Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Zhao, Gaofeng Ni, Maria Piculell, Jie Li, Zhetai Hu, Zhiyao Wang, Jianhua Guo, Zhiguo Yuan, Min Zheng, Shihu Hu
Summary: This study investigated the establishment, structure, and microbial community composition of biofilms in three laboratory-scale moving bed biofilm reactors, and found that the depth of living space significantly influenced the biofilm formation and community composition.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mengxiong Wu, Chun -Yu Lai, Yulu Wang, Zhiguo Yuan, Jianhua Guo
Summary: Nitrate contamination is a common problem in water environments and poses health risks. This study investigates the feasibility of using propane and butane as electron donors for nitrate reduction. The results showed that propane and butane could continuously remove nitrate under oxygen-limiting conditions, and certain microorganisms were responsible for the oxidation of these gases and the reduction of nitrate.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shengyang Lian, Yuanyuan Qu, Chunxiao Dai, Shuzhen Li, Jiawei Jing, Lu Sun, Ying Yang
Summary: This study investigates the mechanism of interaction between selenite and microbial community in wastewater and systematically examines the key factors affecting this interaction. The results reveal significant effects of selenite on reactor performance and the structure, composition, and function of the microbial community. The study also highlights the connection between selenite and microbial networks and the regulatory role of selenite in competition and parasitism/predation among microorganisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ehsan Bouteh, Navid Ahmadi, Mona Abbasi, Ali Torabian, Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht, Joel Ducoste
Summary: The performance of a lab-scale moving bed biofilm reactor for general bioconversion processes and biotransformation of organophosphorus pesticides was investigated. Decrease in organic load resulted in thinner biofilm and more biomass, shifting bioconversion processes. The reactor supported more nitrification at low organic loading, but denitrification was enhanced at higher organic loading.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Duowei Lu, Hao Bai, Fangong Kong, Steven N. Liss, Baoqiang Liao
Summary: Membrane aerated biofilm bioreactor (MABR) technology has shown significant progress in wastewater treatment, with advantages of high oxygen transfer, COD/N removal, and energy efficiency. Future research directions include biofilm thickness control, new application potentials, and design of new membrane materials and modules.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shilong Li, Liang Duan, Yang Zhao, Fu Gao, Slawomir W. W. Hermanowicz
Summary: Membrane biofilm reactors (MBfRs) are gaining more attention in wastewater treatment due to their high mass transfer efficiency and low-carbon emissions. This study investigated the effects of different operation times on microbial composition and community succession in MBfRs. The results showed that the nitrogen removal efficiency was higher in MBfRs with an operation time of 60 days compared to 30 days. The microbial composition and community structure varied significantly between the two operation times, indicating the importance of operation time in shaping microbial diversity and abundance in MBfRs.
Article
Engineering, Marine
Gabriella Caruso, Giovanna Maimone, Alessandro Ciro Rappazzo, Ombretta Dell'Acqua, Pasqualina Lagana, Maurizio Azzaro
Summary: The microbial colonization of PVC and PE plastic substrates in Tethys and Road Bays was studied to evaluate the metabolic profiles of the plastisphere community. The results showed that the community mainly utilized complex carbon sources, carbohydrates, and amino acids as energy sources, with additional utilization of methane substrates and phosphate carbon compounds in Tethys Bay. Significant differences in metabolic profiles were observed between the plastisphere and pelagic microbial communities, with higher carbon substrate utilization rates in the plastisphere. The areas influenced by anthropic activity or ice melting showed higher carbon substrate utilization rates compared to their control sites.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anastasiia Kostrytsia, Stefano Papirio, Murod Khodzhaev, Liam Morrison, Gavin Collins, Piet N. L. Lens, Umer Zeeshan Ijaz, Giovanni Esposito
Summary: The use of different biofilm carriers in autotrophic denitrification with biosulfur technology showed that the K1 carrier had higher nitrate removal rates and formed a relatively stable microbial community, while the Z-200 carrier had significant variations in the active portion of the microbial community over time.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yidi Huang, Yanling Liu, Kaiming Fan, Shengji Xia
Summary: The addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) to gravity-driven membrane (GDM) filtration significantly enhances the removal of dissolved organic compounds (DOC) and improves the removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen. However, the presence of PAC reduces the permeability of the GDM system due to increased extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content and decreased metazoan amounts in the biofilm. This study demonstrates the link between microbial community and hydraulic resistance of biofilm, providing practical implications for the application of GDM processes.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Duowei Lu, Hao Bai, Baoqiang Liao
Summary: The concept of thermophilic membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (ThMABR), which combines the advantages of conventional MABR and thermophilic aerobic biological treatment, has been studied through modeling. The results indicate that ThMABR has significant advantages over mesophilic MABR in terms of increased oxygen and pollutant flux into biofilms and biodegradation rates, and there exists an optimal biofilm thickness for maximum oxygen and substrate fluxes into the biofilm.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bingzheng Wang, Huayu Li, Tao Liu, Jianhua Guo
Summary: The study evaluated the removal of two antibiotics in nitrifying MABR systems, finding high efficiency in degrading CFX and SDZ. Exposure led to increased removal rates but decreased efficiencies, yet nitrification performance and microbial community structure remained stable. The nitrifying MABR process shows promise for efficient antibiotic removal from domestic wastewater.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ju Huang, Xianwei Wu, Zhihong Liang, Yang Yu, Guoqiang Liu
Summary: Dynamic membrane bioreactors rely on in-situ formed biofilms on support materials to reject fine particles in water. With low SRT and repeated water flushing, irremovable biofilms gradually form on support materials, leading to rapid rising in transmembrane pressure. The composition and microbial community between irremovable and removable biofilms differ significantly, affecting biofilm adhesion and removability.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kun Guo, Naicheng Wu, Wei Li, Annette Baattrup-Pedersen, Tenna Riis
Summary: Stream biofilms are complex aggregates of diverse organism groups that are essential for global carbon and nitrogen cycles. The study found that specific phyla dominated the prokaryotic and eukaryotic communities at most sites, with diversity peaking in July and January. Hydrological and physicochemical variables were significant factors in explaining community composition, but a large portion of variation remained unexplained, likely due to unmeasured factors such as light intensity and biological interactions. A multitrophic level perspective is suggested for future biofilm studies to capture the complexity of trophic and non-trophic interactions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Biology
S. Jane Fowler, Elena Torresi, Arnaud Dechesne, Barth F. Smets
Summary: Biofilm thickness affects the assembly of microbial communities, with thicker biofilms being more influenced by stochastic processes and thinner biofilms being more influenced by selective processes. This study contributes to our understanding of biofilm ecology and provides strategies for microbial community management in biofilm systems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Manu Tamminen, Jenny Spaak, Ahmed Tlili, Rik Eggen, Christian Stamm, Katja Raesaenen
Summary: The study found that microbial communities in stream biofilms respond differently to wastewater treatment plant effluents, with specific microbial members associated with micropollutants in the wastewater, further advancing our understanding of the ecological impact of wastewater treatment practices.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Boya Wang, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Chen Zhou, Yihao Luo, Bruce E. Rittmann, Youneng Tang
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yi-Hao Luo, Chen Zhou, Yuqiang Bi, Xiangxing Long, Boya Wang, Youneng Tang, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: The study investigated the co-reduction of 1,1,1-TCA and TCE using PdNP catalysts deposited on H-2-transfer membranes, achieving high catalytic activity and stability with effective reduction of contaminant concentrations to non-toxic ethane as the main product.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Michael LaPelusa, Dorit Donoviel, Sergio E. Branzini, Paul E. Carlson, Stephanie Culler, Amrita K. Cheema, Rima Kaddurah-Daouk, Denise Kelly, Isabelle de Cremoux, Rob Knight, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Stephen L. Mayo, Sarkis K. Mazmanian, Emeran A. Mayer, Joseph F. Petrosino, Keith Garrison
Summary: The inaugural Microbiome for Mars virtual workshop gathered leaders in microbiome research and development to discuss their work and its potential relevance to long-duration human space travel. The conference focused on current microbiome research, future endeavors, and how this field could impact human health and space exploration on a broad scale.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Diana C. Calvo, Aura Ontiveros-Valencia, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Cesar Torres, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: Microbiological conversion of CO2 into biofuels and/or organic industrial feedstock using autotrophic anaerobic bacteria in membrane biofilm reactor has shown that controlling the ratio of H-2 to IC influences microbial chain elongation process and the types and quantities of products produced. Proper management of IC availability and H-2 supply allows control over community structure and function, affecting the chain length of the carboxylates and alcohols produced.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Diego A. Esquivel-Hernandez, Jonathan S. Garcia-Perez, Xiaoyin Xu, Sanya Metha, Juan Maldonado, Siqing Xia, He-Ping Zhao, Bruce E. Rittmann, Aura Ontiveros-Valencia
Summary: The reduction of selenate in hydrogen-fed membrane biofilm reactors was studied in combination with other common electron acceptors. Results showed that the microbial communities had a high diversity and resilience in terms of selenate and nitrate reductions, influenced by the rare biosphere. Changes in electron acceptor or donor loading altered the phylogenetic structure of the communities, but biofilm communities were resilient.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yi-Hao Luo, Xiangxing Long, Boya Wang, Chen Zhou, Youneng Tang, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: The study utilized a synergistic platform technology to catalyze the reduction of 1,1,1-TCA and TCE in the H-2-MPfR, followed by aerobic biodegradation in the O-2-MBfR, achieving efficient removal of co-contaminants of 1,4-dioxane, 1,1,1-TCA, and TCE in groundwater.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi-Hao Luo, YenJung Sean Lai, Chenwei Zheng, Zehra Esra Ilhan, Aura Ontiveros-Valencia, Xiangxing Long, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Bruce E. Rittmann
Summary: Quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) are commonly used as surfactants and disinfectants, and may lead to proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) in bacteria. Stressful operating conditions, such as limited oxygen and nitrogen supply or high concentrations of QAC, can significantly increase ARG expression, particularly for genes conferring antibiotic-target protection. The study highlights the importance of considering the impacts of stressors, including QAC exposure and operating conditions, in mitigating the spread of ARG in microbial communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jennifer Fouquier, Nancy Moreno Huizar, Jody Donnelly, Cody Glickman, Dae-Wook Kang, Juan Maldonado, Rachel A. Jones, Kimberly Johnson, James B. Adams, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Catherine Lozupone
Summary: Research shows that gut microbiome in individuals with ASD is influenced by study-site location and gastrointestinal symptoms, and longitudinal studies suggest a correlation between changes in gut microbiome composition and ASD behavioral severity.
Article
Physiology
E. A. Carnero, C. P. Bock, Y. Liu, K. Corbin, E. Wohlers-Kariesch, K. Ruud, J. Moon, A. Marcus, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, A. Muraviev, K. L. Vodopyanov, S. R. Smith
Summary: This study introduces a new whole room indirect calorimeter methodology for quantifying methane volume released from the human body, concurrently with energy expenditure and substrate utilization assessment. The system combines an established calorimeter with off-axis integrated-cavity output spectroscopy to measure methane concentration. The method allows for the measurement of 24-hour methane volume and its proportion to human energy intake.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Qiwen Cheng, Hannah Glesener, Gabriela Montenegro, Olga Torres, Ann C. Miller, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Peter Rohloff, Lee E. Voth-Gaeddert
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the impact of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure on child growth and investigate the regulatory role of the gut microbiome. The study plans to observe a cohort of 185 infants aged 6-9 months for 18 months, assessing AFB1 exposure levels, markers of gut and systemic inflammation, and fecal microbiome. Additionally, the study will explore the response of the gut microbiome to varying levels of AFB1 exposure using bioreactors and analyze metabolic pathways. Ultimately, path analysis will be used to summarize the effects of AFB1 exposure and the gut microbiome on child growth.
BMJ PAEDIATRICS OPEN
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Devin A. A. Bowes, Erin M. M. Driver, Sonja Savic, Qiwen Cheng, Corrie M. M. Whisner, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Rolf U. U. Halden
Summary: This study demonstrates that wastewater-based epidemiology can be used for near real-time population dietary assessments, providing a promising tool for actionable and cost-effective data collection to support public health nutrition at the population scale.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jose de Jesus Montoya-Rosales, Aura Ontiveros-Valencia, Diego A. Esquivel-Hernandez, Claudia Etchebehere, Lourdes B. Celis, Elias Razo-Flores
Summary: Microbial communities in dark fermentation continuous systems are influenced by substrate type, concentration, and product accumulation. This study used metatranscriptomics and quantitative PCR to investigate the effect of high organic loading rates on microbial community diversity and expression of key dark fermentative genes. The results showed that the microbial communities consisted of H-2-producing bacteria, homoacetogens, and lactic acid bacteria. Increasing the organic loading rate influenced the abundance of genes and gene transcripts related to H-2 production and homoacetogenesis. Adding silicone oil increased H-2 production and the abundance of related genes and gene transcripts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bumkyu Kim, Jacob Novitch, Aura Ontiveros-Valencia, Marcela Vega, Robert Nerenberg
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness of a liquid-permeable membrane biofilm reactor in supplying performance-enhancing chemicals to the base of a biofilm. The results showed that adding chlorate to a denitrifying biofilm increased the abundance of specialized bacteria and maintained high denitrification efficiency. In a nitrifying biofilm, adding a protozoan inhibitor resulted in increased biofilm thickness and higher removal efficiency of ammonium.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Taylor L. Davis, Blake Dirks, Elvis A. Carnero, Karen D. Corbin, Jonathon Krakoff, Shannon Parrington, Donghun Lee, Steven R. Smith, Bruce E. Rittmann, Rosa Krajmalnik-Brown, Andrew K. Marcus
Summary: The study developed and validated a model to convert chemical oxygen demand (COD) to gross energy (E-g) for over 100 food items and ingredients. The model accurately converted between COD and E-g, enabling the analysis of human and microbial energetic processes using a single unit of measure in the food-nutrition-metabolism-microbiome field.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2021)