[71] tests the fermentation efficiency of co-culturing species that
require different media compounds.
One of the possible approaches to allow for better and predictable control of the inter-organism relations in communities stems
from the idea of serial fermentation. In this approach, the possible
benefits of inter-organism interactions, as demonstrated by the
above methods, are traded off for increased control. Briefly, this
means constructing a process in which each organism is grown
separately and then residual media together with resulted grown
and decomposed biomass are transferred to the next organism in
chain. This approach has an advantage in the context of broader
biomass components utilization allowing for tighter process control. In addition, serial fermentation removes the demand for community growing expertise (only single organism growing expertise
is required), increases the process flexibility (the modification of
one fermenting organism will have low impact on the interorganism interactions), and simplifies the mathematical process
modeling. The simplification of the mathematical modeling is crucial in the fermentation design stage since estimation of expected
system efficiency prior to its implementation by simulation will
reduce the number of experiments required for process optimization and will provide a new tool to support efficient process design.
BioLEGO [72] web service is one example of a computational
modeling framework that enables modeling and evaluation of the
expected performance of single- and two-step fermentation processes. It implements a flexible modular modelling approach
enabling smooth generation of different fermentation configurations consisting of independent encapsulated modules, representing individual organisms. Each such module contains an
encapsulated metabolic model of an individual organism constructed by experts based on experiments, literature, and automatic
reconstruction tools, like MIRAGE [73]. In addition, BioLEGO
web service enables assessment of possible product amounts that
can be achieved from specific biomass, mix of biomasses, or general
media according to various fermentation configurations. Moreover,
it provides recommendations for media content improvement
according to biomass component gradient analysis of estimated
production rates.
To demonstrate the usability of BioLEGO approach, the efficiency of a two-step fermentation process for a 2:1 mix of Ulva
lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii algal biomasses by E. coli and
wild-type S. cerevisiae was evaluated. Both possible directions, i.e.,
E. coli followed by yeast and vice versa were tested. In addition, the
efficiency of two-step fermentation process to the single-step fermentation by each organism separately and by the organism
co-culture was compared. The input setup was the choice of two
default medias—“U. lactuca” and “K. alvarezii” and of both
desired organisms. In addition, one needs to provide the ratio of
Design and Analysis of Offshore Macroalgae Biorefineries
27
require different media compounds.
One of the possible approaches to allow for better and predictable control of the inter-organism relations in communities stems
from the idea of serial fermentation. In this approach, the possible
benefits of inter-organism interactions, as demonstrated by the
above methods, are traded off for increased control. Briefly, this
means constructing a process in which each organism is grown
separately and then residual media together with resulted grown
and decomposed biomass are transferred to the next organism in
chain. This approach has an advantage in the context of broader
biomass components utilization allowing for tighter process control. In addition, serial fermentation removes the demand for community growing expertise (only single organism growing expertise
is required), increases the process flexibility (the modification of
one fermenting organism will have low impact on the interorganism interactions), and simplifies the mathematical process
modeling. The simplification of the mathematical modeling is crucial in the fermentation design stage since estimation of expected
system efficiency prior to its implementation by simulation will
reduce the number of experiments required for process optimization and will provide a new tool to support efficient process design.
BioLEGO [72] web service is one example of a computational
modeling framework that enables modeling and evaluation of the
expected performance of single- and two-step fermentation processes. It implements a flexible modular modelling approach
enabling smooth generation of different fermentation configurations consisting of independent encapsulated modules, representing individual organisms. Each such module contains an
encapsulated metabolic model of an individual organism constructed by experts based on experiments, literature, and automatic
reconstruction tools, like MIRAGE [73]. In addition, BioLEGO
web service enables assessment of possible product amounts that
can be achieved from specific biomass, mix of biomasses, or general
media according to various fermentation configurations. Moreover,
it provides recommendations for media content improvement
according to biomass component gradient analysis of estimated
production rates.
To demonstrate the usability of BioLEGO approach, the efficiency of a two-step fermentation process for a 2:1 mix of Ulva
lactuca and Kappaphycus alvarezii algal biomasses by E. coli and
wild-type S. cerevisiae was evaluated. Both possible directions, i.e.,
E. coli followed by yeast and vice versa were tested. In addition, the
efficiency of two-step fermentation process to the single-step fermentation by each organism separately and by the organism
co-culture was compared. The input setup was the choice of two
default medias—“U. lactuca” and “K. alvarezii” and of both
desired organisms. In addition, one needs to provide the ratio of
Design and Analysis of Offshore Macroalgae Biorefineries
27