Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 14, 2025

Methodologies for Studying B. subtilis Biofilms as a Model for Characterizing Small Molecule Biofilm Inhibitors
Published on: October 9, 2016
Mechanistic insights into enhanced volatile pyridine biodegradation through shortcut pyridine-N transformation in
Peng Zheng1, Yan Li1, Youpeng Cheng1
1Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Ecological Health, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, China.
Abstract:
Air pollution and nitrogen contamination residues remain challenges in the conventional biological treatment of industrial wastewater containing volatile organic compounds. In this study, counter-diffusion biofilms were integrated with shortcut nitrification-denitrification technology to enhance pyridine biodegradation through shortcut pyridine-N transformation (EPB-SPNT), with emphasis on biofilm stratification and microbial spatial interactions. Results showed that the removal efficiency of pyridine and total nitrogen reached 100 % and 91.24 ± 0.75 %, respectively. Fluorescence in situ hybridization and metagenomic analysis revealed that aerobic pyridine-degrading bacteria (APDB, Alicycliphilus) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB, Nitrosomonas) were located in the aerobic layer, while anoxic pyridine degrading-denitrifying bacteria (APD-DB, Paracoccus) were enriched in the anoxic layer. Biofilm stability was mainly attributed to the lower hydrophilicity of protein secondary structure. The EPB-SPNT process was driven by the spatial cooperation among APDB, AOB, and APD-DB. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the EPB-SPNT in counter-diffusion biofilms through the regulation of microbial stratification and interactions.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Bioremediation
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Biofilms
Drug Biotransformation: Overview

