| Title |
Mitigation of Green Algal (Chlorella spp.) Blooms Via Quorum Sensing Inhibition |
| Authors |
문태웅(Moon Taeung) ; 홍서영(Hong Seoyoung) ; 김한신(Kim Han-Shin) |
| DOI |
https://doi.org/10.15681/KSWE.2025.41.6.477 |
| Keywords |
Chlorella; HABs; Quorum quenching; Quorum sensing; Sodium alginate carriers |
| Abstract |
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems by degrading water quality and releasing toxins, which adversely affect water resource utilization and economic activities. Traditional physical methods, such as clay flocculation, offer only short-term solutions and carry the risk of secondary pollution. These limitations have spurred interest in developing biological controls, which promise long-term and environmentally friendly mitigation strategies. This study investigates quorum sensing (QS) disruption as a viable biological method for managing HABs. We hypothesized that lactonase, an enzyme capable of degrading bacterial signaling molecules, could inhibit algal growth. To test this, we focused on two bacterial strains, Enterococcus durans HEMM-1 and Listeria grayi HEMM-2, both isolated from a water treatment system and known to produce lactonase, a QS-quenching enzyme. To confirm their potential, we demonstrated that the supernatants from the HEMM-1 and HEMM-2 strains inhibited biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa by 50.78% and 33.55%, respectively. Expanding on this principle, we developed a practical application by immobilizing the QS-quenching bacteria in sodium alginate carriers. The results showed that the immobilized HEMM-1 and HEMM-2 carriers inhibited biofilm formation by 59.23% and 32.42%, respectively. Additionally, these carriers reduced the growth of Chlorella by 41.26% and 32.82%, respectively. Our findings suggest that this enzyme-based approach could effectively suppress algal growth, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for managing HABs. |