Unveiling the influence of heating temperature on biofilm formation in shower hoses through multi-omics

Abstract

Shower systems provide unique environments that are conducive to biofilm formation and the proliferation of pathogens. The water heating temperature is a delicate decision that can impact microbial growth, balancing safety and energy consumption. This study investigated the impact of different heating temperatures (39 °C, 45 °C, 51 °C and 58 °C) on the shower hose biofilm (exposed to a final water temperature of 39 °C) using controlled full-scale shower setups. Whole metagenome sequencing and metaproteomics were employed to unveil the microbial composition and protein expression profiles. Overall, the genes and enzymes associated with disinfectant resistance and biofilm formation appeared largely unaffected. However, metagenomic analysis revealed a sharp decline in the number of total (86,371 to 34,550) and unique genes (32,279 to 137) with the increase in hot water temperature, indicating a significant reduction of overall microbial complexity. None of the unique proteins were detected in the proteomics experiments, suggesting smaller variation among biofilms on the proteome level compared to genomic data. Furthermore, out of 43 pathogens detected by metagenomics, only 5 could actually be detected by metaproteomics. Most interestingly, our study indicates that 45 °C heating temperature may represent an optimal balance. It minimizes active biomass (ATP) and reduces the presence of pathogens while saving heating energy. Our study offered new insights into the impact of heating temperature on shower hose biofilm formation and proposed optimal parameters that ensure biosafety while conserving energy.