A two-step screening platform based on <i>trans</i> -aconitic acid assimilation unlocks novel bacterial resources for <i>trans</i> -aconitic acid production

-aconitic acid (TAA), to target the discovery of microbial TAA-producing strains. Using TAA assimilation as a phenotypic marker for rapid screening, this strategy overcomes the key bottleneck of scarce microbial resources. The results show that this method effectively identified seven previously unknown genera of TAA-producing bacteria, greatly expanding the phylogenetic diversity and revealing the widespread presence of TAA metabolism across different taxa. Significant yield variation among different isolates underscores their potential as chassis for strain improvement. These resources provide a sustainable driving force for constructing efficient microbial cell factories, facilitating industrial bioproduction of TAA to meet the growing demands of agricultural biocontrol and advanced biomanufacturing.