Cyclic di-GMP Signaling Links Biofilm Formation and Mn(II) Oxidation in Pseudomonas resinovorans
Ainelén Piazza, Lucía Parra, Lucila Ciancio Casalini, Federico Sisti, Julieta Fernández, Jacob G. Malone, Jorgelina Ottado, Diego O. Serra, Natalia Gottig
Abstract
The presence of Mn(II) in groundwater, a common source of drinking water, is a cause of water quality impairment, interfering with its disinfection, causing operation problems, and affecting human health. Purification of groundwater containing Mn(II) plays an important role in environmental and social safety. The typical method for Mn(II) removal is based on bacterial oxidation of metals to form insoluble oxides that can be filtered out of the water. Evidence of reducing the start-up periods and enhancing Mn removal efficiencies through bioaugmentation with appropriate biofilm-forming and MOB has emerged. As preliminary data suggest a link between these two phenotypes in Pseudomonas strains, the need to investigate the underlying regulatory mechanisms is apparent. The significance of our research lies in determining the role of c-di-GMP for increased biofilm formation and Mn(II)-oxidizing capabilities in MOB, which will allow the generation of super-biofilm-elaborating and Mn-oxidizing strains, enabling their implementation in biotechnological applications.