title: Novel method for screening microbes for application in microbial fuel cell.
abstract: The ability to produce and to transport exo-electrons by microbes either to external acceptors or to electrodes are reported in our study. All investigated microorganisms (exception of Lactobacillus plantarum) exhibited strong iron-reducing capabilities in the absence of mediator meaning production and secretion of exo-electrons to the growth medium. L.plantarum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli need an electron shuttle molecule to reduce Fe(3+) ion. Significant correlation was observed between growth and iron-reducing capacity, as well as between initial cell counts and iron-reducing capacity. Changes of bio-current generated in MFC and iron-reduction were experimentally monitored, and a mathematical model was established by regression analysis. Based on these results, a novel and rapid screening method was developed for the selection of microorganisms for potential application in MFC. The method is based on the measurement of absorbance of bacterial and yeast cultures at 460 nm, providing a robust and high sample throughput approach.
authors.affiliation: Department of Brewing and Distilling, Corvinus University of Budapest, Ménesi út 45., 1118 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szöllősi
authors.affiliation: Department of Brewing and Distilling, Corvinus University of Budapest, Ménesi út 45., 1118 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Judit M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rezessy-Szabó
authors.affiliation: Department of Brewing and Distilling, Corvinus University of Budapest, Ménesi út 45., 1118 Budapest, Hungary.
authors.forename: Ágoston
authors.initials: Á
authors.lastname: Hoschke
authors.affiliation: Department of Brewing and Distilling, Corvinus University of Budapest, Ménesi út 45., 1118 Budapest, Hungary. Electronic address: quang.nguyenduc@uni-corvinus.hu.
authors.forename: Quang D
authors.initials: QD
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004560:Electricity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D007501:Iron / Q000494:pharmacology; D016014:Linear Models; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction / Q000187:drug effects; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007501:Iron
keywords: Bio-electricity; Electron transfer; Iron-reduction; Microbial fuel cell; Screening method