Exploring the metabolic potential of to utilise the carbohydrate polymer chitin.

Members of the genus are commonly found in natural aquatic ecosystems. However, they are also frequently present in non-chlorinated drinking water distribution systems. High densities of these bacteria indicate favorable conditions for microbial regrowth, which is considered undesirable. Studies have indicated that the presence of is associated with loose deposits and the presence of invertebrates, specifically . Therefore, a potential source of energy in these nutrient poor environments is chitin, the structural shell component in these invertebrates. In this study, we demonstrate the ability of two strains, commonly encountered in drinking water distribution systems, to effectively degrade and utilize chitin as a sole carbon and nitrogen source. We conducted a quantitative proteomics study on the cell biomass and secretome from pure strain cultures when switching the nutrient source from glucose to chitin, uncovering a diverse array of hydrolytic enzymes and metabolic pathways specifically dedicated to the utilization of chitin. Additionally, a genomic analysis of different species suggests the general ability of this genus to degrade and utilize a variety of carbohydrate biopolymers. This study indicates the relation between the utilization of chitin by and their association with invertebrates such as in loose deposits in drinking water distribution systems.