Linking microbial community structure and function during the anaerobic digestion of grass

In this study, microbial communities from triplicate leach-bed anaerobic bioreactors digesting grass were analysed. Each reactor comprised two microbial fractions, one immobilized on grass (biofilm) and the other in a planktonic state present in the leachate. Microbial communities from the two fractions were systematically investigated for community composition and function. This was carried out using DNA, RNA and protein co-extraction. The microbial structure of each fraction was examined using 16S rRNA deep sequencing, while the active members of the consortia were identified using the same approach on cDNA generated from co-extracted RNA samples. Microbial function was investigated using a metaproteomic workflow combining SDS-PAGE and LC-MS/MS analysis.