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 (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Trends in Biotechnology |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - Jan 1 2018 |
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Keywords
- community interactions
- extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)
- microbial aggregates
- nanoparticle toxicity
- nanoparticles
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biotechnology
- Bioengineering
Cite this
How Microbial Aggregates Protect against Nanoparticle Toxicity. / Tang, Jun; Wu, Yonghong; Esquivel-Elizondo, Sofia; Sørensen, Søren J.; Rittmann, Bruce.
In: Trends in Biotechnology, 01.01.2018.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - How Microbial Aggregates Protect against Nanoparticle Toxicity
AU - Tang, Jun
AU - Wu, Yonghong
AU - Esquivel-Elizondo, Sofia
AU - Sørensen, Søren J.
AU - Rittmann, Bruce
PY - 2018/1/1
Y1 - 2018/1/1
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.
KW - community interactions
KW - extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)
KW - microbial aggregates
KW - nanoparticle toxicity
KW - nanoparticles
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85049924561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85049924561&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.06.009
DO - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.06.009
M3 - Article
C2 - 30029801
AN - SCOPUS:85049924561
JO - Trends in Biotechnology
JF - Trends in Biotechnology
SN - 0167-7799
ER -