# The Utilization of Bacillus subtilis to Design Environmentally Friendly Living Paints with Anti-Mold Properties

## TL;DR

This paper explores using the bacterium Bacillus subtilis in paint to create mold-resistant, eco-friendly coatings for buildings.

## Contribution

The study introduces a novel application of Bacillus subtilis in paint to combat mold with bio-based anti-fungal properties.

## Key findings

- Paint enhanced with Bacillus subtilis effectively inhibits the mold species Aspergillus niger.
- Three biosynthetic gene clusters in Bacillus subtilis are essential for its anti-mold activity.
- The approach offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to chemical anti-fungal agents.

## Abstract

The anti-fungal properties of the probiotic bacterium Bacillus subtilis have been studied extensively in agriculture and ecology, but their applications in the built environment remain to be determined. Our work aims to utilize this biological component to introduce new diverse anti-mold properties into paint. “Mold” refers to the ubiquitous fungal species that generate visible multicellular filaments commonly found in household dust. The development of mold leads to severe health problems for occupants, including allergic response, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and asthma, which have significant economic and clinical outcomes. We here demonstrate the robust effect of a commercial paint enhanced with Bacillus subtilis cells against the common mold agent, Aspergillus niger, and identify three biosynthetic clusters essential for this effect. Our results lay the foundation for bio-convergence and synthetic biology approaches to introduce renewable and environmentally friendly bio-anti-fungal agents into the built environment.