Thermotoga neapolitana

Like other Thermotogales, Thermotoga neapolitana produces a large quantity of hydrogen using proton as the final electron acceptor. It can utilize a wide range of simple and complex sugars, proteins, and peptides, as well as agricultural and food wastes as carbon and nitrogen sources. Its thermostable enzymes have been used in many industrial settings, such as food processing and consumer products. Biohydrogen gas can power fuel cells, releasing water as the only waste, an extremely appealing prospect in urban transportation. In addition, T. neapolitana has a unique pathway called capnophilic lactic fermentation (CLF, capnophilic means ‘requiring CO2’), which captures CO2 from the environment and combines it with acetate to form L-lactate, without harming the yield of hydrogen. L-lactate monomers can be polymerized into polylactic acid (PLA), a highly demanded feedstock material for biodegradable plastics and biocompatible medical devices.