Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42166146›Full record

ArticleFEMS microbiology ecology2026

Uncovering syntrophic potential from genome-resolved metagenomics of suspended and granular anaerobic digestion sludges.

Maaike S Besteman, Emilie Alaux, Anna Doloman, Guillaume Tahon, Thijs J G Ettema, Diana Z Sousa

Abstract read
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Article in FEMS microbiology ecology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Maaike S BestemanLaboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0009-0005-9211-3663
Emilie AlauxLaboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Anna DolomanLaboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-6899-277X
Guillaume TahonLaboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Thijs J G EttemaLaboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Diana Z SousaLaboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0003-3569-1545

Funding

Dutch Research Council VI.C.192.016European Research Council 817834Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Netherlands 0.24.002.002
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Syntrophic microbial interactions are fundamental to the degradation of organic matter (e.g. fatty acids), playing a central role in natural anoxic ecosystems and engineered systems such as anaerobic digestion (AD). Despite their ecological and biotechnological importance, only a limited number of (obligate) syntrophic fatty-acid oxidizers have been successfully isolated. In this study, microbial communities from suspended and granular sludge samples were characterized using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and shotgun metagenomics. Network analysis of the 16S rRNA gene amplicon data revealed strong positive associations between methanogens and known syntrophic fatty-acid oxidizers, particularly in granular sludge samples. 743 High-Completion Metagenome Assembled Genomes (HC-MAGs) were recovered. This comprehensive HC-MAGs dataset provides a valuable resource for identifying novel microorganisms with genomic potential for syntrophic oxidation of butyrate, propionate, and acetate. This analysis identified multiple interesting novel targets, including the families DTU052 and CALXsZ01 (class Syntrophomonadia) as potential butyrate oxidizers; the families UBA6807, PHBD01, FEN-1087, and FEN-1099 (class Syntrophia) as potential propionate oxidizers; and genus DTU068 (family Thermacetogeniaceae) together with the family-level lineage 4572-78 (phylum Chloroflexota) as potential acetate oxidizers. These findings highlight granular sludges as a reservoir for previously uncharacterized syntrophic microorganisms. The recovered HC-MAG dataset also provides a framework to further elucidating fatty-acid oxidizing bacterial lineages within complex anaerobic communities.

Indexed as

BacteriaMetagenomeMetagenomicsSewageAnaerobiosisArchaeaFatty AcidsOxidation-ReductionPhylogenyRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSequence Analysis, DNAFatty AcidsRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSewageanaerobic digestionfatty acid oxidationmetagenomicssyntrophy

Identifiers

PMID42166146
PMCPMC13248872

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