AUTHOR=Tang Deping , Xi Yanpeng , Song Wentao , Li Mengjiao , Liu Yali , Lin Yanyan , Zhang Ran , Mao Aihong 

TITLE=Design and synthesis of quorum-sensing agonist for improving biofilm formation and the application of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans in bioleaching

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1465633

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1465633

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<sec><title>Introduction</title><p>Currently, there are few investigations on the effect of a synthetic exogenous quorum sensing (QS) agonist on the bioleaching rate of <italic>Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans</italic> (<italic>A. thiooxidans</italic>).</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>We created AHL (N-acyl-homoserine lactone) analogues and investigated their effects on <italic>A. thiooxidans</italic> biofilm formation, adsorption kinetics, bioleaching, and mechanism.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>The findings revealed that N-(3-thiolactone)- dodecylamine (Y3) significantly increased the biofilm formation of <italic>A. thiooxidans</italic> in 96-well plates and sulfur sheets. Adsorption tests revealed that Y3 increased the adhesion rate, adsorption constant, and adsorption efficiency. Bioleaching tests indicated that Y3 boosted bioleaching efficiency, with Ni<sup>2+</sup> and Cu<sup>2+</sup> bioleaching rates increasing by 49.13% and 33.03%, respectively. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that Y3 increased genes associated with QS pathways and biofilm formation, particularly <italic>afeI</italic>, which was dramatically elevated 42 times.</p></sec><sec><title>Discussion</title><p>The study laid the groundwork for a better understanding of the mechanics of <italic>A. thiooxidans</italic> biofilm formation, which could help improve the potential application of <italic>A. thiooxidans</italic> in bioleaching.</p></sec>