Article
Environmental Sciences
Li Song, Zhenzhi Pan, Yi Dai, Lin Chen, Li Zhang, Qilin Liao, Xiezhi Yu, Hongyan Guo, Guisheng Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the effects of various degrees of long-term cadmium pollution on soil microorganisms at different soil depths. The results showed that cadmium contamination reduced the richness and diversity of soil microbes, significantly impacting the microbial communities in the polluted underlying soil layer, while leading to an increase in species richness in the mildly and severely polluted surface soils. This research provides insights into how long-term heavy metal contamination affects soil bacterial communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Marco Wehner, Irene Kleidorfer, Ingrid Whittle, Daniela Bischof, Anke Bockreis, Heribert Insam, Wolfgang Mueller, Sebastian Hupfauf
Summary: Enormous amounts of food waste are produced worldwide, and proper disposal strategies are needed. Anaerobic digestion to produce biomethane is a promising strategy, but storage and delivery solutions are required. This study assessed a decentralized system for demand-oriented food waste storage and found that it can be stored without cooling, as lactic acid produced by bacteria stabilizes the material and inactivates pathogens. The storage had no negative impact on methane yield and contained readily degradable substances for biogas production.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marie Ronne Aggerbeck, Tue Kjaergaard Nielsen, Jesper Bruun Mosbacher, Niels Martin Schmidt, Lars Hestbjerg Hansen
Summary: The presence of muskoxen has a significant impact on the soil microbial community in Arctic fens. Grazed soils exhibit higher microbial diversity and a different microbial composition compared to ungrazed soils. The presence of muskoxen also affects methane cycling in the ecosystem.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Hannah E. Epstein, Alejandra Hernandez-Agreda, Samuel Starko, Julia K. Baum, Rebecca Vega Thurber
Summary: 16S rRNA gene profiling is a widely used technique for studying microbial communities, with standardized protocols that are generally assumed to produce comparable results. However, this study found significant differences in beta diversity metrics between data generated from similar protocols, suggesting that sequencing protocol can impact microbial community analysis in a context-dependent manner. Further research is needed to understand the mechanistic causes of these differences and caution is advised when combining data from distinct sequencing protocols for microbiome analysis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Mengyao Zhu, Dabing Xu, Guohan Si, Chenglin Peng, Jiafu Yuan, Shujun Zhao
Summary: Organic manure treatments increased nutrient content in the soil, improved soil fertility, and increased richness and diversity of soil bacteria.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marcel Suleiman, Francesca Demaria, Cristina Zimmardi, Boris Alexander Kolvenbach, Philippe Francois-Xavier Corvini
Summary: Pharmaceuticals accumulation in the environment is a concern for our planet and health. Little is known about the biodegradation capacity of microbial communities for multiple micropollutants. This study demonstrates the feasibility of cultivating stable microbial communities capable of degrading a mixture of highly concentrated pharmaceuticals.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dong Han, Hongmin Zhen, Xiaoyan Liu, Justyna Zulewska, Zhennai Yang
Summary: This study used both rRNA and gDNA sequencing on mouse cecal contents and found differences in microbial composition and functional predictions between the two methods. rRNA-derived sequencing improved identification capability of specific microorganisms and was more suitable for functional predictions.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Aditi Sengupta, Till H. M. Volkmann, Robert E. Danczak, James C. Stegen, Katerina Dontsova, Nate Abramson, Aaron S. Bugaj, Michael J. Volk, Katarena A. Matos, Antonio A. Meira-Neto, Albert Barberan, Julia W. Neilson, Raina M. Maier, Jon Chorover, Peter A. Troch, Laura K. Meredith
Summary: The study found that in incipient soil systems, microbial community structure is stratified with soil depth, with surficial communities maintaining their distinct structure and diversity after precipitation, while deeper soil samples become more uniform. The assembly of microbial structure remains deterministic, while the assembly of carbon and nitrogen functional potential is stochastic. Sub-populations involved in the nitrogen cycle and carbon fixation at the deepest depths experience counteracting assembly pressures.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jing-Yi Zhang, Zheng-Han Lian, Manik Prabhu Narsing Rao, Pandeng Wang, Lan Liu, Bao-Zhu Fang, Meng -Meng Li, Ze-Tao Liu, Ai-Ping Lv, Sha Tan, Lei Dong, Jia-Ling Li, Jian-Yu Jiao, Wen-Jun Li
Summary: Microbes in the marine environment are widely distributed and most of them have not yet been cultured. Drying treatments can alter the cultivated microbial diversity, and some potential novel species can only be cultured from drying-treated samples. Drying treatments have different effects on different genera, and they play a significant role in the separation of microbial communities at a cultivation temperature of 28 degrees Celsius.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Jonas Greve Lauritsen, Morten Lindqvist Hansen, Pernille Kjersgaard Bech, Lars Jelsbak, Lone Gram, Mikael Lenz Strube
Summary: A high-throughput sequencing method was developed for profiling Pseudomonas species in soil microbiomes, identifying more species than 16S rRNA gene sequencing or cultivation. This method allows for tracing specific species of Pseudomonas and screening environmental samples for further isolation and exploitation.
Article
Parasitology
Mohamed Azab El-Liethy, Bahaa A. Hemdan, Gamila E. El-Taweel
Summary: This study aimed to identify dye degrading bacteria from textile wastewater and environmental water samples, and the results showed that the ratio of dye-degrading bacteria in textile water samples was 27%, with Citrobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Aeromonas spp. being the most identified genera. The microbial communities in textile wastewater and environmental samples were similar at the phylum level but had differences at the genus and species levels due to different environmental conditions.
Article
Microbiology
Peeter Laas, Kelly Ugarelli, Rafael Travieso, Sandro Stumpf, Evelyn E. Gaiser, John S. Kominoski, Ulrich Stingl
Summary: Planktonic microbial communities in wetland ecosystems play a vital role, yet they are relatively underexplored compared to other aquatic ecosystems. This study conducted a high-resolution analysis of bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities in the Florida Everglades, revealing significant variations along the salinity gradient.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephen E. DeVilbiss, Jason M. Taylor, Matthew Hicks
Summary: Agriculture is the dominant land use globally, but it threatens ecosystem structure and services. This study found that salinity and sediment texture are the primary drivers of bacterial diversity in agroecosystems, while nutrients are secondary drivers. Increasing bacterial diversity may enhance the ability to detect community responses to agricultural stressors.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Jacob Weverka, Gabriel C. Runte, Elizabeth L. Porzig, Chelsea J. Carey
Summary: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is important for soil health and climate change mitigation. Plant and soil microbial communities can serve as indicators of SOC concentrations and future changes. Combining these ecological indicators can improve the prediction of SOC concentration and changes.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin W. Hahn, Andrea Huemer, Alexandra Pitt, Matthias Hoetzinger
Summary: The study utilized a protein-encoding gene to reveal hidden ecological patterns within a single operational taxonomic unit, leading to the detection of 600 species-like taxa in 99 freshwater habitats. It showed how environmental conditions shape bacterial communities and identified a surprising compositional separation of Polynucleobacter communities in habitats with different levels of calcium ions. This new approach opens up a window to explore the incredible diversity of free-living bacteria and investigate the impact of environmental conditions on bacterial evolution.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Laura Tamburello, Antonia Chiarore, Erika Fabbrizzi, Alberto Colletti, Giulio Franzitta, Daniele Grech, Fabio Rindi, Lucia Rizzo, Beatrice Savinelli, Simonetta Fraschetti
Summary: Habitat degradation and loss in macroalgal forests worldwide, particularly along the 8000 km of the coasts of Italy, are severely affecting the populations. Main drivers include coastal engineering and poor water quality from urban, agricultural, or industrial activities. Although protected populations have increased, the lack of management and monitoring plans may hinder conservation efficacy and recovery efforts.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Letter
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sergio Rossi, Lorenzo Bramanti, Paulo Horta, Louise Allcock, Marina Carreiro-Silva, Martina Coppari, Vianney Denis, Louis Hadjioannou, Enrique Isla, Carlos Jimenez, Mark Johnson, Christian Mohn, Covadonga Orejas, Andreja Ramsak, James Reimer, Baruch Rinkevich, Lucia Rizzo, Maria Salomidi, Toufiek Samaai, Nadine Schubert, Marcelo Soares, Ruth H. Thurstan, Paolo Vassallo, Patrizia Ziveri, Juanita Zorrilla-Pujana
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lucia Rizzo, Riccardo Minichino, Riccardo Virgili, Valentina Tanduo, David Osca, Alessandro Manfredonia, Pierpaolo Consoli, Francesco Colloca, Fabio Crocetta
Summary: Seafloor pollution by benthic litter is a growing concern, and the colonization of debris by biota has been understudied. This study found that plastic pieces of land-based origin were the most common items encountered on the continental slope of the Gulf of Naples. The majority of these items were unfouled and supported an impoverished biota. However, gastropod and cephalopod eggs showed higher colonization rates on the debris, suggesting that even small pieces of soft plastic can provide spawning habitat and affect species connectivity in the deep-sea ecosystem.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniele Pietrucci, Adelaide Teofani, Marco Milanesi, Bruno Fosso, Lorenza Putignani, Francesco Messina, Graziano Pesole, Alessandro Desideri, Giovanni Chillemi
Summary: This paper investigates the involvement of gut microbiota in disease and health, specifically in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The authors collected samples from multiple projects and applied machine learning algorithms to develop a predictor that can differentiate between ASD and healthy controls. The study identified important microbial genera and highlighted the potential of machine learning algorithms in identifying common taxonomic features across different datasets.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonio Trani, Giuseppe Mezzapesa, Lea Piscitelli, Donato Mondelli, Ludovica Nardelli, Genuario Belmonte, Andrea Toso, Stefano Piraino, Cristina Panti, Matteo Baini, Maria Cristina Fossi, Massimo Zuccaro
Summary: Microplastic pollution in the Mediterranean Sea, particularly in the Salento coastal zone, has been studied and found to have significantly increased concentrations on the sea surface and in the gastrointestinal tract of selected marine organisms compared to previous data.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Maria Calasso, Marinella Marzano, Giusy Rita Caponio, Giuseppe Celano, Bruno Fosso, Francesco Maria Calabrese, Domenico De Palma, Mirco Vacca, Elisabetta Notario, Graziano Pesole, Maria De Angelis, Francesca De Leo
Summary: To extend the shelf-life of bakery products, a type-III sourdough combined with a mixture of probiotics was used, which resulted in improved physicochemical and microbiological attributes. The addition of bioprotective-cultures and the sourdough had positive effects on microbial and metabolite improvements in the products, leading to a longer shelf-life. These findings suggest a potential alternative to chemical preservatives for extending the shelf-life of processed foods.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Stefania De Domenico, Gianluca De Rinaldis, Marta Mammone, Mar Bosch-Belmar, Stefano Piraino, Antonella Leone
Summary: This study investigates the biochemical characteristics of Cassiopea andromeda, a jellyfish species that hosts dinoflagellate symbionts. The research finds that these symbionts produce bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties and other beneficial biological activities. The study applies a fractionation method to separate the different components of the jellyfish, with the oral arms being found to contain more symbionts and pigments. These findings suggest that C. andromeda-dinoflagellate holobiont could be a promising source of bioactive compounds for various biotechnological applications.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marta Mammone, Mar Bosch-Belmar, Giacomo Milisenda, Luca Castriota, Mauro Sinopoli, Alessandro Allegra, Manuela Falautano, Teresa Maggio, Sergio Rossi, Stefano Piraino
Summary: Knowledge of the reproductive strategy is essential for predicting population dynamics and invasiveness of species. The Lessepsian upside-down jellyfish, Cassiopea andromeda, has established an outpost in the Mediterranean Sea with an asynchronous reproduction strategy. Oocytes were observed throughout the year, with two peaks of abundance in late spring and autumn, indicating imminent spawning events. The appearance of a new jellyfish cohort in winter suggests intense summer strobilation of polyps.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Beatriz Vinha, Sergio Rossi, Andrea Gori, Ulrike Hanz, Antonio Pennetta, Giuseppe E. De Benedetto, Furu Mienis, Veerle A. I. Huvenne, Dierk Hebbeln, Claudia Wienberg, Juergen Titschack, Andre Freiwald, Stefano Piraino, Covadonga Orejas
Summary: Despite hypoxic conditions, cold-water coral reefs in the Angolan margin rely on an intermediate food source, possibly zooplankton.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lucia Rizzo, Tomas Vega Fernandez
Summary: Non-indigenous species (NIS) pose a major threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, especially in the Mediterranean Sea, where the non-indigenous invasive seaweed Caulerpa cylindracea affects marine biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. This review provides a systematic analysis of the consumption of C. cylindracea by Mediterranean native and NIS species, exploring the benefits and drawbacks for native biota and human health. The goal is to synthesize knowledge and provide management tools for the occurrence of this NIS in the Mediterranean Sea, promoting an ecosystem-based approach to mitigate its ecological, economic, and social impacts.
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Milica Mandic, Stefano Piraino
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lazic Tamara, Bruno Fosso, Balech Bachir, Corriero Giuseppe, Gristina Michele, Marzano Marinella, Pesole Graziano, Santamaria Monica, Cataldo Pierri
Summary: Seahorses, as flagship species for conservation efforts, are highly vulnerable to human pressures due to their presence in threatened coastal ecosystems. The decline of seahorse populations globally has resulted in their inclusion on the IUCN Red List, with most species lacking sufficient data on their biology and ecology. In this study, a non-invasive DNA metabarcoding technique was used to study the diet composition of long-snouted seahorses and identify differences in prey choice among habitats. The results revealed a diverse range of prey species, including several non-native species, indicating potential anthropogenic impacts and habitat modifications. Significant differences in diet composition were also found among investigated habitats, highlighting the trophic flexibility of Hippocampus guttulatus and its importance for its resilience as an iconic yet sensitive species.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luigi Bundone, Lucia Rizzo, Sergio Fai, Gema Hernandez-Milian, Stefano Guerzoni, Emanuela Molinaroli
Summary: Several factors have led to the decline in population of the Mediterranean monk seal over time. Despite the disappearance of documented breeding sub-populations, recent sightings have been reported from most of the species' former habitat. Our research in the Salento coast, Italy, used three different methodologies to collect data on monk seal presence. The study revealed historical and recent records of sightings, suggesting the species' rarity and the need for a regional approach to aid its recovery.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Elisabetta Notario, Grazia Visci, Bruno Fosso, Carmela Gissi, Nina Tanaskovic, Maria Rescigno, Marinella Marzano, Graziano Pesole
Summary: The 16S rRNA amplicon-based sequencing approach is commonly used and cost-effective for microbiome profiling. This study compared different methods and found that the full-length approach has the best discriminatory power for microbiome taxonomic characterization.
