Diversity and function of CO-utilising microbes in Azores hot springs revealed by metagenomics
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potential carbon and energy source for anaerobic microbes in hydrothermal environments. To date, only a small number of thermophilic CO-utilising microbes have been isolated from hydrothermal areas around the world, primarily producing molecular hydrogen (H2) from CO oxidation. Finding microbes with the potential to produce other high-value compounds from CO is of biotechnological interest as these microbes can be employed in industrial processes, such as syngas fermentation, for the production of chemicals and fuels. In the present study, we explored metagenomes from 12 hot springs on the island of São Miguel (Azores) to identify microbes with the genomic potential of utilising CO.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potential carbon and energy source for anaerobic microbes in hydrothermal environments. To date, only a small number of thermophilic CO-utilising microbes have been isolated from hydrothermal areas around the world, primarily producing molecular hydrogen (H2) from CO oxidation. Finding microbes with the potential to produce other high-value compounds from CO is of biotechnological interest as these microbes can be employed in industrial processes, such as syngas fermentation, for the production of chemicals and fuels. In the present study, we explored metagenomes from 12 hot springs on the island of São Miguel (Azores) to identify microbes with the genomic potential of utilising CO.