Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jean Damascene Harindintwali, Fang Wang, Wenhua Yang, Jianli Zhou, Bertrand Muhoza, Maurice Mugabowindekwe, Xiaobin Yu
Summary: Lignocellulosic biomass is a significant renewable resource, but it is often burned as agricultural by-products in some countries, causing greenhouse gas emissions and carbon resource loss. Utilizing cellulolytic nitrogen-fixing bacteria can efficiently convert lignocellulosic biomass into various bioproducts, offering prospects for achieving carbon-neutral circular economy.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sirinapa Chungopast, Preecha Yodying, Mika Nomura
Summary: The research found that introducing cellulolytic bacteria into compost can increase the number of bacteria, especially nitrogen-fixing bacteria. Additionally, these bacteria can accelerate nitrogen mineralization process and positively correlate with gene abundance in the compost.
JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Lirui Liu, Wen-Cong Huang, Yang Liu, Meng Li
Summary: Lignocellulosic biomass is a geographically abundant source of renewable energy with potential to meet increasing energy demands. Improving the efficiency and yield of cellulase production remains a significant research focus. Cellulases from bacteria and archaea are increasingly considered promising candidates for industrial applications.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Xuening Song, Jinli Zhang, Chengrong Peng, Dunhai Li
Summary: The study showed that replacing some urea with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria can significantly reduce nitrogen leaching in red paddy soil and improve nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency.
AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Babita Thakur, Jaswinder Singh, Joginder Singh, Deachen Angmo, Adarsh Pal Vig
Summary: Microplastics are small size plastic particles (<5 mm) that are widely distributed and considered a major pollutant in the ecosystem. They come from industrial, agricultural, and household waste, and their durability and resistance to degradation pose risks to humans and animals. This review discusses the need to control microplastic pollution and explores the molecular mechanisms and degradation efficiency of different microorganisms, enzymes, and polymers involved in the biological degradation of microplastics. It also presents the first article dedicated to the role of microorganisms in microplastic degradation efficiency.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xueyuan Li, Haoe Mo, Chengxuan Zhou, Yuhui Ci, Jinwei Wang, Lihua Zang
Summary: The study found that embedding nickel foam in anaerobic digestion can enhance DIET among symbiotic microorganisms, increase methane production, and increase microbial diversity.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Baogang Zhang, Jun Liu, Yizhi Sheng, Jiaxin Shi, Hailiang Dong
Summary: Research has shown that microbial communities in Cr(VI)-reducing groundwater bioreactors exhibit complex symbiotic relationships, coupling Cr(VI) reduction with other elemental cycles. The addition of iron significantly enhances Cr(VI) reduction rate and methane production, while sulfur is found to retard methane production by greatly slowing down acetoclastic methanogenesis.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Quanlong Wang, Xueying Feng, Yingying Liu, Wenguang Li, Wenzhi Cui, Yuhuan Sun, Shuwu Zhang, Fayuan Wang, Baoshan Xing
Summary: Microplastics (MPs) are widely distributed in agroecosystems and pose a potential threat to soil-plant systems. The effects of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polystyrene (PS), and polylactic acid (PLA) on peanuts and soil N-fixing bacterial communities were explored. MPs did not have phytotoxic effects on plant biomass, and PS and PLA even increased plant height. All MPs changed soil nitrogen contents and the activities of urease and FDAse. PLA especially had pronounced effects on plant nitrogen content and soil N-fixing bacterial community structure. The findings suggest that biodegradable MPs may have more profound consequences for nitrogen biogeochemical cycling than traditional MPs.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yoko Masuda, Yutaka Shiratori, Hirotomo Ohba, Takanori Ishida, Ryo Takano, Sakura Satoh, Weishou Shen, Nan Gao, Hideomi Itoh, Keishi Senoo
Summary: Anaeromyxobacter and Geobacter, iron-reducing bacteria, were found to enhance nitrogen-fixing activity in paddy soils when ferric iron oxide was added as an electron acceptor. The study also demonstrated that the application of iron compounds increased soil nitrogen-fixing activity, potentially leading to novel paddy soil management strategies.
SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Zeinab Fathollahi, Behzad Habibpour, Sohrab Imani, Nader Hassanzadeh, Mohammad Abdigoudarzi
Summary: The study revealed the existence of novel bacterial species in the gut of Microcerotermes diversus, with some being common across all surveyed areas but showing significant differences in numbers and cellulolytic activity. Additionally, the research reported several bacterial species for the first time in termites of Iran.
CURRENT MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weihua Kang, Yutian Xiao, Wei Li, Aoqi Cheng, Congyu Cheng, Zhongjun Jia, Longjiang Yu
Summary: This study investigates the carbon fixation capacity of karst wetland soils and the active microorganisms involved in the process. The results show that paddy cultivation can restore the carbon fixation capacity of microorganisms in degraded karst wetland soil.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Rokas Zalneravicius, Algimantas Paskevicius, Urte Samukaite-Bubniene, Simonas Ramanavicius, Monika Vilkiene, Ieva Mockeviciene, Arunas Ramanavicius
Summary: In this study, a bacteria-based microbial fuel cell (MFC) was constructed using nitrogen-fixing soil bacteria Rhizobium anhuiense. The performance of the MFC was enhanced by re-feeding glucose as the carbon source and using 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menadione) as a soluble redox mediator. The results showed improved power output and increased viability of the bacteria with the addition of menadione.
Article
Materials Science, Paper & Wood
Ming Yang, Jingjing Zhao, Yue Yuan, Xiaoyi Chen, Fan Yang, Xianzhen Li
Summary: In this study, a microbiota (FPDM) with cellulose-degrading ability was cultivated to investigate the dynamic process of cellulose biodegradation and explore potential cellulases. The results showed that Sporocytophaga and Cohnella dynamically dominated the synergistic degradation of cellulose in different periods, while unannotated genes were speculated to participate in cellulose catabolism. The dynamic cellulose-degrading pathway of FPDM was predicted based on changes in hydrolysates, community structure, and gene abundance, providing a new perspective for identifying key cellulolytic strains and enzymes.
Article
Entomology
Qiuyan Huang, Yilu Feng, Hong-Wei Shan, Jian-Ping Chen, Wei Wu
Summary: Some symbiotic microorganisms can provide insects with nitrogen nutrition through nitrogen fixation, but evidence of nitrogen fixation in the diets of Hemiptera is inconclusive. In this study, a strain of R. electrica was isolated from the digestive tract of a leafhopper and found to possess nitrogen-fixing capabilities. These findings contribute to our understanding of nitrogen fixation in gut microbes.
Article
Soil Science
Xuening Song, Jinli Zhang, Dunhai Li, Chengrong Peng
Summary: The study found that replacing a suitable amount of chemical nitrogen fertilizer with nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria biofertilizer in red soil paddy fields can reduce ammonia volatilization, enhance rice nitrogen use efficiency, and maintain rice yield.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wenjing Liu, Xiaoai Zhou, Tao Jin, Yonghui Li, Bin Wu, Daoyuan Yu, Zongren Yu, Bomin Su, Ruirui Chen, Youzhi Feng, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: This study reveals the ecological and physiological features of microbial colonization on cultural relics, including multikingdom interactions and intrakingdom competition. These interactions are crucial for the long-term conservation of relics.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yang Dong, Jianwei Zhang, Ruirui Chen, Linghao Zhong, Xiangui Lin, Youzhi Feng
Summary: Soil salinity has significant impacts on microbial community composition and metabolic activity. This study found that salinity drives a shift in bacterial community composition and reduces microbial activity. In severe-salinity soils, a diverse microbial community with a higher abundance of salt-tolerant species was observed. Addition of labile organic amendments can alleviate salt restrictions on microbial activity.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Jianwei Zhang, Jan Dolfing, Wenjing Liu, Ruirui Chen, Jiabao Zhang, Xiangui Lin, Youzhi Feng
Summary: This study identified indicator microbiomes for soil fertility and crop production based on a continuous 20-year field study. The results highlight the potential of microorganisms in informing and maximizing the functions of future agroecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOME
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Y. Dong, R. R. Chen, E. Petropoulos, T. Y. Yao, B. Q. Yu, X. G. Lin, Y. Z. Feng
Summary: This study investigated the carbon use efficiency (CUE) in salt-affected soils and found that it follows a unimodal pattern along the saline gradient. The highest CUE was observed at EC = 2 dS m (-1), and both CUE and microbial growth rate significantly decrease when EC > 2 dS m (-1). When EC < 2 dS m (-1), CUE shows a significant positive correlation with EC, while microbial community growth rates remain stable. Additionally, the study revealed that microbial growth is limited by carbon scarcity, and the degree of carbon constraint is aggravated with increasing EC.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongjie Yu, Chen Wu, Xin Li, Lingyu Wu, Qinyu Yang, Evangelos Petropoulos, Youzhi Feng
Summary: This study found that the addition of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) could increase methane emissions in two paddy soils, especially in Ultisols. Real-time PCR and amplicon sequencing revealed the impacts of AgNPs on soil microbial community structure and methanogenic bacteria. The results suggest that uncontrolled use of AgNPs may pose an environmental risk to methane emissions in paddy ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Editorial Material
Soil Science
Ruirui Chen, Hu Zhou, Fang Wang, Youzhi Feng, Xiaoying Gong
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dong Wu, Jue Zhao, Yinglong Su, Mengjie Yang, Jan Dolfing, David W. Graham, Kai Yang, Bing Xie
Summary: This study investigated the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the Taipu River catchment, a water source for a major drinking water reservoir in Shanghai. The results showed a significant decrease in ARG abundances downstream towards the reservoir, while the assembly of waterborne bacteria was influenced by temperature and dissolved oxygen conditions. The putative resistant pathogens carried mixtures of ARGs with high transmission probability, particularly with the dominant taxa in the microbial assembly.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yue Yi, Jan Dolfing, Ge Jin, XiaoYu Fang, WenHao Han, LaiYan Liu, YueQin Tang, Lei Cheng
Summary: In this study, the influence of ammonia on different methanogenic pathways was evaluated by culturing Methanosarcina barkeri with acetate, H2/CO2, and methanol. Aceticlastic methanogenesis was more sensitive to increased ammonia concentrations than hydrogenotrophic and methylotrophic methanogenesis. The results reveal the varying ammonia tolerances of M. barkeri under different methanogenic pathways, providing insights into the role of the thermodynamic potential of methanogenesis in ammonia stress tolerance and shedding light on the mechanism of ammonia inhibition on anaerobic digestion.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Li, Xiao'ai Zhou, Chen Wu, Evangelos Petropoulos, Yongjie Yu, Youzhi Feng
Summary: This study investigated the changing pattern of bacterial communities on bricks at different positions along gradients of temperature and moisture in the Two Mausoleums of the Southern Tang Dynasty using high-throughput sequencing. The results showed the presence of diverse bacterial microbiomes in the tombs, mainly dominated by Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, as well as compositional and functional profiles related to biodeterioration. Non-metric scaling and PERMANOVA tests revealed that shifts in bacterial community compositions were mainly governed by temperature, followed by moisture. Additionally, tourism-related anthropogenic activities were found to play a significant role in community assembly.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sichu Wang, Pengfei Sun, Junzhuo Liu, Ying Xu, Jan Dolfing, Yonghong Wu
Summary: Periphytic biofilms (PB) at the soil-water interface contribute significantly to methane emissions from rice paddies, but the mechanisms underlying this process are not well understood. This study evaluated the environmental drivers affecting the distribution of methanogenic and methanotrophic communities in rice fields along an edaphoclimatic gradient. The study found that the composition and relative abundance of these communities at the soil-water interface were weakly driven by spatial distance, soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, and pH. The study also identified the role of extracellular polymeric substance released by PB in reducing inter/intra-generic interactions and enhancing resilience to edaphic environment changes.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Nina Yan, Biao Hu, Zhiyu Zheng, Haiying Lu, Jingwen Chen, Xiaomei Zhang, Xizhi Jiang, Yonghong Wu, Jan Dolfing, Lei Xu
Summary: A method of preparing magnetic, recyclable biochar with minimal pore blockage was developed by loading ultrafine magnetite onto ball milled biochar and then milling it for a second time. The deposited magnetite did not significantly wrap the biochar, resulting in a decreased sorption performance. However, the extra milling step restored the surface functional groups and specific surface areas, leading to a 93.8% recovery adsorption of 84.6 +/- 2.5 mg/L on methylene blue. The recyclability of the material was not affected, and the adsorption was driven by multiple interactions. This twice-milled magnetic biochar is highly efficient for sustainable removal of aqueous contaminants.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Yuanyuan Bao, Jan Dolfing, Ruirui Chen, Zhongpei Li, Xiangui Lin, Youzhi Feng
Summary: Soil fertility affects microbial-driven plant residue decomposition and soil organic carbon formation. The composition and efficiency of bacterial communities are significantly influenced by soil fertility levels. High fertile soils select for fast but inefficient bacteria, while low fertile soils select for slow but efficient ones.
SOIL & TILLAGE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jianwei Zhang, Youzhi Feng, Fernando T. Maestre, Miguel Berdugo, Juntao Wang, Claudia Coleine, Tadeo Saez-Sandino, Laura Garcia-Velazquez, Brajesh K. Singh, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: Based on a global field survey of 383 sites with different climatic and vegetation conditions, this study reveals that soil biodiversity and functions exhibit pervasive nonlinear behaviors worldwide, predominantly regulated by water availability. Changes in water availability have significant impacts on soil biodiversity (bacteria, fungi, protists, and invertebrates) and soil functions including plant-microbe interactions, plant productivity, soil biogeochemical cycles, and soil carbon sequestration. This study suggests that crossing specific water availability thresholds can have critical consequences for the provision of essential ecosystem services needed to sustain our planet.
NATURE ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yuanyuan Bao, Yan Ma, Wenjing Liu, Xin Li, Yonghui Li, Peng Zhou, Youzhi Feng, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo
Summary: Artificial lights play a significant role in the conservation and visiting of cultural relics. This study conducted a two-year in situ experiment to evaluate the impacts of different artificial light wavelengths on the phototrophic microbiome of a Chinese imperial mausoleum. The results showed that green light can reduce the abundance of phototrophic bacteria and their organic acid production, thus contributing to long-term preservation.
NPJ BIOFILMS AND MICROBIOMES
(2023)