Zhou Jin, Zhao Wei, Wu Mengjie, Wu Jiajun, Zhu Jinming, Liu Xiaowan, Hu Jing, Cai Zhonghua, Chan Leo Lai
Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518055, PR China; Marine Ecology and Human Factors Assessment Technical Innovation Center of Natural Resources Ministry, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518055, PR China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Marine Ecology, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518055, PR China.
Shenzhen Public Platform for Screening and Application of Marine Microbial Resources, Institute for Ocean Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518055, PR China; Marine Ecology and Human Factors Assessment Technical Innovation Center of Natural Resources Ministry, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518055, PR China.
J Hazard Mater. 2025 Aug 15;494:138479. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138479. Epub 2025 May 3.
Microbial biodegradation represents an environmentally friendly solution for microcystin (MC) removal. However, the regulatory factors influencing MC biodegradation within microbial communities remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that a consortium of MC-degrading microorganisms can synergistically enhance MC biodegradation efficiency under quorum sensing (QS) signal regulation. Initially, analysis of publicly available data identified a widespread correlation between QS signals and MC-degrading genes. Subsequent laboratory studies confirmed that acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) represent the predominant QS signal type during the degradation of MCs by microbial consortia. A significant positive correlation was found among the AHL signal, MC degradation genes, and microbial members of the degradation process. Finally, we found that the absence of the AHL system reduced both the efficiency of MC degradation and the expression of mlr cluster genes in the microbial consortium, confirming the regulatory role of the AHL system in MC degradation at the community level. The mutualistic cooperation mechanisms were also demonstrated by metatranscriptomic and qRT-PCR analyses. These findings underscore the significant role played by the QS system in microbial community-mediated MC degradation and suggest that the manipulation of QS signals could be a promising strategy for enhancing MC treatment efficiency. Harnessing microbial cooperation through QS offers a sustainable approach for mitigating MC contamination and safeguarding water health.
微生物生物降解是去除微囊藻毒素（MC）的一种环境友好型解决方案。然而，影响微生物群落中MC生物降解的调控因素仍知之甚少。我们假设，在群体感应（QS）信号调控下，一组降解MC的微生物能够协同提高MC的生物降解效率。首先，对公开数据的分析确定了QS信号与MC降解基因之间存在广泛的相关性。随后的实验室研究证实，酰基高丝氨酸内酯（AHLs）是微生物群落降解MC过程中主要的QS信号类型。在AHL信号、MC降解基因和降解过程中的微生物成员之间发现了显著的正相关。最后，我们发现AHL系统的缺失降低了微生物群落中MC的降解效率以及mlr基因簇的表达，证实了AHL系统在群落水平上对MC降解的调控作用。元转录组学和qRT-PCR分析也证明了这种互利合作机制。这些发现强调了QS系统在微生物群落介导的MC降解中所起的重要作用，并表明操纵QS信号可能是提高MC处理效率的一种有前景的策略。通过QS利用微生物合作提供了一种减轻MC污染和保障水健康的可持续方法。
