Mixed hexose and pentose sugars induce species-variable bacterial cellulose production by Komagataeibacter spp

Low-cost substrates and agricultural wastes for bacterial cellulose (BC) production have gained attention for their potential to increase yield and reduce costs. Diverse bacterial species exhibit heterogeneous metabolic profiles and substrate utilization patterns during BC biosynthesis on these substrates. This study aimed to determine the effects of hexose and pentose composition on BC yield by examining substrate utilization patterns of two Komagataeibacter species cultivated on mixed carbon sources. Cultivations were conducted over 16 days, with the sugar consumption pattern and BC yields determined. The produced BC was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Both strains utilized mixed hexose and pentose sugars, but with distinct consumption patterns and yields. The highest BC yield (283%) was obtained by Komagataeibacter sp. CCUG73629 in glucose–cellobiose medium (M4), representing a 2.8-fold increase relative to the glucose-only medium (M6), while maximum substrate consumption (97.2%) was observed in glucose-only medium (M6) for Komagataeibacter sp. CCUG73630. FTIR showed characteristic cellulose peaks at 1163 and 1053 cm⁻¹, and SEM revealed densely interwoven fiber networks. XRD patterns displayed distinct peaks at 16.9° and 26.6°, with the highest crystallinity (67.5%) found in BC from Komagataeibacter sp. CCUG73630 grown in glucose–arabinose–xylose medium (M1). These findings indicate that each Komagataeibacter strain exhibits unique metabolic capacities and substrate utilization strategies. The study highlights the complexity and strain-specific nature of BC biosynthesis by each Komagataeibacter on mixed sugars and supports the development of efficient, economical methods for BC production for diverse industrial applications.