Anaerobic synthetic microbial communities

Anaerobic microbial communities play a critical role in biogeochemical cycles through complex networks of interactions that influence community structure, stability, and functionality. This study investigates the metabolic interactions within synthetic communities composed of a cellulolytic bacterium (Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum), a hydrogenotrophic methanogen (Methanospirillum hungatei), an acetoclastic methanogen (Methanosaeta concilii), and a sulfate-reducing bacterium (Desulfovibrio vulgaris). Through proteogenomic analysis and metabolic modeling, we quantified the metabolic interaction potential and metabolic resource overlap across bi-, tri-, and quad-cultures.