title: The Planktonic Relationship Between Fluid-Like Electrodes and Bacteria: Wiring in Motion.
abstract: We have explored a new concept in bacteria-electrode interaction based on the use of fluid-like electrodes and planktonic living cells. We show for the first time that living in a biofilm is not a strict requirement for Geobacter sulfurreducens to exchange electrons with an electrode. The growth of planktonic electroactive G. sulfurreducens could be supported by a fluid-like anode as soluble electron acceptors and with electron transfer rates similar to those reported for electroactive biofilms. This growth was maintained by uncoupling the charge (catabolism) and discharge (extracellular respiration) processes of the cells. Our results reveal a novel method to culture electroactive bacteria in which every single cell in the medium could be instantaneously wired to a fluid-like electrode. Direct extracellular electron transfer is occurring but with a new paradigm behind the bacteria-electrode interaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.|Innovation and Technology Department, FCC Aqualia, S.A., Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tejedor-Sanz
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose Rodrigo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Quejigo
authors.affiliation: IMDEA Water, Parque Tecnológico de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berná
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.|IMDEA Water, Parque Tecnológico de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Abraham
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteve-Núñez
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000639:trends*; D018441:Biofilms; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004579:Electron Transport; D045302:Geobacter / Q000502:physiology*; D010933:Plankton / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: bioelectrochemistry; extracellular electron transfer; fluidized bed; geobacter; microbial electrochemistry