Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Christian Schoene, Anja Poehlein, Nico Jehmlich, Norman Adlung, Rolf Daniel, Martin von Bergen, Silvan Scheller, Michael Rother
Summary: The study converted a methanogen into an acetogen and showed that Methanosarcina acetivorans can completely abandon methanogenesis for energy conservation. The results revealed that the metabolic flexibility of methanogenic archaea might be much greater than currently known.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sean Carr, Jared Aldridge, Nicole R. Buan
Summary: Research on engineered Methanosarcina acetivorans in municipal wastewater to produce renewable bioisoprene for value-added chemicals. The engineered strain can adapt to grow and produce bioisoprene in municipal wastewater. The potential for utilizing methanogens as a platform for low-cost production of renewable materials is demonstrated through the production of bioisoprene using available methane substrate in wastewater.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Biology
Dinesh Gupta, Katie E. Shalvarjian, Dipti D. Nayak
Summary: This study discovered a pathway for cyt c biogenesis in a model methanogenic archaeon using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing tools and identified its functional role during methanogenesis. Additionally, the study found that the cyt c maturation machinery is universally conserved in archaea, but different archaeal branches acquired it through multiple independent horizontal gene transfer events from different bacterial groups.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiang Zhou, Jun Zhang, Jian Chen
Summary: Arsenic can be methylated by Arsenite S-adenosylmethionine methyltransferases (ArsMs) in various organisms. Methylarsenite is highly toxic and can be used as an antibiotic. This study discovered a bacterium, A. tournemirensis R1, that is resistant to arsenic and exhibits different methylation activities for arsenite and methylarsenite. A gene called AtarsM in A. tournemirensis R1 is responsible for this resistance and is regulated by a transcriptional repressor ArsR.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Linpeng Yu, Dan He, Eryi Zhang, Qiuxiang He, Jibing Li, Zhiyong Jason Ren, Shungui Zhou
Summary: This study demonstrates the electricity generation using Anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) driven by the single methanogen Methanosarcina barkeri, revealing its electrogenic mechanism. The findings suggest that M. barkeri can directly donate electrons to electrodes and secrete redox-active compounds to facilitate indirect extracellular electron transfer (EET).
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Duangjai Sittipol, Sudarat Rodpan, Ya'u S. Ajingi, Tassanee Lohnoo, Tassanee Lerksuthirat, Yothin Kumsang, Wanta Yingyong, Pongsak Khunrae, Triwit Rattanarojpong, Kovit Pattanapanyasat, Nujarin Jongruja
Summary: This study identified and characterized a novel hyperthermostable keratinase from microorganisms for efficient feather waste degradation. The isolated keratinase showed high activity and stability at extreme temperatures, making it a potential candidate for future industrial applications in keratin degradation.
Article
Immunology
Weibao Song, Hongjuan Zhang, Yu Zhang, Ying Chen, Yuan Lin, Yanxing Han, Jiandong Jiang
Summary: The study found that theaflavin can inhibit ZIKV NS5 MTase activity and have a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on ZIKV replication, making it a promising lead compound against ZIKV.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Longwei Yin, Longjie Liu, Shen Lin, Gary Owens, Zuliang Chen
Summary: This paper investigates the simultaneous removal of arsenite and arsenate from groundwater using zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI). The results show that nZVI can efficiently remove both species, and practical application also yields good results. The presence of other coexisting ions, such as phosphate and carbonate, affects the removal efficiency.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ankita Das, Tamalika Sanyal, Pritha Bhattacharjee
Summary: The SAM levels are reduced in individuals with arsenic induced skin lesions, and key regulatory genes in the SAM biogenesis pathway are significantly down-regulated in this group. Hypermethylation of the AS3MT promoter leads to its transcriptional repression, potentially contributing to the higher susceptibility in arsenic exposed individuals.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Constanza Herrera, Ruben Moraga, Brian Bustamante, Claudia Vilo, Paulina Aguayo, Cristian Valenzuela, Carlos T. Smith, Jorge Yanez, Victor Guzman-Fierro, Marlene Roeckel, Victor L. Campos
Summary: Arsenic is a semimetal toxic to humans, commonly exposed through consumption of contaminated water. This study isolated a high As-resistant bacterium Pseudomonas migulae VC-19 from sediments of the As-rich Camarones River in Chile, showing high rates of As(III) conversion when immobilized on activated carbon. It has the potential for biotechnological application in treating arsenic contaminated waters.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qamar Abbas, Majida Atta Muhammad, Nisar Ahmad Shakir, Mehwish Aslam, Naeem Rashid
Summary: Pcal_0039 is a DNA ligase with nick-joining activity, exhibiting high thermostability and optimal activity at low pH. It catalyzes the nick-joining reaction without the need for nucleotide cofactors, and its activity is dependent on metal ions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Alejandra Aragon-Leon, Lorena Moreno-Vilet, Marisela Gonzalez-Avila, Pedro Martin Mondragon-Cortez, Guilherme Lanzi Sassaki, Raul Balam Martinez-Perez, Rosa Maria Camacho-Ruiz
Summary: This study evaluated the production, chemical characterization, biological and technological properties of inulin biosynthesized by a halophilic archaeon. The inulin showed high production, emulsifying index, and prebiotic capacity.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Weiwei Xiao, Xiaoman He, Guobing Lin, Zhaoguang Yang, Lin Wang
Summary: Rice consumption is the main route of human exposure to arsenic contamination. Two arsenite-oxidizing bacterial strains were isolated from contaminated soils, showing potential in reducing arsenic accumulation in rice plants, making them candidates for arsenic contamination remediation in the environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Yushan Liu, Yizhou Wang, Jiabo Pei, Yadong Li, Haiyue Sun
Summary: In this study, 92 VcCOMTs were identified in blueberry, which were divided into 2 groups with similar gene structures and conserved motifs. Dispersed duplication and whole-genome duplication were determined as major forces in VcCOMTs evolution. Among 22 VcCOMTs studied, VcCOMT40 and VcCOMT92 showed a correlation with lignin content during blueberry fruit development, suggesting their potential roles in fruit development and breeding for desirable traits.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mengjun Fang, Zhipeng Xu, Di Huang, Muhammad Naeem, Xiangcheng Zhu, Zhinan Xu
Summary: This study reported the in vitro characterization of an Argonaute protein from Thermococcus thioreducens, demonstrating its application in hepatitis B virus DNA detection. The protein functions as a programmable DNA endonuclease with high efficiency and accuracy at certain temperatures, showing potential in DNA manipulation tools.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jing Ding, Min Lv, Dong Zhu, Eva F. Leifheit, Qing-Lin Chen, Yun-Qing Wang, Ling-Xin Chen, Matthias C. Rillig, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Tire wear particles (TWP) have caused widespread contamination in the environment. This study aims to understand the behavior and potential impacts of TWP in soil ecosystems. By synthesizing existing knowledge and comparing with the effects of microplastics (MP), the study outlines the composition, distribution, and behavior of TWP in soils, and highlights the potential impacts on soil biota and the underlying mechanisms. The study suggests that more research is needed to clarify the behavior and impacts of TWP at different levels, from individual organisms to the Earth system, as TWP may pose as an emerging threat to soil health.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jean Damascene Harindintwali, Leilei Xiang, Fang Wang, Scott X. Chang, Zhiliang Zhao, Zhi Mei, Zhongjun Jia, Xin Jiang, Yong-guan Zhu, James M. Tiedje
Summary: The extensive use of organic chemicals has led to the distribution of hydrocarbon contaminants in many ecosystems worldwide. Bacteria and archaea play a dominant role in transforming these contaminants into methane through a syntrophic process. The resulting methane is then oxidized by anaerobic bacteria and archaea in the presence of electron acceptors, contributing to the reduction of methane emissions and climate change mitigation. However, the specific pathways and syntrophic partners involved in this process are still poorly understood.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yanshuang Yu, Zhenchen Xie, Jigang Yang, Ruixiang Yang, Yuanping Li, Yongguan Zhu, Yanlin Zhao, Qiue Yang, Jichen Chen, Hend A. Alwathnani, Renwei Feng, Christopher Rensing, Martin Herzberg
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of phage-mediated horizontal gene transfer in bacterial adaptation to arsenic and antimony-contaminated environments.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian Li, Tim J. Daniell, Ming-Kang Jin, Rui-Ying Chang, Tao Wang, Jing Zhang, Xiao-Ru Yang, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The spread of antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) has become a significant threat to human health. However, little is known about the profile and drivers of ARGs in the phyllosphere, which is an important habitat for microorganisms. In this study, leaf samples were collected from different stages of plant community succession to investigate the development of phyllosphere ARGs in natural habitats. The results showed that the presence of ARGs in the phyllosphere is influenced by environmental factors such as plant community composition, host leaf properties, and the phyllosphere microbiome.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xi-Mei Xue, Hong-Yu Wang, Xin-Wei Yu, Shilin Hu, Li-Jie Huang, Hui-Cheng Yang, Like Gong, Kai Yang, Hong-Bo Li, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The metabolism and bioavailability of arsenosugars in edible seaweeds are influenced by gut microbiota. It was found that mice with disrupted gut microbiota excreted significantly higher levels of total arsenic in urine and lower levels in feces after consuming nori compared to normal mice. Arsenic speciation analysis revealed that phosphate arsenosugars in nori were mostly converted to arsenobetaine, while sulfonate arsenosugar in kelp remained intact in feces.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yiyue Zhang, Jian-Qiang Su, Hu Liao, Martin F. Breed, Haifeng Yao, Huayuan Shangguan, Hong-Zhe Li, Xin Sun, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Our study investigated the role of urbanization in promoting invasive species carrying human bacterial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance. We found that gut bacterial communities, antibiotic resistance genes, and potential antibiotic-resistant pathogens in giant African snails were significantly higher than in native snails and soils. The study highlights the high diversity and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes in the gut of giant African snails, suggesting their potential role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaole Yin, Xi Chen, Xiao-Tao Jiang, Ying Yang, Bing Li, Marcus Ho-Hin Shum, Tommy T. Y. Lam, Gabriel M. Leung, Joan Rose, Concepcion Sanchez-Cid, Timothy M. Vogel, Fiona Walsh, Thomas U. Berendonk, Janet Midega, Chibuzor Uchea, Dominic Frigon, Gerard D. Wright, Carlos Bezuidenhout, Renata C. Picao, Shaikh Z. Ahammad, Per Halkjaer Nielsen, Philip Hugenholtz, Nicholas J. Ashbolt, Gianluca Corno, Despo Fatta-Kassinos, Helmut Buergmann, Heike Schmitt, Chang-Jun Cha, Amy Pruden, Kornelia Smalla, Eddie Cytryn, Yu Zhang, Min Yang, Yong-Guan Zhu, Arnaud Dechesne, Barth F. Smets, David W. Graham, Michael R. Gillings, William H. Gaze, Celia M. Manaia, Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht, Pedro J. J. Alvarez, Martin J. Blaser, James M. Tiedje, Edward Topp, Tong Zhang
Summary: Surveillance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in environmental sectors is increasingly conducted to complement studies in human and animal sectors. However, comparing and synthesizing results from different studies using different test methods and bioinformatic analysis approaches pose substantial challenges. This article suggests a universal unit (ARG copy per cell) for reporting biological measurements of ARGs in order to improve comparability. By comparing commonly used quantification units, this study proposes a step towards standardization.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Xin Gong, Xin Sun, Madhav P. Thakur, Zhihong Qiao, Haifeng Yao, Manqiang Liu, Stefan Scheu, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Rapid urbanization has significant impacts on global biodiversity, but its effects on soil biodiversity and nematodes are not well understood. In this study, we examined soil nematodes in four land-use types across 12 cities in China. We found that urban parks and nearby forests had higher nematode richness than urban residential areas and surrounding farmlands. Nematode communities in parks and residential areas were more similar, while forests and farmlands had more heterogeneous communities. The variations in nematode communities were mainly due to taxa replacement, indicating spatial isolation of nematodes in cities. Urban parks served as hotspots for soil nematodes, while residential areas had the lowest number of specialists and smaller body sizes. Overall, our findings suggest that urbanization reduces nematode diversity, leading to a 30% loss in residential areas compared to forests, and homogenizes soil nematode communities.
SOIL BIOLOGY & BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dong Zhu, Yiyue Zhang, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: The prevalence of pathogens in the environment poses a serious health risk to humans. Human activity and global climate change have significant impacts on the distribution and dispersal of human pathogens in soil ecosystems. The identification of human pathogens in soil ecosystems, such as the gut of invasive animals and the plastisphere, highlights the need for effective monitoring and prediction of their dispersal. Further research is necessary to understand the global distribution of human pathogens in soil ecosystems and their potential health risks in the Anthropocene.
CURRENT OPINION IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hang Wang, Jin-Feng Qi, Rong Qin, Kai Ding, David W. Graham, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: An analysis of genotype and phenotype profiles of antibiotic resistance in animal feces from eight Chinese farms reveals that intensively reared animals have higher levels of antibiotic resistance than those living in small-scale and free-range ways. This has implications for environmental health, as animal feces can be a major source of antibiotic resistance in the environment.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Soil Science
Xiao-Min Li, Shun Li, Fu-Yi Huang, Zhe Wang, Zhao-Yang Zhang, Song-Can Chen, Yong-Guan Zhu
Summary: Artificial light at night (ALAN) is an important disturbance to urban ecosystems, and its potential effects on urban soil microbial community structure and functions are unclear. This study investigated the impact of nocturnal light on the microbiomes in urban turf soils using sequencing and qPCR techniques. The results showed that ALAN significantly influenced the structures of bacterial, fungal, and protist communities, as well as the functional profiles involved in nutrients cycling and urban health.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ming Sheng, Shuang Chen, Cong-Qiang Liu, Qinglong Fu, Donghuan Zhang, Wei Hu, Junjun Deng, Libin Wu, Ping Li, Zhifeng Yan, Yong-Guan Zhu, Pingqing Fu
Summary: Forest soils, covering about 30% of the Earth's land surface, play a crucial role in the global organic matter cycle. Dissolved organic matter (DOM), the largest active carbon pool on land, is vital for soil development, microbial metabolism, and nutrient cycling. However, forest soil DOM is a highly complex mixture of numerous compounds derived from primary producers, microbial processes, and chemical reactions. This study focuses on the spatial and molecular variations of DOM in forest soils across different latitudes in China, using Fourier transform-ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS). The results reveal distinct patterns of molecular composition, indicating the importance of understanding the role of DOM in the carbon cycle.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Longji Zhu, Ruilong Li, Kai Yang, Fei Xu, Chenshuo Lin, Qinglin Chen, Dong Zhu, Qian Sun, Yong-Guan Zhu, Li Cui
Summary: This study systematically investigated the microbiomes, ARGs, and community assembly processes of five types of MPs in an urbanizing watershed, quantifying the health risks of ARGs in plastisphere and exploring the driving mechanisms.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yichao Wu, Chengxia Fu, Caroline L. Peacock, Soren J. Sorensen, Marc A. Redmile-Gordon, Ke-Qing Xiao, Chunhui Gao, Jun Liu, Qiaoyun Huang, Zixue Li, Peiyi Song, Yongguan Zhu, Jizhong Zhou, Peng Cai
Summary: Cooperative interactions between free-living and biofilm-forming bacteria are found to drive spatial segregation and enable species coexistence in a microfluidic chip environment, promoting their respective dominance in segregated microhabitats. This active spatial segregation is induced by cooperative interactions, improving the fitness of both biofilm and planktonic populations. The study also shows that free-living Arthrobacter induces surface colonization and receives benefits from public goods secreted by biofilm-forming strains.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Li Cui, Yuhan Xin, Kai Yang, Hongzhe Li, Fengjiao Tan, Yulong Zhang, Xingrui Li, Zhi Zhu, Jun Yang, Shuh-Ji Kao, Bin Ren, Yong-Guan Zhu, Florin Musat, Niculina Musat
Summary: In this study, a synergistic approach combining single-cell Raman microspectroscopy and stable isotope probing was developed to track metabolic interactions in active microbial assemblages. This approach allowed for the temporal tracking of intercellular and interspecies metabolite exchange in living cells, providing comprehensive metabolic profiling and advancing our understanding of microbial interactions.