A single point mutation in the Listeria monocytogenes ribosomal gene rpsU enables SigB activation independently of the stressosome and the anti-sigma factor antagonist RsbV

Microbial population heterogeneity leads to different stress responses and growth behavior of individual cells in a population. Previously, a point mutation in the rpsU gene (rpsUG50C) encoding ribosomal protein S21 was identified in a Listeria monocytogenes LO28 variant, which leads to increased multi-stress resistance and a reduced maximum specific growth rate. However, the underlying mechanisms of these phenotypic changes remain unknown. In L. monocytogenes, the alternative sigma factor SigB regulates the general stress response, with its activation controlled by a series of Rsb proteins, including RsbR1 and anti-sigma factor RsbW and its antagonist RsbV. We combined a phenotype and proteomics approach to investigate the acid and heat stress resistance, growth rate, and SigB activation of L. monocytogenes EGDe wild type and the ΔsigB, ΔrsbV, and ΔrsbR1 mutant strains. While the introduction of rpsUG50C in the ΔsigB mutant did not induce a SigB-mediated increase in robustness, the presence of rpsUG50C in the ΔrsbV and the ΔrsbR1 mutants led to SigB activation and concomitant increased robustness, indicating an alternative signaling pathway for the SigB activation in rpsUG50C mutants. Interestingly, all these rpsUG50C mutants exhibited reduced maximum specific growth rates, independent of SigB activation, possibly attributed to compromised ribosomal functioning. In summary, the increased stress resistance in the L. monocytogenes EGDe rpsUG50C mutant results from SigB activation through an unknown mechanism distinct from the classical stressosome and RsbV/RsbW partner switching model. Moreover, the reduced maximum specific growth rate of the EGDe rpsUG50C mutant is likely unrelated to SigB activation and potentially linked to impaired ribosomal function

High variations of methanogenic microorganisms drive full-scale anaerobic digestion process.

Anaerobic digestion is one of the most successful waste management strategies worldwide, wherein microorganisms play an essential role in reducing organic pollutants and producing renewable energy. However, variations of microbial community in full-scale anaerobic digesters, particularly functional groups relevant to biogas production, remain elusive. Here, we examined microbial community in a year-long monthly time series of 3 full-scale anaerobic digesters. We observed substantial diversification in community composition, with only a few abundant OTUs (e.g. Clostridiales, Anaerolineaceae and Methanosaeta) persistently present across different samples. Similarly, there were high variations in relative abundance of methanogenic archaea and methanogenic genes, which were positively correlated (r2 = 0.530, P < 0.001). Variations of methanogens explained 55.7% of biogas producing rates, much higher than the explanatory percentage of environmental parameters (16.4%). Hydrogenotrophic methanogens, especially abundant Methanomicrobiales taxa, were correlated with biogas production performance (r = 0.665, P < 0.001) and nearly all methanogenic genes (0.430 < r < 0.735, P < 0.012). Given that methanogenic archaea or genes are well established for methanogenesis, we conclude that high variations in methanogenic traits (e.g. taxa or genes) are responsible for biogas production variations in full-scale anaerobic digesters

Single-atomic tungsten-doped Co3O4 nanosheets for enhanced electrochemical kinetics in lithium–sulfur batteries

The practical application of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs) is severely hindered by the undesirable shuttling of lithium polysulfides (LiPSs) and sluggish redox kinetics of sulfur species. Herein, a series of ultrathin single-atomic tungsten-doped Co3O4 (Wx-Co3O4) nanosheets as catalytic additives in the sulfur cathode for LSBs are rationally designed and synthesized. Benefiting from the enhanced catalytic activity and optimized electronic structure by W doping, the Wx-Co3O4 not only reduces the shuttling of LiPSs but also decreases the energy barrier of sulfur redox reactions of sulfur species, leading to accelerated electrode kinetic. As a result, LSB cathodes with the use of 5.0 wt% W0.02-Co3O4 as the electrocatalyst show the high reversible capacities of 1217.0 and 558.6 mAh g−1 at 0.2 and 5.0 C, respectively, and maintain a high reversible capacity of 644.6 mAh g−1 at 1.0 C (1.0 C = 1675 mA g−1) after 500 cycles. With a high sulfur loading of 5.5 mg cm−2 and electrolyte–electrode ratio of 8 μLelectrolyte mgsulfur−1, the 5.0 wt% W0.02-Co3O4-based sulfur cathode also retains a high reversible areal capacity of 3.86 mAh cm−2 at 0.1 C after 50 cycles with an initial capacity retention of 84.7%