Article
Environmental Sciences
Brian J. Tornabene, Kelly L. Smalling, Carrie E. Givens, Emily B. Oja, Blake R. Hossack
Summary: To understand the ecological effects of contamination events, it is important to study the influence of wastewaters on microbial communities in wetland ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the effects of chloride contamination on water, sediment, and amphibian skin microbiomes in the Prairie Pothole Region. The results showed that wastewaters increased dissimilarity within microbial communities but did not affect their diversity or richness. Species identity was the strongest predictor of amphibian microbiomes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Azmi Ahmad, Setyo Budi Kurniawan, Siti Rozaimah Sheikh Abdullah, Ahmad Razi Othman, Hassimi Abu Hasan
Summary: The contamination of aquaculture products and effluents by emerging pollutants is a growing concern, as these pollutants have acute and chronic effects on living organisms. Antibiotics, antifoulants, and disinfectants are among the commonly detected pollutants. Accumulation of these pollutants in aquaculture products poses a risk to human consumption. Effluents containing emerging pollutants are discharged into the surrounding environment, leading to contamination of rivers. This article discusses the challenges posed by emerging pollutants in aquaculture and explores various treatment techniques. The results presented in this article are valuable for researchers and stakeholders involved in environmental and aquaculture studies.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
F. Piras, G. Nakhla, S. Murgolo, C. De Ceglie, G. Mascolo, K. Bell, T. Jeanne, G. Mele, D. Santoro
Summary: This study investigated the process synergies achievable by integrating a vacuum ultraviolet-based advanced oxidation process with biofiltration. The results showed that vacuum ultraviolet pre-treatment significantly improved the removal of contaminants and increased bio-degradability and microbial diversity in the system.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingsi Gao, Nan Yang, Hehuan Liao, Hao Yuan, Jia Zhu
Summary: This study investigated the microbial community dynamics of a full-scale activated sludge process treating optoelectronic wastewater using NGS technology. It was found that during the low-performance period, bacteria genera resistant to ionizing radiation and those capable of degrading aromatic compounds had lower diversity and abundance. The high-performance period showed shorter average path length and network diameter in microbial taxon co-occurrence network analysis, indicating efficient information dissemination among taxa.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
John J. Kelly, Maxwell G. London, Amanda R. McCormick, Miguel Rojas, John W. Scott, Timothy J. Hoellein
Summary: Microplastics are retained in sludge in wastewater treatment plants, where they harbor diverse bacterial communities including those associated with bioflocculation. Effluent microplastics have higher abundances of bacteria linked to plastic breakdown and some potentially pathogenic taxa compared to influent microplastics. WWTPs can modify the microplastic-associated bacterial assemblages, potentially influencing the fate of microplastics in the environment.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Vijay D. Nimkande, Amit Bafana
Summary: Microbial lipases have immense potential in wastewater treatment as an attractive alternative to traditional physico-chemical methods. This article discusses the limited studies on the use of lipases in wastewater treatment and highlights the need for further research in this area.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Atif Khurshid Wani, Nahid Akhtar, Nafiaah Naqash, Farida Rahayu, Djajadi Djajadi, Chirag Chopra, Reena Singh, Sikandar I. Mulla, Farooq Sher, Heloisa Pine Americo-Pinheiro Juliana
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) are pervasive pollutants in the environment, with increasing accumulation in aquatic, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems due to human activities. These MPs, which degrade slowly, pose a threat to biota by increasing the probability of biomagnification of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances. In order to remediate MP-pollutants, efficient strategies are needed to prevent the leaching of contaminants into water, soil, and eventually into humans. Microorganisms capable of degrading plastic polymers through enzymatic actions have been discovered, and metagenomics is an effective tool for exploring and characterizing these plastic-degrading microbial consortia and enzymes. Combined with metatranscriptomics and metabolomics, metagenomics can identify and select remediation-efficient microbes in their natural habitats. Advances in bioinformatics and sequencing tools enable rapid screening, mining, and prediction of genes involved in polymer degradation. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the growing threat of microplastics globally and emphasizes the role of metagenomics and computational biology in developing effective strategies for MP remediation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Riti Thapar Kapoor, Mohammed Danish, Ram Sharan Singh, Mohd Rafatullah, H. P. S. Abdul Khalil
Summary: Water pollution caused by manufacturing industries, especially dyeing processes, is a major issue. Azo dyes released from industries pose a severe threat to aquatic systems and human health. The use of microbes for azo dye treatment is considered a clean, effective, and safe technology.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Inumidun H. Oyebode, Allan C. Just, Jacques Ravel, Michal A. Elovitz, Heather H. Burris
Summary: Vaginal microbial communities can be dominated by anaerobic or Lactobacillus species. Anaerobic domination is a risk factor for preterm birth and is more common in Black populations. This study quantified the association between air pollution (specifically PM2.5) and anaerobic domination, and explored how racial disparities in PM2.5 exposure might explain racial differences in anaerobic domination prevalence.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emma B. Meade, Luke R. Iwanowicz, Nicklaus Neureuther, Gregory H. LeFevre, Dana W. Kolpin, Hui Zhi, Shannon M. Meppelink, Rachael F. Lane, Angela Schmoldt, Aurash Mohaimani, Olaf Mueller, Rebecca D. Klaper
Summary: This study investigates the biological impacts and biomarkers of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent exposure on zebrafish embryos through transcriptomics analysis. The results reveal that WWTP effluent not only affects traditional markers of endocrine disruption but also impacts a wide range of biological functions and pathways, including cardiac, neurological, visual, metabolic, and signaling pathways.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Zhenguang Lv, Regin Ronn, Hao Liao, Christopher Rensing, Wenli Chen, Qiaoyun Huang, Xiuli Hao
Summary: Soil aggregates play a crucial role in providing spatially diverse microhabitats for microorganisms. This study explores the impact of aggregate sizes on the legacy effect of copper pollution on bacterial and protistan communities. The results suggest that aggregate sizes influence the distribution patterns and diversity of these microbial communities under both polluted and unpolluted conditions.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maryani Paramita Astuti, Suprihanto Notodarmojo, Cindy Rianti Priadi, Lokesh P. Padhye
Summary: This study provides quantitative data on the occurrence and fate of various emerging contaminants in Indonesia's largest wastewater treatment plant. The study highlights the efficiency of waste stabilization ponds in removing biodegradable contaminants, while also identifying poor removal efficiency for some persistent contaminants. The findings emphasize the importance of conventional wastewater treatment plants in reducing the concentrations of contaminants to minimize aquatic contamination risk.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Stephanie L. Rich, Michael T. Zumstein, Damian E. Helbling
Summary: The research aimed to identify functional groups that influence rates of micropollutant biotransformation in wastewater microbial communities. Through incubation experiments and random forest models, 30 functional groups were classified as biotransformation promoters, inhibitors, features that can be transformed, or features that are not rate-determining, providing new insights for predicting micropollutant biotransformations and designing more biodegradable chemical products for wastewater treatment.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weiwei Song, Yi Li
Summary: This study investigated the ecological state of typical tidal flats along the eastern coast of China using field sampling, numerical simulation, and high-throughput sequencing. The findings revealed that the microbial communities in different subregions of the area exhibited notable differences due to variations in water quality and pollutant discharge. The study identified the impact of river pollutants on wetland microbial communities and established ecological patterns between the river and the sea, offering suggestions for watershed management and protection of coastal tidal flats.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Pooja Sharma, Ashutosh Kumar Pandey, Aswathy Udayan, Sunil Kumar
Summary: This review emphasizes the importance of MBPs and microbial interaction in assisting phytoremediation of industrial wastewater polluted with heavy metals. It demonstrates that phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and safe method for society.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Hamutahl Cohen, Quinn S. McFrederick, Stacy M. Philpott
Article
Parasitology
Lyna Ngor, Evan C. Palmer-Young, Rodrigo Burciaga Nevarez, Kaleigh A. Russell, Laura Leger, Sara June Giacomini, Mario S. Pinilla-Gallego, Rebecca E. Irwin, Quinn S. McFrederick
Article
Biology
Alexander Keller, Quinn S. McFrederick, Prarthana Dharampal, Shawn Steffan, Bryan N. Danforth, Sara D. Leonhardt
Summary: Growing evidence suggests a strong overlap between microbiomes of flowers and bees, indicating flowers as hubs of microbial transmission. The role of floral transmission in bee microbiome assembly and the functional importance of florally sourced microbes in shaping bee foraging decisions remain intriguing. Interaction network properties and microbial filtering by plant and bee hosts can predict potential transmission routes between hosts. Shared floral microbes can benefit bees in various ways, from enhancing nutritional quality to altering the attractiveness of floral resources, potentially affecting the structure of the flower-bee interaction network.
CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jason A. Rothman, Theresa B. Loveless, Joseph I. I. I. I. I. I. Kapcia, Eric D. Adams, Joshua A. Steele, Amity G. Zimmer-Faust, Kylie Langlois, David Wanless, Madison Griffith, Lucy Mao, Jeffrey Chokry, John F. Griffith, Katrine L. Whiteson
Summary: Wastewater-based epidemiology is a promising strategy to detect pathogens and track the diversity and spread of viral variants in urban and suburban locations. This approach has been particularly valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering a non-invasive method to monitor disease outbreaks.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Eric A. Smith, Kirk E. Anderson, Vanessa Corby-Harris, Quinn S. McFrederick, Audrey J. Parish, Danny W. Rice, Irene L. G. Newton
Summary: Honey bees play a crucial role as pollinators in agriculture, but recent declines in their health have raised concerns. The microbial community, specifically a bacterium called 'Parasaccharibacter apium', may influence colony health. Further research is needed to better understand the relationship between these microbes and honey bee health.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jason A. Rothman, Kevin J. Loope, Quinn S. McFrederick, Erin E. Wilson Rankin
Summary: The study found that the invasive social wasp V. pensylvanica is associated with specific bacterial genera and endosymbionts in its microbiome, as well as bee-associated taxa. Additionally, the wasp commonly harbors Moku virus, but this infection does not correlate with microbial diversity in a meaningful way.
Article
Ecology
Kaleigh A. Russell, Quinn S. McFrederick
Summary: Warming due to climate change increased bacterial abundance in floral nectar, altering nectar sugars and significantly affecting pollinator preference.
Article
Biology
Hamutahl Cohen, Gordon P. Smith, Hillary Sardinas, Jocelyn F. Zorn, Quinn S. McFrederick, S. Hollis Woodard, Lauren C. Ponisio
Summary: The study found that mass-flowering crops increase bee abundance, but are also associated with parasite presence. Wild bee abundance is related to parasite presence, but only in areas with low amounts of non-crop flowers. Bee traits related to higher dispersal ability and broader diet are positively correlated with parasite presence.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Laura L. Figueroa, Jessica J. Maccaro, Erin Krichilsky, Douglas Yanega, Quinn S. McFrederick
Summary: Diet and gut microbiomes are closely linked on both short and long timescales, with changes in diet potentially altering the microbiome structure. Through investigating the microbiomes of bees with different dietary lifestyles, such as vulture bees and strictly pollinivorous bees, researchers found that diet may interact with microbiomes in both short and long timescales. The study provides insights into the role of microbiomes in extreme diet switches and expands our understanding of how diet influences microbiome composition.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jason A. Rothman, Andrew Saghir, Seung-Ah Chung, Nicholas Boyajian, Thao Dinh, Jinwoo Kim, Jordan Oval, Vivek Sharavanan, Courtney York, Amity G. Zimmer-Faust, Kylie Langlois, Joshua A. Steele, John F. Griffith, Katrine L. Whiteson
Summary: This study used untargeted metatranscriptomic sequencing to analyze RNA extracted from municipal wastewater samples. The results showed that wastewater samples contain diverse microbes and provide valuable information about human-associated and medically important microbial populations. The study also found geographical variations in antimicrobial resistance diversity and an increasing abundance of specific antimicrobial resistance genes/variants over time.
Review
Microbiology
Mirjam Zuend, Sage J. B. Dunham, Jason A. Rothman, Katrine L. Whiteson
Summary: The sequence revolution has shown that phages, bacteria-infecting viruses, are the most abundant biological entities on Earth. They have significant impacts on microbial communities and ecological processes. However, our understanding of phage biology is still limited.
Article
Microbiology
Jason A. Rothman, Katrine L. Whiteson
Summary: This study analyzed RNA sequence data from 275 influent wastewater samples obtained from eight wastewater treatment plants in Southern California, detecting thousands of single nucleotide variants from eight common tobamoviruses.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Jason A. Rothman, Jenna L. Riis, Katrina R. Hamilton, Clancy Blair, Douglas A. Granger, Katrine L. Whiteson
Summary: Human oral microbial communities have significant implications for oral and systemic health due to their diversity. Understanding the differences between healthy and dysbiotic oral microbiomes is important, especially within and between families. This study investigates the changes in oral microbiome composition within individuals and the impact of factors such as environmental tobacco smoke exposure, metabolic regulation, inflammation, and antioxidant potential. The findings reveal differences in oral microbiomes between children and caregivers, with shared diversity but distinct differences, and highlight the associations between the oral microbiome and various salivary markers.
Article
Microbiology
Tara Gallagher, Stefan Riedel, Joseph Kapcia, Lindsay J. Caverly, Lisa Carmody, Linda M. Kalikin, Junnan Lu, Joann Phan, Matthew Gargus, Miki Kagawa, Simon W. Leemans, Jason A. Rothman, Felix Grun, John J. LiPuma, Katrine L. Whiteson
Summary: Antibiotic therapy can significantly influence host microbial communities, but many studies lack details on antibiotic exposure. This research developed LC-MS methods to detect antibiotics in sputum samples from cystic fibrosis patients, revealing discrepancies between reported antibiotic use and actual detection, providing a means to incorporate antibiotic usage data into microbiome studies.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)