Stable coexistence of two Caldicellulosiruptor species in a de novo constructed hydrogen-producing co-culture

Background  

Mixed culture enrichments have been used frequently for biohydrogen production from different feedstock. In spite of the several advantages offered by those cultures, they suffer poor H₂ yield. Constructing defined co-cultures of known H₂ producers may offer a better performance than mixed-population enrichments, while overcoming some of the limitations of pure cultures based on synergies among the microorganisms involved.