title: Effects of Quorum Quenching on the Microbial Community of Biofilm in an Anoxic/Oxic MBR for Wastewater Treatment.
abstract: Recently, bacterial quorum quenching (QQ) has been proven to have potential as an innovative approach for biofouling control in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for advanced wastewater treatment. Although information regarding the microbial community is crucial for the development of QQ strategies, little information exists on the microbial ecology in QQ-MBRs. In this study, the microbial communities of biofilm were investigated in relation to the effect of QQ on anoxic/oxic MBRs. Two laboratory-scale MBRs were operated with and without QQ-beads (QQ-bacteria entrapped in beads). The transmembrane pressure increase in the QQ-MBRs was delayed by approximately 100-110% compared with conventional- and vacant-MBRs (beads without QQ-bacteria) at 45 kPa. In terms of the microbial community, QQ gradually favored the development of a diverse and even community. QQ had an effect on both the bacterial composition and change rate of the bacterial composition. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the most dominant phyla in the biofilm, and the average relative composition of Proteobacteria was low in the QQ-MBR. Thiothrix sp. was the dominant bacterium in the biofilm. The relative composition of Thiothrix sp. was low in the QQ-MBR. These findings provide useful information that can inform the development of a new QQ strategy.
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Jun
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Jo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeokpil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Pusan National University, Pusan 46241, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: So-Yeon
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun-Suk
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Division of Ecosystem Service and Research Planning, National Institute of Ecology, Seocheon 33657, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Taewoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chung-Hak
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Pusan National University, Pusan 46241, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Gwan
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D057219:Biofouling / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology*; D053038:Quorum Sensing; D062065:Wastewater; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Membrane bioreactor; biofilm; biofouling; microbial community; quorum quenching; quorum sensing