How Microbial Aggregates Protect against Nanoparticle Toxicity

Jun Tang; Yonghong Wu; Sofia Esquivel-Elizondo; Søren Johannes Sørensen; Bruce E Rittmann

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.06.009

How Microbial Aggregates Protect against Nanoparticle Toxicity

Jun Tang, Yonghong Wu, Sofia Esquivel-Elizondo, Søren Johannes Sørensen, Bruce E Rittmann

Microbiology

56 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The increasing use and discharge of nanoparticles (NPs) pose risks to microorganisms that maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems. Although NPs are toxic to microorganisms, they tend to form microbial aggregates to protect themselves. Two main mechanisms account for the reduced toxicity: the dense physical structure acts as a barrier to NP exposure in the interior of the aggregate, and aggregation stabilizes a complex microbial ecosystem that enhances the ability of the community to adapt to prolonged NP exposure. We highlight the opportunities and challenges for managing microbial aggregates in wastewater treatment to remove or control NPs. For example, understanding the resistance mechanisms can help to design smart NPs that are less toxic to useful microorganisms or more toxic towards pathogenic microorganisms.

Original language	English
Journal	Trends in Biotechnology
Volume	36
Issue number	11
Pages (from-to)	1171-1182
ISSN	0167-7799
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.06.009
Publication status	Published - Nov 2018

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title = "How Microbial Aggregates Protect against Nanoparticle Toxicity",

abstract = "The increasing use and discharge of nanoparticles (NPs) pose risks to microorganisms that maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems. Although NPs are toxic to microorganisms, they tend to form microbial aggregates to protect themselves. Two main mechanisms account for the reduced toxicity: the dense physical structure acts as a barrier to NP exposure in the interior of the aggregate, and aggregation stabilizes a complex microbial ecosystem that enhances the ability of the community to adapt to prolonged NP exposure. We highlight the opportunities and challenges for managing microbial aggregates in wastewater treatment to remove or control NPs. For example, understanding the resistance mechanisms can help to design smart NPs that are less toxic to useful microorganisms or more toxic towards pathogenic microorganisms.",

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AU - Tang, Jun

AU - Wu, Yonghong

AU - Esquivel-Elizondo, Sofia

AU - Sørensen, Søren Johannes

AU - Rittmann, Bruce E

PY - 2018/11

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N2 - The increasing use and discharge of nanoparticles (NPs) pose risks to microorganisms that maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems. Although NPs are toxic to microorganisms, they tend to form microbial aggregates to protect themselves. Two main mechanisms account for the reduced toxicity: the dense physical structure acts as a barrier to NP exposure in the interior of the aggregate, and aggregation stabilizes a complex microbial ecosystem that enhances the ability of the community to adapt to prolonged NP exposure. We highlight the opportunities and challenges for managing microbial aggregates in wastewater treatment to remove or control NPs. For example, understanding the resistance mechanisms can help to design smart NPs that are less toxic to useful microorganisms or more toxic towards pathogenic microorganisms.

AB - The increasing use and discharge of nanoparticles (NPs) pose risks to microorganisms that maintain the health of aquatic ecosystems. Although NPs are toxic to microorganisms, they tend to form microbial aggregates to protect themselves. Two main mechanisms account for the reduced toxicity: the dense physical structure acts as a barrier to NP exposure in the interior of the aggregate, and aggregation stabilizes a complex microbial ecosystem that enhances the ability of the community to adapt to prolonged NP exposure. We highlight the opportunities and challenges for managing microbial aggregates in wastewater treatment to remove or control NPs. For example, understanding the resistance mechanisms can help to design smart NPs that are less toxic to useful microorganisms or more toxic towards pathogenic microorganisms.

U2 - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.06.009

DO - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.06.009

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JO - Trends in Biotechnology

JF - Trends in Biotechnology

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How Microbial Aggregates Protect against Nanoparticle Toxicity

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