An acid-tolerant Clostridium sp. BLY-1 strain with high biohydrogen production rate.

Screening and isolating acid-tolerant bacteria capable of efficient hydrogen production can mitigate the inhibitory effects on microbial activity caused by rapid pH drops during fermentation. In this study, we isolated an acid-tolerant and highly efficient hydrogen-producing bacterium, named Clostridium sp. BLY-1, from acidic soil. Compared to the model strain Clostridium pasteurianum DSM 525, BLY-1 demonstrates a faster growth rate and superior hydrogen production capabilities. At an initial pH of 4.0, BLY-1's hydrogen production is 7.5 times greater than that of DSM 525, and under optimal conditions (pH=5.0), BLY-1's hydrogen production rate is 42.13% higher than DSM 525. Genomic analysis revealed that BLY-1 possesses a complete CiaRH two-component system and several stress-resistance components absent in DSM 525, which enhance its growth and hydrogen production in acidic environments. These findings provide a novel avenue for boosting the hydrogen production capabilities of Clostridium strains, offering new resources for advancing the green hydrogen industry.