Advances in engineered Bacillus subtilis biofilms and spores, and their applications in bioremediation, biocatalysis, and biomaterials

Abstract

Bacillus subtilis is a commonly used commercial specie with broad applications in the fields of bioengineering and biotechnology. B. subtilis is capable of producing both biofilms and spores. Biofilms are matrix-encased multicellular communities that comprise various components including exopolysaccharides, proteins, extracellular DNA, and poly-γ-glutamic acid. These biofilms resist environmental conditions such as oxidative stress and hence have applications in bioremediation technologies. Furthermore, biofilms and spores can be engineered through biotechnological techniques for environmentally-friendly and safe production of bio-products such as enzymes. The ability to withstand with harsh conditions and producing spores makes Bacillus a suitable candidate for surface display technology. In recent years, the spores of such specie are widely used as it is generally regarded as safe to use. Advances in synthetic biology have enabled the reprogramming of biofilms to improve their functions and enhance the production of value-added products. Globally, there is increased interest in the production of engineered biosensors, biocatalysts, and biomaterials. The elastic modulus and gel properties of B. subtilis biofilms have been utilized to develop living materials. This review outlines the formation of B. subtilis biofilms and spores. Biotechnological engineering processes and their increasing application in bioremediation and biocatalysis, as well as the future directions of B. subtilis biofilm engineering, are discussed. Furthermore, the ability of B. subtilis biofilms and spores to fabricate functional living materials with self-regenerating, self-regulating and environmentally responsive characteristics has been summarized. This review aims to resume advances in biological engineering of B. subtilis biofilms and spores and their applications.

Biosurfactant from Bacillus subtilis DS03: Properties and Application in Cleaning Out Place System in a Pilot Sausages Processing

“…The LP surfactin produced by Bacillus species is used for biofilm control because it reduces the adhesion of pathogenic bacteria to food in contact with polypropylene [ 16 , 17 ]. For instance, Coronel-León et al [ 18 ] demonstrated that the LP produced by Bacillus licheniformis prevented the adherence of pathogenic microorganisms on polypropylene surfaces.…”

Cecal Metabolomic Fingerprint of Unscathed Rats: Does It Reflect the Good Response to a Provocative Decompression?

“…This sugar (sialic acid) is involved in many biological and pathological phenomena because it occupies the terminal positions in numerous macromolecules, such as the glycans of glycoproteins, with a broad impact on gut microbiome structure, such as in inhibiting autoimmune signaling in the gut ( Coker et al, 2021 ). N-acetyl neuraminate is a compound useful in the composition of biofilms sometimes necessary for the sporulation of certain bacteria entering dormancy following environmental stresses (such as temperature, high iron, oxygen concentration, hydrodynamic effects and food matrix composition or starvation) ( Mohsin et al, 2021 ). N-acetyl neuraminate can be made from N-acetyl glucosamine ( Gao et al, 2011 ).…”

The context matrix: Navigating biological complexity for advanced biodesign

“…The resulting cell state is known to heavily utilise the growth-related σ 70 global transcriptional regulator and hence the majority of characterised promoters are based on this sigma factor. More recently other cell states have been utilised in the design of engineered biosystems that operate in stationary ( Gefen et al, 2014 ; Jaishankar and Srivastava, 2020 ), stressed ( Rodrigues and Rodrigues, 2018 ) and even spore states ( Mohsin et al, 2021 ; Quijano and Sahin, 2021 ). Consideration of the cell state will be vital in the ongoing transition towards real-world applications of engineered biosystems.…”