Abstract
Biofilms are being engineered in-vitro to produce numerous commodities like biofertilizers, pharmaceuticals, biofuels and electricity, the efficacies of which rely on the biochemicals secreted by the biofilms i.e. extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). It has been shown that once EPS-biochemicals of developed biofilms are applied to an ecosystem, they can restore degraded complex ecosystem networks for improved ecosystem functioning and sustainability. Identification of the EPS biochemicals and understanding their contributions to the network interactions in particular, are at initial stage. In the present study, using Aspergillus niger, Nostoc sp., and gram (-) Stenotrophomonas maltophilia & gram (+) Bacillus subtilis as test fungal (F), cyanobacterial (C), and bacterial (B) counterparts, respectively we analyzed morphology and biochemical parameters of fungal-bacterial (FBBs), fungal-cyanobacterial (FCBs), cyanobacterial-bacterial (CBBs), and fungal-cyanobacterial-bacterial biofilms (FCBBs). Results revealed that the FCBBs produced the highest concentrations of lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides whereas FBBs generated the highest diversity of biochemicals. Bacterial type (i.e. gram + or -) and microbial composition in the biofilm affected the biochemical production. Ecologically and industrially important diverse biochemicals which are used individually as medicines, bioremediating agents and industrial chemicals in human society with certain adverse and beneficial effects were detected in the biofilm-EPS. However, in the nature, simultaneous action of those diverse biochemicals applied as biofertilizers has already shown a huge potential to restore the entire agroecosystems degraded due to farmers’ detrimental practices. This striking difference in utilization of the biochemicals and their enhanced effect when they act simultaneously needs further investigations for their better applications.
Highlights
Microbes live mainly in two modes of lifestyles viz. planktonic and surface-attached biofilm, enabling their endurance in a range of environments including extreme settings
Results revealed that the fungal-cyanobacterial-bacterial biofilms (FCBBs) produced the highest concentrations of lipids, proteins, and polysaccharides whereas FBBs generated the highest diversity of biochemicals
The knowledge gained would be beneficial for further improvement of innovative concepts like biofilm biofertilizers [5], which are being practiced successfully in agriculture [6], and newly proposed notion of biofilm medicines [7], both of which are engaged in restoration of degraded agroecosystems and human body ecosystem, respectively
Summary
Microbes live mainly in two modes of lifestyles viz. planktonic (freely swimming) and surface-attached biofilm, enabling their endurance in a range of environments including extreme settings. Comparative transcriptome investigations of biofilms versus planktonic cells have confirmed that biofilm cells illustrate divergent metabolic activity with significant up-regulation of genes responsible for survival, persistence and growth in a biofilm environment [2]. This leads the biofilms to produce and secrete a wider range of biochemicals required for ecologically important processes than planktonic cells. We hypothesize that the identification and understanding of specific EPS biochemicals and their contribution to the complex interactive ecosystem networks are important to improve the productivity of the newly developed biofilms and their utilization for various biotechnologies. The knowledge gained would be beneficial for further improvement of innovative concepts like biofilm biofertilizers [5], which are being practiced successfully in agriculture [6], and newly proposed notion of biofilm medicines [7], both of which are engaged in restoration of degraded agroecosystems and human body ecosystem, respectively
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