Quorum sensing signals enhance the electrochemical activity and energy recovery of mixed-culture electroactive biofilms

Abstract

The impacts of exogenous or endogenous quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecules on mixed-culture electroactive biofilms (EABs), especially extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and exoelectrogens using direct electron transfer mechanism inside EABs are poorly understood. This research focuses on the influence of acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), the most common QS signaling molecules for gram negative bacteria, on mixed-culture EABs. Results indicated that both exogenous and endogenous AHLs played the role as regulators to improve the electrochemical activities of EABs. The energy recovery of MFCs increased from 20.5% ± 3.9% to 28.3% ± 4.1% with endogenous AHLs and further rose to 36.2% ± 5.1% with exogenous AHLs, and the start-up period of MFCs shortened from 13 days to 10 days with endogenous AHLs and further reduced to 4 days in the presence of exogenous AHLs. The influences of exogenous and endogenous AHLs were non-instantaneous. They improved some intrinsic properties, i.e. the electrode-associated biomass, the biofilm compactness and the ratio of live/dead cells to obtain superior EABs. Meanwhile, both endogenous and exogenous AHLs increased the concentration and redox activities of EPS. Besides, endogenous AHLs enhanced the diversity of EPS components. Noteworthily, the relative abundance of Geoboacter sp. which is the typical microbe using direct electron transfer mechanism is raised by exogenous AHLs, though so far neither known chemical QS-related gene nor protein has been reported in this genus. These findings will increase the current understanding of QS in EABs and open up an opportunity for regulating mixed-culture MFCs via QS.