Systematic Full-Cycle Engineering Microbial Biofilms to Boost Electricity Production in Shewanella oneidensis

Electroactive biofilm plays a crucial rule in the electron transfer efficiency of microbial electrochemical systems (MES). However, the low ability to form biofilm and the low conductivity of the formed biofilm substantially limit the extracellular electron transfer rate of microbial cells to the electrode surfaces in MES. To promote biofilm formation and enhance biofilm conductivity, we develop synthetic biology approach to systematically engineer Shewanella oneidensis, a model exoelectrogen, via modular manipulation of the full-cycle different stages of biofilm formation, namely, from initial contact, cell adhesion, and biofilm growth stable maturity to cell dispersion. Consequently, the maximum output power density of the engineered biofilm reaches 3.62 +/- 0.06 W m-2, 39.3-fold higher than that of the wild-type strain of S. oneidensis, which, to the best our knowledge, is the highest output power density that has ever been reported for the biofilms of the genetically engineered Shewanella strains.

Automated summary

Researchers systematically engineered Shewanella oneidensis, an exoelectrogenic model organism, to promote biofilm formation and enhance biofilm conductivity in microbial electrochemical systems. The engineered biofilm achieved a maximum output power density of 3.62 +/- 0.06 W m-2, 39.3 times higher than that of the wild-type strain, setting a new record for the output power density of genetically engineered Shewanella biofilms.