Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junaidah Buhari, Hassimi Abu Hasan, Nurul Farhana Mohd Rahim, Setyo Budi Kurniawan, Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah, Ahmad Razi Othman
Summary: The study isolated AOB bacteria from coffee wastewater and optimized a consortium of these bacteria for efficient removal of ammonia and COD in wastewater, showing great potential for bioremediation in wastewater reclamation.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jacobo de la Cuesta-Zuluaga, Tim D. Spector, Nicholas D. Youngblut, Ruth E. Ley
Summary: Archaea of the order Methanomassiliicoccales use methylated amines such as trimethylamine as substrates for methanogenesis. Genomic adaptations differ by clade, not habitat preference, indicating convergent evolution between the clades. In the human gut, Methanomassiliicoccales are correlated with trimethylamine-producing bacteria but were not detected in all human populations.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuan Yuan, Yaolei Zhang, Peijun Zhang, Chang Liu, Jiahao Wang, Haiyu Gao, A. Rus Hoelzel, Inge Seim, Meiqi Lv, Mingli Lin, Lijun Dong, Haoyang Gao, Zixin Yang, Francesco Caruso, Wenzhi Lin, Rute R. da Fonseca, Ding Wang, Xianyan Wang, Marianne H. Rasmussen, Mingming Liu, Jinsong Zheng, Liyuan Zhao, Paula F. Campos, Hui Kang, Maria Iversen, Yue Song, Xinyu Guo, Jiao Guo, Yating Qin, Shanshan Pan, Qiwu Xu, Lingfeng Meng, A. Yunga, Shanshan Liu, Simon Ming-Yuen Lee, Xin Liu, Xun Xu, Huanming Yang, Guangyi Fan, Kun Wang, Songhai Li
Summary: The study generated high-quality genome assemblies of 17 marine mammals, revealing unique and convergent genomic variations associated with the transition to aquatic life in marine mammal lineages. The research advances understanding of the timing, pattern, and molecular changes associated with the evolution of mammalian lineages adapting to aquatic life.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gustavo Sanchez, Oleg Simakov, Daniel Rokhsar
Summary: In recent years, cephalopods have become a focus of research due to the increasing availability of sequenced genomes, molecular tools, and laboratory culture. The limited information on the Nautilus, a survivor of a cephalopod lineage that diverged from the coleoid clade, has hindered our understanding of genetic changes and contributions to cephalopod evolution. The publication of Nautilus genomes in Molecular Ecology will provide insights into the timing and impact of genetic changes in cephalopod evolution.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shaorong An, Qiang Jin
Summary: This study proposed an advanced air stripping technology based on foam separation for removing low-concentration ammonia nitrogen in aqueous solution, showing favorable removal efficiency within a wide pH range. The interactions between SDS and NH4+ ions were demonstrated by a microcalorimeter, helping to clarify the mechanisms involved. The advanced air stripping could be a promising technology for minimizing low-concentration NH4+-N due to its simple operation and satisfactory removal efficiency.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Lei Cui, Dongpo Li, Zhijie Wu, Yan Xue, Yuchao Song, Furong Xiao, Lili Zhang, Ping Gong, Ke Zhang
Summary: The application of nitrification inhibitors (NIs) can effectively reduce nitrogen (N) loss by delaying the nitrification process through influencing the growth of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in different soils.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ebru Destan, Busra Yuksel, Bradley B. Tolar, Esra Ayan, Sam Deutsch, Yasuo Yoshikuni, Soichi Wakatsuki, Christopher A. Francis, Hasan DeMirci
Summary: The protein encoded by Nmar_1308 plays a crucial role in the ammonia-oxidizing thaumarchaeal 3HP/4HB cycle by acting as both CCAH and 3HPD, thereby reducing the number of enzymes required for CO2 fixation and lowering the overall cost of biosynthesis. The high-resolution crystal structure of this bifunctional enzyme provides insights into key catalytic residues in the thaumarchaeal 3HP/4HB pathway.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guoqiang Liu, Xianwei Wu, Deyong Li, Lugao Jiang, Ju Huang, Li Zhuang
Summary: The study showed that short-term low dissolved oxygen increased N2O emissions, while long-term low DO decreased emissions by increasing the abundance of ammonia oxidizers in the ASP. Long-term low DO reduced AOB abundance but increased AOA, with AOA potentially inhibiting N2O production. The positive correlation between N2O emissions and nitrite concentration became insignificant after 80 days of low DO operation, suggesting that ASPs can reduce N2O production and CO2 emissions by operating with low DO and extended sludge age.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xueting Feng, Jiyuan Liu, Long Chen, Ya Kong, Zedong Zhang, Zixuan Zhang, Dingsheng Wang, Wen Liu, Shuzhou Li, Lianming Tong, Jin Zhang
Summary: Realizing efficient hydrogenation of N2 molecules in the electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction is crucial but rarely reported. A new study presents a highly efficient electrocatalyst with a hydrogen radical-transferring mechanism, which can greatly reduce the potential and maintain high activity and selectivity in NRR.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Anna N. Rasmussen, Christopher A. Francis
Summary: Ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) play a crucial role in the transformation of ammonia in aquatic environments worldwide, especially in nutrient-rich coastal and estuarine waters like San Francisco Bay. A study found a significant AOA bloom in the southern part of San Francisco Bay, which coincided with high nitrite concentrations. Analysis of AOA genomes revealed their streamlined structure and specific genomic characteristics. These findings provide important insights into the understanding of AOA blooms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul O. Sheridan, Yiyu Meng, Tom A. Williams, Cecile Gubry-Rangin
Summary: This study assembles 15 genomes of deeply rooted Thaumarchaeota from acidic soils, revealing differences in metabolic characteristics and evolutionary mechanisms in these lineages. The findings suggest that these Thaumarchaeota play important roles in terrestrial ecosystems and provide a model for studying niche partitioning.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Guihong Cha, Yugeng Liu, Qing Yang, Liping Bai, Lei Cheng, Wei Fan
Summary: The study reveals that archaea in mild environments have a higher diversity of chemoreceptors compared to those in extreme environments; specific ligand-binding domains of chemoreceptors are strongly associated with specific habitats; the number of chemoreceptors correlates with genome size. These results suggest that the adaptation of archaea to specific habitats is closely related to their chemoreceptor diversity and genome size.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dennis Litty, Volker Mueller
Summary: The study found that the ATP synthase in hyperthermophilic archaea has an unusual subunit c, which is predicted to prevent ATP synthesis. However, it was observed that this enzyme can still synthesize ATP under physiological conditions. Additionally, the research revealed an intermediate state in the transition from ATP hydrolases to ATP synthases, providing insight into the bioenergetic adaptation of microbial growth near thermodynamic equilibrium.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yu Feng, Hans Peter Comes, Jun Chen, Shanshan Zhu, Ruisen Lu, Xinyi Zhang, Pan Li, Jie Qiu, Kenneth M. Olsen, Yingxiong Qiu
Summary: This study investigates the genomic analysis of two East Asian Tertiary relict trees. It reveals large-scale genome reorganizations and species-specific genes under positive selection. The findings suggest that demographic history plays a significant role in the long-term survival and extinction risk of these Tertiary relict trees.
Article
Ecology
Aurelie Labarre, David Lopez-Escard, Francisco Latorre, Guy Leonard, Francois Bucchini, Aleix Obiol, Corinne Cruaud, Michael E. Sieracki, Olivier Jaillon, Patrick Wincker, Klaas Vandepoele, Ramiro Logares, Ramon Massana
Summary: The study utilized single-cell genomics to analyze the genomes of 15 MAST species from marine surface plankton, revealing their potential for phagocytosis and ability to thrive in the photic ocean with the presence of rhodopsin genes. The complexity of phagocytosis machinery in microbial eukaryotes was highlighted, contrasting with the well-defined set of genes for photosynthesis, providing essential insights into the ecophysiology of uncultured species and the function of rhodopsins in stramenopiles.
Article
Soil Science
Yinghui Jiang, Guoyu Yin, Ye Li, Lijun Hou, Min Liu, Cheng Chen, Dongsheng Zheng, Han Wu, Dengzhou Gao, Yanling Zheng, Ping Han
Summary: The study investigates the effects of salinity on nitrogen transformation processes and N2O emission rates. The results show that saltwater incursion can increase the contribution of heterotrophic denitrification to N2O emission, and under high salinity, nitrification-coupled denitrification becomes the dominant pathway of N2O emission.
BIOLOGY AND FERTILITY OF SOILS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Maria Effenberger, Anissa A. Widjaja, Felix Grabherr, Benedikt Schaefer, Christoph Grander, Lisa Mayr, Julian Schwaerzler, Barbara Enrich, Patrizia Moser, Julia Fink, Alisa Pedrini, Nikolai Jaschke, Alexander Kirchmair, Alexandra Pfister, Bela Hausmann, Reto Bale, Daniel Putzer, Heinz Zoller, Sebastian Schafer, Petra Pjevac, Zlatko Trajanoski, Georg Oberhuber, Timon Adolph, Stuart Cook, Herbert Tilg
Summary: This study found that IL-11 plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease and could serve as an independent prognostic factor for transplant-free survival. Blocking IL-11 signaling might be a therapeutic option in alcoholic liver disease, particularly alcoholic hepatitis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Julia Koblitz, Philipp Halama, Stefan Spring, Vera Thiel, Christiane Baschien, Richard L. Hahnke, Michael Pester, Joerg Overmann, Lorenz Christian Reimer
Summary: We present Media Dive, a comprehensive and expert-curated cultivation media database that provides recipes, instructions, and molecular compositions of over 3200 standardized cultivation media for more than 40,000 microbial strains from all domains of life. MediaDive is designed to support a wide range of applications, from everyday use in research and diagnostic laboratories to knowledge-driven support for new media design and artificial intelligence-driven data mining.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Joan Pamela Engelberts, Steven J. Robbins, Craig W. Herbold, Florian U. Moeller, Nico Jehmlich, Patrick W. Laffy, Michael Wagner, Nicole S. Webster
Summary: Marine sponges host diverse microbiomes that contribute to host health. The Indo-Pacific sponge Ianthella basta is a model organism for studying symbiosis research. By analyzing its microbial community, metabolic complementarity between microbes and the importance of low abundance symbionts were identified. The role of viruses in maintaining symbioses through horizontal transfer of eukaryotic-like proteins was also highlighted.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Sauter, Andrea Steuer, Kenneth Wasmund, Bela Hausmann, Ulrich Szewzyk, Alexander Sperlich, Regina Gnirss, Myriel Cooper, Thomas Wintgens
Summary: This study investigated the effect of filter media on the removal of organic contaminants and biofilm properties in biologically activated carbon (BAC) and anthracite biofilters. The results showed that the use of BAC improved the removal of organic pollutants and dissolved oxygen, and it was a more suitable condition for biotransformation of certain organic micropollutants compared to anthracite.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xiufeng Tang, Jun Li, Dongyao Sun, Linfa Fang, Lijun Hou, Min Liu, Ping Han
Summary: This study investigated the nitrification process in typical inland and coastal wetlands in northern China and found a high diversity of ammonia oxidizers. Through simulating the freezing-thawing state and conducting microcosm incubation, researchers discovered that ammonia-oxidizing archaea and comammox Nitrospira clade B were able to recover their activities after the freeze-thaw cycle, indicating their resistance to freeze-thaw conditions.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ping Han, Ana B. Rios-Miguel, Xiufeng Tang, Yaochun Yu, Li-Jun Zhou, Lijun Hou, Min Liu, Dongyao Sun, Mike S. M. Jetten, Cornelia U. Welte, Yujie Men, Sebastian Lucker
Summary: This study investigated the metabolic capacity of comammox Nitrospira inopinata and Nitrospira kreftii to transform benzimidazole fungicides. The comammox bacteria were found to actively transform all the tested fungicides, except for thiabendazole. The identified transformation products suggested hydroxylation, S-oxidation, and glycosylation as the major biotransformation pathways.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jie Zhou, Yanling Zheng, Lijun Hou, Zhirui An, Feiyang Chen, Bolin Liu, Li Wu, Lin Qi, Hongpo Dong, Ping Han, Guoyu Yin, Xia Liang, Yi Yang, Xiaofei Li, Dengzhou Gao, Ye Li, Zhanfei Liu, Richard Bellerby, Min Liu
Summary: In the face of increasing atmospheric CO2 levels, the acidification of estuarine and coastal waters is greatly intensified by land-derived nutrient inputs, coastal upwelling, and complex biogeochemical processes. This study shows that acidification can decrease nitrification rates but stimulate the production of the greenhouse gas N2O. The findings highlight the molecular mechanisms behind the effects of acidification on nitrification and N2O emission, contributing to predictions of estuarine and coastal ecosystem responses to climate change and human activities.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Tina J. Bartosik, Nicholas J. Campion, Kilian Freisl, David T. T. Liu, Katharina Gangl, Victoria Stanek, Aldine Tu, Petra Pjevac, Bela Hausmann, Julia Eckl-Dorna, Sven Schneider
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Alice Retter, Johannes Christoph Haas, Steffen Birk, Christine Stumpp, Bela Hausmann, Christian Griebler, Clemens Karwautz
Summary: Rivers represent only a small portion of freshwater resources, with groundwater being the majority. Analyzing microbial communities in shallow groundwater ecosystems is crucial for understanding their impact on ecosystem functioning. This study analyzed samples from the Mur River valley in Austria and Slovenia to characterize the prokaryotic communities in river water and groundwater. The results showed significant differences in community composition and species turnover, with dispersal limitation and homogeneous selection being the main drivers of community assembly in different regions. Land use also played a key role in shaping the composition of groundwater microbiome.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Huimin Ye, Sabrina Borusak, Claudia Eberl, Julia Krasenbrink, Anna S. Weiss, Song-Can Chen, Buck T. Hanson, Bela Hausmann, Craig W. Herbold, Manuel Pristner, Benjamin Zwirzitz, Benedikt Warth, Petra Pjevac, David Schleheck, Baerbel Stecher, Alexander Loy
Summary: This study describes the isolation and characterization of a new taurine-respiring mouse gut bacterium, which interacts with other bacteria and may contribute to pathogen protection.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Christoph Grander, Moritz Meyer, Daniel Steinacher, Thierry Claudel, Bela Hausmann, Petra Pjevac, Felix Grabherr, Georg Oberhuber, Manuel Grander, Natascha Brigo, Almina Jukic, Julian Schwarzler, Guenter Weiss, Timon E. Adolph, Michael Trauner, Herbert Tilg
Summary: This study found a protective effect of NorUDCA in experimental alcoholic liver disease, which can reduce liver injury, decrease the expression of hepatic pro-inflammatory cytokines, and affect gut microbial commensalism.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Ursula Lemberger, Petra Pjevac, Bela Hausmann, David Berry, Daniel Moser, Victoria Jahrreis, Mehmet Oezsoy, Shahrokh F. Shariat, Julian Veser
Summary: The incidence of nephrolithiasis is increasing worldwide, and lifestyle and abnormal microbiome may play significant roles in its etiology. Through an observational single-center study, we found that kidney stones in patients with features of metabolic syndrome have different bacterial compositions compared to stones in patients without metabolic syndrome. Understanding the role of bacteria in stone formation could lead to targeted therapy, prevention of post-operative complications, and new treatment strategies.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ingrid E. Meyer Cifuentes, Julius Degenhardt, Meina Neumann-Schaal, Nico Jehmlich, David Kamanda Ngugi, Basak Oeztuerk
Summary: This study investigates the degradation of biodegradable plastics in the aquatic environment and demonstrates the role of microbial communities in this process. The researchers found that the type of polymer determines the community structure and degradation capability, with different polymers resulting in different levels of diversity and degradation activity. The study also identified three enzymes capable of degrading a range of biodegradable polymers, which could have potential biotechnological applications.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiufeng Tang, Ye Li, Min Liu, Lijun Hou, Ping Han
Summary: This study investigated the communities of ammonia oxidizers in urban groundwater in Shanghai, China. It found that complete ammonia oxidizer (comammox Nitrospira) dominated over classical ammonia oxidizers and that temperature was an important factor affecting their community. It also revealed that clade A comammox Nitrospira can be enriched by urea substrate.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)