Sessions 2 and 7: Advances in Microbial Science and Technology

Abstract

The Microbial Science and Technology Sessions emphasized a variety of approaches used for development of superior recombinant microorganisms for fermentation of multiple sugars typically present in any lignocellulosic hydrolyzate to fuels and chemicals. Efficient conversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid transportation fuels is a major goal for many in these sessions. The Session 2 contained six oral presentations and 62 poster presentations and Session 7 contained an additional six oral presentations and 49 posters. A brief overview of each oral Session and a summary of topics presented during the poster sessions are provided below. Session 2 opened with a comparison of different pretreatments for corn stover, followed by fermentation using different recombinant organisms. Next, the metabolic engineering of a novel thermophilic Geobacillus sp. capable of high-yield ethanol production was discussed. The pathway for D-galacturonic acid catabolism in fungi was elucidated in the third presentation and determined to be different from any previously described pathway. Butanol production from engineered Escherichia coli and improvements in solventogenic Clostridium butanol production were the topics for another presentation. Metabolic pathway engineering of Thermoanaerobacterium saccharolyticum for efficient ethanol production and reduction of cellulase loading emphasized a consolidated bioprocessing approach. New methods for isolating novel biocatalysts and enzymes from lignocellulosedegrading insects rounded out this first session. Appl Biochem Biotechnol (2009) 153:11–12 DOI 10.1007/s12010-009-8609-9