Augmenting of Bioremediation Through Quorum Sensing and Biofilms

The amplified boost in the rate of pollution, potentially due to anthropogenic activities, has compelled us to search for proficient strategies that can be executed for environmental restoration. The key dilemma with traditional processes used for environmental cleaning of pollutants is incompetence and soaring economic costs. Bioremediation is a budding technology with profound potential for cleaning of pollutants and has turned out to be a ray of hope for environmental safety and its long-lasting survival. Quorum sensing involves cell–cell communication through signalling molecules and is based on population density. Quorum sensing regulates the formation of biofilms which has been implicated in competent bioremediation procedures. The important feature of biofilm is its stress resistance nature, which can be utilized for competent metabolism of toxic pollutants. This chapter throws light on the association of quorum sensing and formation of biofilms in relation to bioremediation of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and plastics.