Abstract: The invention is directed to designing the production of microbial communities, methods of producing the microbial communities, and microbial communities produced thereby. The design of the microbial communities can include designing media compositions and/or inoculum ratios to control the makeup of consortia of microbes and thereby result in a defined microbial community composition. The designed media and/or inoculum ratios can be used to generate a microbial community having a defined composition of different microbes.

Abstract: A method of growing a microorganism by culturing the microorganism in a an aqueous solution of carbohydrates containing C6-sugar monomers or C5-sugar monomers, wherein the aqueous solution of carbohydrates is made by reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5-sugar monomers, or any combination thereof. The product mixture is then partitioned or extracted to yield an aqueous layer containing the carbohydrates and a substantially immiscible organic layer containing the lactone. The aqueous layer is used for growing the microorganisms.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for coupling translation of a target gene to a detectable response gene. A version of the invention includes a translation-coupling cassette. The translation-coupling cassette includes a target gene, a response gene, a response-gene translation control element, and a secondary structure-forming sequence that reversibly forms a secondary structure masking the response-gene translation control element. Masking of the response-gene translation control element inhibits translation of the response gene. Full translation of the target gene results in unfolding of the secondary structure and consequent translation of the response gene. Translation of the target gene is determined by detecting presence of the response-gene protein product.

Abstract: A method of growing a microorganism by culturing the microorganism in a an aqueous solution of carbohydrates containing C6-sugar monomers or C5-sugar monomers, wherein the aqueous solution of carbohydrates is made by reacting biomass or a biomass-derived reactant with a solvent system including a lactone and water, and an acid catalyst. The reaction yields a product mixture containing water-soluble C6-sugar-containing oligomers, C6-sugar monomers, C5-sugar-containing oligomers, C5-sugar monomers, or any combination thereof. The product mixture is then partitioned or extracted to yield an aqueous layer containing the carbohydrates and a substantially immiscible organic layer containing the lactone. The aqueous layer is used for growing the microorganisms.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for coupling translation of a target gene to a detectable response gene. A version of the invention includes a translation-coupling cassette. The translation-coupling cassette includes a target gene, a response gene, a response-gene translation control element, and a secondary structure-forming sequence that reversibly forms a secondary structure masking the response-gene translation control element. Masking of the response-gene translation control element inhibits translation of the response gene. Full translation of the target gene results in unfolding of the secondary structure and consequent translation of the response gene. Translation of the target gene is determined by detecting presence of the response-gene protein product.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for coupling translation of a target gene to a detectable response gene. A version of the invention includes a translation-coupling cassette. The translation-coupling cassette includes a target gene, a response gene, a response-gene translation control element, and a secondary structure-forming sequence that reversibly forms a secondary structure masking the response-gene translation control element. Masking of the response-gene translation control element inhibits translation of the response gene. Full translation of the target gene results in unfolding of the secondary structure and consequent translation of the response gene. Translation of the target gene is determined by detecting presence of the response-gene protein product.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for coupling translation of a target gene to a detectable response gene. A version of the invention includes a translation-coupling cassette. The translation-coupling cassette includes a target gene, a response gene, a response-gene translation control element, and a secondary structure-forming sequence that reversibly forms a secondary structure masking the response-gene translation control element. Masking of the response-gene translation control element inhibits translation of the response gene. Full translation of the target gene results in unfolding of the secondary structure and consequent translation of the response gene. Translation of the target gene is determined by detecting presence of the response-gene protein product.