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Abstract
Microbiology and metabolic engineering are emerging fields with significant potential fordeveloping petroleum-free energy alternatives and advancing environmentally sustainable
bioremediation methods. The 21st century has seen a renewed focus on biofuels as a critical
alternative to fossil fuels, driven by the need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and combat
climate change. Biofuels offer environmental benefits such as reduced reliance on non-renewable
resources and lower carbon emissions. In this context, microorganisms, particularly Megasphaera
elsdenii, are being explored as promising platforms for biofuel production due to their natural
ability to generate medium-chain organic acids, such as butyric, hexanoic, and octanoic acids.
Genetic modifications, including the deletion of the uracil phosphoribosyl transferase gene (upp)
and the propionyl transferase gene (Mels_0742), have been made to optimize the production of
longer-chain fermentation products, positioning M. elsdenii as a potential producer of valuable
chemicals and fuels, including aviation fuel, biopolymers, and next-generation gasoline blend
stocks. Further developments in genetic tools for M. elsdenii aim to enhance the conversion of
lignocellulosic biomass into longer-chain alcohols and other chemicals, supporting the goal of
creating sustainable, bio-based fuel alternatives.