactions.
Main Results:
- A substantial diversity of prokaryotic (278 species) and phage (873 species) communities was identified.
- 55% of high-quality prokaryotic genomes contained prophages.
- Specific phage families (e.g., Peduoviridae, Straboviridae) showed associations with dominant anode and cathode microbes.
Conclusions:
- MECs harbor diverse and active phage communities.
- Phages interact with key functional prokaryotes at both the anode and cathode.
- Understanding these phage-microbe interactions is essential for optimizing MEC performance.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Viruses of Archaea
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
01:15Diversity of Protists I
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
01:29Types of Microorganisms
Microorganisms are a diverse group of microscopic entities broadly categorized into cellular and acellular types based on their structural organization. Cellular microorganisms include bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, and algae, while acellular microorganisms are represented by viruses.Cellular MicroorganismsBacteriaBacteria, tiny prokaryotic organisms, exhibit fascinating shapes such as rods, spheres, and spirals. They adapt to diverse habitats, including soil, water, and human-associated...
01:28Microbial Nutrition
1
Organisms exhibit remarkable metabolic diversity, categorized based on how they acquire energy and carbon. These strategies enable survival in various ecological niches and are essential for maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycling within ecosystems.Energy and Carbon SourcesOrganisms are classified as phototrophs or chemotrophs based on energy acquisition. Phototrophs use light as their energy source, while chemotrophs rely on oxidizing chemical compounds. Further differentiation arises...
1
00:57Viral Recombination
23.3K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
23.3K
03:00Electrolysis
26.0K
In a galvanic cell, the electrical work is done by a redox system on its surroundings as electrons produced by the spontaneous redox reactions are transferred through an external circuit. Alternatively, an external circuit does work on a redox system by imposing a voltage sufficient to drive an otherwise nonspontaneous reaction in a process known as electrolysis. For instance, recharging a battery involves the use of an external power source to drive the spontaneous (discharge) cell reaction in...
26.0K