Investigation of the Role of Satellite Microorganisms in the Functioning of Methanotrophic Communities

The use of synthetic methane-consuming communities is a promising direction for increasing the efficacy of cultivation of methanotrophic bacteria. Non-methanotrophic satellites as a part of bacterial associations are able to utilize metabolites and lysis products that inhibit growth of a dominant bacterial culture. This research allowed us to determine the positive effect of Brevibacillus brevis on biomass accumulation during co-cultivation with the methanotrophic bacteria of the genera Methylosinus and Methylocystis. It was also revealed that the stationary phase occurs later for methane-consuming bacteria in association with Brevibacillus brevis, Cupriavidus necator, and Azospirillum lipoferum. During cultivation of binary associates, including Azospirillum lipoferum and Brevibacillus brevis, an increased growth rate was observed for selected methanotrophic bacteria in the presence of the inhibitory methanol concentration. An increase in the proportion of protein was found in the biomass of binary associates with Cupriavidus necator as a satellite. It was shown that the actinobacteria Nocardia farcinica has a negative impact on the growth rate of synthetic methane-consuming communities. Cultivation of methanotrophs with selected non-methanotrophic bacteria in synthetic microbial communities allows us to intensify the growth of the desired bacterial culture and potentially enhance cultivation productivity.