Knowledge of the behaviour of bacterial communities is crucial for understanding biogeochemical cycles and developing environmental biotechnology. Here we demonstrate the formation of an artificial consortium between two anaerobic bacteria, Clostridium acetobutylicum (Gram-positive) and Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (Gram-negative, sulfate-reducing) in which physical interactions between the two partners induce emergent properties. Molecular and cellular approaches show that tight cell-cell interactions are associated with an exchange of molecules, including proteins, which allows the growth of one partner (D. vulgaris) in spite of the shortage of nutrients. This physical interaction induces changes in expression of two genes encoding enzymes at the pyruvate crossroads, with concomitant changes in the distribution of metabolic fluxes, and allows a substantial increase in hydrogen production without requiring genetic engineering. The stress induced by the shortage of nutrients of D. vulgaris appears to trigger the interaction.

Among sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel, proton exchange membrane fuel cells are promising devices that deliver electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water. The transformation of the fuel and oxidant however relies on rare‐metal catalysts. H2/O2 enzymatic biofuel cells thus emerge as sustainable biotechnological devices in which chemical catalysts are replaced by hydrogenases at the anode and multicopper oxidases at the cathode. This review discusses the recent breakthroughs and the limitations in all the components of H2/O2 biofuel cells: 1) Catalytic mechanisms involved in multicopper oxidases and hydrogenases, in addition to the new potential of enzymes from the biodiversity pool, which exhibit outstanding properties. 2) The molecular basis for oriented enzyme immobilization on the electrochemical interfaces as a prerequisite for a fast direct electron‐transfer rate. 3) The requirement for 3D networks to enhance current densities. 4) The production of H2 from biomass. 5) The history of H2/O2 biofuel cells and recent devices, which also highlights the remaining issues that will allow the use of such devices in low‐power applications.