Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xinghua Ding, Wensheng Lan, Yiliang Li, Aixin Yan, Yoko Katayama, Keisuke Koba, Akiko Makabe, Keitaro Fukushima, Midori Yano, Yuji Onishi, Qinya Ge, Ji-Dong Gu
Summary: This study examined the stone-dwelling microbiome in three important Angkorian monuments in Cambodia, revealing a rich microbiome with abundant microbial nitrogen transforming reactions. The study found that AOA and Comammox were the most abundant ammonia-oxidizers in the microbiome of these sandstone monuments. The findings suggest an internal recycling mechanism between ammonia/ammonium and nitrate to support the microbial community on the stone monuments.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Youfen Qian, Tongzhou Gan, Sahib Zada, Yoko Katayama, Ji-Dong Gu
Summary: This study reveals the dissolution and loss of CaCO3 in stone as it is exposed to the environment, resulting in increased porosity and microbial growth. The difference in CaCO3 content between fresh and weathered stone demonstrates the connection between mineral dissolution reactions and microbial catalysis. This alteration of stone properties is critical for colonization and development of microbial communities.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tomohiro Inaba, Tomoyuki Hori, Megumi Tsuchiya, Hideyuki Ihara, Etsuo Uchida, Ji-Dong Gu, Yoko Katayama
Summary: The sandstone monuments of Angkor are suffering from serious deterioration and damage, mainly caused by microorganisms. In this study, the fungal colonization and biodeterioration of sandstone were examined using confocal reflection microscopy and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results showed that the fungi formed cavities on the sandstone surface, leading to its degradation. A biodeterioration model was proposed to explain the process.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ji-Dong Gu, Yoko Katayama
Summary: Knowledge and understanding of substratum materials, the environment, fauna and flora, and microorganisms are crucial for the protection and management of cultural heritage. Extensive research in Cambodia has yielded insights into the mechanisms of stone monument (bio)deterioration, specifically the interaction between water cycling, salt dynamics, and surface microbiomes such as biofilms. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a decline in tourist numbers, resulting in an increase in the population of bats and monkeys, which poses challenges to ongoing protection efforts. Furthermore, the management of large trees surrounding cultural heritage sites has become necessary to mitigate potential risks and negative impacts. Scientific results are crucial for the long-term successful preservation of these cultural heritage sites, and such investigations have implications beyond Cambodia.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Weifang Hu, Mianrun Chen, Xue Lan, Guoliang Li, Bin Wang, Dong Yao Sun, Xianbiao Lin
Summary: This study found significant shifts in potential ammonia oxidation rates (PARs) and gene abundances of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) along different salinity gradients. The PARs were higher under high salinity conditions, and the AOB gene abundance was greater than AOA under moderate and high salinity. This has important implications for nitrogen cycling in estuarine sediments.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Review
Archaeology
Jing Li, Maocheng Deng, Lin Gao, Sufen Yen, Yoko Katayama, Ji-Dong Gu
Summary: This article presents the current available results on the active microorganisms and their biochemical processes associated with the biodeterioration of sandstone cultural heritage in Cambodia under tropical climate. Both sulfur and nitrogen cycles are active biochemical processes by specific microorganisms on sandstone monuments in the tropical region, with recent focus on ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). There is a paradigm shift in research on microbiology of cultural heritage, with a focus on biochemically and physiologically functional microbes for better protection and management.
JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Xingjia He, Sen Li, Fengzhi Wu
Summary: Intercropping has a significant impact on soil properties and microbial communities, with different intercropping systems affecting ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms differently in different seasons. Soil physicochemical state, PNR, AOA and AOB communities were significantly altered by intercropping, with seasonal variation playing a greater role in shaping the community structures.
Article
Soil Science
Jun Xie, Zifang Wang, Ying Wang, Shujiang Xiang, Ziyi Xiong, Ming Gao
Summary: Fertilization and soil environmental factors play a role in the niche differentiation of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms and affect the ammonia-oxidation process. In this study, the effect of manure, chemical fertilizer, and manure combined with biochar on soil properties and the abundance, diversity, and structure of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in the rhizosphere were investigated. The results showed that chemical fertilizer and manure combined with biochar increased the potential nitrification rate (PNR) and AOA amoA gene abundance, while manure combined with biochar decreased PNR and AOA amoA gene abundance. The population structure of AOA and AOB was influenced by pH, available phosphorus, carbon-to-nitrogen ratio, soil moisture content, nitrate nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen in the rhizosphere. The ammonia oxidation process in the acid purple soil was dominated by AOA in the presence of chemical fertilizer and pig manure combined with rice husk biochar.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ronnakrit Rattanasriampaipong, Yi Ge Zhang, Ann Pearson, Brian P. Hedlund, Shuang Zhang
Summary: Archaeal membrane lipids, specifically the GDGTs, can be used to reconstruct ancient temperatures and provide insights into the ecology and evolution of marine ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA). The study identified thermal and nonthermal behaviors of GDGTs, which can be used as indicators of environmental temperature. The distribution of GDGTs in AOA cultures and shallow water samples followed a temperature-dependent trend, while deep water samples showed a nonthermal behavior. Statistical analysis revealed long-term trends in GDGT-2/GDGT-3 ratios, suggesting a suppression of deep water marine AOA during greenhouse climates in the Mesozoic and early Cenozoic periods.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Preeyaporn Pornkulwat, Eakalak Khan, Sorawit Powtongsook, Wuttichai Mhuantong, Chamorn Chawengkijwanich, Tawan Limpiyakorn
Summary: This study comprehensively investigated the impacts of ammonia and salinity on culturing nitrifying microorganisms and successfully formulated nitrifying cultures for different recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) types. The findings suggest that cultures prepared at low ammonia loading rates are most suitable for various RAS types, while cultures prepared at high ammonia loading rates are dominated by nitrifying microorganisms with low substrate affinity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shishi He, Zhirong Zhao, Zhichao Tian, Chi Xu, Yuan Liu, Da He, Yinghui Zhang, Maosheng Zheng
Summary: This study analyzed activated sludge samples from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants and found that comammox bacteria were more abundant than ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing archaea in municipal plants, while this trend did not hold true for industrial plants. Furthermore, a higher diversity of comammox bacteria was found in municipal samples. This study provides important insights into the abundance and diversity of comammox bacteria in municipal and refinery wastewater treatment systems.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Haiyang Liu, Hangwei Hu, Xing Huang, Tida Ge, Yongfu Li, Zhenke Zhu, Xingmei Liu, Wenfeng Tan, Zhongjun Jia, Hongjie Di, Jianming Xu, Yong Li
Summary: Chemoautotrophic canonical ammonia-oxidizers play a significant role in autotrophic nitrification during the mineralization of organic substances with low C/N ratios in paddy soils, as shown by N-15 tracing and DNA-SIP techniques.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Elizabeth French, Jessica A. Kozlowski, Annette Bollmann
Summary: The study found that ammonia-oxidizing archaea are more abundant in systems with low ammonium availabilities, while ammonia-oxidizing bacteria are more abundant when ammonium availability increases. Population dynamics of ammonia oxidizers may shift in response to changes in ammonium concentrations.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Yongxin Lin, Hang-Wei Hu, Guiping Ye, Jianbo Fan, Weixin Ding, Zi-Yang He, Yong Zheng, Ji-Zheng He
Summary: The meta-analysis of laboratory incubation studies with 1-octyne as the nitrification inhibitor shows that AOB play a more dominant role in soil nitrification in cropland than in wetland soils, indicating a major role of AOB in acidic soil nitrification. Moreover, the reduction of nitrification rate by 1-octyne is greater in soils incubated in slurry and with nitrogen additions, suggesting AOB's importance in nitrification in global acidic soils.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hengchen Wei, Xianbiao Lin
Summary: This study revealed the spatiotemporal patterns of AOA and AOB potential rates and gene abundance along gradients of human influences and identified organic matter and nutrients as key environmental factors that shaped the variation of AOA and AOB along the continuum.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shaofeng Zhou, Wenwen An, Cuifen Gan, Meiying Xu
Summary: Bacteria generate and release extracellular reactive oxygen species (eROS), which significantly contribute to the natural ROS pool and play a crucial role in metabolic interactions of bacteria with their environment. Understanding the behavior of eROS-generating bacteria and its environmental implications is of great importance in the cycling of biogeochemical elements, transformation of organic matter, and regulation of antibiotic resistance genes.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ji-Dong Gu, Tim Ford, Bryce Mitton, Ralph Mitchell
Summary: Plastics and microplastics are widely present and accumulating in the environment, leading to increasing public attention. In addition to packaging plastics, materials from industries such as electronics, space and aviation are also accumulating, but receiving less attention. The production of degradable and biodegradable plastics is seen as a way to reduce environmental impacts, but enhancing the non-degradability of functional polymers is also a feasible option. Microbial colonization and deterioration pose significant challenges to these materials.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Justyna Bohacz, Michal Mozejko
Summary: This study evaluated the keratinolytic activity of 37 strains of Trichophyton ajelloi and found that pigmented strains isolated from loamy soil were more efficient in degrading native feather keratin, while non-pigmented strains isolated from chernozem showed better abilities. The keratinolytic activity increased over time, as evidenced by the increase in extracellular keratinase activity and release of soluble proteins and peptides. Protease activity peaked in the first 7 days and again on day 28 of culture. The release of ammonium and sulfate ions, associated with an increase in pH, reached its maximum on day 21. Three pigment-producing strains were among the most active in releasing large amounts of ammonium and sulfate ions. The biodegradation of feather waste by Trichophyton ajelloi strains can be used to produce fertilizers suitable for plants with high sulfur requirements.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joseph M. Suflita, Brenda J. Little
Summary: This article reviews the major achievements of the International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation Society (IBBS) on its 50th anniversary and provides recommendations for addressing new challenges and developments based on personal experiences.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhenyan Lin, Tuo Jin, Xin Xu, Xiao Yin, Dan Zhang, Mengjiao Geng, Chunyu Pang, Gongwen Luo, Lizhi Xiong, Jianwei Peng, Jiangchi Fei
Summary: The incomplete recycle of residual mulch film (RMF) in recent years has led to an increase in plastic fragments in soil, posing a serious threat to the soil ecological environment. In this study, seven potential plastic-degrading microorganisms were screened and identified from film-mulched vegetable fields. The degradation ability experiments showed that both single strains and mixed strains demonstrated varying levels of degradation of RMF.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tiina Belt, Michael Altgen, Muhammad Awais, Martin Nopens, Lauri Rautkari
Summary: This study investigated the degradation of heat-treated wood by brown rot fungi and found that the decay increased the hygroscopicity of wood in the decaying state. Furthermore, it was observed that heat-treated samples were more susceptible to fungal decay compared to untreated samples, which may be related to the increase in moisture content.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta Cicardi, Davide Bernasconi, Luca Martire, Linda Pastero, Giulia Caneva, Sergio E. Favero-Longo
Summary: This study investigated the phenomenon of Centimetric circular areas Uncolonized by Microbial Biofilms (CUMBs) on natural and heritage stone surfaces. The analysis revealed a compatibility in distribution and size between CUMBs and lichen thalli, suggesting a lichen origin for some CUMBs. Microscopic analysis also showed similar modifications in marble layers beneath CUMBs and lichens, indicating a possible alteration of stone properties by lichens.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2024)