Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41900121›Full record

ArticleMolecules (Basel, Switzerland)2026

Mechanistic Insights into Quorum Quenching-Mediated Control of EPS and Biofilm Formation in Submerged MBR.

Noman Sohail, Marion Martienssen

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Noman SohailChair of Biotechnology of Water Treatment, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Siemens-Halske-Ring 8, 03046 Cottbus, Germany.ORCID 0009-0006-6143-4373
Marion MartienssenChair of Biotechnology of Water Treatment, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Siemens-Halske-Ring 8, 03046 Cottbus, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-7540-2288

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Quorum quenching (QQ) is a promising biological approach that has the potential to control membrane biofouling. However, the implementation of the QQ membrane bioreactor still requires a more systematic and comprehensive understanding, including the selection of membrane materials, the determination of the optimal QQ bacterial dosage, and the use of appropriate media for the immobilization of QQ bacteria, all of which are important to ensure long-term operation. The present study investigated the impact of QQ bacteria on biofilm formation across different polymeric membranes. These include flat sheet membranes, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polysulfones (PSs), and hollow-fibre polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) membranes. It also evaluated biofilm development, membrane filtration performance, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, and sludge floc properties, which were characterized using fluorescence microscopy. The results revealed that QQ intervention markedly suppressed quorum sensing (QS), leading to a pronounced, dose-dependent reduction in biofilm thickness, membrane fouling, EPS production and sludge floc size. Biofilm thickness was reduced by 63.5% on PTFE and 55.4% on PS membranes, accompanied by a notable reduction in EPS protein and polysaccharides, thereby weakening the biofilm formation and enhancing membrane filterability. Therefore, the permeability performance of the PVDF membrane improved by 338.2%. Furthermore, sludge settleability was enhanced, and floc size was reduced, resulting in the mitigation of biofilm formation without impacting pollutant degradation. These findings elucidate the material-dependent and dose-responsive mechanism by which QQ regulates EPS synthesis and biofilm formation in MBR.

Indexed as

BiofilmsBioreactorsExtracellular Polymeric Substance MatrixQuorum SensingBiofoulingFluorocarbon PolymersMembranes, ArtificialPolytetrafluoroethylenePolyvinylsSewageSulfonesFluorocarbon PolymersMembranes, ArtificialPolytetrafluoroethylenepolyvinylidene fluoridePolyvinylsSewageSulfonesextracellular polymeric substances (EPSs)membrane bioreactor (MBR)polysulfones (PSs)polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Identifiers

PMID41900121
PMCPMC13029297

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.