Engineering S. oneidensis for Performance Improvement of Microbial Fuel Cell—a Mini Review

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and biotechnology Vol. 193; no. 4; pp. 1170 - 1186
• Main Authors: Leung, Dexter Hoi Long, Lim, Yin Sze, Uma, Kasimayan, Pan, Guan-Ting, Lin, Ja-Hon, Chong, Siewhui, Yang, Thomas Chung-Kuang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-04-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Anaerobic respiration; Biochemical fuel cells; Biochemistry; Biofilms; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electric power generation; Electron transfer; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Genes; Genetic engineering; Genetic transformation; Microorganisms; Respiration; Substrates; Wastewater treatment; Microbial fuel cell; Overexpressing; MFC; EET; Bioelectricity; Shewanella
• ISSN: 0273-2289; 1559-0291
• DOI: 10.1007/s12010-020-03469-6

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology that utilizes exoelectrogens cultivated in the form of biofilm to generate power from various types of sources supplied. A metal-reducing pathway is utilized by these organisms to transfer electrons obtained from the metabolism of substrate from anaerobic respiration extracellularly. A widely established model organism that is capable of extracellular electron transfer (EET) is
Shewanella oneidensis
. This review highlights the strategies used in the transformation of
S. oneidensis
and the recent development of MFC in terms of intervention through genetic modifications.
S. oneidensis
was genetically engineered for several aims including the study on the underlying mechanisms of EET, and the enhancement of power generation and wastewater treating potential when used in an MFC. Through engineering
S. oneidensis
, genes responsible for EET are identified and strategies on enhancing the EET efficiency are studied. Overexpressing genes related to EET to enhance biofilm formation, mediator biosynthesis, and respiration appears as one of the common approaches.