Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Martina Orlando-Bonaca, Valentina Pitacco, Lovrenc Lipej
Summary: Canopy-forming macroalgae, especially those from the Fucales order, are forming productive brown algal forests that serve as important biological indicators in assessing coastal belt conditions in the Mediterranean. However, these macroalgae are rapidly disappearing along Mediterranean rocky coasts, being replaced by smaller turf-forming algae due to human activities. This study aimed to investigate the decline in canopy-forming taxa and the loss of Cystoseira species in the northern Adriatic Sea, which could lead to improved conservation efforts for critical benthic habitats.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Marino Korlevic, Marsej Markovski, Zihao Zhao, Gerhard J. Herndl, Mirjana Najdek
Summary: The study revealed that the microbial communities on the surfaces of marine macrophytes exhibit host-specificity and undergo successional changes connected to the growth cycle of the macrophytes. There were differences in microbial community composition between ambient water and epiphytic communities, with certain taxa only found on specific hosts.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Madhav Kumar, Raghawendra Kumar, Doongar R. Chaudhary, Bhavanath Jha
Summary: The community composition and distribution of early-stage biofilm-forming bacteria on two different surfaces in the Arabian Sea, Gujarat, India were studied using a culture-dependent and next-generation sequencing approach. The study found that Proteobacteria phylum was the most dominant, with Gammaproteobacteria class being dominant on both surfaces. It also observed the attachment of hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial strains during initial colonization.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Pravin Kumar, Ashish Verma, Shiva S. Sundharam, Anup Kumar Ojha, Srinivasan Krishnamurthi
Summary: The study examined the diversity and polymer degradation potential of epiphytic bacteria associated with different marine macroalgae. It identified 238 strains belonging to various classes and clustered into 45 genera, with potential novel taxa identified. These bacteria exhibited significant polymer hydrolysis potential, indicating their potential for bio-remediation of agro-waste based raw materials and their potential use in green technology.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Anderson Carlos Camargo, Edite Andrade Costa, Andressa Fusieger, Rosangela de Freitas, Luis Augusto Nero, Antonio Fernandes de Carvalho
Summary: Minas Gerais is a Brazilian state known for being the largest cheese producer in Brazil, with Entre Serras region experiencing a resurgence in artisanal cheese production. The predominant bacterial species in Entre Serras MAC was found to be Lactococcus lactis, with some farms showing high levels of contamination, possibly due to poor hygiene practices.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Aroa Lopez-Santamarina, Laura Sinisterra-Loaiza, Alicia Mondragon-Portocarrero, Jaime Ortiz-Viedma, Alejandra Cardelle-Cobas, Carlos Manuel Franco Abuin, Alberto Cepeda
Summary: Two brown seaweeds, Saccharina japonica and Undaria pinnatifida, were found to have low fat, low sugar, and high fiber content, meeting European legislation criteria. They also provided significant amounts of calcium, iron, copper, and zinc. In vitro digestion and fermentation of these seaweeds showed positive effects on the gut microbiota, increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria. Additionally, short-chain fatty acid content, particularly acetic acid, increased with seaweed consumption. Overall, this research suggests that consuming S. japonica and U. pinnatifida can have promising implications for nutrition and human health.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Biology
Athanasios Nikolaou, Konstantinos Tsirintanis, Gil Rilov, Stelios Katsanevakis
Summary: This study examines the distribution and status of macroalgal communities in the Mediterranean Sea. Invasive herbivorous fish are pushing canopy algae towards shallow waters in the South Aegean and Levantine Sea, while native sea urchins have become rare. In the North Aegean, native sea urchins still exert grazing pressure on macroalgal forests.
Article
Immunology
Suat Moi Puah, Sam Pei Fong, Boon Pin Kee, S. D. Puthucheary, Kek Heng Chua
Summary: This study re-evaluated 30 archived Flavobacterium meningosepticum isolates and identified them as either E. anophelis or E. miricola using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, ERIC-PCR, and biofilm formation assay. The results showed that E. anophelis had a higher ability to form biofilm compared to E. miricola. Additionally, E. anophelis from tracheal secretions were significantly associated with strong biofilm formation. This suggests that E. anophelis may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of Elizabethkingia infections.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Haigang Wu, Xian Wu, Li Huang, Chongmei Ruan, Jinni Liu, Xiaoqing Chen, Jicheng Liu, Houqing Luo
Summary: This study found that andrographolide administration increased the proportions and abundance of beneficial bacteria, while amoxicillin treatment increased the proportion of pathogenic bacteria. The results suggest potential alternatives to antibiotics for reducing bacterial resistance and restoring intestinal flora balance.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Natalia Sant, Enric Ballesteros
Summary: Photosynthetic features and dark respiration of different dominant canopy-forming algae species of the Order Fucales consistently change with depth, with deep-water species showing higher photosynthesis at saturation and lower dark respiration than shallow water ones. This contrasts with the expected reduction of P-max in low light environments shown by terrestrial plants and suggests that P-max and alpha show the same trend of variation in the marine environment.
MARINE ECOLOGY-AN EVOLUTIONARY PERSPECTIVE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tshifhiwa Paris Mamphogoro, Casper Nyaradzai Kamutando, Martin Makgose Maboko, Olayinka Ayobami Aiyegoro, Olubukola Oluranti Babalola
Summary: The study identified potential bacterial antagonists for the most devastating pathogen of sweet peppers, R. solanacearum, and showed that the maximum antimicrobial activity of bacterial antagonists is dependent on specific environmental conditions. Additionally, bacterial antagonists can indirectly promote crop growth and development through nutrient cycling and siderophore production.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Yingying Zhu, Yun Guo, Fenghong Yang, Changyu Zhou, Changbo Tang, Guanghong Zhou
Summary: The study investigates the relationship between microorganisms and metabolites during the fermentation of dry-cured hams from different origins. The results show a firm positive relationship between microorganisms and metabolites, providing novel insights into the taste and flavor quality of hams.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Mukesh Kumar Malviya, Chang-Ning Li, Prakash Lakshmanan, Manoj Kumar Solanki, Zhen Wang, Anjali Chandrol Solanki, Qian Nong, Krishan K. Verma, Rajesh Kumar Singh, Pratiksha Singh, Anjney Sharma, Dao-Jun Guo, Eldessoky S. Dessoky, Xiu-Peng Song, Yang-Rui Li
Summary: This study investigated the rhizosphere and diazotroph bacterial diversity in wild progenitors of sugarcane, highlighting the importance of genetic background in plant-microbe interactions. The results showed significant microbial diversity and the influence of soil physiochemical properties on the rhizosphere microbiome.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Wei, Yumeng Li, Yayu Wang, Xinyue Luo, Feirong Du, Weifang Liu, Li Xie, Jianwei Chen, Ziwei Ren, Shiqi Hou, Sunhaoyu Wang, Shaojie Fu, Yan Dang, Pengsong Li, Xin Liu
Summary: This study explored the microbial diversity in industrial effluents and verified the feasibility of tracking these effluents in sewer networks based on sequencing data. The results showed that microbial compositions varied greatly among samples from different locations in the sewer system. Furthermore, the study identified microbial markers that differentiate effluents from different factories, which can be used to track the sources of the effluents.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Todd Testerman, Lidia Beka, Emily Ann McClure, Stephen R. Reichley, Stacy King, Timothy J. Welch, Joerg Graf
Summary: In this study, two independent assays for detecting fish pathogens Flavobacterium columnare and Flavobacterium psychrophilum in environmental samples were presented. Both methods accurately identified pathogen-positive samples and showed good agreement in quantifying each pathogen. These methods can serve as useful tools for surveillance efforts in aquaculture facilities.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Christophe Vieira, Olivier De Clerck, Antoine De Ramon N'Yeurt, Sofie D'hondt, Laurent Millet, Myung Sook Kim, Claude Payri, Mayalen Zubia
Summary: In this study, we used an integrative taxonomic approach to re-evaluate the diversity of Lobophora. Our findings show that French Polynesia has at least 37 Lobophora species, with over half of them being endemic. French Polynesia shares a high biogeographic affinity with the Melanesian Islands and has connections to the western Indian Ocean and the Atlantic. We propose that Lobophora species in French Polynesia mainly evolved from colonizers originating from the Central Indo-Pacific, resulting in high endemism in remote archipelagos.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Razy Hoffman, Olivier De Clerck, Frederik Leliaert
Summary: We provide an account of two newly recorded non-indigenous tropical seaweed species, Siphonocladus tropicus and Caulerpa integerrima, found in the Levantine Mediterranean Sea. Morphological and molecular evidence supports the reports, which also indicate the possible origin and pathways of introduction for these species.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
F. P. Mancuso, M. Milazzo, G. Sara, R. Chemello
Summary: Habitat complexity in marine environments, particularly in coastal areas, is crucial for biodiversity, as foundation seaweeds provide substrate for diverse communities. The study focuses on the fractal dimensions of Gongolaria montagnei and their relationship with gastropod assemblage. The 3D fractal analysis proves to be a better method in describing seaweed structural complexity and its association with gastropods in terms of abundance, species richness, and morpho-functional groups. The proposed method is deemed valuable in understanding seaweed-fauna relationship and the consequences of seaweed loss.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Chiara Giommi, Maria Cristina Mangano, Laura Airoldi, Brian Helmuth, Gianluca Sara
Summary: Biodiversity plays a crucial role in promoting ecosystem functioning, especially under extreme events caused by climate change. In this study, a regional-scale field experiment was conducted to investigate the response of intertidal communities to low tide aerial exposure and extreme temperatures. The results showed that evenness was the most important factor explaining variations in ecosystem functioning, while species richness and functional diversity had different effects under ambient and extreme temperatures. The short-term thermal history of the communities was identified as the best predictor of the biodiversity-ecosystem functioning relationship. The findings highlight the importance of biodiversity in mitigating the effects of extreme temperatures on intertidal communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Soria Delva, Camino Fernandez de la Hoz, Quinten Bafort, Sofie D'hondt, Soha Shabaka, Sarah Hamdy Rashedy, Alison R. Sherwood, Tamar Guy-Haim, Alvaro Israel, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: In this study, we investigate the introduction of Dictyota acutiloba in the Mediterranean Sea and provided an updated distribution of this species, which was believed to be limited to the Pacific Ocean. Genetic analysis and ecological niche models confirmed the presence of D. acutiloba in Indo-Pacific regions and along the Israeli coastline in the southeastern Mediterranean Sea. The close genetic relationship between introduced specimens and those from the Red Sea suggests an introduction through the Suez Canal. The further spread of D. acutiloba in the eastern Mediterranean is likely, with possible extension into the western Mediterranean Sea, depending on climate change scenarios.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jonas Blomme, Thomas Wichard, Thomas B. Jacobs, Olivier De Clerck
Summary: Green seaweeds, particularly Ulva species, have various morphologies and ecological roles, making them important for research in carbon assimilation, bacteria interactions, life cycle, and economic benefits. Ulva mutabilis/compressa is suggested as a model species and the article highlights available molecular data and tools for further research. Exciting developments in other Ulva species are also discussed.
JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Soria Delva, Bernard De Baets, Jan M. Baetens, Olivier De Clerck, Willem Stock
Summary: This study investigated whether the thermal tolerance of the brown seaweed Dictyota dichotoma can be enhanced by adding bacteria from its natural environment. The results showed that bacterial supplementation did not affect the growth of the seaweed over the full thermal gradient, suggesting that ecological bacterial rescue may not play a role in mitigating the effects of ocean warming on this brown seaweed.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Kathryn Lee Morrissey, Olivier De Clerck, Laura Airoldi
Summary: Warming and nutrient enrichment have significant effects on the physiology and survival of foundation species in both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects and the role of microbial communities have been overlooked in experiments. This study examined the impacts of air warming and nutrient enrichment on a seaweed species and its associated bacterial communities. The results showed that the two stressors had additive, antagonistic, and synergistic interactions on the abundance of bacterial taxa, and they mainly affected metabolic pathways associated with seaweed disease, degradation of cell-wall polymers, and algicidal processes. These findings highlight the dysregulation of seaweed microbiomes by warming and nutrient enrichment, providing a potential mechanism for their ongoing loss.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Henry D. Naranjo, Liesbeth Lebbe, Margo Cnockaert, Florent Lassalle, Chin Chin Too, Anne Willems
Summary: Recently, we isolated two closely related strains, LMG 31531T and LMG 31532, from soil and plant roots, respectively. Based on genomic and phenotypic data, these strains differ from previously reported species and are described as a new species, Agrobacterium divergens. Our comparative genomic study also discovered conserved proteins that provide insights into the functional evolution of this genus.
SYSTEMATIC AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Anna Maria Mannino, Paolo Balistreri, Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Fabio Bozzeda, Maurizio Pinna
Summary: The tropical seagrass Halophila stipulacea entered the Mediterranean Sea more than 100 years ago, potentially out-competing native Mediterranean seagrasses. A monitoring study was conducted from August 2010 to August 2011 to assess the invasiveness potential of H. stipulacea, which co-occurred with the native seagrass Cymodocea nodosa. The presence of H. stipulacea had a significant effect on C. nodosa density, potentially due to the dense rhizome-sediment net created by H. stipulacea. Unexpectedly, H. stipulacea disappeared in April 2011, and was rapidly replaced by the invasive alga Caulerpa cylindracea.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Angelique Rat, Antigoni E. Koletti, Nebojsa Rodic, Vassilios P. Papageorgiou, Anne Willems, Andreana N. Assimopoulou
Summary: In this study, a strain of Pseudomonas sp. R-72008 was found to utilize Alkannin, shikonin, and their derivatives as the sole carbon source. This bacterial strain was able to modify the composition of A/S, decreasing the amount of A/S monomers and increasing the production of A/S oligomers. This research provides new insights into the interactions between bacteria and plant antimicrobials.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Henry D. Naranjo, Angelique Rat, Noemie De Zutter, Emmelie De Ridder, Liesbeth Lebbe, Kris Audenaert, Anne Willems
Summary: Phytopathogenic fungi pose a major threat to global food production, and the use of biocontrol agents derived from medicinal plants could provide an alternative to chemical fungicides. The study identified Pseudomonas sp. strain R-71838 as a promising candidate for biocontrol of fungal pathogens, based on its strong antifungal activity both in vitro and in planta.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Renato Chemello, Anna Maria Mannino
Summary: Biological invasions pose a significant threat to native biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and services, particularly in the Mediterranean islands. Monitoring the distribution of non-indigenous species (NIS) and understanding their impact on native biodiversity is crucial for effective conservation strategies.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Giulia Mirabile, Valeria Ferraro, Francesco Paolo Mancuso, Lorenzo Pecoraro, Fortunato Cirlincione
Summary: Fungal biodiversity in freshwater habitats, especially in Italy, is often underestimated and data on the diversity of freshwater fungi in Italy is fragmented and incomplete.