J. I. Alves

University of Minho

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Co-Authors

M. M. Alves

University of Minho

Diana Z. Sousa

Wageningen University & Research

M. A. Pereira

University of Minho

Alfons Johannes Maria Stams

Wageningen University & Research

A. J. Cavaleiro

University of Minho

Alfons J. M. Stams

University of Minho

Andreia F. Salvador

University of Minho

A. A. Abreu

University of Minho

Ana L. Arantes

University of Minho

João Paulo Carvalho Moreira

University of Minho

Cooperative Institutions

University of Minho

Universidade do Porto

Wageningen University & Research

University of Lisbon

Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering

University of Coimbra

University of Aveiro

Instituto Superior Técnico

Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

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Harnessing the Power of PCR Molecular Fingerprinting Methods and Next Generation Sequencing for Understanding Structure and Function in Microbial Communities

Methods in molecular biology (2017)

Sujal Phadke Andreia F. Salvador J. I. Alves Orianna Bretschger M. M. Alves

Trouble shooting

Molecular Ecology

10.1007/978-1-4939-7060-5_16

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Citations (3)

Microbial syngas conversion by mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic mixed-cultures

J. I. Alves Diana Z. Sousa M. M. Alves

Basu R et al. (1993) Report for U.S. Department of Energy, 1-32. Henstra AM et al. (2007) Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 18(3) 200206. Hussain A et al. (2011) Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 90:827-836. Oelgeschlager E and Rother M (2008) Arch Microbiol, 190:257-269. Sipma J et al. (2006) Critical Reviews in Biotechnology, 26:41–65. Sokolova TG et al. (2009) FEMS MicrobiolEcol, 68:131-141. Worden RM et al. (1997) American Chemical Society, 321-335. • Regarding CO consumption, the thermophilic suspended sludge offers potential advantages over the mesophilic suspended sludge. T2 I T1 I

Mesophile

Microbial consortium

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Enrichment and microbial characterization of syngas converting anaerobic cultures

J. I. Alves Michael Visser Alfons Johannes Maria Stams Caroline M. Plugge M. M. Alves

Bioconversion of recalcitrant biomass/waste into bulk chemicals or biofuels is often not feasible. By gasification of these materials, syngas (mainly composed of CO2, CO and H2) is generated and can be used for the production of high value compounds by thermochemical or biotechnological processes. Here, three thermophilic cultures enriched with syngas mixtures or pure CO (T-Syn, T-Syn-CO and T-CO) were studied. Stable enriched cultures obtained by subsequent transfers for over a year, convert syngas/CO to mainly acetate and hydrogen (CO partial pressure up to 0.88 bar). 16S rRNA based techniques (PCR-DGGE) showed that predominant microorganisms in the cultures belonged to Desulfotomaculum, Caloribacterium, Thermincola and Thermoanaerobacter genera. Moreover, from the syngasand CO-degrading cultures, a novel Thermoanaerobacter sp. (strain PCO) and a novel Moorella sp. (strain E3-O) were isolated.

Bioconversion

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Strategies for selectng [i.é selecting] hydrogen producing microorganisms affect micro and macro struture of granular sludge

A. A. Abreu J. I. Alves M. A. Pereira Diana Z. Sousa M. M. Alves

Macro

Affect

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Developing a genetic engineering method for Acetobacterium wieringae to expand one-carbon valorization pathways

Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts (2023)

João Paulo Carvalho Moreira John Heap J. I. Alves Lucı́lia Domingues

Developing new bioprocesses to produce chemicals and fuels with reduced production costs will greatly facilitate the replacement of fossil-based raw materials. In most fermentation bioprocesses, the feedstock usually represents the highest cost, which becomes the target for cost reduction. Additionally, the biorefinery concept advocates revenue growth from the production of several compounds using the same feedstock. Taken together, the production of bio commodities from low-cost gas streams containing CO, CO2, and H2, obtained from the gasification of any carbon-containing waste streams or off-gases from heavy industry (steel mills, processing plants, or refineries), embodies an opportunity for affordable and renewable chemical production. To achieve this, by studying non-model autotrophic acetogens, current limitations concerning low growth rates, toxicity by gas streams, and low productivity may be overcome. The Acetobacterium wieringae strain JM is a novel autotrophic acetogen that is capable of producing acetate and ethanol. It exhibits faster growth rates on various gaseous compounds, including carbon monoxide, compared to other Acetobacterium species, making it potentially useful for industrial applications. The species A. wieringae has not been genetically modified, therefore developing a genetic engineering method is important for expanding its product portfolio from gas fermentation and overall improving the characteristics of this acetogen for industrial demands.This work reports the development and optimization of an electrotransformation protocol for A. wieringae strain JM, which can also be used in A. wieringae DSM 1911, and A. woodii DSM 1030. We also show the functionality of the thiamphenicol resistance marker, catP, and the functionality of the origins of replication pBP1, pCB102, pCD6, and pIM13 in all tested Acetobacterium strains, with transformation efficiencies of up to 2.0 × 103 CFU/μgDNA. Key factors affecting electrotransformation efficiency include OD600 of cell harvesting, pH of resuspension buffer, the field strength of the electric pulse, and plasmid amount. Using this method, the acetone production operon from Clostridium acetobutylicum was efficiently introduced in all tested Acetobacterium spp., leading to non-native biochemical acetone production via plasmid-based expression.A. wieringae can be electrotransformed at high efficiency using different plasmids with different replication origins. The electrotransformation procedure and tools reported here unlock the genetic and metabolic manipulation of the biotechnologically relevant A. wieringae strains. For the first time, non-native acetone production is shown in A. wieringae.

Chemical industry

10.1186/s13068-023-02259-6

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Citations (9)

Discontinuous operation promotes efficient continuous anaerobic treatment of effluents with high lipid content

A. J. Cavaleiro J. I. Alves M. M. Alves

A mixture of skim milk and sodium oleate was fed to an upflow sludge bed reactor operated in cycles. Each cycle had a feeding phase under continuous operation and a reaction phase in batch. Five cycles were performed with organic loading rates applied during feeding phases varying between 4.4 and 8 kg COD.m.d and a constant hydraulic retention time of 1.6 days. In the first two cycles, 70% of the methane-COD was produced in the reaction batch phase, whereas from the third to the fifth cycles, biogas production in the reaction phase was less than 3% of total production. Overall methane yields increased steadily, from 0.67 to 0.91 kg COD-CH4.kg COD removed. LCFA accumulated into the sludge in the first two cycles, being palmitate and stearate the dominant intermediates quantified. In the subsequent cycles no LCFA were detected in the solid or liquid phases. The specific methanogenic activity in the presence of acetate and H2/CO2 increased significantly along the operation, particularly between time zero and the end of the third cycle. These results show that a discontinuous operation promoted the development of an active anaerobic community able to efficiently convert a continuous organic load of 8.2 kg COD.m.d, from which 50% was oleate.

Hydraulic retention time

Biogas

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Addition of co-substrates stimulates hexadecene conversion to methane by an enriched microbial consortium

Ana M. S. Paulo Andreia F. Salvador J. I. Alves Rita Castro Alette Langenhoff

Methanosaeta

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In vitro fermentation of raffinose to unravel its potential as prebiotic ingredient

LWT (2020)

Cláudia Amorim Sara C. Silvério Beatriz B. Cardoso J. I. Alves M. A. Pereira

Prebiotic

Ingredient

Lactulose

Stachyose

10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109322

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Citations (50)

Continuous High Rate Anaerobic Treatment of Oleic Acid Based Wastewater is Possible after a Step Feeding Start-Up

Environmental Science & Technology (2009)

A. J. Cavaleiro Andreia F. Salvador J. I. Alves M. M. Alves

Mineralization of a synthetic effluent containing 50% COD as oleic acid was achieved in a continuous anaerobic reactor at organic loading rates up to 21 kg COD m−3 day−1, HRT of 9 h, attaining 99% of COD removal efficiency and a methane yield higher than 70%. A maximum specific methane production rate of 1170 ± 170 mg COD-CH4 g VS−1 day−1 was measured during the reactor's operation. A start-up strategy combining feeding phases and batch degradation phases was applied to promote the development of an anaerobic community efficient for long chain fatty acids (LCFA) mineralization. Through the start-up period, the methane yield increased gradually from 67% to 91%, and LCFA accumulated onto the sludge only during the first 60 days of operation. For the first time, it is demonstrated that a step feeding start-up is required to produce a specialized and efficient anaerobic community for continuous high rate anaerobic treatment of LCFA-rich wastewater.

Start up

10.1021/es8031264

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Citations (74)

LCFA accumulation and biodegradation during anaerobic discontinuous treatment of an oleate-rich wastewater

A. J. Cavaleiro J. I. Alves M. M. Alves

The dynamics of medium and long-chain fatty acids (LCFA) accumulation and biodegradation was studied during the anaerobic treatment of an oleate-rich wastewater. This treatment was made in an upflow sludge bed reactor operated in cycles during 213 days. Five cycles were performed, each one with a feeding phase in continuous and a reaction phase in batch. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids from C6 to C18 were extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography on biomass samples collected at different key moments of the reactor operation. These biomass samples were also incubated in batch assays and methane production from the accumulated substrate was followed. LCFA accumulated onto the sludge during the first two cycles, reaching a maximum value of 1.7 gCOD-LCFA.gVS. Palmitate and stearate were the dominant intermediates quantified, approximately in equal quantities. On the subsequent cycles only residual amounts of LCFA were detected. Methane production on batch assays was higher than expected from the LCFA accumulated, suggesting that other substrates could also be entrapped with the sludge. The results show that during the first two cycles a specialized microbial consortium developed, able to treat oleate-rich wastewaters.

Biogas

Batch reactor

Degradation

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Citations (1)