Effect of QS molecules on acidophilic leaching consortium RNA transcripts

Transcriptomic analyses were performed to characterize expression changes in an acidophilic leaching consortium upon treatment with quorum sensing (QS) molecules. This consortium consisted of three species: L. ferriphilum DSM 14647, A. caldus DSM 8584, and S. thermosulfidooxidans DSM 9293.RNA sequencing was conducted on cultures grown with pyrite, using 2% (wt/vol) pyrite grains as the sole substrate. The QS molecules used were the DSF-family signal compounds cis-11-methyl-2-dodecenoic acid (DSF) and cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) or a mixture of N-acyl-DL-homoserine lactones (AHLs). QS molecules were added 24 hours after inoculation and maintained for 14 days, after which planktonic cells were collected by centrifugation for RNA extraction.