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eISSN: 2083-5906
ISSN: 1230-1485
ISSN: 1230-1485
ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Influence of AHLs on the Characteristics
and Development of Biofilms
in a PHBV-Supported SPD System
1
College of Ocean and Bioengineering, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, China
2
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soil, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, China
3
Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Coastal Wetland Bioresources and Environmental Protection,
YanchenTeachers University, Yancheng 224007, China
These authors had equal contribution to this work
Submission date: 2025-07-07
Final revision date: 2025-08-22
Acceptance date: 2025-10-12
Online publication date: 2025-12-10
Corresponding author
Peng Xu
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soil, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, China
Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Bioresources of Saline Soil, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng 224007, China
KEYWORDS
solid-phase denitrificationpoly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)quorum sensingextracellular polymeric substancesbiofilm
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The application of solid-phase denitrification (SPD) as a system for treating wastewater with
biofilms underscores the necessity of developing efficient acclimation strategies to cultivate resilient
biofilms. This research examined how N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) influence the characteristics
and development of biofilms within a PHBV-supported SPD system. By incorporating five distinct
AHLs into the SPD setup, it was found that the addition of 3-oxo-C14-HSL AHL significantly
enhanced nitrate removal efficiency. Conversely, the introduction of exogenous C8-HSL and
C14-HSL AHLs appeared to hinder the removal of pollutants. The quorum-sensing (QS) mechanism,
mediated by AHLs, identified 3-oxo-C14-HSL as the pivotal AHL governing the production of
tightly bound extracellular proteins (TB-PN) in the SPD apparatus. The introduction of exogenous
3-oxo-C14-HSL AHL proved to be instrumental in promoting the synthesis of amino acids akin to
tryptophan, as well as in the formation of humic substances. This finding highlights the significant
impact that this specific N-acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) can have on biological processes.
Through the use of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), it was documented that the QS
system, which is mediated by 3-oxo-C14-HSL, plays a crucial role in the formation of bioaggregates.
This phenomenon is further characterized by an observable increase in the thickness of biofilms during
biological denitrification processes. These findings underscore the importance of AHL-mediated QS
in regulating the properties and development of biofilms within SPD systems. The insights gained
from this study contribute significantly to the understanding of quorum-sensing mechanisms, thereby
enhancing the theoretical framework surrounding this field of research. Furthermore, the practical implications of the study provide valuable recommendations for improving biofilm acclimation
strategies in SPD applications, ensuring more effective and efficient biological treatment processes.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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