title: Characterization of biofilm formation in natural water subjected to low-frequency electromagnetic fields.
abstract: Electromagnetic field (EMF) treatment has proven to be effective against mineral scaling in water systems. Therefore, it should be assessed for the treatment of other deposits such as biofilms. In this study, a commercial device producing low-frequency EMF (1-10 kHz) was applied to a reactor fed with natural water for 45 days. The treatment promoted the concentration of microorganisms in suspension and limited the amount of sessile microorganisms in the biofilm, as determined by the measurement of total DNA, qPCR and microscopy. The structure of the bacterial community was assessed by t-RFLP and pyrosequencing analysis. The results showed that EMF treatment affected both planktonic and sessile community composition. EMFs were responsible for a shift in classes of Proteobacteria during development of the biofilm. It may be speculated that the EMF treatment affected particle solubility and/or microorganism hydration. This study indicated that EMFs modulated biofilm formation in natural water.
authors.affiliation: a Equipe Microbiologie de l'Eau, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.affiliation: b Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bertaux
authors.affiliation: a Equipe Microbiologie de l'Eau, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.|b Equipe Ecologie Evolution Symbiose, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.
authors.forename: Jérôme
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lesobre
authors.affiliation: c Laboratoire coopératif ThanaplastSP-EBI-Carbios Bioplastics, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gravouil
authors.affiliation: a Equipe Microbiologie de l'Eau, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.
authors.forename: Julien
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Verdon
authors.affiliation: a Equipe Microbiologie de l'Eau, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Imbert
authors.affiliation: d Planet Horizons Technologies , Technopole 5, Sierre , Switzerland.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Valette
authors.affiliation: a Equipe Microbiologie de l'Eau, Ecologie et Biologie des Interactions, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique UMR 7267 , Université de Poitiers , Poitiers , France.
authors.forename: Yann
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Héchard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D058448:Biota / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields; D010933:Plankton / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects; D001468:Thoracica / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects
keywords: Water treatment; biofilm; low-frequency electromagnetic field; pyrosequencing