[Progress on the regulation of quorum sensing in wastewater treatment].

Quorum sensing is a phenomenon that microorganisms secrete some signal molecules, when such molecules accumulate to a threshold level, which would realize the information communication by regulating specific gene expression. Quorum sensing, which is widely found in information communication of various microorganisms, regulates a variety of social behaviors, such as biofilm formation, public goods production, and gene horizontal transfer of bacteria. The phenomenon of quorum sensing is widespread in biological aggregates, such as activated sludge, biofilm and granular sludge. Learning and understanding the regulation behavior between quorum sensing and microorganisms plays an important role in wastewater treatment. Here, we reviewed the classification of the sensing signal molecule, regulation mechanism of quorum sensing, as well as the regulation behavior of quorum sensing in activated sludge, biofilm, aerobic granular sludge, and anaerobic granular sludge. The future researches of quorum sensing in wastewater treatment were discussed. This review could deepen the understanding of the regulation of quorum sensing in wastewater treatment.