Article
Environmental Sciences
Gianmarco Mugnai, Luigimaria Borruso, Ying-Li Wu, Marina Gallinaro, Francesca Cappitelli, Andrea Zerboni, Federica Villa
Summary: This study explores how bacterial communities adapt their ecological strategies based on the weathering of substrate and their role in either biodeterioration or bioprotection of stone. The findings reveal that low and high weathering lead to stable microenvironments and limited resources, favoring K-strategist microorganisms. In contrast, moderately weathered samples display diverse microhabitats, resulting in the prevalence of r-strategist bacteria and the presence of specialist microorganisms.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Paulo Silva, Carolina Goncalves, Nuno Antunes, Marilia Curado, Bogdan Walek
Summary: This study proposes a Personal Data Analyser, which enhances privacy assurances and minimizes privacy risks through automated privacy-preserving data monitoring and risk assessment mechanisms.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Yaping Wang, Yuhang Fu, Yuanyuan He, Muhammad Fakhar-e-Alam Kulyar, Mudassar Iqbal, Kun Li, Jiaguo Liu
Summary: Development phases play a crucial role in shaping the gut microbiota in yaks, with significant compositional and structural changes observed across different age stages. As yaks mature, there is an increase in microbial diversity and a shift in potentially harmful microorganisms present in their gut.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dongpeng He, Fasi Wu, Wenxia Ma, Yong Zhang, Ji-Dong Gu, Yulong Duan, Ruihong Xu, Huyuan Feng, Wanfu Wang, Shi-Weng Li
Summary: The Maijishan Grottoes, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site on the ancient Silk Road in West China, experienced a severe microbe outbreak on the wall paintings in 2018. Analysis revealed significant changes in bacterial and fungal communities between normal wall samples and those with microbial plaques, with Actinobacteria and Trichocomaceae being dominant in normal samples and Actinobacteria and unclassified Eurotiomycetes dominating samples with plaques. Excessive air humidity was identified as a primary factor contributing to the microbe outbreak, highlighting the importance of air humidity management in preserving the ancient wall paintings.
INTERNATIONAL BIODETERIORATION & BIODEGRADATION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Muhammad Usama Marghoob, Aniqa Nawaz, Muhammad Ahmad, Muhammad Qandeel Waheed, Muhammad Hassaan Khan, Muhammad Imtiaz, Ejaz ul Islam, Asma Imran, Fathia Mubeen
Summary: This study investigated the potential of indigenous microbial flora in salt-affected agroecological zones of Pakistan to enhance wheat production in saline areas. Bacterial strains with multiple characteristics were selected to develop a halotolerant bacterial consortium, which showed significant improvement in plant growth parameters. Fungal strains were also used separately and showed positive correlation with agronomical parameters. Field trials indicated the efficiency of these microbes in enhancing wheat growth. Promising results indicate the possibility of developing saline-specific biofertilizers and sustainable agriculture practices.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ajaya Kumar Behera, Chirasmayee Mohanty, Sibun K. Pradhan, Nigamananda Das
Summary: This study developed a series of thermoplastic starch (TPS) reinforced jute composites, which showed moderate hydrophobic nature and high biodegradability. In mechanical property testing, the composite with 30% jute exhibited the highest tensile strength (27.3 MPa).
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Bin Song, Wenling Jiao, Kang Cen, Xinghao Tian, Hanyue Zhang, Wan Lu
Summary: This study developed a quantitative risk assessment methodology for gas leakage and explosion consequences inside residential buildings, proposed effective risk reduction measures, and applied the methodology to a typical residential building in Harbin, China. The results showed that explosion consequences severity and risk region distribution could be quantitatively presented, along with recommendations for reducing gas explosion risk index. The study contributes to developing safety measures and improving emergency response plans for gas leakage and explosion accidents in residential buildings.
ENGINEERING FAILURE ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanjie Wang, Yang Liu, Kai Yang, Liying Yang, Song Zhang, Yue Ba, Guoyu Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics, source, and risks associated with bioaerosols generated from sludge treatment processes. The concentration range of suspended particles was found to be 49 ± 3 to 354 ± 10 μg/m3, with primary water-soluble ions being NH4+, SO42-, and Cl-. The dominant bacteria in bioaerosols included Bacteroides, Cetobacterium, Romboutsia, Lactobacillus, and Turicibacter, while dominant fungi were Aspergillus, Alternaria, Cladosporium, and Fusarium. Pathogenic microorganisms like Escherichia and Aspergillus were detected in all treatment processes. The results suggest the need to strengthen the management and control of bioaerosols from sludge treatment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Pynhunlang Kharnaior, Jyoti Prakash Tamang
Summary: The study profiled bacterial and fungal communities in kinema, a naturally fermented soybean food from the Eastern Himalayan regions of India, Nepal and Bhutan. Various unique bacterial genera were observed in each country, while no unique fungal genus was found in kinema. Most bacterial species were culturable, while most fungal species were unculturable.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammad Ayaz, Cai-Hong Li, Qurban Ali, Wei Zhao, Yuan-Kai Chi, Muhammad Shafiq, Farman Ali, Xi-Yue Yu, Qing Yu, Jing-Tian Zhao, Jing-Wen Yu, Ren-De Qi, Wen-Kun Huang
Summary: This article highlights the importance of biocontrol strategies in managing crop diseases, introduces the role of beneficial microbes in controlling plant diseases and the current status of their biocontrol mechanisms, and explores the challenges and requirements for developing biocontrol methods in the future.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fernando Poyatos-Jimenez, Fatima Morales, Rosa Morales-Carrera, Silvia Boffo, Antonio Giordano, Julio Romero-Noguera
Summary: The historic center of Quito, Ecuador, was declared a World Cultural Heritage site in 1978, with numerous religious buildings reflecting the cultural heritage of the Spanish colonial period. However, the conservation of outdoor canvas paintings in this area faces challenges due to the presence of biodeteriorating agents such as fungi and bacteria. This study identified microbial agents and bioclimatic parameters of deterioration in order to propose guidelines for the proper conservation of this important World Cultural Heritage.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN EUKARYOTIC GENE EXPRESSION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Weina Wang, Huanjun Liu, Lifei Chen, Kadri Koorem, Yingchao Hu, Liang-Jun Hu
Summary: This study examined the effects of natural restoration on the soil microbial community in a sodic-saline grassland in China. The results showed that natural restoration significantly improved the salinization of the grassland and altered the microbial community structure. However, the effects on bacterial and fungal abundance and diversity were different. Bacterial diversity did not change significantly, while fungal diversity increased in the topsoil. Model-selection analysis further confirmed that the changes in soil microbial structure were related to the adaptation of bacteria to improved soil salinity and fungi to improved soil fertility.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Fisheries
Andre E. Punt, Claudio Castillo-Jordan, Owen S. Hamel, Jason M. Cope, Mark N. Maunder, James N. Ianelli
Summary: Natural mortality (M) is a crucial parameter in fish stock assessment, but estimating it accurately can be challenging and errors can impact management decisions. Using feedback management strategies can mitigate the effects of errors in M, but achieving management objectives may be compromised when errors are present.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Jodelle Degois, Marc Veillette, Patrick Poulin, Benoit Levesque, Daniel Aubin, Boualem Ouazia, Mario Brisson, Francois Maltais, Caroline Duchaine
Summary: Indoor air quality is crucial for public health, with ventilation systems playing a significant role in microbial communities in extreme environments. The study found that different ventilation strategies can impact the concentration and diversity of indoor microbiota significantly.
Article
Microbiology
Peng Xie, Kerui Huang, Aihua Deng, Ping Mo, Fen Xiao, Fei Wu, Dewei Xiao, Yun Wang
Summary: This study used high-throughput sequencing to analyze the soil microbial community of the endangered plant Cathaya argyrophylla in Hunan Province, China. Soil properties were found to be the main factors influencing the bacterial and fungal communities, with nitrogen being the main driver of changes in the microbial communities. Predicting the metabolic capacities of the microbial communities identified functional characteristics and provided a scientific basis for selecting rhizosphere microorganisms suitable for vegetation restoration and reconstruction.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Fatma Hussein Kiruwa, Samuel Mutiga, Joyce Njuguna, Eunice Machuka, Senait Senay, Tileye Feyissa, Patrick Alois Ndakidemi, Francesca Stomeo
Article
Immunology
Ivan Martinez-Baz, Ana Navascues, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Itziar Casado, Ujue Fresan, Carmen Ezpeleta, Jesus Castilla
Summary: The study estimated the average effect of influenza vaccination on preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza hospitalization in diabetic patients, showing that influenza vaccination can significantly reduce the probability of hospitalization for diabetic patients and that vaccination in prior seasons also maintained a notable protective effect.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jessica Lleixa, Maria Martinez-Safont, Isabelle Masneuf-Pomarede, Maura Magani, Warren Albertin, Albert Mas, Maria C. Portillo
Summary: Brettanomyces bruxellensis is the most commonly reported spoilage yeast in aged wines due to phenolic off-flavors. A study on 64 B. bruxellensis strains isolated from Catalonian aging wines revealed high intraspecific diversity and varying levels of tolerance to sulfur dioxide. The strains were also capable of producing volatile phenols even as they lost culturability over time.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ivan Martinez-Baz, Ana Navascues, Itziar Casado, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Marcela Guevara, Carlos Gomez-Ibanez, Cristina Burgui, Carmen Ezpeleta, Jesus Castilla
Summary: The study found that influenza vaccination for patients with asthma can effectively reduce the risk of influenza infection in both the current and previous seasons, with an average effect of about 43% and 38%, respectively. The effects of influenza vaccination were similar for patients with and without asthma, and were applicable for both outpatients and inpatients.
CANADIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Camino Trobajo-Sanmartin, Ana Miqueleiz, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Miguel Fernandez-Huerta, Ana Navascues, Pilar Sola Sara, Paula Lopez Moreno, Gonzalo R. Ordonez, Jesus Castilla, Carmen Ezpeleta
Summary: This study reported the emergence and spread of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, B.1.575.2, in northern Spain, which contains the E484K mutation in the spike protein. The importance of complementing SARS-CoV-2 surveillance with sequencing for the rapid control of emerging viral variants was emphasized in this report.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ivan Martinez-Baz, Camino Trobajo-Sanmartin, Ana Miqueleiz, Marcela Guevara, Miguel Fernandez-Huerta, Cristina Burgui, Itziar Casado, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Ana Navascues, Carmen Ezpeleta, Jesus Castilla
Review
Food Science & Technology
Albert Mas, M. Carmen Portillo
Summary: A complex consortium of yeasts, with Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the main driver, is responsible for wine fermentation. The use of selected yeast starters has been a major achievement in microbiological control in the wine industry, but it has also led to objections due to the homogeneity of resulting wines. New trends in winemaking, such as local multispecies starters or controlled spontaneous fermentations, have been explored to add complexity to wines. Another ancestral technique, using pre-fermented must, has also been suggested to provide microbial typicity to wines. However, further research is needed in this area.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Camino Trobajo-Sanmartin, Ana Miqueleiz, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Miguel Fernandez-Huerta, Ana Navascues, Jesus Castilla, Carmen Ezpeleta
Summary: This study evaluated the performance of the AllplexTMSARS-CoV-2/FluA/FluB/RSV assay in identifying SARS-CoV-2 variants in a real-life setting. Results showed gene-specific changes in the cycle threshold (Ct) of the N and RdRp genes, which could potentially aid in the rapid identification of different lineages of SARS-CoV-2 variants.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGICAL METHODS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ivan Martinez-Baz, Itziar Casado, Ana Navascues, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Marcela Guevara, Carmen Ezpeleta, Jesus Castilla
Summary: Evidence shows that influenza vaccination has a moderate effect in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza among COPD patients. Current-season vaccination has a higher average effect compared to prior-season vaccination. The preventive effect seems to be stronger for outpatient cases. There is no significant difference in vaccination effect between COPD and non-COPD target populations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Marta Adelantado Lacasa, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Joaquin Lobo Palanco, Judith Chamorro, Carmen Ezpeleta Baquedano
Summary: The presence of global clones of MDRPA infections and their spread within ICU units is a growing concern. This study highlights the importance of environmental focus and cross-transmission in the dissemination of MDRPA clones. Serotyping and MALDI-TOF analyses are effective tools for early detection of prevalent MDRPA clones.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ignacio Sancho, Inaki Otermin-Maya, Jorge Gutierrez-Dubois, Ignacio Alaez, Angel Hidalgo-Ovejero, Julian Librero, Maria Eugenia Portillo
Summary: This study aimed to calculate the predictive value of a novel algorithm for the success rate of DAIR procedure in patients with PJI. The results showed that the algorithm had a moderate predictive value for failure of the procedure, but further validation is recommended before routine application.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laura F. Ginsbach, Juan M. Gonzalez
Summary: Analyses of protein structures have revealed the presence of molecular channels in enzymes from Prokaryotes, with spatial voids playing a critical role, especially in those operating under high temperatures. Methanogens, a unique group of Archaea, show adaptations in the dimensions of molecular tunnels in key enzymes based on growth temperature, reflecting a potential major role of these tunnels in maintaining stability and activity of enzymes in microorganisms growing at high temperatures.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ignacio Sancho, Inaki Otermin-Maya, Jorge Gutierrez-Dubois, Ignacio Alaez, Julian Librero, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Angel Hidalgo-Ovejero
Summary: Debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) is commonly used for acute prosthetic joint infections, but its outcomes can be inconsistent. Performing a second DAIR after a failed first debridement is controversial, as it has uncertain outcomes and unfavorable prognosis if failure occurs. This study analyzed 84 cases of acute prosthetic joint infection treated with DAIR, and found that the success rate of a second DAIR after failure was significantly lower than the first procedure. The final outcome of the second failed DAIRs was unfavorable with no eradication of the infection. Therefore, removal of the components should be considered.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Juan M. M. Gonzalez
Article
Immunology
Germaine Hanquet, Pavla Krizova, Tina Dalby, Shamez N. Ladhani, J. Pekka Nuorti, Kostas Danis, Jolita Mereckiene, Mirjam J. Knol, Brita A. Winje, Pilar Ciruela, Sara de Miguel, Maria Eugenia Portillo, Laura MacDonald, Eva Morfeldt, Jana Kozakova, Palle Valentiner-Branth, Norman K. Fry, Hanna Rinta-Kokko, Emmanuelle Varon, Mary Corcoran, Arie van der Ende, Didrik F. Vestrheim, Carmen Munoz-Almagro, Juan-Carlos Sanz, Jesus Castilla, Andrew Smith, Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Edoardo Colzani, Lucia Pastore-Celentano, Camelia Savulescu
Summary: We evaluated the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in Europe during the 8 years of infant pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) programs using PCV10 and PCV13 vaccines. IPD incidence declined between 2011 and 2014, but increased between 2015 and 2018. The incidence of non-PCV13 serotypes increased while PCV13 serotypes decreased. Similar trends were observed in countries using PCV13 or PCV10 vaccines. The study highlights the need for new vaccines providing broader serotype protection.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
