Mechanism insights into bacterial sporulation at natural sphalerite interface with and without light irradiation: The suppressing role in bacterial sporulation by photocatalysis

Wanjun Wang; Yan Liu; Guiying Li; Zhenni Liu; Po Keung Wong; Taicheng An

Environment International (Oct 2022)

Mechanism insights into bacterial sporulation at natural sphalerite interface with and without light irradiation: The suppressing role in bacterial sporulation by photocatalysis

Wanjun Wang,
Yan Liu,
Guiying Li,
Zhenni Liu,
Po Keung Wong,
Taicheng An

Affiliations

Wanjun Wang: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Yan Liu: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Guiying Li: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Zhenni Liu: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Po Keung Wong: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
Taicheng An: Corresponding author at: Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.; Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Guangdong Engineering Technology Research Center for Photocatalytic Technology Integration and Equipment, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 168
p. 107460

Abstract

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Unveiling the mechanisms of bacterial sporulation at natural mineral interfaces is crucial to fully understand the interactions of mineral with microorganism in aquatic environment. In this study, the bacterial sporulation mechanisms of Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) at natural sphalerite (NS) interface with and without light irradiation were systematically investigated for the first time. Under dark condition, NS was found to inactivate vegetative cells of B. subtilis and promote their sporulation simultaneously. The released Zn2+ from NS was mainly responsible for the bacterial inactivation and sporulation. With light irradiation, the photocatalytic effect from NS could increase the bacterial inactivation efficiency, while the bacterial sporulation efficiency was decreased from 8.1 % to 4.5 %. The photo-generated H2O2 and ·O2– played the major roles in enhancing bacterial inactivation and suppressing bacterial sporulation process. The intracellular synthesis of dipicolinic acid (DPA) as biomarker for sporulation was promoted by NS in dark, which was suppressed by the photocatalytic effect of NS with light irradiation. The transformation process from vegetative cells to spores was monitored by both 3D-fluerecence EEM and SEM observations. Compared with the NS alone system, the NS/light combined system induced higher level of intracellular ROSs, up-regulated antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased cell metabolism activity, which eventually led to enhanced inactivation of vegetative cells and suppressed bacterial sporulation. These results not only provide in-depth understanding about bacterial sporulation as a new mode of sub-lethal stress response at NS interface, but also shed lights on putting forward suitable strategies for controlling spore-producing bacteria by suppressing their sporulation during water disinfection.

Published in Environment International

ISSN: 0160-4120 (Print)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Geography. Anthropology. Recreation: Environmental sciences
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/environment-international

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