CAREER: Elucidating the Interaction(s) Between Bacteria and Archaea in a Biocathode

该奖项全部或部分由2021年美国救援计划法案（公法117-2）资助。产电菌是一种细菌，它能消化有机物并与二氧化碳一起产生沿着。如果电子可以被运送到细胞外，则细菌被称为外生电菌。这些细菌可以为电子设备提供动力。它们还提供电子，驱动附近生物体的重要反应。该项目的目的是了解一种已知的外生产电菌如何与一种可以将二氧化碳转化为甲烷的微生物（称为产甲烷菌）相互作用。这两种生物的群落可以来回交换电子和含碳分子。了解这是如何发生的，可以帮助我们了解全球碳循环的细节。它还可能导致碳中性的电能系统。培训来自西班牙裔服务学校的K-12教师进行研究，并将工程原理纳入课程是其他主要目标。该推广活动还将吸引K-12学生参加以STEM为重点的大学生导师活动。外生产电菌影响产甲烷生物阴极中的电子流、碳流和生物质形成。M. maripaludis和S. oneidensis是本项目中使用的模式产甲烷菌和外生产电菌。碳和电子转移途径将被映射为单微生物生物阴极和双种群生物阴极。CRISPR Cas9介导的基因组编辑询问电子如何从S. oneidensis为M. maripaludis，并且其中捐赠的电子进入甲烷生成途径。碳运输途径将阐明使用13 C标记的二氧化碳，甲酸盐，乳酸盐在各种单和双种群生物阴极配置，然后通过核磁共振波谱的生物量，和动力学建模。荧光显微镜，扫描电子显微镜，和转录组学分析将用于比较细胞的空间取向和生物膜相关的基因表达的单和双人口阴极生物膜。项目结果将有助于更好地了解生物阴极细菌-古细菌的相互作用。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This award is funded in whole or in part under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2).Some microbes can grow on electrodes. Electrogens are bacteria that can digest organic matter and generate electrons along with carbon dioxide. If the electrons can be shipped outside the cell, the bacteria are referred to as exoelectrogens. These bacteria can power electrical devices. They also supply electrons that drive important reactions to nearby organisms. This objective of this project is to understand how a known exoelectrogen interacts with a microbe that can convert carbon dioxide to methane, referred to as a methanogen. Communities of these two types of organisms can swap electrons and carbon-containing molecules back and forth. Understanding how this occurs can help us understand the details of the global carbon cycle. It could also lead to a carbon-neutral electric energy system. Training K-12 teachers from Hispanic-serving schools to conduct research and to incorporate engineering principles into lessons are other major objectives. This outreach will also engage K-12 students in STEM-focused mentorship activities with university students.Exoelectrogens influence the electron flow, carbon flow, and biomass formation in a methanogenic biocathode. M. maripaludis and S. oneidensis are the model methanogen and exoeletrogen used in the project. Carbon and electron transfer pathways will be mapped for single-microbe biocathodes and for a dual-population biocathode. CRISPR Cas9 mediated genome editing interrogate how electrons are passed from S. oneidensis to M. maripaludis, and where donated electrons enter the methanogenesis pathway. Carbon transport pathways will be elucidated using 13C labeling of carbon dioxide, formate, and lactate in various single- and dual-population biocathode configurations, followed by NMR spectroscopy of biomass, and kinetic modeling. Fluorescence microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transcriptomics analyses will be used to compare cell spatial orientation and biofilm-related gene expression in the single- and dual-population cathode biofilms. Project results will lead to a better understanding of biocathode bacteria-archaea interactions. This will ultimately support improved design and scaling up of bioelectrochemical systems for energy recovery and wastewater treatment.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.