Biotechnological potential of microbial consortia and future perspectives

Abstract

Design of a microbial consortium is a newly emerging field that enables researchers to extend the frontiers of biotechnology from a pure culture to mixed cultures. A microbial consortium enables microbes to use a broad range of carbon sources. It provides microbes with robustness in response to environmental stress factors. Microbes in a consortium can perform complex functions that are impossible for a single organism. With advancement of technology, it is now possible to understand microbial interaction mechanism and construct consortia. Microbial consortia can be classified in terms of their construction, modes of interaction, and functions. Here we discuss different trends in the study of microbial functions and interactions, including single-cell genomics (SCG), microfluidics, fluorescent imaging, and membrane separation. Community profile studies using polymerase chain-reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE), amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), and terminal restriction fragment-length polymorphism (T-RFLP) are also reviewed. We also provide a few examples of their possible applications in areas of biopolymers, bioenergy, biochemicals, and bioremediation.

Keywords:

• Bioenergy
• biochemical
• bioremediation
• biopolymer
• microbial consortia

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge the KU Research Professor Program of Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea for providing financial support to Dr. Shashi Kant Bhatia; and the UGC-RGNF Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program, India, for providing financial support to Dr. Ravi Kant Bhatia. This study was also supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Education [NRF-2015M1A5A1037196, 2016R1D1A1B03932163, and 2017R1D1A1B03030766], Research Program to solve social issues of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT [2017M3A9E4077234]. Consulting service from the Microbial Carbohydrate Resource Bank (MCRB, Seoul, Korea) was kindly appreciated.