Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wei Wang, Peter J. Vikesland
Summary: This study demonstrates the use of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to monitor the metabolites produced by ampicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and identify the mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance. The results indicate that the blue-green pigment pyocyanin (PYO) dominates the metabolite signals and is significantly enhanced by exposure to subminimal inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin. These findings provide new insights into antibiotic resistance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wei Wang, Peter J. Vikesland
Summary: In this study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) was used to monitor the bioactive metabolites produced by ampicillin-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and investigate the mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance. The results showed that the blue-green pigment pyocyanin (PYO) dominated the metabolite signals and was significantly enhanced in the presence of subminimal inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin. The SERS spectra also revealed minimal impact on the production of intermediate substances and consistent nutrient consumption. Furthermore, exogenously added PYO enhanced the tolerance of ampicillin-susceptible Escherichia coli to some extent, indicating that PYO mediates antibiotic resistance in both the parent species and cocultured bacterial strains. The metabolic SERS signal provides new insights into antibiotic resistance and has promising applications in environmental monitoring and rapid clinical detection.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianle Wang, Gongchang Zeng, Hong Deng, Xueming Liu, Dongye Zhao
Summary: The remediation of soil contaminated by mixed heavy metals and metalloids has been a major challenge. However, a microwave-assisted FeSO4.7H2O treatment process has been proven effective in simultaneously immobilizing lead and arsenic in contaminated soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianran Ren, Zhiliang Zhu, Yanling Qiu, Fei Yu, Tao Zhou, Jie Ma, Jianfu Zhao
Summary: This study introduced sodium alginate/MXene/CoFe2O4 (SA/MX/CFO) as functional composite materials in water treatment, which exhibited enhanced adsorption performance in the presence of an external magnetic field. The combination of external magnetic field and inherent magnetic properties of the adsorbent can adjust the adsorption process and selectivity of pollutants, providing an innovative and practical method for contaminant remediation in magnetically enhanced adsorption systems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mohammad Ali Gabris, Shahabaldin Rezania, Mahdi Rafieizonooz, Elnaz Khankhaje, Sandhanasamy Devanesan, Mohamad S. AlSalhi, Mamduh J. Aljaafreh, Arvin Shadravan
Summary: This study reports the successful functionalization/magnetization of bio-polymer to produce chitosan-magnetic graphene oxide grafted polyaniline doped with cobalt oxide (ChMGOP-Co3O4). The effects of experimental factors on the uptake of As(V) ions using ChMGOP-Co3O4 were examined, and the study validates the removal process of As(V) through analysis of adsorption capacity, rate, and thermodynamic parameters. The sorbent showed high adsorption capacities and removal efficiencies, and the adsorption mechanism is predominantly physisorption. This study highlights ChMGOP-Co3O4 as an exceptional adsorbent material for efficient isolation of As(V) from aqueous media.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biology
Daniel Gonzalez-Reguero, Marina Robas-Mora, Vanesa M. Fernandez-Pastrana, Agustin Probanza-Lobo, Pedro Antonio Jimenez-Gomez
Summary: Mercury pollution is a serious problem for the environment and health, and it can lead to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Using bacteria that promote plant development can help plants adapt to polluted environments, decontaminate sites, and prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance. This study proposes a method to evaluate the beneficial impact of bacteria in mitigating antibiotic resistance in mercury-contaminated soils.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fulin Sun, Zhantang Xu, Leilei Fan
Summary: This study examined the response of heavy metal resistant microorganisms and antibiotic resistant microorganisms to Cu and Cr stresses using metagenome, revealing a significant relationship between heavy metal resistance genes and antibiotic resistance genes, with both showing synergistic relationships. The findings imply that changes in microbial communities are the main factor driving the diversity and abundance of resistance genes.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hamada AbdElgawad, Pooja Negi, Gaurav Zinta, Afrah E. Mohammed, Modhi O. Alotaibi, Gerrit Beemster, Ahmed M. Saleh, Ashish Kumar Srivastava
Summary: In this study, the combination of thiourea (TU) and Actinobacteria (Act) was evaluated as a low-cost approach for reducing arsenic (As) toxicity in rice. ThioAC treatment stabilized photosynthetic performance and improved root lignin levels. ThioAC also activated enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems, resulting in improved antioxidant defense against As stress.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yang Liu, Junlian Qiao, Yuankui Sun
Summary: This study systematically investigated the performance of sulfidated zero-valent iron (S-ZVI) in immobilizing lead, cadmium, and arsenic in contaminated soils. The results showed that S-ZVI could effectively immobilize and transform these heavy metals into less mobile forms, reducing their phytoavailability. Furthermore, S-ZVI was found to prevent the remobilization of heavy metals under changing soil redox conditions. Therefore, S-ZVI shows great potential as a remediation amendment for soils contaminated with multiple heavy metals.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shengwei Sun, Mengxi Wang, Jiahui Xiang, Yuting Shao, Longxiang Li, Rita-Cindy Aye-Ayire Sedjoah, Guojun Wu, Jingjie Zhou, Zhihong Xin
Summary: A novel BON domain-containing protein was found to confer resistance to multiple antibiotics and interact with metal ions. It also self-assembled into a trimer and formed a central pore-like structure for antibiotic transport. This study provides new insights into the structure and function of BON protein and fills the knowledge gap in understanding BON protein-mediated intrinsic antibiotic resistance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Mireles-Arriaga, Adriana Saldana-Robles, Jesus Hernandez-Ruiz, Erik Diaz-Cervantes, Jose Zarate-Castrejon, Jorge Ruiz-Nieto
Summary: The study evaluated the physiological response of barley seedlings to arsenic V toxicity and found that the Alina cultivar showed higher tolerance. It was deduced that arsenic V could be transported through competition with endogenous ions like Mg2+ and PO43-.
POLISH JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. Mandal, R. Sonar, I. Saha, S. Ahmed, A. Basu
Summary: The soil and groundwater of Asanpara village in the Murshidabad district are contaminated with arsenic and other elements, with isolated arsenic resistant bacteria showing unprecedented tolerance levels to arsenic and other toxic metals. The bacteria, identified as Lysinibacillus sp. and Bacillus safensis, were able to grow in high concentrations of arsenic and demonstrated bioremediation potential for removing arsenic from contaminated environments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Alok Kumar, Sahana Basu, Aniket Kumar Rishu, Gautam Kumar
Summary: Arsenic contamination leading to toxicity in animals and humans has become a major concern in recent decades. Developing plants with reduced arsenic levels in their edible parts is a plausible strategy for decreasing human arsenic intake. This review summarizes recent progress in understanding arsenic uptake, translocation, and detoxification mechanisms in plants, and highlights biotechnological approaches for enhancing arsenic tolerance in different plant species.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sangmi Lee, Cameron Parsons, Yi Chen, Zahra Hanafy, Eric Brown, Sophia Kathariou
Summary: Listeria monocytogenes, responsible for listeriosis, often shows resistance to heavy metals like cadmium and arsenic, which is linked to the chromosomal island LGI2. A novel LGI2 variant, LGI2-3, has been found in Listeria welshimeri strains from an urban aquatic environment, carrying a unique cadAC gene cassette and showing lower cadmium tolerance compared to other cassettes. This discovery suggests the potential for non-pathogenic Listeria species to harbor LGI2-like islands, leading to interesting hypotheses on genetic diversity and island transfer among Listeria species.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shi-Wen Lv, Qiuyu Zheng, Lingjie Ye, Chun-Yang Li, Jing-Min Liu, Yanqing Cong, Shuo Wang
Summary: In this study, a Fe-g-C3N4/alpha-Fe2O3 composite with an active N-Fe-O bridge was successfully prepared, which broadened the light absorption range and inhibited the recombination of photoinduced electron-hole pairs. Moreover, the elaborate construction of N-Fe-O bridges based on coordination interaction reduced electrochemical impedance and facilitated electron transfer. The Fe-g-C3N4/alpha-Fe2O3 composite exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance in simultaneous removal of tetracycline (TC) and Cr(VI), and the electron transfer from TC to Cr(VI) played a crucial role in TC oxidation and Cr(VI) reduction under visible light. The findings of this work not only provided a highly-efficient photocatalyst with N-Fe-O bridges, but also offered new insights into the simultaneous removal of organic pollutants and heavy metals.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jing Ding, Min Lv, Dong Zhu, Eva F. Leifheit, Qing-Lin Chen, Yun-Qing Wang, Ling-Xin Chen, Matthias C. Rillig, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Tire wear particles (TWP) have caused widespread contamination in the environment. This study aims to understand the behavior and potential impacts of TWP in soil ecosystems. By synthesizing existing knowledge and comparing with the effects of microplastics (MP), the study outlines the composition, distribution, and behavior of TWP in soils, and highlights the potential impacts on soil biota and the underlying mechanisms. The study suggests that more research is needed to clarify the behavior and impacts of TWP at different levels, from individual organisms to the Earth system, as TWP may pose as an emerging threat to soil health.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Weiming Tu, Wei E. Huang
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Jingkai Wang, Siyu Meng, Kaicheng Lin, Xiaofei Yi, Yixiang Sun, Xiaogang Xu, Na He, Zhiqiang Zhang, Huijie Hu, Xingwang Qie, Dayi Zhang, Yuguo Tang, Wei E. Huang, Jian He, Yizhi Song
Summary: A novel culture-independent phenotyping method based on single-cell Raman spectroscopy was proposed for rapid discrimination between fungal and bacterial infections. Three Raman biomarkers were identified for distinguishing yeast and bacterial pathogens. A two-step protocol combining these biomarkers achieved an overall accuracy of 94.9% in differentiating fungal infections from bacterial infections. The method was able to identify fungi in urinary tract infection samples within half an hour and has the potential to be adopted in routine clinical practice.
ANALYTICA CHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jochem R. Nielsen, Ruud A. Weusthuis, Wei E. Huang
Summary: Enzymes in commercial bioproduction require high efficiency, robustness, and specificity. Enzyme engineering techniques like random mutagenesis and directed evolution are often used to achieve these properties. Growth-coupling selection strategies can be used to select enzyme variants based on improved cofactor oxidation or reduction rates. This review summarizes the metabolic engineering involved in creating strains auxotrophic for the oxidized or reduced state of redox cofactors and highlights the successful applications of this technique in enzyme engineering.
BIOTECHNOLOGY ADVANCES
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Azeem, Tian-Ran Sun, Parimala Gnana Soundari Arockiam Jeyasundar, Rui-Xia Han, Hui Li, Hamada Abdelrahman, Sabry M. Shaheen, Yong-Guan Zhu, Gang Li
Summary: Biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (BDOM) plays important roles in soil ecosystem by influencing soil properties and providing nutrients to soil microbes. BDOM can either enhance or suppress the growth of certain soil microorganisms depending on its composition and labile organic compound content. This review focuses on the impact of BDOM concentration, feedstock biomass type, and pyrolysis temperature on soil microbial functioning, community structure, and enzymatic activity. Results indicate that feedstock type and pyrolysis temperature affect BDOM characteristics and its interaction with soil microbial communities. Plant-based biochar produced at lower pyrolysis temperatures often contains more aliphatic BDOM, while higher pyrolysis temperatures yield more aromatic BDOM. BDOM from plant biochar has higher specific ultraviolet absorbance (SUVA) and humification index (HIX) compared to manure-based biochar. The SUVA and HIX of BDOM positively correlate with total fatty acid methyl ester content, but negatively correlate with abundances of actinomycetes, arbuscular mycorrhizae, and fungal communities. However, long-term experiments are needed to fully understand the environmental fate of BDOM in biochar-amended soil and its interaction with soil organic matter and microorganisms.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian Li, Tim J. Daniell, Ming-Kang Jin, Rui-Ying Chang, Tao Wang, Jing Zhang, Xiao-Ru Yang, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) has become a significant threat to human health. However, little is known about the profile and drivers of ARGs in the phyllosphere, which is an important habitat for microorganisms. In this study, leaf samples were collected from different stages of plant community succession to investigate the development of phyllosphere ARGs in natural habitats. The results showed that the presence of ARGs in the phyllosphere is influenced by environmental factors such as plant community composition, host leaf properties, and the phyllosphere microbiome.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xi-Mei Xue, Hong-Yu Wang, Xin-Wei Yu, Shilin Hu, Li-Jie Huang, Hui-Cheng Yang, Like Gong, Kai Yang, Hong-Bo Li, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The metabolism and bioavailability of arsenosugars in edible seaweeds are influenced by gut microbiota. It was found that mice with disrupted gut microbiota excreted significantly higher levels of total arsenic in urine and lower levels in feces after consuming nori compared to normal mice. Arsenic speciation analysis revealed that phosphate arsenosugars in nori were mostly converted to arsenobetaine, while sulfonate arsenosugar in kelp remained intact in feces.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Xin Gong, Xin Sun, Madhav P. Thakur, Zhihong Qiao, Haifeng Yao, Manqiang Liu, Stefan Scheu, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Rapid urbanization has significant impacts on global biodiversity, but its effects on soil biodiversity and nematodes are not well understood. In this study, we examined soil nematodes in four land-use types across 12 cities in China. We found that urban parks and nearby forests had higher nematode richness than urban residential areas and surrounding farmlands. Nematode communities in parks and residential areas were more similar, while forests and farmlands had more heterogeneous communities. The variations in nematode communities were mainly due to taxa replacement, indicating spatial isolation of nematodes in cities. Urban parks served as hotspots for soil nematodes, while residential areas had the lowest number of specialists and smaller body sizes. Overall, our findings suggest that urbanization reduces nematode diversity, leading to a 30% loss in residential areas compared to forests, and homogenizes soil nematode communities.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dong Zhu, Yiyue Zhang, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The prevalence of pathogens in the environment poses a serious health risk to humans. Human activity and global climate change have significant impacts on the distribution and dispersal of human pathogens in soil ecosystems. The identification of human pathogens in soil ecosystems, such as the gut of invasive animals and the plastisphere, highlights the need for effective monitoring and prediction of their dispersal. Further research is necessary to understand the global distribution of human pathogens in soil ecosystems and their potential health risks in the Anthropocene.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Xiao-Min Li, Shun Li, Fu-Yi Huang, Zhe Wang, Zhao-Yang Zhang, Song-Can Chen, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an important disturbance to urban ecosystems, and its potential effects on urban soil microbial community structure and functions are unclear. This study investigated the impact of nocturnal light on the microbiomes in urban turf soils using sequencing and qPCR techniques. The results showed that ALAN significantly influenced the structures of bacterial, fungal, and protist communities, as well as the functional profiles involved in nutrients cycling and urban health.
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Lei Luo, Zhengang Liu, Yong-Guan Zhu
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ming Sheng, Shuang Chen, Cong-Qiang Liu, Qinglong Fu, Donghuan Zhang, Wei Hu, Junjun Deng, Libin Wu, Ping Li, Zhifeng Yan, Yong-Guan Zhu, Pingqing Fu
Summary: Forest soils, covering about 30% of the Earth's land surface, play a crucial role in the global organic matter cycle. Dissolved organic matter (DOM), the largest active carbon pool on land, is vital for soil development, microbial metabolism, and nutrient cycling. However, forest soil DOM is a highly complex mixture of numerous compounds derived from primary producers, microbial processes, and chemical reactions. This study focuses on the spatial and molecular variations of DOM in forest soils across different latitudes in China, using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). The results reveal distinct patterns of molecular composition, indicating the importance of understanding the role of DOM in the carbon cycle.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Longji Zhu, Ruilong Li, Kai Yang, Fei Xu, Chenshuo Lin, Qinglin Chen, Dong Zhu, Qian Sun, Yong-Guan Zhu, Li Cui
Summary: This study systematically investigated the microbiomes, ARGs, and community assembly processes of five types of MPs in an urbanizing watershed, quantifying the health risks of ARGs in plastisphere and exploring the driving mechanisms.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hanwen Chen, Xin Zhang, Haixi Wang, Shuping Xing, Rongbin Yin, Wei Fu, Matthias C. Rillig, Baodong Chen, Yongguan Zhu
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in reducing the transport of microplastics from roots to shoots in crops. However, AM symbiosis does not substantially decrease the uptake of microplastics by crops from soil. Nevertheless, mycorrhizal fungi can enhance the resistance of crops to microplastics by transforming their chemical properties, reducing complex formation with crop components, and promoting crop phosphorus nutrition.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li Cui, Yuhan Xin, Kai Yang, Hongzhe Li, Fengjiao Tan, Yulong Zhang, Xingrui Li, Zhi Zhu, Jun Yang, Shuh-Ji Kao, Bin Ren, Yong-Guan Zhu, Florin Musat, Niculina Musat
Summary: In this study, a synergistic approach combining single-cell Raman microspectroscopy and stable isotope probing was developed to track metabolic interactions in active microbial assemblages. This approach allowed for the temporal tracking of intercellular and interspecies metabolite exchange in living cells, providing comprehensive metabolic profiling and advancing our understanding of microbial interactions.
