Article
Microbiology
Jorge Vinales, Joshua Sackett, Leah Trutschel, Waleed Amir, Casey Norman, Edmund Leach, Elizabeth Wilbanks, Annette Rowe
Summary: This study characterized the features of two obligately heterotrophic marine microbes that were previously isolated from marine sediment cathode enrichments. The genomic analysis revealed small genome sizes and phylogenetic relationship with the genus Idiomarina. Furthermore, these microbes were found to primarily use amino acids as carbon sources and showed sustained electron uptake in an electrochemical system.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Juan F. Ortiz-Medina, Mark R. Poole, Amy M. Grunden, Douglas F. Call
Summary: The anode potential has a significant impact on nitrogen gas fixation rates and ammonium production in Geobacter sulfurreducens. Low anode potential results in increased nitrogen fixation activity and higher intracellular concentrations of organic compounds, contributing to improved energy generation and use in microbial electrochemical technologies.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joanna Roginska, Timothe Philippon, Morgane Hoareau, Frederic P. A. Jorand, Frederic Barriere, Mathieu Etienne
Summary: Bioelectrochemical systems using microbes as electrode catalysts have gained attention in water sanitation and energy recovery applications. Nitrate-reducing biocathodes show promise in efficiently treating nitrate-polluted wastewater but lack large-scale implementation. This review summarizes the current knowledge on nitrate-reducing biocathodes, discussing their fundamentals and progress in water treatment. A comparison with other nitrate-removal techniques is made, and challenges and opportunities for this approach are identified.
BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Xinying Liu, David J. F. Walker, Stephen S. Nonnenmann, Dezhi Sun, Derek R. Lovley
Summary: Geobacter sulfurreducens serves as a model microbe for studying extracellular electron transfer in various biogeochemical cycles, bioelectrochemical applications, and microbial metal corrosion. Recent research has shown that electrically conductive pili (e-pili) are abundant filaments in G. sulfurreducens and are essential for long-range electron transport. These findings provide important insights into the role of e-pili in facilitating extracellular electron transfer processes.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jane R. de Lambert, James F. Walsh, Deanna P. Scher, Aaron D. Firnstahl, Mark A. Borchardt
Summary: Urban stormwater can contain a variety of pollutants, including viruses, pathogens, and emerging contaminants like pharmaceuticals. The study found that microbial and chemical contaminants were lower in the water table than in the vadose zone, with human-specific Bacteroides being the most frequently detected. Factors such as precipitation and chloride-bromide ratio were significantly associated with microbial load, and geologically sensitive aquifers with a protective cap of fine-grained sediments are less vulnerable to contamination from urban stormwater.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Emily A. Kraus, Daniel Nothaft, Blake W. Stamps, Kaitlin R. Rempfert, Eric T. Ellison, Juerg M. Matter, Alexis S. Templeton, Eric S. Boyd, John R. Spear
Summary: The study explores the functional capability and activity of microbial methane cycling in serpentinization-impacted subsurface waters in the Samail Ophiolite of Oman. The results reveal active methanogenic and methanotrophic populations, particularly in waters with hyperalkaline pH. This highlights the potential for biological methane cycling in serpentinite-hosted aquifers, even under extreme conditions.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Srishti Chaudhary, Sukrampal Yadav, Ramandeep Singh, Chetan Sadhotra, Sunil A. Patil
Summary: This article discusses the advantages of using extreme electroactive microorganisms (EAMs) in microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) and summarizes the diversity of EAMs from different extreme environments. It also discusses their use as biocatalysts in various bioprocessing applications and presents the challenges and research opportunities associated with operating METs under extreme conditions.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dylan G. Boucher, Emily Carroll, Zachary A. Nguyen, Rohit G. Jadhav, Olja Simoska, Kevin Beaver, Shelley D. Minteer
Summary: Bioelectrocatalytic synthesis involves the conversion of electrical energy into valuable products using biocatalysts, combining the specificity of biocatalysis with energy-related electrocatalysis. This review provides an introduction to key concepts in bioelectrosynthetic systems, including methods of biocatalyst utilization, setup of bioelectrosynthetic cells, and analytical methods for assessing bioelectrocatalysts. It outlines important applications in ammonia production and small-molecule synthesis for enzymatic and microbial systems, serving as a valuable resource for non-specialists interested in bioelectrosynthetic research.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yumeng Ma, Camille Colin, Julie Descamps, Stephane Arbault, Neso Sojic
Summary: This study introduces a label-free shadow electrochemiluminescence (ECL) microscopy technique to image single living mitochondria deposited on electrode surface. By utilizing negative optical contrast and local diffusional hindrance, this approach visualizes individual mitochondria and validates their functionality with classical fluorescent biomarkers. The versatility and extreme sensitivity of this method make it promising for imaging subcellular structures while alleviating photobleaching and phototoxicity issues associated with conventional microscopy.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Patrick H. Thieringer, Alexander S. Honeyman, John R. Spear
Summary: The study focused on uniquely adapted microorganisms in the deep biosphere, the relationship between surface and subsurface microbial communities, and the dynamic nature of microbial composition in the near-subsurface. Additionally, the research explored the interconnectedness between surface influences and subsurface environments through geochemical processes.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wei Huang, Janneth Rodrigues, Etienne Bilgo, Jose R. Tormo, Joseph D. Challenger, Cristina De Cozar-Gallardo, Ignacio Perez-Victoria, Fernando Reyes, Pablo Castaneda-Casado, Edounou Jacques Gnambani, Domonbabele Francois de Sales Hien, Maurice Konkobo, Beatriz Urones, Isabelle Coppens, Alfonso Mendoza-Losana, Lluis Ballell, Abdoulaye Diabate, Thomas S. Churcher, Marcelo Jacobs-Lorena
Summary: The article describes the properties of a symbiotic bacterium, Delftia tsuruhatensis TC1, which inhibits early stages of Plasmodium development and transmission. The bacterium secretes a small-molecule inhibitor called harmane, which penetrates the mosquito's cuticle and inhibits Plasmodium development. Field studies in Burkina Faso and modeling show that D. tsuruhatensis TC1 has the potential to complement mosquito-targeted malaria transmission control.
Article
Microbiology
Nobuaki Shono, Mana Ito, Akio Umezawa, Kenji Sakata, Ailong Li, Jun Kikuchi, Katsutoshi Ito, Ryuhei Nakamura
Summary: This study investigates the redox homeostasis of a benthic ecosystem in aquaculture fields by monitoring the real-time redox potential. The researchers found that a cooperative relationship between oligochaetes and sediment microorganisms reinforces redox homeostasis and promotes the decomposition of organic compounds. This study suggests that the electrochemical monitoring and physiologic regulation of marine oligochaetes can contribute to sustainable aquaculture practices.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Electrochemistry
Huiqin Yao, Ruiqi Xiao, Yin Tian, Keren Shi, Haihao Yao, Hongyun Liu
Summary: The lamellar organic clay with controllable positive charges (AMPC) was successfully synthesized through a simple one-pot method. By layer-by-layer assembly of AMPC with negatively charged glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme, sensitive and reversible pH-responsive switchable behavior was demonstrated towards the cyclic voltammetric responses of the ferrocenedicarboxylic acid probe. This system shows potential for fabricating novel multiple factor-switchable biosensors with immobilized enzymes.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Electrochemistry
Yuandong Liu, Limin Zhang, Jingwen Mo, Yi Zhou, Yang Tian
Summary: A Ca2+ selective microelectrode was developed using graphene oxide (GO) on carbon fiber as a highly efficient ion-electron transfer layer. The microelectrode showed enhanced sensitivity and selectivity towards Ca2+.
JOURNAL OF THE ELECTROCHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Yassir Lekbach, Toshiyuki Ueki, Xiaomeng Liu, Trevor Woodard, Jun Yao, Derek R. Lovley
Summary: Microorganisms can assemble protein nanowires from renewable feedstocks, which can be used as sensor components in electronic sensing devices. By incorporating short peptide sequences into the protein nanowires, the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensors can be modified. Protein nanowire-based sensors show higher response for analytes of interest compared to sensors made with other nanomaterials.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)