Search Results (4)

Urbanization, industrialization and other human-related activities discharge various inorganic and organic toxic compounds into the environment. Many physical, chemical and biological methods have been practiced, to treat contaminated wastewater: among these, the biological method of wastewater treatment by utilizing algae has been reviewed widely. However, the removal efficacy of algae monoculture is low, as compared to the algae consortium systems. The presence of microorganisms such as fungi or bacteria in wastewater can establish various relationships, such as mutualism or symbiosis with algae, which help in the removal of various organic and inorganic compounds from wastewater, thus acting as a wastewater treatment system. Heterotrophic microorganisms can segregate natural organic matter, which is released by algae in the form of dissolved organic carbon, and releases carbon dioxide, which is utilized by algae for photosynthesis. In accordance with existing studies, microalgal consortiums with bacteria or fungi occurring naturally or crafted artificially can be utilized for wastewater treatment; therefore, the present review provides an outline of the symbiotic relationships between algae and other microorganisms, and their applications in wastewater treatment. Various mechanisms—such as mutualism, commensalism and parasitism—for the removal of different pollutants from wastewater by consortium systems have been elucidated in this review; moreover, this review addresses the challenges that are restricting large-scale implementation of these consortiums, thus demanding more research to enable enhanced commercialization. Full article

The taxonomic and functional diversity of bacteria in seven different experimental variants applied to soil under a maize plantation was determined by means of next-generation sequencing and biochemical methods. The aim of the study was to discover differences in the structure of bacteria and the level of soil enzymatic activity (BIF—biochemical index of fertility) after the application of a biofertiliser made of lignocellulosic substrate and biochar containing various microorganisms (algae, mycorrhizal fungi of the Glomus genus or the consortium of Bacillus sp. bacteria). The chemical composition and yield of crops was a measurable indicator of the effectiveness of the fertilisers. The biofertilisers influenced both the structure and the percentage share of individual bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTU). The cultivation of maize also modified qualitative and quantitative changes in the soil bacterial microbiome. A canonical variate analysis (CVA) showed that the soil pH exhibited a minimal positive correlation with the soil enzymatic activity and selected plant parameters, with the exception of the biofertiliser variant with arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM). Moreover, the AM biofertiliser significantly increased the BIF value, the yield of maize seeds and the starch content in the plants. The comprehensive nature of the research allowed for a deepening and systematization of the existing knowledge on the influence of biochar with the addition of selected microorganisms on the biochemical parameters of the soil and the bacterial biodiversity of the soil environment. Additionally, the inclusion of the chemical, sanitary composition and yield of maize in the research brought a measurable view of the changes taking place in the soil and plant environment under the influence of the discussed factor. Apart from the agronomic aspect (integrated crop cultivation—Directive 2009/128/EC) of our study, it was also closely related to environmental protection, as it proved that biochar-based biofertilisers could be an alternative to mineral fertilisation. Full article

Local granite has been used throughout history in Galicia (NW Spain), forming the basis of much of the region’s architecture. Like any other rock, granite provides an ecological niche for a multitude of organisms that form biofilms that can affect the physical integrity of the stone. In this study, for the first time, characterization of the microbial consortium forming biofilms that developed on historical rural granite buildings is carried out using a combination of culture-dependent and next generation sequencing (NGS) techniques. Results pointed to differences in biofilm composition on the studied rural granite buildings and that of previously analyzed urban granite buildings, especially in terms of abundance of cyanobacteria and lichenized fungi. Exposure was corroborated as an important factor, controlling both the diversity and abundance of microorganisms on walls, with environmental factors associated with a northern orientation favoring a higher diversity of fungi and green algae, and environmental factors associated with the west orientation determining the abundance of lichenized fungi. The orientation also affected the distribution of green algae, with one of the two most abundant species, Trentepohlia cf. umbrina, colonizing north-facing walls, while the other, Desmococcus olivaceus, predominated on west-facing walls. Full article

This study aims to evaluate the potential of consortium biomass formation between Mucor circinelloides, an oleaginous filamentous fungal species, and Chlorella vulgaris, in order to promote a straightforward approach to harvest microalgal cells and to evaluate the lipid production in the consortium system. A synthetic medium with glucose (2 g·L⁻¹) and mineral nutrients essential for both fungi and algae was selected. Four different inoculation strategies were assessed, considering the effect of simultaneous vs. separate development of fungal spores and algae cells, and the presence of a supporting matrix aiming at the higher recovery of algae cell rates. The results were evaluated in terms of consortium biomass composition, demonstrating that the strategy using a mature fungal mycelium with a higher algae count may provide biomass samples with up to 79% of their dry weight as algae, still promoting recovery rates greater than 97%. The findings demonstrate a synergistic effect on the lipid accumulation by the fungal strain, at around a fourfold increase when compared to the axenic control, with values in the range of 23% of dry biomass weight. Furthermore, the fatty acid profile from the samples presents a balance between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids that is likely to present an adequate balance for applications such as biodiesel production. Full article