Michigan State University

Gemma Reguera

Allison M Speers

Jenna M Young

Rebecca Steidl

Bhushan Awate

Robert Mark Worden

Stuart Holden Tessmer

Joshua Veazey

Sanela Lampa-Pastirk

Dena Cologgi

Krista Marie Cosert

Angelines A Castro-Forero

Methods for synthesizing nanowires are provided. Modified PilA peptides are used as peptide building blocks for synthesizing the nanowires. The method places the peptide building blocks in an assembly buffer with a hydrophobe. Addition of a hydrophobe and molecular crowding by evaporation of the assembly buffer triggers the self-assembly of the peptide building blocks into fibers. Multiple elongation cycles of addition of peptide building blocks, mixing and evaporation are conducted to promote elongation of the fibers and synthesis of nanowires. Electronic characterization of the synthesized nanowires is provided.

Method for protein nanowire synthesis and tunable control of nanowire length

Bioelectrochemical systems comprising a microbial fuel cell (MFC) or a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) are provided. Either type of system is capable of fermenting insoluble or soluble biomass, with the MFC capable of using a consolidated bioprocessing (CBP) organism to also hydrolyze an insoluble biomass, and an electricigen to produce electricity. In contrast, the MEC relies on electricity input into the system, a fermentative organism and an electricigen to produce fermentative products such as ethanol and 1,3-propanediol from a polyol biomass (e.g., containing glycerol). Related methods are also provided.

Microbial electrochemical cells and methods for producing electricity and bioproducts therein

An electrochemical cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a reference electrode electronically connected to each other; a first biocatalyst comprising a consolidated bioprocessing organism (e.g., a cellulomonad oror related strains, such as(),(),()(), alcohol-tolerant, alcohol-tolerant, and combinations thereof) capable of fermenting biomass (e.g., cellulosic biomass or glycerin-containing biomass) to produce a fermentation byproduct; and a second biocatalyst comprising an electricigen (e.g.,) capable of transferring substantially all the electrons in the fermentation byproduct (e.g., hydrogen, one or more organic acids, or a combination thereof) to the anode electrode to produce electricity is disclosed. Systems and methods related thereto are also disclosing a consolidated bioprocessing organism.

Biofuel and electricity producing fuel cells and systems and methods related to same

A fuel cell comprising an anode electrode, a cathode electrode and a reference electrode electronically connected to each other; a first biocatalyst comprising a consolidated bioprocessing organism (e.g., a cellulomonad oror related strains, such as(),, alcohol-tolerant, alcohol-tolerant() and combinations thereof) capable of fermenting biomass (e.g., cellulosic biomass or glycerin-containing biomass) to produce a fermentation byproduct; and a second biocatalyst comprising an electricigen (e.g.,) capable of transferring substantially all the electrons in the fermentation byproduct (e.g., hydrogen, one or more organic acids, or a combination thereof) to the anode electrode to produce electricity is disclosed. Systems and methods related thereto are also disclosing a consolidated bioprocessing organism.

Electrically conductive nanowires, and genetically or chemically modified production and use of such nanowires with altered conductive, adhesive, coupling or other properties are described. The disclosed nanowires are used as device or device components or may be adapted for soluble metal remediation.

Microbial nanowires and methods of making and using

The application describes electrically conductive nanowires, as well as genetically and/or chemically modified nanowires with modified conductive, adhesive and/or coupling properties.

Microbial nanowires

A nanowire comprising a purified protein filament, such as a pilus, isolated from a bacterium, such as, is provided. Such a purified pilus can contain peptide subunits capable of assembling into the protein filament and establishing an electrical connection with an insoluble electron acceptor. The novel nanowires can be produced via a novel single step. Such nanowires are useful in applications requiring rectifying behavior.

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Lansing, MI, United States of America

Gemma Reguera