Bacterial Antagonists of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria for Application in Technologies for the Targeted Control of Surface Biofouling

Abstract The study aimed to identify bacterial antagonists of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) capable of displacing SRB from biofouling communities on equipment surfaces, thereby decreasing the rate of corrosion. Six bacterial strains were identified that actively inhibited the growth of two SRB strains and were also able to grow under anaerobic or microaerophilic conditions and to form biofilms on metal and/or Teflon surfaces. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that the identified strains were able to displace SRB from pre-formed SRB biofilms. The prospects for the application of these bacterial strains in technologies for the targeted control of biofouling on equipment surfaces are discussed.