Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rifeng Wu, Rui Shen, Zhiwei Liang, Shengzhi Zheng, Yong Yang, Qihong Lu, Lorenz Adrian, Shanquan Wang
Summary: Strategies based on ecological principles can enhance the colonization of OHRB in niches, thereby improving the bioremediation efficiency of chloroethene-contaminated sites.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Paula Dalcin Martins, Maider J. Echeveste Medrano, Arslan Arshad, Julia M. Kurth, Heleen T. Ouboter, Huub J. M. op den Camp, Mike S. M. Jetten, Cornelia U. Welte
Summary: Microbial communities play a crucial role in carbon, sulfur, and nitrogen cycling in coastal ecosystems. However, little is known about how these communities respond to changes in substrate availability and exposure to toxic compounds. In this study, metagenomics and metatranscriptomics were used to investigate the structure and transcriptional responses of microbial communities in a controlled bioreactor system mimicking coastal sediment conditions. The results showed that some microbial species were more resilient to experimental conditions than others, and certain community functions, such as methane and sulfur oxidation, remained stable despite shifts in community structure. Further studies are needed to understand how coastal ecosystems respond to future disturbances.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guofang Xu, Jianzhong He
Summary: Organohalide pollutants are prevalent and harmful in the environment. This study shows that sewage sludge microbial communities exhibit exceptional resistance and resilience to oxygen stress, attenuating the effects of different organohalide pollutants. Microbial community analysis reveals the resilience of these communities to oxygen stress.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Martina Bertolini, Sarah Zecchin, Giovanni Pietro Beretta, Patrizia De Nisi, Laura Ferrari, Lucia Cavalca
Summary: The study evaluated a bioremediation approach for decontaminating an aquifer affected by organohalides from an industrial landfill. Results showed that the addition of a reducing substrate could stimulate natural organohalide respiration, leading to degradation of the contaminants. Field tests demonstrated a decrease in chloroethenes concentration, suggesting the potential for further improvement of the approach.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ying Wang, Weilai Sha, Chen Zhang, Jiayu Li, Chao Wang, Chunchen Liu, Junfeng Chen, Wanglong Zhang, Yuhao Song, Renjun Wang, Peike Gao
Summary: This study determined the toxic dose of TPHP in carp, a commonly used economic fish species, and found differences in TPHP absorption in different organs. The exposure to TPHP also affected the diversity and composition of the carp gut microbial community, with microbial taxa potentially playing a role in reducing TPHP toxicity.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yiqiao Zhang, Bo Sun, Dandan Rao, Jian Zhang, Shuang Liang
Summary: In this study, it was found that manganate (MnO42-) exhibits higher oxidation rates and reactivity towards pollutants compared to permanganate (MnO4-) under acidic and neutral conditions. The mechanism involves rapid disproportionation of manganate to form permanganate and colloidal MnO2, with the latter being more reactive and responsible for pollutant degradation. However, the reactivity of colloidal MnO2 is highly dependent on pH and decreases significantly with increasing pH, resulting in decreased pollutant removal efficiency at high pH. This study suggests that manganate could be a viable alternative to permanganate for water purification under acidic and neutral conditions.
Article
Biology
Christopher P. Mancuso, Hyunseok Lee, Clare Abreu, Jeff Gore, Ahmad S. Khalil
Summary: The study utilized a high-throughput programmable culture system to investigate the relationship between community diversity and disturbance intensity, revealing an unexpected U-shaped pattern in the absence of fluctuations; the introduction of fluctuations increased community diversity and eliminated the U-shaped pattern. The experimental and modeling framework demonstrated how environmental disturbances can interact to govern ecosystem assembly and reshape microbiome composition through a 'niche flip' mechanism.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rifeng Wu, Shangwei Zhang, Shanquan Wang
Summary: In this study, a new method for the remediation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was developed by combining microbial reductive dechlorination (Bio-RD) with subsequent persulfate activation and oxidation process (PAOP). The results showed that the combination of Bio-RD and PAOP significantly improved the removal efficiency of PCBs. Different chlorinated PCBs exhibited different reactivity in the dechlorination and degradation/mineralization processes. The oxidizing species generated during the PAOP process decreased the microbial abundance, but the coexistence of other microorganisms alleviated the inhibitive effect on a specific respiratory bacterium.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yanxu Liu, Zhangsong Wu, Yuanyuan Lv, Li Jiang, Yuanyuan Wei, Yu-You Li, Jianyong Liu
Summary: In this study, the degradation efficiency of VFAs in the reactor was improved by adding NH4+-N and trace metals (TMs), which alleviated reactor acidification.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Alice Delacuvellerie, Samira Benali, Valentine Cyriaque, Sebastien Moins, Jean-Marie Raquez, Sylvie Gobert, Ruddy Wattiez
Summary: The study compared the biodegradation of compostable and non-compostable plastics in the natural marine environment, finding differences in bacterial degradation of different plastics and providing important insights for further scientific research.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Elisse Magnuson, Ianina Altshuler, Miguel A. Fernandez-Martinez, Ya-Jou Chen, Catherine Maggiori, Jacqueline Goordial, Lyle G. Whyte
Summary: Lost Hammer Spring in Canada's Nunavut region is one of the coldest and saltiest terrestrial springs discovered to date. A multi-omics approach revealed a rare surface terrestrial habitat supporting an active microbial community, indicating the potential for similar microbial life to survive in Mars-like environments.
Article
Microbiology
Luciano Lopes Queiroz, Gustavo Augusto Lacorte, William Ricardo Isidorio, Mariza Landgraf, Bernadette Dora Gombossy de Melo Franco, Uelinton Manoel Pinto, Christian Hoffmann
Summary: This study analyzed the viral and bacterial metagenomes of Canastra cheese and found a high abundance of naturally occurring phages. The diversity of phages varied greatly across different cheese producers, and specific phage-bacterium interactions may influence the fermentation dynamics and sensorial profile of the cheeses.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohd. W. Mirza, Tinku C. D'Silva, Khalid M. Gani, Syed S. Afsar, Rubia Z. Gaur, Pravin K. Mutiyar, Abid A. Khan, Vasileios Diamantis, Beni Lew
Summary: The study found that anaerobic sludge with biomass carrier resulted in the highest ammonia removal rate and close to stoichiometric nitrite to ammonia utilization ratio for anammox cultivation. The co-existence of anammox bacteria with denitrifying polyphosphate accumulating organisms provides new possibilities for simultaneous nitrogen and phosphate removal.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mingfei Chen, Jessica L. Conroy, Robert A. Sanford, D. Allie Wyman-Feravich, Joanne C. Chee-Sanford, Lynn M. Connor
Summary: Salinity can affect microbial communities and functional groups in lake sediments, and this study investigated the temporal variability in salinity and its impact on microbial communities in lakes in Kiritimati, Republic of Kiribati. The results showed that salinity levels were significantly reduced in 2019 compared to 2014, leading to changes in the composition of halophilic microorganisms. Functional gene analysis also revealed that salinity influenced the abundance and diversity of key functional groups within the microbial communities. Overall, this study highlights the dynamic changes and adaptations of microbial communities to salinity fluctuations driven by the El Nino-Southern Oscillation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Benli Wu, Jing Chen, Long Huang, Ye Zhang, Ting Fang, Jixiang He
Summary: The study found that stocking density of turtles significantly influenced paddy soil fertility and microbial community characteristics, with higher stocking densities benefiting soil organic matter content and microbial abundance.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Lei, Livio Carlucci, Huub Rijnaarts, Alette Langenhoff
Summary: This study selects Typha angustifolia and Juncus effuses as suitable plant species for phytoremediation of micropollutants (MPs). These two plant species were chosen due to their good ability to remove MPs, tolerate low temperatures, and resist the toxicity of MPs. The results of this study can also be applied to constructed wetlands for the removal of MPs from wastewater. Additionally, this study provides a detailed understanding of the uptake and degradation processes of the persistent MP propranolol in plants, which is significant for both the application of phytoremediation in MP removal and the development of constructed wetland studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Janneke Elzinga, Menno Grouls, Guido J. E. J. Hooiveld, Meike van der Zande, Hauke Smidt, Hans Bouwmeester
Summary: There is a need for standardized in vitro models of the human intestinal tract to study intestinal health without using animals. The Caco-2 cell line is a widely accepted and characterized model for studying intestinal drug transport, host-microbe interactions, and toxicity. We investigated the effect of different experimental variables on gene expression using transcriptome analysis of Caco-2 cells grown on permeable membranes. Our analysis revealed a weak association between experimental variables and gene expression, possibly due to heterogeneity in cell culture practice and inadequate reporting. This highlights the need for improved reporting protocols and serves as a template for future comparative studies.
ARCHIVES OF TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi Wang, Nora B. Sutton, Yunhao Zheng, Hongmin Dong, Huub H. M. Rijnaarts
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a global public health concern, and swine wastewater can be a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study found that the presence of ARGs in swine wastewater during treatment in a three-chamber anaerobic pond (3-CAP) varied across different seasons. Applying swine wastewater in the proper month can help mitigate the spread of ARGs.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sara N. Jimenez-Volkerink, Joaquim Vila, Maria Jordan, Cristina Minguillon, Hauke Smidt, Magdalena Grifoll
Summary: Polar biotransformation products have been found to cause an increase in genotoxicity after the bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soils. The microorganisms and mechanisms underlying their further biodegradation have not been fully understood.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ton That Huu Dat, Georg Steinert, Nguyen Thi Kim Cuc, Pham Viet Cuong, Hauke Smidt, Detmer Sipkema
Summary: Recent reviews have shown that sponge-associated bacteria are valuable sources of structurally diverse secondary metabolites with potent biological activities, making these microbial communities promising for new drug candidates. However, accessing the overall diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic potential in bacteria is challenging due to the difficulty in culturing the majority of bacteria in the laboratory. This study investigates the diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters in metagenomes of bacterial communities associated with three different sponge species and identifies numerous potential gene clusters for the production of novel compounds.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
D. J. M. Barnett, M. F. Endika, C. E. Klostermann, F. Gu, C. Thijs, A. Nauta, H. A. Schols, H. Smidt, I. C. W. Arts, J. Penders
Summary: The infant gut microbiota is influenced by antibiotic exposures and prebiotic oligosaccharides found in breast milk. This study analyzed the stool microbiota of 1023 one-month-old infants and found that breastfeeding and antibiotic exposure both decrease gut microbial diversity, but have different effects on microbiota composition. Other factors such as C-section, homebirth, siblings, and exposure to animals also impact microbiota composition. Understanding these factors can help protect and promote a healthy infant gut microbiota.
Article
Microbiology
Martha F. Endika, David J. M. Barnett, Cynthia E. Klostermann, Henk A. Schols, Ilja C. W. Arts, John Penders, Arjen Nauta, Hauke Smidt, Koen Venema
Summary: Antibiotic exposure disrupts infant gut microbiota, but the ability to recover from this disruption depends on the type of antibiotic. This study investigated the effect of two common infant prebiotics, 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), on the resilience of the gut microbiota after exposure to amoxicillin/clavulanate. The results showed that the prebiotics supported the recovery of the microbiota and restored the production of beneficial fatty acids.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Di Cesare, Alessia Vignoli, Claudio Luchinat, Leonardo Tenori, Edoardo Saccenti
Summary: This study analyzed the association networks of serum metabolites and found that the metabolite-metabolite association network of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients is distinct from that of patients with polyposis and healthy controls. Energy metabolism-related nodes play a crucial role in the CRC network.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kaiyi Wu, Merve Atasoy, Hans Zweers, Huub Rijnaarts, Alette Langenhoff, Tania V. Fernandes
Summary: Microalgae-based technologies can effectively remove organic micropollutants (OMPs) from wastewater, but the impact of wastewater characteristics on the removal is not well understood. This study evaluated the removal of sixteen OMPs by Chlorella sorokiniana cultivated in three types of wastewater. The results showed that the removal efficiency varied depending on the wastewater type, with longer retention time enhancing the removal of some OMPs. Wastewater soluble COD and biomass concentration were found to be the major factors affecting OMPs removal.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Microbiology
Angela Sessitsch, Steve Wakelin, Michael Schloter, Emmanuelle Maguin, Tomislav Cernava, Marie-Christine Champomier-Verges, Trevor C. Charles, Paul D. Cotter, Ilario Ferrocino, Aicha Kriaa, Pedro Lebre, Don Cowan, Lene Lange, Seghal Kiran, Lidia Markiewicz, Annelein Meisner, Marta Olivares, Inga Sarand, Bettina Schelkle, Joseph Selvin, Hauke Smidt, Leo van Overbeek, Gabriele Berg, Luca Cocolin, Yolanda Sanz, Wilson Lemos Fernandes, S. J. Liu, Matthew Ryan, Brajesh Singh, Tanja Kostic
Summary: Microbiomes play crucial roles in ecosystem functioning, supporting planetary health through nutrient cycling, climate regulation, and water filtration. They are closely associated with complex multicellular organisms and contribute to the health of their hosts. However, there is still limited understanding of microbiome transfer and connectivity.
MICROBIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Taojun Wang, Nils Leibrock, Caroline M. Plugge, Hauke Smidt, Erwin G. Zoetendal
Summary: Methanogens, reductive acetogens, and sulfate-reducing bacteria interact with each other in gut ecosystems, and their interactions may vary depending on environmental conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
James M. Tiedje, Yuhao Fu, Zhi Mei, Andreas Schaeffer, Qingyuan Dou, Wulf Amelung, Martin Elsner, Joseph Adu-Gyamfi, Lee Heng, Marko Virta, Xin Jiang, Hauke Smidt, Edward Topp, Fang Wang
Summary: The imprudent use of antibiotics in food production contributes to the spread of antibiotic resistance. This review emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts and preventive measures to mitigate the problem. Strategies such as heightened awareness, strengthened governance, and integrated surveillance systems are proposed to alleviate the burden of antibiotic resistance.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Caifang Wen, Mirelle Geervliet, Hugo de Vries, Lluis Faba, Petra J. Roubos-van den Hil, Kerstin Skovgaard, Huub F. J. Savelkoul, Henk A. Schols, Jerry M. Wells, Edwin Tijhaar, Hauke Smidt
Summary: The study found that adding a fermented feed additive - rye overgrown with mycelium of Agaricus subrufescens can modulate gut microbiota and immune system development in pigs. This supplementation may contribute to improving the health of piglets during the weaning transition period and reducing the use of antibiotics.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Kaiyi Wu, Tino Leliveld, Hans Zweers, Huub Rijnaarts, Alette Langenhoff, Tania Fernandes
Summary: Single microalgae species are effective at removing various organic micropollutants, but increased species diversity may enhance this removal. In this study, a mixed microbial community showed higher removal capacity than Chlorella sorokiniana at a specific stage, but removal efficiency decreased due to overgrowth of filamentous green algae.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sara N. Jimenez-Volkerink, Maria Jordan, Hauke Smidt, Cristina Minguillon, Joaquim Vila, Magdalena Grifoll
Summary: By studying a specific microbial consortium in PAH-contaminated soils, it was discovered that the degradation of the carcinogenic compound BaAQ may occur through the Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenase (BVMOs) pathway, and that horizontal gene transfer may play a significant role in this degradation process.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)