Effect of selenite on the morphology and respiratory activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium biofilms

Abstract

The temporal and spatial effects of selenite (SeO32-) on the physical properties and respiratory activity of Phanerochaete chrysosporium biofilms, grown in flow-cell reactors, were investigated using oxygen microsensors and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) imaging. Exposure of the biofilm to a SeO32- load of 1.67 mg Se L-1 h-1 (10 mg Se L-1 influent concentration), for 24 h, resulted in a 20% reduction of the O2 flux, followed by a ~10% decrease in the glucose consumption rate. Long-term exposure (4 days) to SeO32- influenced the architecture of the biofilm by creating a more compact and dense hyphal arrangement resulting in a decrease of biofilm thickness compared to fungal biofilms grown without SeO32-. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that the effect of SeO32- on the aerobic respiratory activity on fungal biofilms is described.