Search Results (75)

In this article, we examine water chemistry and carbonate precipitation in the alkaline waterbody Lake Van in Turkey, analyzing the possible role of microbial communities in stromatolite formation. Lake Van represents a unique environment characterized by high salinity and pH and extensive microbial communities, as revealed by SEM observation. Microbial activity, including that of cyanobacteria, can influence carbonate precipitation processes, leading to the formation of authigenic carbonates through physicochemical or metabolic mechanisms such as photosynthesis or sulfate reduction. In these environments, which are often dominated by cyanobacteria, carbonate precipitation can be influenced by biologically induced processes. This study presents new data on the hydrochemistry of lake water, focusing on the behavior of rare-earth elements (REEs) in this water and the carbon and oxygen isotopic compositions of carbonate microbial mats. The oxygen isotope data suggest that inorganic carbonate precipitation is the dominant process, but a biological influence on inorganic precipitation cannot be ruled out. For a deeper understanding of the role of biological processes in Lake Van, further studies on microbialites are needed. Full article

Sewage composition analysis is important for understanding environmental impact and ensuring effective treatment processes. In this study, we employed multivariate analysis techniques to delve into the intricate composition of sewage. Specifically, we utilized Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) to uncover patterns and relationships among different types of sewage pollutants. Statistical analysis revealed that treatment stages did not consistently reduce all pollutant concentrations. Mechanical treatment failed to lower chlorides and sulfates, but was effective for ether extract and phenols. Moreover, total mechanical–biological treatment provided a significant, 91% reduction of the ether extract and phenols, while only reducing chlorides by 13% and sulfates by 22%. The multivariate analysis revealed significant differences between raw sewage and mechanically treated sewage. Totally treated sewage stood out as the key factor influencing the pollutants studied, particularly chlorides and sulfates. This finding emphasizes the critical role of comprehensive treatment processes in effective sewage management. Among the analysed substances, chlorides showed the strongest clustering potential, with an average Silhouette coefficient of 0.738, the highest observed. Phenols, on the other hand, exhibited lower Within-Cluster Sum of Squares (WCSS), suggesting their potential as an alternative parameter for evaluation. Full article

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is characterized clinically by intestinal inflammation and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The consumption of biologics, although effective in inflammation control, may lead to adverse effects and is inconvenient for at-home administration. Goat milk-derived extracellular vesicles (GMEVs) have been proposed as a supplement to prevent intestinal inflammation. However, their therapeutic potential for colitis remains elusive. This study aimed to explore the preventive effect of GMEVs on colitis and its underlying mechanisms through the microbiota-immune axis using a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. We found that a pre-treatment of 20 mg/kg/d GMEVs effectively prevented body weight loss, colon shortening, the depletion of colonic goblet cells, and the disappearance of crypts, while enhancing the intestinal mucosal barrier. Consistent with these phenotypes, GMEV pre-treatment increased levels of IL-22 and IL-10 and decreased levels of IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, and iNOS. However, GMEVs themselves had no effect on normal mice. Paralleling the alleviation of intestinal inflammation, GMEV pre-treatment also restored the reduction in unclassified Muribaculaceae, Dubosiella, and Lactobacillus and suppressed the expansion of Alistipes and Proteobacteria following DSS treatment. Additionally, GMEV intake significantly downregulated the expression of proteins in the NF-κB signaling pathway induced by DSS. In summary, GMEVs could prevent colitis by regulating intestinal inflammation, the intestinal mucosal barrier, gut microbiota, organ damage, and the immune microenvironment. This study demonstrated that GMEVs have potential application prospects for UC prevention. Full article

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a multifactorial gastrointestinal condition encompassing two major forms of intestinal inflammation: Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Both conditions are linked to auto-inflammatory reactions and genetic predispositions. Various drug therapies and biological treatments proposed to reduce IBD-associated inflammation. We induced IBD in a mouse model by stimulating bowel inflammation with an oral dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) beverage. Our novel cell therapy approach for IBD involves intramuscular (IM) and intraperitoneal (IP) delivery of non-matched, expanded, potent xenogeneic fetal human mesenchymal stromal cells (f-hPSCs) in 2 × 10⁶ cell injections. This cell therapy has already been shown previously to induce pro-regenerative and anti-inflammatory effects in different systemic and local disorders, where the injected f-hPSCs were shown to respond to the stress of the host and secrete the adequate secretome in response to this stress. In the current study, the IP-injected f-hPSCs treatment of the DSS-induced IBD enhanced the regenerative processes of the damaged bowel and reduced the inflammatory process. This was associated with rapid regain of the mice’s weight and a decrease in inflammation-associated parameters, such as colon edema, bowel shortening, and a threefold increase in bowel mass, as estimated by increased colon weight and reduced length. This ratio best emphasized the induced inflammatory response associated with the decrease in the inflamed colon length with an increase in its mass. Although IM f-hPSCs delivery was somehow effective by a few parameters, the IP delivery produced a superior response. The IP f-hPSCs treated mice lost only ~15% of their weight at the peak of the IBD effect, compared to ~25% in untreated mice. A reduction in the inflammatory response of the gut was also indicated by a decrease in neutrophil infiltration, as assayed by a myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. Additionally, a significant improvement in the histological score of the gut and faster recovery to 90% of its original size was observed. These findings suggest that f-hPSC treatments could serve as an effective and safe anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative treatment for IBD. Full article

In the early Cambrian period, a severe greenhouse effect subjected the Gondwanan continents to accelerated erosion, enriching oceanic waters with essential nutrients, including phosphate, silicon, calcium, magnesium, iron, and trace elements. The nutrient flux, sourced from the volcanic composition of west Gondwana, was recorded as sequences of nodular phosphoritic limestones intercalated with chlorite-rich silts, containing ferrous phyllosilicates such as chamosite and chlorite. The abundant and diverse fossil record within these deposits corroborates that the ion supply facilitated robust biogeochemical and nutrient cycling, promoting elevated biological productivity and biodiversity. This paper investigates the early Cambrian nutrient fluxes from the Gondwanan continental region, focusing on the formation of phosphoritic and ferrous facies and the diversity of the fossil record. We estimate and model the biogeochemical cycling within a unique early Cambrian ecosystem located in South Spain, characterized by calcimicrobial reefs interspersed with archaeocyathids that settled atop a tectonically elevated volcano-sedimentary platform. The configuration enclosed a shallow marine lagoon nourished by riverine contributions including ferric and phosphatic complexes. Geochemical analyses revealed varying concentrations of iron (0.14–3.23 wt%), phosphate (0.1–20.0 wt%), and silica (0.27–69.0 wt%) across different facies, with distinct patterns between reef core and lagoonal deposits. Using the Geochemist’s Workbench software and field observations, we estimated that continental andesite weathering rates were approximately 23 times higher than the rates predicted through modeling, delivering, at least, annual fluxes of 0.286 g·cm⁻²·yr⁻¹ for Fe and 0.0146 g·cm⁻²·yr⁻¹ for PO₄³⁻ into the lagoon. The abundant and diverse fossil assemblage, comprising over 20 distinct taxonomic groups dominated by mollusks and small shelly fossils, indicates that this nutrient influx facilitated robust biogeochemical cycling and elevated biological productivity. A carbon budget analysis revealed that while the system produced an estimated 1.49·10¹⁵ g of C over its million-year existence, only about 0.01% was preserved in the rock record. Sulfate-reducing and iron-reducing chemoheterotrophic bacteria played essential roles in organic carbon recycling, with sulfate reduction serving as the dominant degradation pathway, processing approximately 1.55·10¹¹ g of C compared to the 5.94·10⁸ g of C through iron reduction. A stoichiometric analysis based on Redfield ratios suggested significant deviations in the C:P ratios between the different facies and metabolic pathways, ranging from 0.12 to 161.83, reflecting the complex patterns of organic matter preservation and degradation. The formation of phosphorites and ferrous phyllosilicates was primarily controlled by suboxic conditions in the lagoon, where microbial iron reduction destabilized Fe(III)-bearing oxyhydroxide complexes, releasing scavenged phosphate. This analysis of nutrient cycling in the Las Ermitas reef–lagoon system demonstrates how intensified continental weathering and enhanced nutrient fluxes during the early Cambrian created favorable conditions for the development of complex marine ecosystems. The quantified nutrient concentrations, weathering rates, and metabolic patterns established here provide a baseline data for future research addressing the biogeochemical conditions that facilitated the Cambrian explosion and offering new insights into the co-evolution of Earth’s geochemical cycles and early animal communities. Full article

Alternaria panax, the primary pathogen that causes ginseng Alternaria leaf blight disease, can lead to a 20–30% reduction in ginseng yield. WD40 repeat-containing proteins are evolutionarily conserved proteins with diverse functions between different organisms. In this study, we characterized the roles of a WD40 repeat-containing protein in A. panax. The deletion of ApWD40a impaired the mycelial growth, reduced the sporulation, and significantly decreased the efficiency in utilizing various carbon sources. The ΔApwd40a mutant showed increased sensitivity to osmotic stress and metal ion stress induced by sorbitol, NaCl, and KCl, but decreased the sensitivity to a cell wall stress factor (SDS) and oxidative stress factors (paraquat and H₂O₂). Pathogenicity assays performed on detached ginseng leaves and roots revealed that the disruption of ApWD40a significantly decreased the fungal virulence through attenuating melanin and mycotoxin production by A. panax. A comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that ApWD40a was involved in many metabolic and biosynthetic processes, including amino acid metabolism, carbon metabolism, sulfate metabolic pathways, and secondary metabolite pathways. In particular, a significantly upregulated gene that encoded a sulfate permease 2 protein in ΔApwd40a, named ApSulP2, was deleted in the wild-type strain of A. panax. The deletion of ApSulP2 resulted in reduced biomass under sulfate-free conditions, demonstrating that the sulfate transport was impaired. Taken together, our findings highlight that ApWD40a played crucial roles in different biological processes and the pathogenicity of A. panax through modulating the expressions of genes involved in various primary and secondary metabolic processes. Full article

Hirsutella sinensis (H. sinensis), a non-sexual form of the valuable Chinese medicinal herb, demonstrates various biological activities, such as immune modulation and antioxidative capabilities. Nonetheless, the effects of bioactive polysaccharides derived from H. sinensis on colitis have yet to be investigated. In our prior research, we extracted a mannoglucan (HSWP-1d) from H. sinensis and found that it attenuates TGF-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The present study investigated the protective effects of HSWP-1d against colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in mice. The results demonstrate that HSWP-1d effectively ameliorates symptoms of colitis and preserves the intestinal barrier’s stability by enhancing the expression of tight junction proteins. The administration of HSWP-1d results in a reduction in oxidative stress through the augmentation of antioxidative enzyme activities, concomitant with the suppression of oxidative product generation. Simultaneously, HSWP-1d reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines while elevating the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, effectively mitigating the inflammatory response. Furthermore, HSWP-1d influences and alters short-chain-fatty-acid (SCFA) levels, thereby enhancing the intestinal microenvironment. In conclusion, HSWP-1d contributes to intestinal well-being and holds potential as both a therapeutic choice and a supplier of essential nutrients for the amelioration of colitis. Full article

In the process of flue gas desulfurization and denitrification, the generation of high-sulfate wastewater containing nitrogen is a significant challenge for biological wastewater treatment. In this study, halophilic activated sludge was inoculated in a Sequencing Batch Reactor to remove nitrogen from wastewater with a high sulfate concentration (60 g/L). With the influent concentration of 180 mg/L, the removal rate of total nitrogen was more than 96.7%. The effluent ammonium nitrogen concentration was lower than 1.94 mg/L, and the effluent nitrate nitrogen and nitrite nitrogen concentrations were even lower than 0.77 mg/L. The salt tolerance of activated sludge is mainly related to the increase in the content of ectoine in microbial cells. The Specific Nitrite Oxidation Rate is quite low, while the Specific Nitrite Reduction Rate and Specific Nitrate Reduction Rate are relatively strong. In the system, there are various nitrogen metabolic processes, including aerobic nitrification, anaerobic denitrification, and simultaneous nitrification–denitrification processes. By analyzing the nitrogen metabolic mechanisms and microbial community structure of the reaction system, dominate bacteria can be identified, such as Azoarcus, Thauera, and Halomonas, which have significant nitrogen removal capabilities. Full article

Deeply situated brine is abundant in rare metal minerals, possessing significant economic worth. To the authors’ knowledge, brine present within the Cambrian carbonate-dominated succession in the northeastern region of Chongqing, Southwestern China, has not been previously reported. In this investigation, brine samples were collected from an abandoned brine well, designated as Tianyi Well, for the purpose of analyzing the hydrochemical characteristics and geochemical evolution of the brine. Halide concentrations, associated ions, and their ionic ratios within the sampled brine were analyzed. The brine originating from the deep Cambrian aquifer was characterized by high salinity levels, with an average TDS value of 242 ± 11 g/L, and was dominated by a Na-Cl facies. The studied brine underwent a moderate degree of seawater evaporation, occurring between the saturation levels of gypsum and halite, accompanied by some halite dissolution. Compared to modern seawater evaporation, the depletion of Mg²⁺, HCO₃⁻, and SO₄²⁻ concentrations, along with the enrichment of Ca²⁺, Li⁺, K⁺, and Sr²⁺, is likely primarily attributed to water–rock interactions. These interactions include dolomitization, combination of halite dissolution, upwelling of lithium- and potassium-bearing groundwater, calcium sulfate precipitation, biological sulfate reduction (BSR), and the common ion effect within the brine system. This research offers valuable insights into the genesis of the brine within the Cambrian carbonate succession and provides theoretical backing for the development of brine resources in the future. Full article

During the Rhuddanian–Aeronian interglacial period, global geological events such as glacial melting, synsedimentary volcanic activity, biological resurgence, and large-scale marine transgressions caused frequent fluctuations in paleoproductivity, climate changes, and sea level variations. These paleoenvironmental transitions directly influenced the development characteristics of shale lithofacies. This study investigates the Longmaxi Formation shale in the Changning area in the Southern Sichuan basin, focusing on 28 core samples from Well N1. Using scanning electron microscopy, QEMSCAN, TOC, XRD, and major and trace element analyses, we reconstructed the paleoenvironmental transitions of this period and explored their control over shale lithofacies types and mineral compositions. Four shale lithofacies were identified: carbonate rich lithofacies (CRF), biogenic quartz-rich lithofacies (BQRF), detrital clay-rich lithofacies (CRDF), and detrital quartz-rich lithofacies (DQRF). During the Rhuddanian period, rising global temperatures caused glacial melting and rapid marine transgressions. The low oxygen levels in bottom waters, combined with upwelling and abundant volcanic material, led to high paleoproductivity. This period primarily developed BQRF and CRF. Rich nutrients and abundant siliceous organisms, along with anoxic to anaerobic conditions, provided the material basis and preservation conditions for high biogenic quartz and organic matter content. High paleoproductivity and anoxic conditions also facilitated the precipitation of synsedimentary calcite and supplied Mg²⁺ and SO₄²⁻ for the formation of iron-poor dolomite via sulfate reduction. From the Late Rhuddanian to the Mid-Aeronian, the Guangxi orogeny caused sea levels to fall, increasing water oxidation and reducing upwelling and volcanic activity, which lowered paleoproductivity. Rapid sedimentation rates, stepwise global temperature increases, and the intermittent intensification of weathering affected terrigenous clastic input, resulting in the alternating deposition of CRF, CRDF, and DQRF. Two favorable shale gas reservoirs were identified from the Rhuddanian–Aeronian period: Type I (BQRF) in the L1–L3 Layers, characterized by high TOC and brittleness, and Type II (DQRF) in the L4 Layer, with significant detrital quartz content. The Type I-favorable reservoir supports ongoing gas production, and the Type II-favorable reservoir offers potential as a future exploration target. Full article

The Asian dung beetle (Catharsius molossus L.; Coleoptera: Scarabeidae) has been shown to positively affect soil bacterial diversity and the agronomic features of crop plants. In this study, we used bioinformatic tools to investigate the differences in bacterial functional phenotypes and ecological functions between control soil, cow dung-amended soil (CD), and cow dung-amended soil composted by dung beetles (DB). The soil bacterial metagenomes were sequenced and analyzed with the bioinformatic packages BugBase, PICRUSt2, Tax4Fun, and FAPROTAX to evaluate the effects of dung beetle-mediated composting on bacterial functions such as human and plant pathogenicity, trophic strategies, and soil nutrient transformation. BugBase proved useful for the determination of differences in major functional phenotypes, whereas FAPROTAX was effective at identifying differences in bacterial ecological functions between the treatments. Both tools suggested a relative decrease in human pathogens in the DB soil. This was corroborated by the pairwise comparison of abundances in bacterial species, which showed a significant reduction in the abundance of the broad-host-range pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the DB soil. In addition, FAPROTAX suggested a decrease in plant pathogens and an increase in chitinolytic bacteria, meaning that the DB treatment might be beneficial to the plant-growth-promoting bacteria involved in biological control. Finally, FAPROTAX revealed an array of ecological functions related to trophic strategies and macro- and micronutrient metabolism. According to these results, the activity of C. molossus beetles enhanced methanotrophy, ammonification, nitrification, sulfate reduction, and manganese oxidation, whereas iron respiration was decreased in the DB-treated soil. Our results represent a collection of general insights into the effects of C. molossus beetles on soil bacterial functions, which also reflect on the nutrient composition of dung beetle-composted soil. Full article

This study explores the effectiveness of an integrated anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) coupled with an anoxic/oxic membrane bioreactor (A/O MBR) for the treatment of natural rubber industry wastewater with high sulfate, ammonia, and complex organic contents. This study was conducted at the lab-scale over a duration of 225 days to thoroughly investigate the efficiency and sustainability of the proposed treatment method. With a hydraulic retention time of 6 days for the total system, COD reductions were over 98%, which reduced the influent from 22,158 ± 2859 mg/L to 118 ± 74 mg/L of the effluent. The system demonstrates average NH₃-N, TN, and total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiencies of 72.9 ± 5.7, 72.8 ± 5.6, and 71.3 ± 9.9, respectively. Despite an average whole biological system removal of 50.6%, the anaerobic reactor eliminated 44.9% of the raw WW sulfate. Analyses of membrane fouling revealed that organic fouling was more pronounced in the anaerobic membrane, whereas aerobic membrane fouling displayed varied profiles due to differential microbial and oxidative activities. Key bacterial genera, such as Desulfobacterota in the anaerobic stage and nitrifiers in the aerobic stage, are identified as instrumental in the biological processes. The microbial profile reveals a shift from methanogenesis to sulfide-driven autotrophic denitrification and sulfammox, with evidence of an active denitrification pathway in anaerobic/anoxic conditions. The system showcases its potential for industrial application, underpinning environmental sustainability through improved wastewater management. Full article

Wastewater generated in table olive manufacturing processes (WWTOMP) is a seasonal waste difficult to manage due to the high salinity content. The treatment of WWTOMP has been accomplished by including a precoagulation stage with aluminum sulfate, oxidation using the peroxymonosulfate/Fe(III) system, and a final aerobic biological stage. The optimum conditions of precoagulation led to a chemical oxygen demand removal rate of roughly 30–35% without the need for pH adjustment. The peroxymonosulfate(PMS)/Fe(III) system was thereafter applied to the effluent after coagulation. The addition of PMS lowered the initial pH to acidic conditions (pH = 1.5–2.0). Under these operating conditions, the initial PMS concentration and the initial Fe(III) dose showed optimum values. An excess of the oxidant and/or the catalyst partially inhibited the process efficiency, and pH exerted a significant influence. COD removal was substantially increased as the pH of the solution was moved toward circumneutral values in the interval 5–4. Moreover, at pH values of 5 and 7, PMS was capable of reducing COD without the need for Fe(III) presence. The direct oxidation of organics by PMS or the generation of chloride-based oxidants (Cl₂ or HClO) is suggested to occur in parallel to the radical attack from PMS decomposition. An attempt to biologically reduce the final COD to discharge limits failed, mainly due to the high salinity content; however, the 1:2 dilution led to the reduction in COD from 6 to 2 g L⁻¹. Acclimated sludges or saline content reduction should be first considered. Full article

A vitamin D receptor (VDR) deficiency leads to the dysbiosis of intestinal bacteria and is associated with various diseases, including cancer, infections, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, the impact of a VDR deficiency on fungi and archaea is unknown. We conditionally deleted the VDR in Paneth cells (VDR^ΔPC), intestinal epithelial cells (VDR^ΔIEC), or myeloid cells (VDR^ΔLyz) in mice and collected feces for shotgun metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. We found that fungi were significantly altered in each knockout (KO) group compared to the VDR^Loxp control. The VDR^ΔLyz mice had the most altered fungi species (three depleted and seven enriched), followed by the VDR^ΔPC mice (six depleted and two enriched), and the VDR^ΔIEC mice (one depleted and one enriched). The methanogen Methanofollis liminatans was enriched in the VDR^ΔPC and VDR^ΔLyz mice and two further archaeal species (Thermococcus piezophilus and Sulfolobus acidocaldarius) were enriched in the VDR^ΔLyz mice compared to the Loxp group. Significant correlations existed among altered fungi, archaea, bacteria, and viruses in the KO mice. Functional metagenomics showed changes in several biologic functions, including decreased sulfate reduction and increased biosynthesis of cobalamin (vitamin B12) in VDR^ΔLyz mice relative to VDR^Loxp mice. Fecal metabolites were analyzed to examine the involvement of sulfate reduction and other pathways. In conclusion, a VDR deficiency caused the formation of altered fungi and archaea in a tissue- and sex-dependent manner. These results provide a foundation about the impact of a host factor (e.g., VDR deficiency) on fungi and archaea. It opens the door for further studies to determine how mycobiome and cross-kingdom interactions in the microbiome community and metabolites contribute to the risk of certain diseases. Full article

The Xitieshan deposit, located in the central segment of the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin, is among the largest massive Pb-Zn sulfide deposits in China. This deposit, along with its ore-bearing rock series known as the Tanjianshan Group, underwent greenschist facies metamorphism due to subsequent orogeny. We investigated the in situ sulfur isotopes of sulfides with different occurrences to define the origin of ore-forming fluids. The δ³⁴S values of sulfides from stratiform ores, massive ores in schist, stockwork ores in marble, schist and discolored altered rocks that constitute a typical double-mineralization structure range from −5.3‰ to +5.6‰ and from −1.7‰ to +32‰, respectively, indicating distinct biological and thermochemical reductions in seawater sulfates. These are similar to the sulfur isotopic characteristics of VSHMS deposits. Pyrite, whose LA-ICP-MS trace element compositions can provide significant information about metallogenic evolution and deposit genesis, is ubiquitous throughout the whole mineralization process. In these stratiform, massive and stockwork ores, three pyrite types were identified: colloform pyrite (Py0), fine-grained anhedral spongy pyrite (Py1) and coarse-grained euhedral pyrite (Py2). The contents of most metallogenic elements, such as Cu, Pb, Zn, Ag, Mo, Mn and Sn, decrease from Py0 to Py2 with the enhancement of metamorphic recrystallization. This suggests that the expelled elements appear as inclusions in primitive pyrite, contributing to the precipitation of new sulfide phases, such as sphalerite and galena. Orogenic metamorphism played an important role in controlling further Pb-Zn enrichment of the Xitieshan deposit. Moreover, there is another mineralization type, primarily occurring as sulfide veins in the undeformed Formation C siltstones of the Tanjianshan Group, which also crosscut early-formed sulfides, showing close-to-zero S isotopic compositions. In this mineralization type, pyrite (Py3) displays high Se/Tl (>10) and Co/Ni (>2.2) ratios, both indicating a minor superimposed post-orogenic magmatic–hydrothermal event. Full article