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Pankratov D, Hidalgo Martinez S, Karman C, Gerzhik A, Gomila G, Trashin S, Boschker HTS, Geelhoed JS, Mayer D, De Wael K, J R Meysman F. The organo-metal-like nature of long-range conduction in cable bacteria. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 157:108675. [PMID: 38422765 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Cable bacteria are filamentous, multicellular microorganisms that display an exceptional form of biological electron transport across centimeter-scale distances. Currents are guided through a network of nickel-containing protein fibers within the cell envelope. Still, the mechanism of long-range conduction remains unresolved. Here, we characterize the conductance of the fiber network under dry and wet, physiologically relevant, conditions. Our data reveal that the fiber conductivity is high (median value: 27 S cm-1; range: 2 to 564 S cm-1), does not show any redox signature, has a low thermal activation energy (Ea = 69 ± 23 meV), and is not affected by humidity or the presence of ions. These features set the nickel-based conduction mechanism in cable bacteria apart from other known forms of biological electron transport. As such, conduction resembles that of an organic semi-metal with a high charge carrier density. Our observation that biochemistry can synthesize an organo-metal-like structure opens the way for novel bio-based electronic technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii Pankratov
- Geobiology Group, Microbial Systems Technology Excellence Centre, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Silvia Hidalgo Martinez
- Geobiology Group, Microbial Systems Technology Excellence Centre, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Cheryl Karman
- Geobiology Group, Microbial Systems Technology Excellence Centre, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Anastasia Gerzhik
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Gabriel Gomila
- Nanoscale Bioelectric Characterization Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Baldiri i Reixac 15-21, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Electronics and Biomedical Engineering, Universitat de Barcelona, Martí i Franqués 1, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Stanislav Trashin
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Henricus T S Boschker
- Geobiology Group, Microbial Systems Technology Excellence Centre, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Jeanine S Geelhoed
- Geobiology Group, Microbial Systems Technology Excellence Centre, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Dirk Mayer
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, Bioelectronics (IBI-3), Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52428 Jülich, Germany
| | - Karolien De Wael
- A-Sense Lab, Department of Bioscience Engineering, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Filip J R Meysman
- Geobiology Group, Microbial Systems Technology Excellence Centre, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ Delft, the Netherlands.
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Meysman FJR, Cornelissen R, Trashin S, Bonné R, Martinez SH, van der Veen J, Blom CJ, Karman C, Hou JL, Eachambadi RT, Geelhoed JS, Wael KD, Beaumont HJE, Cleuren B, Valcke R, van der Zant HSJ, Boschker HTS, Manca JV. A highly conductive fibre network enables centimetre-scale electron transport in multicellular cable bacteria. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4120. [PMID: 31511526 PMCID: PMC6739318 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12115-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological electron transport is classically thought to occur over nanometre distances, yet recent studies suggest that electrical currents can run along centimetre-long cable bacteria. The phenomenon remains elusive, however, as currents have not been directly measured, nor have the conductive structures been identified. Here we demonstrate that cable bacteria conduct electrons over centimetre distances via highly conductive fibres embedded in the cell envelope. Direct electrode measurements reveal nanoampere currents in intact filaments up to 10.1 mm long (>2000 adjacent cells). A network of parallel periplasmic fibres displays a high conductivity (up to 79 S cm−1), explaining currents measured through intact filaments. Conductance rapidly declines upon exposure to air, but remains stable under vacuum, demonstrating that charge transfer is electronic rather than ionic. Our finding of a biological structure that efficiently guides electrical currents over long distances greatly expands the paradigm of biological charge transport and could enable new bio-electronic applications. Cable bacteria’ form long multicellular filaments that can transfer electrical currents over centimetre-long distances. Here, Meysman et al. show that the electrical currents run along highly conductive fibres embedded in the cell envelope, and charge transfer is electronic rather than ionic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip J R Meysman
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium. .,Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Delft, The Netherlands.
| | - Rob Cornelissen
- X-LAB, Hasselt University, Agoralaan D, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Stanislav Trashin
- AXES Research group, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Robin Bonné
- X-LAB, Hasselt University, Agoralaan D, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Silvia Hidalgo Martinez
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jasper van der Veen
- Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Technical University Delft, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Carsten J Blom
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Cheryl Karman
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.,AXES Research group, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Ji-Ling Hou
- X-LAB, Hasselt University, Agoralaan D, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | | | - Jeanine S Geelhoed
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Karolien De Wael
- AXES Research group, Department of Chemistry, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, B-2020, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Hubertus J E Beaumont
- Department of Bionanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Cleuren
- Theoretical Physics, Hasselt University, Agoralaan D, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Roland Valcke
- Molecular and Physical Plant Physiology, Hasselt University, Agoralaan D, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
| | - Herre S J van der Zant
- Department of Quantum Nanoscience, Kavli Institute of Nanoscience, Technical University Delft, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Henricus T S Boschker
- Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610, Wilrijk, Belgium.,Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Van der Maasweg 9, 2629HZ, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Jean V Manca
- X-LAB, Hasselt University, Agoralaan D, B-3590, Diepenbeek, Belgium
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De Paepe K, Verspreet J, Rezaei MN, Hidalgo Martinez S, Meysman F, Van de Walle D, Dewettinck K, Raes J, Courtin C, Van de Wiele T. Isolation of wheat bran-colonizing and metabolizing species from the human fecal microbiota. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6293. [PMID: 30701133 PMCID: PMC6348960 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Undigestible, insoluble food particles, such as wheat bran, are important dietary constituents that serve as a fermentation substrate for the human gut microbiota. The first step in wheat bran fermentation involves the poorly studied solubilization of fibers from the complex insoluble wheat bran structure. Attachment of bacteria has been suggested to promote the efficient hydrolysis of insoluble substrates, but the mechanisms and drivers of this microbial attachment and colonization, as well as subsequent fermentation remain to be elucidated. We have previously shown that an individually dependent subset of gut bacteria is able to colonize the wheat bran residue. Here, we isolated these bran-attached microorganisms, which can then be used to gain mechanistic insights in future pure culture experiments. Four healthy fecal donors were screened to account for inter-individual differences in gut microbiota composition. A combination of a direct plating and enrichment method resulted in the isolation of a phylogenetically diverse set of species, belonging to the Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla. A comparison with 16S rRNA gene sequences that were found enriched on wheat bran particles in previous studies, however, showed that the isolates do not yet cover the entire diversity of wheat-bran colonizing species, comprising among others a broad range of Prevotella, Bacteroides and Clostridium cluster XIVa species. We, therefore, suggest several modifications to the experiment set-up to further expand the array of isolated species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim De Paepe
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium
| | - Joran Verspreet
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
- Current affiliation: Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Mohammad Naser Rezaei
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Silvia Hidalgo Martinez
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Ecosystem Management Research Group (ECOBE), Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Filip Meysman
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, Ecosystem Management Research Group (ECOBE), Universiteit Antwerpen, Antwerpen, Belgium
- Department of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - Davy Van de Walle
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Laboratory of Food Technology and Engineering (FTE), Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium
| | - Koen Dewettinck
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Food Technology, Safety and Health, Laboratory of Food Technology and Engineering (FTE), Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Raes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Center for Microbiology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Christophe Courtin
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe), Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Tom Van de Wiele
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Universiteit Gent, Gent, Belgium
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De Paepe K, Verspreet J, Rezaei MN, Martinez SH, Meysman F, Van de Walle D, Dewettinck K, Courtin CM, Van de Wiele T. Modification of wheat bran particle size and tissue composition affects colonisation and metabolism by human faecal microbiota. Food Funct 2019; 10:379-396. [DOI: 10.1039/c8fo01272e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Six wheat bran products, varying in particle size, histological and chemical composition differentially affected thein vitrofermentation activity and composition of human faecal microbiota of ten individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim De Paepe
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET)
- Department of Biotechnology
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
- Ghent University
- Ghent
| | - Joran Verspreet
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe)
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
- KU Leuven
- Heverlee
| | - Mohammad Naser Rezaei
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe)
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
- KU Leuven
- Heverlee
| | - Silvia Hidalgo Martinez
- Ecosystem Management Research Group (ECOBE)
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Sciences
- Universiteit Antwerpen
- Antwerp
| | - Filip Meysman
- Ecosystem Management Research Group (ECOBE)
- Department of Biology
- Faculty of Sciences
- Universiteit Antwerpen
- Antwerp
| | - Davy Van de Walle
- Laboratory of Food Technology and Engineering (FTE)
- Department of Food technology
- Safety and Health
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
- Ghent University
| | - Koen Dewettinck
- Laboratory of Food Technology and Engineering (FTE)
- Department of Food technology
- Safety and Health
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
- Ghent University
| | - Christophe M. Courtin
- Laboratory of Food Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Leuven Food Science and Nutrition Research Centre (LFoRCe)
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
- KU Leuven
- Heverlee
| | - Tom Van de Wiele
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET)
- Department of Biotechnology
- Faculty of Bioscience Engineering
- Ghent University
- Ghent
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