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Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Author Spotlight: Scaling Microalgal Biotechnology for Enhanced Biomethane Production
Published on: March 22, 2024
Synergistic modulation of sludge hydrolysate-borne bacteria on glycogen accumulation and carbon fixation mechanisms
Renjie Li1, Yingying Yang1, Jiamin Zhao1
1National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Environmental Risk Assessment and Control on Chemical Process, School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
Abstract:
Utilizing anaerobic sludge hydrolysate for microalgal cultivation offers a win-win strategy for biomass production and environmental remediation. However, the microscopic mechanisms by which indigenous bacteria stimulate glycogen synthesis in microalgae remain unclear. This study explored the potential of coupling microalgae with sludge hydrolysate-borne bacteria and employed transcriptomic analysis to investigate the role of the algal-bacterial consortium on glycogen accumulation. The results revealed that microalgal biomass increased by 1.96-fold in the presence of indigenous bacteria under 25 °C, 4000 lux illumination with a 14:10 h light/dark cycle. The yield of carbohydrates reached 531.93 ± 58.51 mg/L, with significant increases in the key glycosyl donors: glucose (36.02%), mannose (28.74%), and galactose (20.25%). Transcriptomic analysis indicated that bacteria upregulated the TCA cycle and tryptophan metabolism pathways, promoting the release of inorganic carbon and growth factors that activate porphyrin metabolism and gluconeogenesis in Tetradesmus obliquus. The carbon flux shifted towards the synthesis of glycogen in response to pollution-derived carbon input and cellular maintenance demands. These findings offer a sustainable approach to the treatment and disposal of residual sludge and provide novel insights into the use of algal-bacterial consortium for enhancing carbohydrate accumulation.
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