Co-culture Driven Enhancement of Phytase Production Using Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida

Abstract

Phytase is an industrially relevant enzyme widely applied in animal nutrition and sustainable agriculture to improve phosphorus bioavailability from phytate-rich substrates. Conventional monoculture fermentation systems often exhibit limited productivity due to metabolic constraints and nutrient competition. This study proposes a co-culture fermentation strategy employing Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas putida to enhance phytase production through microbial synergism and metabolic cross-feeding. The experimental framework includes optimization of physicochemical parameters (pH, temperature, aeration, substrate concentration) under submerged fermentation conditions using phytate-rich agro-residues. Comparative monoculture and co-culture models were designed to assess differential enzyme productivity and growth dynamics. Systems-level interaction analysis, including substrate utilization profiling and metabolic network mapping, was incorporated to investigate cooperative regulation mechanisms. Kinetic modeling approaches were structured to evaluate biomass formation, enzyme synthesis rates, and substrate conversion efficiency under varying environmental conditions. The study aims to establish a scalable and sustainable co-culture platform that leverages interspecies interactions to improve phytase yield and process efficiency. This integrative approach provides a foundation for industrial enzyme optimization and advances microbial consortia-based bioprocess engineering.