Review
Environmental Sciences
Haozheng He, Yiyang Li, Rui Shen, Hojae Shim, Yanhong Zeng, Siyan Zhao, Qihong Lu, Bixian Mai, Shanquan Wang
Summary: New organohalides have replaced old ones, leading to their widespread environmental distribution. These compounds are found in both abiotic and biotic matrices, requiring control measures. Remediation techniques such as photodegradation, chemical oxidation, and biodegradation are discussed, with microbial reductive dehalogenation representing a promising method for removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Rifeng Wu, Shanquan Wang
Summary: The integration of bioremediation with organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) and sulfate radicals-based oxidation (Bio-RD-PAO) shows promising results in addressing organohalide pollution, particularly for lowly-halogenated organohalides. This approach offers advantages such as complete attenuation, high reactivity, and non-selectivity to organohalides, making it a potential solution for future remediation applications.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alberto Botti, Elena Biagi, Eliana Musmeci, Alessia Breglia, Micaela Degli Esposti, Fabio Fava, Giulio Zanaroli
Summary: The effect of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) with different composition on microbial activities in marine sediment was studied. Despite the slower fermentation rate, PHAs stimulated sulfate-reducing, methanogenic bacteria, and transiently stimulated PCB reductive dechlorination. No significant differences were observed with different compositions of PHAs. The majority of supplied electrons were consumed by sulfate-reducing bacteria, followed by methanogenic bacteria, while only a small percentage was delivered to organohalide respring bacteria.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Biology
Ali Ebrahimi, Akshit Goyal, Otto X. Cordero
Summary: Microbial foraging in patchy environments, particularly in the oceans, is influenced by the interaction between detachment rates from particles and net growth and mortality rates. Our mathematical model explains how different detachment rates can lead to stable coexistence of marine populations. Fluctuating environments increase the likelihood of coexistence by favoring both growth and mortality.
Article
Microbiology
Pola Lomza, Tomasz Krucon, Agnieszka Tabernacka
Summary: Halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) are a serious environmental issue and can be transformed by microbial dehalogenation. The study found that microbial communities in both natural and anthropogenically modified environments have the potential to carry out dehalogenation processes. Analysis revealed that microorganisms in different environments can transform HOCs, indicating the long-term presence of these compounds in the environment and the development of detoxification mechanisms.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniela M. Truchet, Natalia S. Buzzi, Gabriel M. Moulatlet, Mariana Capparelli
Summary: The functional traits influence the accumulation of microplastics in crabs, with smaller crabs and those with shorter lifespans tending to accumulate more plastic particles. Estuarine crabs from intertidal and muddy substrates and burrowers accumulate more microplastics. Crabs from low latitudes tend to accumulate more particles, possibly due to the presence of mangroves. Analyzing microplastic accumulation patterns with macroecological tools can provide valuable information for identifying the most affected species and setting priorities for reducing plastic use globally.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Weiwen Yin, Baogang Zhang, Jiaxin Shi, Ziqi Liu
Summary: The study analyzed water and sediment samples from marine and river ecosystems potentially polluted by vanadium and microplastics, revealing their distribution and microbial responses. It found that high concentrations of vanadium and microplastics coexisted in aquatic environments, with plastic-degrading bacteria and vanadium-reducing bacteria enriched in microplastic biofilms. Additionally, vanadium was found to influence the microbial community on microplastics by altering environmental factors.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren K. Olinger, Wendy K. Strangman, Steven E. McMurray, Joseph R. Pawlik
Summary: Research utilizing untargeted metabolomics revealed that sponges uptake metabolites from seawater and change its composition, with high microbial abundance sponge species playing a more significant role in this process. The metabolites absorbed by sponges primarily consist of organic acids and derivatives, organic nitrogen compounds, and halogenated compounds.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
R. R. P. Da Silva, C. A. White, J. P. Bowman, L. Bodrossy, A. Bissett, A. Revill, R. Eriksen, D. J. Ross
Summary: Microbial communities in estuarine systems vary along the environmental gradient, and their structures are influenced by both oceanic and riverine inputs.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melina Abdou, Carlos Eduardo Monteiro, Pedro Brito, Teresa Neuparth, Marlene Pinheiro, Miguel Santos, Miguel Caetano
Summary: Platinum Group Elements (PGEs) are pollutants of concern due to their increasing use and release. This study investigated PGE contamination in marine organisms, focusing on rhodium (Rh). Samples were collected from two urbanized estuarine systems and adjacent coastal areas in Portugal. PGE concentrations were quantified using stripping voltammetry and mass spectrometry. The results showed that PGE contamination was correlated with urban effluents and influenced by traffic emissions and various sources. Macroalgae and mussels were found to be good bioindicators of PGE contamination in estuarine/coastal systems, reflecting urban pressure and amplifying environmental signals.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rohan M. Shah, Katie E. Hillyer, Sarah Stephenson, Joseph Crosswell, Avinash Karpe, Enzo A. Palombo, Oliver A. H. Jones, Daniel Gorman, Levente Bodrossy, Jodie van de Kamp, Andrew Bissett, Andrew S. Whiteley, Andy D. L. Steven, David J. Beale
Summary: The study used omics-based approaches to establish blueprints of microbial functionality in healthy estuarine sediment communities in pristine environments, identifying relationships between metabolic pathways and genes with community metabolic potential. An increase in KEGG genes related to metal homeostasis and metal resistance was observed, with correlations found between metal abundance and functional genes related to Fe and Zn metabolism. This research provides a baseline microbial blueprint for the pristine sediment microbiome and lays the groundwork for future ecosystem monitoring comparisons.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinting Liu, Guofang Xu, Siyan Zhao, Chen Chen, Matthew J. Rogers, Jianzhong He
Summary: Micro- and nano-plastics have various effects on the biotransformation of organohalide pollutants and the microbial communities. Microplastics such as PE, PS, PLA, and a weathered microplastic mixture can increase dehalogenation rate, while PVC and a defined microplastic mixture have different effects depending on their concentrations. On the other hand, nano-PS consistently inhibits dehalogenation due to the increased production of reactive oxygen species.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Uroosa, Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Kazmi, Alan Warren, Xiaoxiao Zhong, Henglong Xu
Summary: The effects of nitrofurazone on functional processes in marine ecosystems were evaluated by exposing periphytic protozoan communities to different concentrations of the antibiotic. The study found that nitrofurazone significantly influenced the function process of periphytic ciliate communities, with bacterivores being more sensitive and sessile and cylindrical predators showing higher tolerance to the chemical.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Hafiz Sohaib Ahmed Saqib, Ye Yuan, Syed Shabi Ul Hassan Kazmi, Shengkang Li, Huaiping Zheng, Yueling Zhang, Mhd Ikhwanuddin, Hongyu Ma
Summary: Salinity changes have significant impacts on the development, physiology, and molecular activity of marine organisms, as well as their associated microbiomes. This study focused on mud crabs, a species with extraordinary adaptability to diverse salinity conditions, to investigate the effects of salinity variations on their gut microbiota. High-throughput sequencing revealed a total of 57 bacterial phyla, with Firmicutes and Proteobacteria being dominant. The gut microbiome of mud crabs showed greater sensitivity to salinity gradients compared to the stomach microbiome. Specific bacterial taxa were enriched in the guts of mud crabs from different salinity settings. Functional enrichment analysis demonstrated significant differences in gut bacterial functions between high and low salinity levels, particularly in signal transduction and cell growth and death pathways. These findings enhance our understanding of the composition and plasticity of mud crab microbiota and have potential implications for the aquaculture industry.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alice Delacuvellerie, Tosca Ballerini, Laura Frere, Sabine Matallana-Surget, Bruno Dumontet, Ruddy Wattiez
Summary: Plastics accumulate in the polluted Mediterranean Sea, forming the plastisphere. The composition of microbial community on plastic is influenced by the sampling site and polymer chemical composition. Enrichment cultures show the presence of plastic-degrading microorganisms with potential role in plastic degradation.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Miaomiao Zhang, Zhe Li, Max M. Haggblom, Lily Young, Fangbai Li, Zijun He, Guimei Lu, Rui Xu, Xiaoxu Sun, Lang Qiu, Weimin Sun
Summary: The oxidation of antimonite (Sb(III)) can reduce the toxicity of antimony (Sb) and its uptake in rice fields, with nitrate playing a key role. This study investigated the potential of nitrate-dependent antimonite oxidation in Sb-contaminated rice paddies and identified bacteria responsible for this process. These findings enhance our understanding of the diversity of nitrate-dependent antimonite oxidizing bacteria.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Tiffany S. Louie, Elizabeth Jane Pavlik, Max M. Haggblom
Summary: The genus Thauera includes several species and strains capable of degrading aromatic compounds under denitrifying conditions. Thauera chlorobenzoica strain 3CB-1(T) isolated from river sediment has the ability to degrade various halobenzoates coupled to nitrate reduction. The genome of T. chlorobenzoica strain 3CB-1(T) has been sequenced, revealing genes associated with the degradation of aromatic compounds and unique clusters of CoA reductase and benzoate-CoA ligase genes.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Rui Xu, Xiaoxu Sun, Max M. Haggblom, Yiran Dong, Miaomiao Zhang, Zhaohui Yang, Enzong Xiao, Tangfu Xiao, Pin Gao, Baoqin Li, Weimin Sun
Summary: The Acidobacteriia are adapted to metal-rich environments and have the potential to transform metals like arsenic, mercury, and chromium through metabolic pathways. They may also possess the capability to alleviate acidic and metal stress. This discovery suggests that the ability for metal transformation could be widespread among Acidobacteriia members.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muhammad Usman Ghani, Hafiz Naeem Asghar, Abdullah Niaz, Zahir Ahmad Zahir, Muhammad Farrakh Nawaz, Max M. Haggblom
Summary: The study evaluated bacterial strains capable of promoting plant growth and degrading the pesticide profenofos, showing that these strains can degrade over 90% of profenofos and significantly increase plant growth. This approach of using bacteria to remediate pesticide-contaminated soils shows promising results in improving soil health and food quality.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yongbin Li, Lifang Guo, Max M. Haggblom, Rui Yang, Mengyan Li, Xiaoxu Sun, Zheng Chen, Fangbai Li, Xianfa Su, Geng Yan, Enzong Xiao, Haihan Zhang, Weimin Sun
Summary: Serratia spp. bacteria have been found to perform biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) by oxidizing arsenic (As) in addition to using reduced sulfur (S). This discovery suggests that As-dependent BNF may be widespread in As-rich habitats and is a common metabolic trait in Serratia spp.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Xiaoxu Sun, Tianle Kong, Fangbai Li, Max M. Haggblom, Max Kolton, Ling Lan, Maggie C. Y. Lau Vetter, Yiran Dong, Peng Gao, Joel E. Kostka, Baoqin Li, Weimin Sun
Summary: This study discovered a novel biogeochemical process, S oxidation coupled to Sb(V) reduction, mediated by Desulfurivibrio bacteria through enzymatic reactions. Desulfurivibrio showed a high relative abundance in Sb mine tailings. The metabolic potential encoded by non-canonical enzymes was found in the Desulfurivibrio genomes retrieved from metal-contaminated sites.
Article
Microbiology
Isabel Horna-Gray, Nora A. Lopez, Youngbeom Ahn, Brandon Saks, Nathaniel Girer, Ute Hentschel, Peter J. McCarthy, Lee J. Kerkhof, Max M. Haggblom
Summary: Desulfoluna spp. is a cosmopolitan group of dehalogenating bacteria distributed in sponges containing organohalides. The association between sponges and their associated microbiota is influenced by the organohalogen chemistry of the sponge. The production of organobromine secondary metabolites in sponges may serve as a chemical defense, and Desulfoluna spp. and related strains are responsible for dehalogenation in sponges.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Huaqing Liu, Rui Xu, Max M. Haggblom, Jian Zhang, Xiaoxu Sun, Peng Gao, Jiayi Li, Wangwang Yan, Wenlong Gao, Pin Gao, Guoqiang Liu, Haihan Zhang, Weimin Sun
Summary: The use of immobile iron-rich particles (IIRP) can enhance arsenic retention and regulate its biotransformation in treatment wetlands (TWs). TWs with IIRP achieved a stable arsenic removal efficiency over a long period of time, while no removal or release of arsenic was observed in TWs without IIRP. IIRP provide additional adsorption sites and increase the stability of adsorbed arsenic.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Miaomiao Zhang, Max Kolton, Max M. Haggblom, Xiaoxu Sun, Ke Yu, Bin He, Zaijian Yuan, Yiran Dong, Xianfa Su, Zhenyu Chen, Hui Li, Tangfu Xiao, Enzong Xiao, Weimin Sun
Summary: This study observed the coupling of anaerobic ammonium oxidation with As(V) reduction, known as Asammox, and identified the responsible bacteria in As-contaminated paddy soil. The discovery of Asammox expands the understanding of N and As biogeochemical cycling and provides a proof-of-concept for investigating anaerobic ammonium oxidation coupled with metal(loid)s reduction.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emre Babur, Turgay Dindaroglu, Subhan Danish, Max M. Haggblom, Ekrem Ozlu, Gafur Gozukara, Omer Suha Uslu
Summary: This study used interpolation methods to investigate the impact of wildfire on soil organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon concentrations, and soil quality indices in a red pine forest. The results showed that wildfire increased soil carbon stocks, total nitrogen, pH, and qCO2, but decreased microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Geng Yan, Xiaoxu Sun, Yiran Dong, Wenlong Gao, Pin Gao, Baoqin Li, Wangwang Yan, Haihan Zhang, Mohsen Soleimani, Bei Yan, Weimin Sun, Max M. Haggblom
Summary: This study identified microorganisms responsible for vanadate reduction in contaminated river sediments and predicted their metabolic mechanisms using DNA-stable isotope probing and metagenomic-binning analysis.
Article
Microbiology
Yongbin Li, Rui Yang, Max M. Haggblom, Mengyan Li, Lifang Guo, Baoqin Li, Max Kolton, Zhiguo Cao, Mohsen Solemani, Zheng Chen, Zhimin Xu, Wenlong Gao, Bei Yan, Weimin Sun
Summary: This study found that diazotrophic endophytes have the potential to promote the growth and colonization of pioneer plant Bidens pilosa in mine tailings, which can contribute to the phytoremediation of mine tailings.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonella Rosato, Monica Barone, Andrea Negroni, Patrizia Brigidi, Fabio Fava, Elena Biagi, Marco Candela, Giulio Zanaroli
Summary: Plastic debris in the environment creates a new human-made ecosystem called plastisphere, which affects the distribution of microbial species in aquatic ecosystems. This study explores the interaction between microplastics, organic contaminants (PCBs), and environmental microbial communities in an anoxic marine sediment. The results show that microbial communities rapidly colonize different types of microplastics, with PVC attracting a specific community enriched in sulfate-reducing bacteria. The composition of the plastisphere changes over time, possibly due to changes in temperature or plastic surface weathering. Despite the presence of potentially dehalogenating bacteria, actual dechlorination of the contaminants is not detectable after one year.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Angela Romano, Antonella Rosato, Grazia Totaro, Giulio Zanaroli, Annamaria Celli, Laura Sisti
Summary: The use of polymer-degrading enzymes in polymer formulation is an attractive strategy to improve the recyclability of plastics. This research focuses on the use of thermally stable enzymes as innovative materials to enhance the circularity of packaging materials. By immobilizing the cutinase enzyme in Mg/Al layered double hydroxide structures, its thermal stability is significantly improved, leading to efficient degradation of poly (butylene succinate-co-adipate) films.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Timothy J. Waller, Max M. Haggblom, Peter V. Oudemans
Summary: Aqueous extracts from flowers have a stimulating effect on the germination, secondary conidiation, and appressorial formation of fruit rotting fungi. Even raindrops passing over flowers can accumulate sufficient activity to influence the infectivity of these fungi. Nonpolar components of the cuticle were found to have high levels of bioactivity. Specific fatty acids and fatty acid methyl esters were identified as bioactive components, stimulating appressorial formation and secondary conidiation. This study emphasizes the importance of the bloom period for infection and suggests that the presence of specific fatty acids may affect the host susceptibility.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Pei-Ru Chen, Peng-Fei Xia
Summary: Carbon dioxide plays a crucial role in mitigating global climate change and supporting life on Earth. Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering offer a promising approach to enhance CO2 fixation by combining the advantages of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms. This article reviews the current progress in constructing synthetic CO2 fixation pathways, discusses the underlying design principles and challenges, and provides insights into the future of carbon recycling through engineered synthetic carbon fixation pathways.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2024)
