Using microbial signals to control marine biofouling
Abstract
Research Problem-The estimated cost of hull fouling for the Navy is estimated to be up to $540 million dollars per -year, mostly due, to significant increases in fuel consumption. Hull fouling contributes to -greenhouse gas emissions (due to increased fuel consumpt,ion), substantial maintenance costs, -and the translocation of invasive species. Current approaches for addressing biofouling requir,e -substantial maintenance and frequent dry-docking time while harming ecosystems. -The process of hull fouling begins with microbia,l biofilm formation (microfouling) that serves as -a foundation for colonization by larger multi-cellular organisms, termed macrofou,ling. This -research is focused on harnessing microbial quorum sensing to prevent biofilm formation. -Quorum sensing (QS) enables ba,cteria to regulate gene expression in response to population -density and is known to regulate biofilm formation. However, historica,lly researchers have used -pure cultures or have used one type of molecule, typically the AHL family of quorum sensing -molecules. I,n general, harnessing microbial signaling systems for biofilm control in mixed -communities or using peptide based signaling systems, has been underexplored. --Technical Approaches-The PI will conduct fundamental research to understand relevant signaling systems in, marine -biofilms and identify new ways to quench these quorum sensing molecules in contexts that are -relevant to the Navy. Unlike, prior studies, this research emphasizes strategies to control mixed -community biofilms and will assess all forms of QS molecules., The PI will pair analysis of -publicly available high throughput microbial sequencing data with lab-scale simulated systems to -dev,elop novel, environmentally benign, antifouling measures. Recent advancements in high-throughput sequencing will build fundamental k,nowledge that leads to new sustainable, resilient, -and low-cost strategies for addressing hull fouling.--Anticipated Outcome-This p,roposed research will: (1) determine quorum sensing systems (e.g., AHL versus agr peptide signals) most prevalent in ocean biofilms,, (2) Identify suitable microorganisms that have -the enzymatic capability to quench autoinducers and measure rates of signal attenua,tion, and (3) -encapsulate microorganisms and assess the performance of an encapsulated bacterial system for -biofilm control. The r,esearch addressed here will result in a new system for eliminating -microfouling that could be integrated with other approaches to e,liminate biofouling. --Impact on DoD capabilities-Biofilms are a nuisance to the U.S. Department of Navy and significantly reduce op,erational -endurance by increasing both fuel consumption and manpower needed to clean hulls. Increased -maintenance also increases d,ry docking duration and frequency. Mitigating and preventing both -micro- and macrofouling will enhance maneuverability, efficiency,, and resiliency of Naval -systems and platforms.-
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Sep 08, 2022
- Source ID
- N000142212738
Entities
People
- Jeseth Delgado Vela
Organizations
- Howard University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy