Journal Article

Ecology and biotechnological potential of the thermophilic fermentative Coprothermobacter spp

Braguglia, C.M., Gagliano, M.C., Rossetti, S., Petruccioli, M.

2015

Overview

Thermophilic bacteria have been isolated from several terrestrial, marine and industrial environments. Anaerobic digesters treating organic wastes are often an important source of these microorganisms, which catalyze a wide array of metabolic processes. Moreover, organic wastes are primarily composed of proteins, whose degradation is often incomplete. Coprothermobacter spp. are proteolytic anaerobic thermophilic microbes identified in several studies focused on the analysis of the microbial community structure in anaerobic thermophilic reactors. They are currently classified in the phylum Firmicutes; nevertheless, several authors showed that the Coprothermobacter group is most closely related to the phyla Dictyoglomi and Thermotoga. Since only a few proteolytic anaerobic thermophiles have been characterized so far, this microorganism has attracted the attention of researchers for its potential applications with high-temperature environments. In addition to proteolysis, Coprothermobacter spp. showed several metabolic abilities and may have a biotechnological application either as source of thermostable enzymes or as inoculum in anaerobic processes. Moreover, they can improve protein degradation by establishing a syntrophy with hydrogenotrophic archaea. To gain a better understanding of the phylogenesis, metabolic capabilities and adaptations of these microorganisms, it is of importance to better define the role in thermophilic environments and to disclose properties not yet investigated. The microbial ecology of Coprothermobacter spp. is attracting great attention due to their proteolytic properties, syntrophic association with methanogens and the possible exploitation in several biotechnological processes.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Adaptation / Anaerobic digestion / Anaerobic microorganisms / Anaerobic processes / Anaerobic treatment / Archaea / Bacteria / Bacteria, Thermophilic / Biodegradation / Bioreactors / Bioreactors - microbiology / Biotechnology / Community structure / Degradation / Ecology / Environmental aspects / Fermentation - genetics / Fermentation - physiology / Genome, Bacterial - genetics / High temperature / High temperature environments / Inoculum / Metabolism / Microbiology / Microorganisms / Organic wastes / Peptide Hydrolases - genetics / Peptide Hydrolases - metabolism / Phylogeny / Physiological aspects / Proteins / Proteolysis / RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics / Temperature / Thermoanaerobacter - classification / Thermoanaerobacter - genetics / Thermoanaerobacter - metabolism / Thermophiles / Thermophilic bacteria / Thermophilic microorganisms