Article
Soil Science
M. Probst, M. Gomez-Brandon, C. Herbon, M. T. Barral, R. Paradelo
Summary: This study evaluated the composition and diversity of fungal and bacterial communities in 40 soil samples collected from 10 urban allotment garden areas in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. The richness of microbial communities in these urban gardens was comparable to that of soils from other urban land-use categories with lower anthropogenic influence. Soil properties and geographical distances had minimal impact on the microbial communities. Network analysis showed that microbial associations formed small modules and frequently remained unconnected. These findings highlight the potential implications of anthropogenic activity on soil health and ecosystem functionality.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Tiantian Zheng, Anja Miltner, Chao Liang, Karolina M. Nowak, Matthias Kastner
Summary: The study tracked the turnover of microbial biomass carbon in soil, revealing that approximately 41% of bacterial biomass was transformed into soil organic matter. By tracing the C-13 transformation pathway among different microbial groups, the experiment demonstrated the fate of C-13 within the microbial food web.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Stefanie Widder, Jiangchao Zhao, Lisa A. Carmody, Qingyang Zhang, Linda M. Kalikin, Patrick D. Schloss, John J. LiPuma
Summary: In this study, bacterial communities in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients were analyzed, leading to the identification of different pulmotypes which show temporal sequence patterns and significant correlations with patient clinical status. By constructing pulmotype-specific metabolic activity profiles, it was found that microbial communities within pulmotypes drive distinct community functions.
Article
Ecology
Nicolas Honvault, David Houben, Stephane Firmin, Hacene Meglouli, Frederic Laruelle, Joel Fontaine, Anissa Lounes-Hadj Sahraoui, Arnaud Coutu, Hans Lambers, Michel-Pierre Faucon
Summary: The study found multiple correlations between root morphology, root exudates, and rhizosheath fungal and bacterial communities, affecting plant phosphorus content and rhizosheath soil phosphorus concentration. Root exudation of carboxylates may play an important role in plant-soil-microbe interactions for phosphorus acquisition, potentially shaping microbial communities.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Soil Science
Manish Sapkota, Joseph Young, Lindsey Slaughter, Veronica Acosta-Martinez, Cade Coldren
Summary: This study investigated soil microbial biomass and composition in turfgrass systems in semiarid climates, finding that microbial biomass in residential soils was influenced by home age. Soil organic matter and silt content were identified as key factors affecting microbial community. The shift from fungal to bacterial dominated microbial communities in urban environments as landscapes matured was attributed to long-term effects of irrigation, fertilization, and pesticide use. Time after establishment was deemed more important than subtle differences in management in development of soil microbial communities, suggesting achievable soil health and resource conservation goals with relatively low levels of management over time in this setting.
APPLIED SOIL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ross M. McBee, Matt Lucht, Nikita Mukhitov, Miles Richardson, Tarun Srinivasan, Dechuan Meng, Haorong Chen, Andrew Kaufman, Max Reitman, Christian Munck, Damen Schaak, Christopher Voigt, Harris H. Wang
Summary: The study presents a method to transform lignocellulosic waste into fungal-bacterial biocomposites for the production of moldable, foldable, and regenerative living structures. By analyzing the microbial composition and introducing engineered bacterial components, new biosynthetic and sensing-reporting capabilities can be developed.
Article
Soil Science
Stefan Gorka, Sean Darcy, Julia Horak, Bruna Imai, Moritz Mohrlok, Erika Salas, Andreas Richter, Hannes Schmidt, Wolfgang Wanek, Christina Kaiser, Alberto Canarini
Summary: The analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) is a common method to quantify soil microbial abundance and analyze community structure. This study validates the quantitative sensitivity of complete neutral lipid (NLFA) and glycolipid fatty acid (GLFA) profiles in PLFA extraction method. The study finds that fatty acid markers show consistent taxonomic specificities across the three lipid fractions. Fatty acid profiles from soil extracts exhibit stronger differences between PLFAs, NLFAs, and GLFAs, indicating their different community properties. The concomitant measurement of fatty acid profiles from all three lipid fractions is a low-cost and potentially information-rich addition to the PLFA method.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Shuntian Cai, Yanyun Fan, Bangzhou Zhang, Jinzhou Lin, Xiaoning Yang, Yunpeng Liu, Jingjing Liu, Jianlin Ren, Hongzhi Xu
Summary: Recent research has shown the significant impact of appendectomy on gut bacteria and fungi, with a particular enduring effect on fungi composition and diversity. Samples from individuals with a history of appendectomy displayed less diverse bacterial composition and more complex fungal-bacterial community interactions compared to samples from those without appendectomy. The study suggests a trend toward restoration of the normal bacterial microbiome over time after appendectomy.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fengshan Yang, Yanbo Wang, Yanan Huang, Yuning Wei, Mingrui Yuan, Haiyan Fu, Weimin Zeng, Chunguang Liu
Summary: This study examined the effects of the long-acting herbicide fomesafen on soil enzymes and microbial communities in chernozems of soybean fields. It was found that twice the recommended usage level significantly suppressed soil enzyme activities and culturable microbial biomass, but also stimulated the rapid recovery of fungal biomass.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tingting Sun, Yugang Wang, Manuel Esteban Lucas-Borja, Xin Jing, Wenting Feng
Summary: Soil microbial biomass decreases with soil depth, with fungi having a shallower vertical distribution than bacteria, particularly gram-positive bacteria which are more abundant in the top 10 cm soils. A greater proportion of microbial biomass is in the top 10 cm soils compared to SOC, indicating different vertical distributions between microbes and SOC.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hu Cui, Yang Ou, Lixia Wang, Baixing Yan, Meiwen Bao
Summary: During aerobic composting with tetracycline hydrochloride, fungi showed strong response to antibiotics while bacteria did not. Different concentrations of antibiotics had varying impacts on fungal communities, with nitrogen species playing a critical role in controlling the succession of both bacterial and fungal communities.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiliang Zhu, Nian Wang, Baoli Duan, Qingkui Wang, Yanping Wang
Summary: Understanding the succession patterns of microbial community along root growth provides insights into the interaction between roots and microbes. The study found apparent differences in anatomical traits among different growth stages of fine roots, with bacterial and fungal communities showing distinct succession patterns. Additionally, the fine roots growth has shaped the composition and structure of root-associated bacterial and fungal communities.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chunge Li, Ye Deng, Jingguo Wang, Weibin Ruan, Shang Wang, Weidong Kong
Summary: Soil phenolic acids, derived from crop residue and root exudates, can impact crop growth and soil microbial community. The study investigated the effects of p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid (HPA) and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (HBA) on soil microbial community in soybean and corn fields. HPA/HBA amendment significantly influenced soil bacterial and fungal community structures. HPA enriched bacteria like Gemmatimonas, Bacillus, and Acidobacteria, while HBA enriched fungi like Penicillium and Aspergillus. This research enhances understanding of the barriers to agricultural production caused by monoculture.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Anil Kumar Patel, Ajeet Singh Chauhan, Prashant Kumar, Philippe Michaud, Vijai Kumar Gupta, Jo-Shu Chang, Chiu-Wen Chen, Cheng-Di Dong, Reeta Rani Singhania
Summary: This article provides an update on the production of essential fatty acids from potential microbes and explores novel strategies to promote the accumulation of omega-3 and omega-6 through engineering and omics approaches.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Tiantian Zheng, Anja Miltner, Chao Liang, Karolina M. Nowak, Matthias Kastner
Summary: Microbial biomass residues play an important role in biogeochemical cycling, but the mechanism by which they are sequestered in soil organic matter remains elusive. This study revealed that bacterial biomass is predominantly utilized by fungi and stabilized as fungal necromass, contributing to soil organic carbon sequestration. The study also identified three phases in the metabolism of microbial biomass residues, with the final phase focused on C preservation rather than energy production.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cristiano Soares, Beatriz Fernandes, Cristiana Paiva, Veronica Nogueira, Anabela Cachada, Fernanda Fidalgo, Ruth Pereira
Summary: Glyphosate (GLY) and flazasulfuron (FLA) have different effects on soil habitat and non-target organisms. FLA has more toxic effects on earthworms and plants, while GLY mainly affects plant growth and has no effect on collembola.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Cristiano Soares, Pedro Mateus, Fernanda Fidalgo, Ruth Pereira
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the role of soil organic matter (OM) in preventing glyphosate (GLY) phytotoxicity on tomato plants. The results suggest that soils with higher OM content (10% and 15%) can mitigate the non-target phytotoxicity of GLY, possibly by decreasing herbicide bioavailability and/or stimulating defense mechanisms, thereby improving crop growth and physiological performance.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Regina M. B. O. Duarte, Armando C. Duarte
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thacilla Menezes, Sirine Bouguerra, Tatiana Andreani, Ruth Pereira, Carlos Pereira
Summary: The main goal of this study was to design and evaluate the success of loading 3-methyl-5-phenyl-pyrazoline-1-(S-benzyldithiocarbazate) (DTC) into mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSiNPs) by measuring its physicochemical properties and assessing the environmental safety of the new formulation using different aquatic organisms. The results showed that DTC, MSiNP, and MSiNP-DTC had low toxicity against aquatic organisms, but loading DTC slightly increased toxicity. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the impact of MSiNPs on the safety of the new formulation.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Margarida Faustino, Daniela Machado, Dina Rodrigues, Jose Carlos Andrade, Ana Cristina Freitas, Ana Maria Gomes
Summary: This study developed a cheese spread incorporating red seaweed Osmundea pinnatifida extract and characterized its nutritional, pH, and microbiological parameters, as well as its prebiotic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and antioxidant activities. The results showed that this cheese spread had stable pH, no microbial contamination, and exhibited all tested bioactivities at both 0 and 21 days. Therefore, it can be considered as an innovative food with the potential to improve the health and well-being of populations.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sergio Cruz Sousa, Ana Cristina Freitas, Ana Maria Gomes, Ana P. Carvalho
Summary: This article summarizes the technologies explored in the past five years to extract or increase extraction yields of fatty acids from Nannochloropsis microalgae. Different types of lipids and/or fatty acids are obtained depending on the extraction efficacy of the various technologies. Furthermore, the extraction efficiency may vary depending on the species of Nannochloropsis, thus a case-by-case assessment is necessary to determine the most suitable technology or customize one for recovering specific fatty acids or classes, including PUFA such as eicosapentaenoic acid.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulo Nova, Ana Pimenta-Martins, Elia Maricato, Claudia Nunes, Helena Abreu, Manuel A. Coimbra, Ana Cristina Freitas, Ana Maria Gomes
Summary: The chemical composition and antioxidant profile of five edible macroalgae were determined in this study. The tested seaweeds showed considerable amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, and various minerals. The polysaccharide composition varied among the different seaweed species, with Fucus vesiculosus standing out for its high fucoidan content and strong antioxidant activity. These marine macroalgae have great potential for use in health, food, and industrial applications.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Veronica Godoy, Joana Correia Prata, Antonio Perez, Joao Pinto da Costa, Teresa Rocha-Santos, Armando C. Duarte
Summary: The main objective of this study was to estimate the microplastic pollution on Costa Nova sandy beach in Portugal using longitudinal and cross-sectional transects. The results showed low variability in data, with median concentrations ranging from 142 to 356 p/kg d.w. in cross-sectional transects, and from 211 to 270 p/kg d.w. in longitudinal transects. Microspheres were the predominant morphology, accounting for over 90% of all samples, and the most abundant microplastics were <200 μm in size. Despite moderate-low tourist activity, microplastic contamination was higher in Costa Nova compared to other Portuguese beaches, possibly due to nearby port activities and ocean currents. However, this study highlights the disparity in data caused by different methodologies used in analyzing similar areas.
Article
Microbiology
Ana Paco, Micael F. M. Goncalves, Joao P. da Costa, Teresa A. P. Rocha-Santos, Artur Alves
Summary: This study presents the draft genome sequence of Zalerion maritima strain ATCC 34329, a marine fungus known for its ability to biodegrade (micro)plastics. The genome was found to be 58.4 Mb in size, with a GC content of 44.39%, and it contains 10,802 predicted genes.
MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Sergio Sousa, Ana P. Carvalho, Carlos A. Pinto, Renata A. Amaral, Jorge A. Saraiva, Ricardo N. Pereira, Antonio A. Vicente, Ana C. Freitas, Ana M. Gomes
Summary: To make Nannochloropsis oculata a financially viable source for commercial applications, extraction efficiency needs to be improved. This study tested emerging technologies such as high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and moderate electric fields (MEF), along with solvents with different polarity indexes, to increase accessibility and extraction yields of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The combined use of HHP and MEF resulted in a 62% increase in EPA extraction yields from wet N. oculata biomass. These findings are highly relevant for the food and pharmaceutical industries, providing alternatives to traditional extraction methods with increased yields and reduced environmental impact.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Construction & Building Technology
C. S. C. Calheiros, R. Pereira, S. L. G. Skar, S. I. A. Pereira
SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ana M. Oliveira, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Damia Barcelo, Armando C. Duarte, Teresa Rocha-Santos
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the increased use of disposable face masks has led to a significant environmental burden. This critical review discusses the degradation and toxicity of face mask contaminants and emphasizes the need for more research in this area. The lack of studies on biodegradation and ecotoxicity, as well as the uncertainties in experimental procedures, hinder the comparison with conventional plastic debris. Further studies on the abundance and composition of face mask-released contaminants and the development of methodological strategies are crucial to understand their environmental impact.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Regina M. B. O. Duarte, Antoine S. Almeida, Pedro F. Brandao, Armando C. Duarte
Summary: This article reviews the most important multidimensional analytical strategies for targeted and untargeted analysis of complex atmospheric organic aerosols (OAs) in both outdoor and indoor environments. It also discusses the major challenges faced in OAs analysis.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ana Paco, Ana M. Oliveira, Diogo A. Ferreira-Filipe, Andreia C. M. Rodrigues, Rui J. M. Rocha, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Armando C. Duarte, Ana L. Patricio Silva, Teresa Rocha-Santos
Summary: Disposable facemasks are found in high abundance in wetlands and can be biodegraded by naturally occurring fungi. The microfibres released from these facemasks can have ecotoxic effects on local bivalves.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
