Sustainable production through spatial niche partitioning in engineered light-driven microbial community

Area of Science:

• Synthetic biology
• Biotechnology
• Microbial ecology

Background:

• Light-driven microbial communities offer a sustainable route for biochemical production from carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Instability in artificial communities arises from nutrient competition, hindering robust bioprocessing.
• Spatial partitioning inspired by natural ecosystems presents a strategy to enhance microbial community stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a stable, light-driven microbial community for efficient carbon dioxide conversion.
• To engineer spatial niches for microbial subpopulations to prevent competition and ensure coexistence.
• To advance bioprocessing applications using a robust, reusable living material scaffold.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a light-driven microbial community with Synechococcus elongatus FL130 (autotroph) and Meyerozyma guilliermondii (heterotroph).
• Development of core-shell microgels for precise spatial arrangement and control of microbial subpopulations.
• Integration of microgels into a macroscopic living material scaffold using extrusion bioprinting.

Main Results:

• Achieved a well-coupled, robust, and reusable light-driven microbial community.
• Demonstrated efficient spatial compartmentalization of microbial subpopulations.
• Successfully converted carbon dioxide into valuable chemical products: 2-phenylethanol and tyrosol.

Conclusions:

• Spatially compartmentalized microbial communities are a pioneering approach for sustainable high-value biochemical production.
• Core-shell microgels and extrusion bioprinting enable the construction of stable, engineered microbial consortia.
• This technology holds significant potential for advancing carbon capture and utilization strategies.