Article
Engineering, Environmental
Julie A. Napotnik, Derek Baker, Kristen L. Jellison
Summary: The study found that different-sized biosand filters showed varying effectiveness in removing bacteria, protozoa, and viruses, with the addition of iron nails significantly improving bacteria and protozoan removal. Both pause period and filter type influenced virus removal, with scaled-down biosand filters providing a viable household water treatment option for those still lacking access to improved water sources.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nur Sena Yuezbasi, Pawel A. Krawczyk, Kamila W. Domagala, Alexander Englert, Michael Burkhardt, Michael Stuer, Thomas Graule
Summary: This study successfully developed a new type of ceramic filter material that can efficiently remove viruses from water sources, meeting the requirements of the World Health Organization. These materials have high thermal and chemical stability, making them suitable for thermal and chemical-free regeneration treatments.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Natalya Vodolazkaya, Marina Nikolskaya, Anna Laguta, Vladimir Farafonov, Zita Balklava, Michael Stich, Nikolay Mchedlov-Petrossyan, Dmitry Nerukh
Summary: The surface properties of the MS2 phage were investigated using dynamic light scattering and laser Doppler electrophoresis. It was found that the surface of the virus is hydrophilic and the charge distribution is mosaic-like, which contradicts the commonly accepted hypothesis and provides more information about the virus surface.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Natalya Vodolazkaya, Marina Nikolskaya, Anna Laguta, Vladimir Farafonov, Zita Balklava, Michael Stich, Nikolay Mchedlov-Petrossyan, Dmitry Nerukh
Summary: The study on the surface properties of MS2 bacteriophage revealed that its surface is hydrophilic instead of hydrophobic, and lacks hydrophobic interactions. By measuring the hydrodynamic diameter and ζ potential values, as well as using acid-base indicator dyes of different charge types, the sensitivity of the microenvironment on the virus surface was uncovered.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mona Y. M. Soliman, Gertjan Medema, Doris van Halem
Summary: This study investigated the effect of low and high concentrations of natural organic matter (NOM) on the inactivation kinetics of a model RNA virus (MS2) and a model DNA virus (PhiX 174) by copper and/or silver ions. The results showed that the presence of NOM in water accelerated the inactivation of the virus by copper but slowed it down by silver. Furthermore, the combination of copper and silver exhibited the fastest inactivation kinetics for PhiX 174 in water with high NOM concentration. Overall, the combination of copper and silver shows promise as a virus disinfectant in treatment options.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Donald A. Schupp, Adam C. Burdsall, Rendahandi G. Silva, John Lee Heckman, E. Radha Krishnan, Jeffrey G. Szabo, Matthew Magnuson
Summary: This study compares the persistence of different pathogens in a wastewater treatment system. The results show that the duration of persistence varies for different pathogens, which has implications for consequence management actions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claire E. Anderson, Marlene K. Wolfe, Alexandria B. Boehm
Summary: This study aimed to test the virucidal effect of antimicrobial treatment on the Supertowel and to evaluate its viability as a handwashing alternative. The results showed that the Supertowel had similar viral inactivation as a regular microfiber towel, indicating minimal virucidal potential.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Veronica Baldasso, Helen Lubarsky, Natalia Pichel, Andrea Turolla, Manuela Antonelli, Margarita Hincapie, Liliana Botero, Fermin Reygadas, Ane Galdos-Balzategui, J. A. Byrne, Pilar Fernandez-Ibanez
Summary: The study investigated the influence of suspended solids and natural organic matter on the efficiency of UVC disinfection of surface water. The results showed good performance of the UVC disinfection system, opening potential applications for monitoring UVC systems with surface water to deliver safe drinking water.
Article
Biophysics
Xiaochao Bi, Decai Liu, Lu Wang, La Rao, Ming-Lai Fu, Wenjie Sun, Baoling Yuan
Summary: The effects of ionic strength and pH on the deposition kinetics of bacteriophage MS2 on organic and inorganic surfaces were investigated. High Na+ concentration increased the deposition rates of MS2, while high Ca2+ concentration decreased the deposition rates. Additionally, the highest deposition rates occurred at pH 3, and the rates were higher on the kaolin-coated surface compared to the Microcystis-coated surface.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sanni L. Aalto, Suvi Suurnakki, Mathis von Ahnen, Marja Tiirola, Per Bovbjerg Pedersen
Summary: Woodchip bioreactors are effective in removing nitrate from aquaculture effluents, with microbial communities including sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) and sulfate oxidizing bacteria (SOB) playing crucial roles. The conditions within the bioreactors shape the microbial communities, with similar design and operational settings leading to similar functions. Autotrophic denitrifiers can significantly contribute to H2S consumption and nitrate removal in woodchip bioreactors, improving their overall environmental benefit.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alberto Tunon-Molina, Alba Cano-Vicent, Angel Serrano-Aroca
Summary: The global COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for new antimicrobial compounds. This study investigates the antiviral properties of tiger nut milk (TNM) against enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The results show that TNM is effective against enveloped viruses and adding sugar improves its antiviral properties against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Fangzhou Liu, Bruce Rittmann, Saachi Kuthari, Wen Zhang
Summary: This study incorporated microwave-enabled catalysis into membrane filtration and evaluated viral removal using a model bacteriophage (MS2) as a surrogate. The findings showed that microwave irradiation effectively penetrated the PTFE membrane module and enabled surface oxidation reactions on the membrane-coated catalysts, resulting in strong germicidal effects. A log removal of 2.6 was achieved for MS2 within a contact time as low as 20 s using 125-W microwave irradiation. This research provides new insights to the antiviral mechanisms of this microwave-enabled catalytic membrane filtration.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingyue Li, Anqi Fang, Xiaoli Yu, Keke Zhang, Zhili He, Cheng Wang, Yisheng Peng, Fanshu Xiao, Tony Yang, Wei Zhang, Xiafei Zheng, Qiuping Zhong, Xingyu Liu, Qingyun Yan
Summary: Microbially-driven sulfur cycling is a critical biogeochemical process in sulfur-rich mangrove ecosystems. This study reveals the diversity, composition, and structure of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in mangrove sediments, highlighting the important role of temperature, redox potential, and key factors like elemental sulfur and total carbon in influencing these microbial communities. Additionally, the morphological transformation of sulfur compounds explains the variations in sulfur cycling microbial communities, with specific dominant genus identified in different mangrove species. These findings shed light on the sulfur cycling dynamics in mangrove ecosystems and offer insights for similar wetland ecosystems from a microbial perspective.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lu Wang, Yi-bo Hu, Xiaochao Bi, V. Vasanthakumar, Zhiyong Zhang, Ming-Lai Fu, Wenjie Sun, Baoling Yuan
Summary: This study investigates the impact of solution chemistry on the efficiency of MS2 bacteriophage inactivation by ozone in the presence of inorganic and organic particles. The results show that kaolinite adsorbs MS2 but does not significantly affect its inactivation by ozone. In contrast, the inactivation of MS2 is influenced by the concentration of microcystis aeruginosa, with low concentrations enhancing inactivation and high concentrations reducing it. Sodium ion solutions have no effect on MS2 stability and dispersion, while calcium ion solutions decrease inactivation due to MS2 aggregation. Increasing the pH of the solution negatively affects inactivation, and the presence of natural organic matter reduces MS2 inactivation.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biology
Madeleine Bonsma-Fisher, Sidhartha Goyal
Summary: From bacteria to humans, adaptive immune systems provide learned memories of past infections. We propose a simple model of CRISPR-based adaptive immunity in microbes to understand general features of adaptive immunity. Our model shows that immune diversity in coexisting phage and bacteria populations is coupled and emerges spontaneously, bacteria track phage evolution with a context-dependent lag, and high levels of diversity are paradoxically linked to low overall CRISPR immunity. Additionally, our model reveals different modalities of coevolution and qualitatively different states of evolutionary dynamics.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chamteut Oh, Ratul Chowdhury, Laxmicharan Samineni, Joanna L. Shisler, Manish Kumar, Thanh H. Nguyen
Summary: Human noroviruses are major food- and waterborne pathogens. Proper sanitation or disinfection is critical to minimize disease caused by human noroviruses. Grape seed extract (GSE) outperforms chemical disinfectants in inactivating Tulane virus, a human norovirus surrogate, by inducing virus aggregation through physical interaction with viral capsid proteins.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chamteut Oh, Palash Sashittal, Aijia Zhou, Leyi Wang, Mohammed El-Kebir, Thanh H. Nguyen
Summary: Monitoring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants is crucial for public health decision-making. PCR assays, with the help of the PRIMES algorithm, can evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of variant-specific PCR assays across different regions. Applying these assays in Illinois, USA, and comparing them with NGS results confirms the accuracy of PRIMES.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Idit Shefer, Kian Lopez, Anthony P. Straub, Razi Epsztein
Summary: In this review, the application of Eyring's transition-state theory (TST) in transmembrane permeation in salt-rejecting membranes is critically assessed. The review focuses on gaining mechanistic insights into transport under confinement using this framework and addresses the key limitations associated with the method. By analyzing measured data, the application of TST in exploring transport in reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes is discussed, and specific solutions to address the major limitations of the experimental application of TST are proposed.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yusuf Jamal, Mayank Gangwar, Moiz Usmani, Alison Adams, Chang-Yu Wu, Thanh Huong Nguyen, Rita Colwell, Antarpreet Jutla
Summary: Population density is one of the key factors influencing the transmission of infectious diseases like COVID-19. In the continental United States, a population density of 1,192 per square mile and higher presents a 50% probability of getting 38,232 COVID-19 cases.
Article
Microbiology
Mamoru Oshiki, Hirotoshi Netsu, Kyohei Kuroda, Takashi Narihiro, Naoki Fujii, Tomonori Kindaichi, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Takahiro Watari, Masashi Hatamoto, Takashi Yamaguchi, Nobuo Araki, Satoshi Okabe
Summary: Aerobic ammonia and nitrite oxidation reactions are important for the nitrogen cycle, and Nitrospira dominates over Nitrosomonas in ammonia-feeding marine recirculating trickling biofilter reactors due to its higher energy efficiency in nitrite oxidation. Nitrosomonas is more susceptible to washout than Nitrospira in the reactors, which further contributes to the dominance of Nitrospira.
ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Environmental Sciences
Moiz Usmani, Kyle D. Brumfield, Bailey M. Magers, Anwar Huq, Rosa Barciela, Thanh H. Nguyen, Rita R. Colwell, Antarpreet Jutla
Summary: Predictive intelligence using data from satellites, microbiology, and sociology should be utilized to effectively combat potential cholera outbreaks in different regions of war-torn Ukraine.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Weifan Liu, Ruoyu Wang, Anthony P. Straub, Shihong Lin
Summary: Pressure-driven distillation (PD) is a desalination technology that utilizes hydraulic pressure and vapor transport across a hydrophobic porous membrane. In this study, we analyze the practical viability and membrane design principles of PD. The results show that reverse transmembrane temperature difference is not a practical concern, and highly uniform pore size distribution at the nanometer scale is crucial for achieving acceptable salt rejection in PD.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Trisha R. Nickerson, Emma N. Antonio, Dylan P. McNally, Michael F. Toney, Chunmei Ban, Anthony P. Straub
Summary: Polyamide reverse osmosis (PA-RO) membranes have high water permeability and salt rejection, making them important for addressing water shortages. However, current membranes face challenges with selectivity, fouling, and predicting performance. This Perspective highlights the need for molecular understanding of selectivity and transport mechanisms of PA-RO and other polymer membranes to guide future developments and improve predictive models. It discusses current understanding of ion, water, and polymer interactions in PA-RO membranes, explores their impact on transport properties, and underscores advances in characterization techniques and computational methods for studying transport phenomena.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kian P. Lopez, Ruoyu Wang, Elizabeth A. Hjelvik, Shihong Lin, Anthony P. Straub
Summary: This review critically evaluates different membrane-based desalination technologies and provides a universal framework for comparing various driving forces and membrane types. It quantifies the thermodynamic driving forces resulting from pressure, concentration, and temperature gradients, examines the resistances experienced by water molecules as they traverse liquid and air-filled membranes, and quantifies water fluxes in different desalination scenarios. The results are synthesized to compare desalination processes, identifying specific scenarios where each process has fundamental advantages.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Suzanna M. Storms, Joanna Shisler, Thanh H. Nguyen, Federico A. Zuckermann, James F. Lowe
Summary: Rapid diagnostics for viral disease in livestock, especially those posing threats to human health and/or food security, are urgently needed. In this article, a reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay is described for detecting influenza A virus in swine nasal samples. The protocol allows for sample processing and positive test results in less than one hour, making it a potential tool for on-farm use and in clinical diagnostic labs.
VETERINARY SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuqing Mao, Mohamed Zeineldin, Moiz Usmani, Antarpreet Jutla, Joanna L. Shisler, Rachel J. Whitaker, Thanh H. Nguyen
Summary: This study investigates the origin and distribution of Salmonella enterica after the 2018 Hurricane Florence flooding using high-resolution whole genomic sequencing. The results show that the S. enterica strains isolated from water samples near swine farms in North Carolina are closely related to environmental strains previously isolated from the southeastern US. Furthermore, the study identifies a significant number of antibiotic resistance genes in the isolates.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Kyohei Kuroda, Kengo Kubota, Shuka Kagemasa, Ryosuke Nakai, Yuga Hirakata, Kyosuke Yamamoto, Masaru K. Nobu, Takashi Narihiro
Summary: This study identified a previously unseen symbiosis between Ca. Patescibacteria and Archaea by using fluorescence in situ hybridization and transmission electron microscopy. The 32-520/UBA5633 cells were found to specifically adhere to Methanospirillum, and the metagenome-assembled genomes of these cells encoded unique gene clusters.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Naoki Fujii, Kyohei Kuroda, Takashi Narihiro, Yoshiteru Aoi, Noriatsu Ozaki, Akiyoshi Ohashi, Tomonori Kindaichi
Summary: In this study, the interactions between Patescibacteria and Chitinophagales in activated sludge were investigated using correlation analysis and metagenomic analysis. The results showed that these interactions are important for the survival of Patescibacteria in activated sludge ecosystems.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sangsuk Lee, Anthony P. Straub
Summary: This study investigates the transport of a wide range of semivolatile and volatile compounds in membrane distillation (MD) and identifies important compound properties and operating conditions that control volatile mass transport. The study shows that the Henry's constant and diffusion coefficient are the most important molecular properties in determining solute flux. It also reveals distinct transport regimes dominated by resistances associated with either diffusion through the membrane or boundary layers on either side of the membrane. The simulations of large-scale MD modules demonstrate the impact of membrane area, operating temperature, and crossflow velocity on the removal of contaminants. Overall, the study demonstrates the significance of compound properties and operating conditions in controlling volatile mass transport in MD.
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hua Jiang, Anthony P. Straub, Vasiliki Karanikola
Summary: Membrane distillation is a thermal process for phase separation, and sweeping gas membrane distillation is a compact and efficient alternative to remove volatile compounds. The energetic analysis of humidity-assisted SGMD in this study shows that it can achieve over 90% ammonia removal rate at high air-to-water ratios while maintaining low energy consumption, making it a promising method compared to conventional ammonia stripping processes.
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2022)