《The stress response mechanisms of biofilm formation under sub-lethal photocatalysis》

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121200

Website:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2022.121200

Graphical Abstract:

ABSTRACT:

Significant health risk existed due to increasing antibiotic-resistant bacteria and forming antibiotic-resistant bacterial biofilms in water. To clearly understand stress response mechanisms of biofilm formation under sub-lethal photocatalysis (PC), a drip flow device was developed to culture biofilm and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (GEN) (resistance to Gentamicin) was constructed to assess effect of sub-lethal PC on biofilm formation. Under sub-lethal PC, overall bacterial abundance of biofilm decreased by 1 - 2 log, and biofilm thickness reduced to 1/3 within 6-day cultivation. Mortality efficiency of bacteria in biofilm also grew, reaching 40.5% on average and up to 59.3% at the highest. Simultaneously, barrier function of biofilm was damaged and antibiotic resistance of biofilm decreased. Molecular regulatory network analysis revealed that genes related to biofilm formation and extracellular polymeric substance secretion up regulated to resist oxidative stress from sub-lethal PC. This work may provide enlightenment to bacterial biofilm control in the water system.