Salt is widely used as preservative to protect animal skin from microbial attack. However, addition of salt creates a favorable condition for halophilic microorganisms associated with biodeterioration termed red heat damage. Knowledge about microbial diversity associated with red heat damage is expected to help develop appropriate control strategies. The objectives of this study were to isolate and

In the present study, the mechanism of jarosite biosynthesis mediated by extracellular polymer substances (EPSs) of Purpureocillium lilacinum strain Y3 at gene level was investigated. Yellow-ocher jarosite minerals covered mycelia pellets entirely within 72h, corresponding to a reduction of Fe3+ of 70.9% in the biomineralization process induced by P. lilacinum Y3. The maximum biomass accumulation reached

Colonization of submerged surfaces by marine organisms such as microorganisms and barnacles entails significant operational and economic problems in shipping, aquaculture, power plant cooling water systems and various other activities. Microorganisms rapidly colonize the surfaces that are submerged in seawater and form complex heterogeneous 3-dimensional structures called biofilms. These marine biofilms

A single stage nitritation-anammox process was studied in a continuous flow reactor fed with raw lagoon municipal-sludge supernatant containing 835 ± 45 mg N L−1 of NH4+-N in the feed. Reactor operation was divided into five periods for a total of 438 days. Application of intermittent aeration with a 105 min aeration phase followed by a 15 min non-aeration phase reduced the aerobic nitritation rate

Continuous cultivations of the microalga Chlorella sorokiniana using 10-L flat-panel bioreactors were conducted at different pH levels and hydraulic retention times (HRT) under natural light conditions to accomplish the maximum algal yields and high nutrient removal from anaerobic digestion effluent (ADE) of aquatic macrophytes, which contained high concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen and phosphate-phosphorus

During the ongoing characterization of limestone biodeterioration in the UNESCO World Heritage site of “University of Coimbra – Alta and Sofia” (Coimbra, Portugal), it was brought to our attention that the limestone relieves adorning the tomb of D. Afonso I (First Portuguese King), displayed several signs of distinctive biodeterioration patterns. According to the ICOMOS Illustrated glossary on stone

Citrus reticulata (tangerine) peels extract was used to mediate the synthesis of copper nanoparticles (ETP-CuNPs). The product was characterized and applied as inhibitor for steel corrosion induced by 1 M HCl and Desulfovibrio sp. Round-shaped, monodisperse, non-aggregated crystals of zero-valent Cu with sizes between 54 and 72 nm were obtained. ETP-CuNPs triggered a 3-log reduction in Desulfovibio

Chlorinated rubber (CR)-based materials available for artificial surfaces have important commercial and industrial applications. However, CR-based materials are susceptible to diverse biofouling. In this study, different amounts (i.e. 0.2 wt % and 2 wt %) of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were incorporated into the CR matrix (CF0), respectively, in order to prepare the MWCNTs-modified CR composites

The process of anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) plays a significant part in global nitrogen cycling, yet its depth-specific distribution and importance in tidal flow constructed wetlands (TF CWs) remained unclear. Currently, the abundance, biodiversity, vertical distribution, rates and potential role of the anammox process in two TF CWs of the Yangtze Estuary, China, were explored. The results

The performance of a lab-scale wastewater treatment plant during the start-up phase was investigated. A period of varying pH resulted in the loss of ammonium removal efficiency together with a decrease in the specific autotrophic oxygen uptake rate (OUR) of the ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB). To understand how the AOB were affected at the molecular level, we used shotgun proteomics to quantify the

The production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) is crucial for biofilm structure, microbial nutrition and proximal stability of habitat in a variety of environments. However, the production patterns of microbial EPS in soils as affected by heavy metal contamination remain uncertain. Here we investigate the extracellular response of the native microbial biomass in a grassland soil treated

Water-damaged buildings can lead to fungal growth and occupant health problems. Green building materials, derived from renewable sources, are increasingly utilized in construction and renovations. However, the question as to what fungi will grow on these green compared to non-green materials, after they get wet, has not been adequately studied. By determining what fungi grow on each type of material

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are carcinogenic, persistent, and bioaccumulative contaminants that pose risks to human and environmental health. In this study, we evaluated the PCB biodegradation of sediments from Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal (IHSC), a PCB-contaminated site (average PCB concentration = 12,570 ng/g d.w.). PCB congener profiles and bacterial community structure in a core sediment

We investigated the decayed historical church window glasses of two Catalonian churches, both under Mediterranean climate. Glass surfaces were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Their chemical composition was determined by wavelength-dispersive spectrometry (WDS) microprobe analysis. The biodiversity was investigated by

Fungi are among the most degradative organisms inducing biodeterioration of paper-based items of cultural heritage. Appropriate conservation measures and restoration treatments to deal with fungal infections include mechanical, chemical, and biological methods, which entail effects on the paper itself and health hazards for humans. Three different conservation treatments, namely freeze-drying, gamma

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia strain C6, capable of utilizing phenanthrene as a sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated from creosote-contaminated sites at Hilo, Hawaii. Twenty-two metabolites of phenanthrene, covering from dihydrodiol to protocatechuic acid, were isolated and characterized. Phenanthrene was degraded via an initial dioxygenation on 1,2-, 3,4-, and 9,10-C, where the 3,4-dioxygenation

Newly isolated, not previously reported, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-degraders were augmented to assess their role in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) shower curtain deterioration and DEHP leaching. The biofilms that developed on the surfaces of the bioaugmented shower curtains with Gram-positive strains LHM1 and LHM2 were thicker than those of the biostimulated and Gram-negative strain LHM3-augmented

Mycobacterium aromativorans strain JS19b1(T) can utilize phenanthrene as a sole source of carbon and energy. Strain JS19b1(T) degrades phenanthrene through highly branched metabolic pathways, including dioxygenation on C-1,2, C-3,4 and C-9,10 positions and ring opening by both ortho- and meta-cleavage. The presence of novel metabolic pathways was confirmed by replacement cultivation using synthetic

Methods used to deter biofouling of underwater structures and marine vessels present a serious environmental issue and are both problematic and costly for government and commercial marine vessels worldwide. Current antifouling methods include compounds that are toxic to aquatic wildlife and marine ecosystems. Dihydrooroidin (DHO) was shown to completely inhibit Halomonas pacifica biofilms at 100 μM

Formation of microbial biofilms on surfaces of a wide range of materials being considered as candidates for use on the International Space Station was investigated. The materials included a fibre-reinforced polymeric composite, an adhesive sealant, a polyimide insulation foam, teflon cable insulation, titanium, and an aliphatic polyurethane coating. They were exposed to a natural mixed population of