Search Results (1,987)

Growing demand for sustainable materials has intensified research into eco-friendly alternatives to conventional and synthetic leathers. Traditional bovine leather and its chromium-tanning process heavily contribute to water pollution, toxic waste generation, and carbon emissions, while synthetic leather derived from Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and polyurethane (PU) presents challenges related to fossil fuel dependence and non-biodegradability. This review explores bio-based and sustainable leather substitutes that are made of plants, microbial cellulose, and mycelium fungi. Plant-based leather substitutes such as Vegea^®, Desserto^®, and Piñatex^® use agricultural waste products to create durable, partially biodegradable composites. Microbial cellulose from kombucha fermentation offers material with good physical and aesthetic properties. Mycelium leather, derived from fungal biomass, demonstrates potential for scalable and low-impact production. Comparative analyses of mechanical and physical properties show that mycelium composites are approaching industrial standards, though challenges remain regarding tensile strength, water resistance, and process standardization. Despite current limitations, bio-based leathers, particularly mycelium composites, offer a promising way toward circular material innovation and carbon-neutral manufacturing in fashion, automotive, design and other industries. Full article

Heavy metal pollution is increasingly recognized, not merely as a source of static toxicity, but also as a driver of dynamic microbial regulation. At sublethal concentrations, these pollutants function as critical environmental cues that reshape microbial evolutionary trajectories. This review elucidates how low-dose heavy metals bypass acute cellular damage to instead engage bacterial chemical-sensing networks, systematically upregulating virulence factors, biofilm architecture, and the co-selection of antibiotic resistance. By leveraging the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) infection model (a platform defined by its evolutionarily conserved innate immune architecture), we dissect the tripartite interplay between environmental metal flux, bacterial pathogenic output, and host immunological defense. We synthesize empirical evidence from the C. elegans model to highlight how heavy metals modulate bacterial virulence and host defense mechanisms, thereby providing new insights into the indirect health risks of environmental pollutants and their implications for redefining public health exposure thresholds and infectious disease control in the Anthropocene. Full article

Soil salinization and heavy metal pollution represent significant global challenges to farmland sustainability and food security. Globally, over 800 million hectares of land are affected by salinity, with approximately 17% of cultivated land exhibiting concentrations of at least one heavy metal exceeding established agricultural safety thresholds. Microbially Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is an innovative biogeochemical process that harnesses microbial metabolic activities to facilitate soil mineralization. The core mechanism involves ureolytic microorganisms hydrolyzing urea to produce carbonate ions (CO₃²⁻). These ions subsequently react with environmental calcium ions (Ca²⁺) to form insoluble calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) precipitates. This review synthesizes recent research progress on the application of MICP technology for the remediation of heavy metal pollution. It elucidates the mechanistic pathways by which MICP immobilizes heavy metal ions and critically evaluates its potential application for ameliorating heavy metal contamination specifically within saline–alkaline soils. Key challenges impeding the broader practical deployment of MICP are analyzed, particularly concerning salt-alkali stress tolerance and the management of ammonia emissions during urea hydrolysis. Emerging strategies, such as the synergistic integration of MICP with biochar amendments, offer promising solutions. Biochar can provide a protective microenvironment for microbial consortia and potentially mitigate ammonia volatilization, thereby enhancing the overall efficacy and feasibility of this remediation approach for contaminated saline–alkaline lands. Full article

Fungal endophytes are microorganisms that inhabit plant tissues without causing disease and emerge as critical mediators of plant stress tolerance, nutrient acquisition, and ecosystem resilience under diverse climate change scenarios. Their unique position within the host allows them to modulate physiological responses more closely than external microbiota. This review explores how endophytic fungi contribute to plant adaptation under climate-induced stresses such as heat, salinity, drought, pollution, and nutrient limitation, with a focus on molecular crosstalk, functional trait modules, and metabolic trade-offs. Key findings emphasize multilayered signaling systems, including MAMP/DAMP recognition, phytohormone regulation, immune tuning, ROS dynamics, and effector deployment, while emerging mechanisms such as cross-kingdom RNA and extracellular vesicle (EV)-mediated exchange are discussed as promising but currently limited in empirical validation within many endophytic systems. Endophytes also enhance nutrient exchange through conditional carbon-for-benefit trade and may shape rhizosphere microbiota and soil activities through plant-mediated inputs. Integrative multi-omics approaches provide predominantly correlational insights into the mechanistic basis of these effects, linking molecular function to ecosystem and community outcomes. These insights have potential applications in climate-resilient agriculture, phytoremediation, and ecosystem restoration; however, their large-scale implementation requires further field-based validation and context-specific assessment. Future priorities should focus on trait-based selection, ecological modeling, and biosafety evaluation to translate microbial functions into reliable field-level strategies that support sustainable crop performance under accelerating environmental stress. Full article

The development of effective remediation strategies for aniline-contaminated sites has become a significant research focus in environmental science. This study aimed to construct a highly efficient aniline-degrading synthetic microbial consortium guided by ecological niche information from contaminated soil. Microbial community analysis of aniline-contaminated soil from a typical industrial park revealed the significant enrichment and adaptability of Proteobacteria and its genus Pseudomonas in the polluted environment. Based on these ecological niche characteristics, a targeted screening strategy was employed to isolate two highly efficient degrading strains from heavily contaminated soil: Pseudomonas sp. RF and Acidovorax sp. PH. Both strains exhibited excellent aniline degradation performance in monoculture, with strain RF capable of completely degrading 1000 mg·L⁻¹ aniline within 24 h. Through orthogonal experiments to optimize the inoculation ratio, a synthetic consortium, RF-PH, composed of the two strains at a 3:1 ratio, was constructed. This consortium demonstrated significant synergistic effects, with degradation efficiency markedly surpassing that of the individual strains. Specifically, its degradation rate for 500 mg·L⁻¹ aniline within 12 h was 11.33–17.02% higher than that of the individual strains. This study confirms the effectiveness of a targeted screening and synthetic consortium construction strategy based on ecological niche information, providing efficient microbial resources and technical support for the bioremediation of aniline-contaminated sites. Full article

Background: Aquaculture, a vital component of global food security, faces sustainability challenges due to intensive farming practices, including water pollution, disease outbreaks, and antibiotic overuse. Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics have emerged as eco-friendly alternatives to antibiotics. However, research results remain heterogeneous across aquatic species and intervention strategies. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020, we searched two databases (up to January 2026) for in vivo trials. Two reviewers screened and extracted data, and 177 eligible studies were ultimately included, covering single-/multi-strain probiotics (SSP/MSP), live/inactivated microbial preparations, and diverse synbiotic formulations. Results: Among 177 studies, Bacillus spp. were the most widely reported and effective probiotic strains. MSP and synbiotics exhibited superior efficacy in boosting aquatic animal growth performance and disease resistance over SSP in 68% of the included trials. Probiotics act through the competitive exclusion of pathogens, immune modulation, and enhanced digestive enzyme activity; prebiotics selectively stimulate beneficial gut microbiota, improving nutrient absorption and immune function through metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids; synbiotics combine the advantages of both, exerting synergistic effects. Furthermore, as water additives or fermented feed ingredients, probiotics reduce nitrogenous waste and organic pollutants, contributing to bioremediation. Conclusions: All three additives are effective. Standardized application protocols and long-term trials are needed for sustainable aquaculture. This review provides a unified evidence-based foundation for the rational use of these additives in aquaculture. Full article

The concern about plastic pollution drives the exploration of sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging materials. Alginate is a renewable, edible feedstock extracted from seaweed, which has been used for preparing edible biofilms. The major limiting factor in alginate biofilms wider application is that it is relatively weak in strength. This study explored a novel alginate composite biofilm prepared using alginate and maize bran derived arabinoxylans. In comparison with alginate alone, adding 2.5% w/w maize arabinoxylans increased the tensile strength of the film by 3.1 times. Using an optimized composition (2.5% alginate, 1% glycerol and 1.5% maize arabinoxylans), the tensile strength and elongation of the biofilm increased to 4.9 and 3.0 times that of alginate only biofilm to 6.88 ± 0.06 MPa and to 96.4 ± 9.9%, respectively. Interestingly, the water-holding capacity of biofilm increased from 5.5 times weight of water for 5 min for alginate alone biofilm to 27.6 times the weight of water for 50 min. When 0.5% clove essential oil was incorporated into the composite film, the biofilm exhibited excellent anti-microbial property, keeping raw meat free of bacteria for five days in both refrigerated and open environments. These results indicate that the alginate-based bio-composite film is a promising candidate for food packaging. Full article

The Portuguese Water Quality Policy, aligned with the Water Framework Directive, requires the monitoring of shellfish production in coastal and brackish water bodies and is based on the EC Shellfish Waters Directive; it preserves the environmental conditions necessary for shellfish growth and contributes to the production of a safe, high-quality sustainable animal food source. Between 2017 and 2021, quarterly measurements of physico-chemical and microbial parameters were conducted at 11 coastal stations and 21 estuarine/coastal lagoons stations along Portugal, to evaluate shellfish water quality and identify the environmental drivers influencing it. Results showed that estuaries and coastal lagoons were more vulnerable to fluctuations in salinity, oxygen and suspended matter and consistently exhibited higher faecal contamination in bivalves than coastal waters. These patterns were shaped by freshwater inputs, climate-driven variability, and local anthropogenic pressures, with contamination often increasing during rainy periods or under stressful environmental conditions. The study highlights the sensitivity of transitional waters to both natural and human-induced changes and underscores the need for targeted management strategies, such as improved wastewater treatment and integrated coastal management, to reduce pollution pressures. Strengthening these measures is essential for the long-term sustainability of Portugal’s shellfish industry and coastal ecosystems. Full article

Similar to other municipal facilities, landfills are a substantial source of emissions of various biological pollutants. Numerous sustainability challenges result from the extremely high variability of emissions of harmful biological agents, which necessitates precise detection of microbiological emissions from these municipal facilities. This study aimed to assess whether a municipal waste landfill impacts indicator microorganisms and bacterial endotoxins occurring in soils within the landfill’s zone of influence. The research was conducted directly at the landfill site and in the surrounding area. Soil samples were collected monthly from eight sites over three years. Microbiological analyses included determination of total Salmonella counts and bacteria of the coliform group, Clostridium spp., Clostridium perfringens, and bacterial endotoxin concentrations. Results revealed a significant effect of the landfill on soil sanitary quality, indicating that adverse impacts depended mainly on the distance from the active waste sector of the landfill. The results also confirmed the usefulness of bacterial endotoxins as indicators of soil contamination with microorganisms within the municipal landfill and surroundings. Parametric statistical analyses effectively characterised contamination levels, and the Newman–Keuls multiple comparison test proved to be a rapid and reliable tool for assessing exceedances of established sanitary standards. Findings indicate that fresh waste is a critical source of microbiological contamination in soils, and they emphasise the value of combined microbial and endotoxin monitoring for sustainable landfill environmental assessment and management. While the current study focuses on soil contamination, future research should evaluate the impact of landfill on indicator microorganisms and bacterial endotoxins in air and water. Full article

Polyethylene (PE) is one of the most persistent pollutants in the environment. Here, we enriched a microbial consortium (PEH) and isolated a bacterial strain, Bacillus cereus PE-1, capable of degrading PE from landfill soil using PE as the sole carbon source. Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant surface erosion, while weight loss reached up to 4.57% after 30 days. TGA showed a 5.88% decrease in onset degradation temperature, and contact angle measurements indicated increased hydrophilicity. Elemental analysis confirmed oxygen incorporation into the polymer matrix. Genome sequencing revealed genes associated with biofilm formation (epsA, epsB, pgaC), oxidation (laccase, copper oxidase), hydrolysis (esterase, lipase, PHB depolymerase), and β-oxidation pathways. While these genomic findings indicate a predicted capacity for assimilation, no transcriptomic or proteomic validation was performed in this study. These findings suggest that PE-1 can colonize PE, initiate oxidative cleavage, and potentially assimilate breakdown products. This study provides new insights into the microbial degradation of polyolefins and identifies a promising bacterial candidate for plastic bioremediation. Full article

Ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₃-N) is a major pollutant in municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastewaters and is a key driver of eutrophication and aquatic ecosystem degradation. This review paper assessed the potential of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) as a sustainable phytoremediation option for removing ammoniacal nitrogen from wastewater. This paper focused on the plant’s biological characteristics, nutrient uptake pathways, and adaptability to varying environmental conditions. Specific mechanisms examined include direct root uptake of ammonium, internal translocation, and microbial-assisted nitrification and denitrification within the rhizosphere. The influence of pH, temperature, salinity, retention time, and plant density on removal efficiency was also assessed in this study. Across laboratory, pilot, and field-scale studies, water hyacinth achieved ammoniacal nitrogen removal efficiencies ranging from 74% to 97% under favorable conditions, alongside significant reductions in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total dissolved solids (TDS). Integration with constructed wetlands, microbial systems, and hybrid treatment approaches further enhanced nitrogen removal and process stability. This paper also highlighted opportunities for biomass valorization through biogas, bioethanol, and compost production while identifying challenges related to salinity sensitivity and biomass management. Overall, water hyacinth emerges as a cost-effective, nature-based solution for decentralized wastewater treatment, with strong potential to support sustainable water management and circular bioeconomy initiatives. Full article

The release process of endogenous phosphorus (P) in the sediments of large ecological wetlands and their connected rivers in the plain river network area shows temporal and spatial differences. This study investigated P dynamics of the sediments in a large ecological wetland and its connected rivers in a plain river network area. Sample collection occurred across three periods (October 2024, March 2025, and July 2025). P source-sink characteristics and microbial regulatory mechanisms were analyzed to clarify differences in the P release processes between wetland (SS) and river (SH) sediments. The results showed that the total phosphorus (TP) concentration in overlying water was highest in July (0.16 mg/L), while the TP content in SS was relatively low, with a mean value of 514.1 mg/kg. SS generally acted as a P sink, with its zero equilibrium P concentrations (EPC₀) significantly lower than those of river sediments (SH), reaching a minimum of 0.01 mg/L, and its maximum P sorption capacity (Q_max) higher, with a maximum value of 1.413 mg/g. In contrast, SH mainly served as a P source, with a particularly high release risk in spring and summer. Seasonal changes significantly influenced P behavior, and sorption capacity was highest in spring (March), while the high EPC₀ of SH still facilitated P release under actual water conditions. In autumn, elevated microbial diversity enhanced organic matter mineralization to increase EPC₀ and P release risk (p < 0.05), while in summer, specific functional phyla (Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota) simultaneously regulated both adsorption capacity (Q_max) and release threshold (EPC₀) through organic matter mineralization, iron reduction, and competitive sorption (p < 0.05). This study provides scientific support for internal pollution control in ecological wetlands and watershed phosphorus management in plain river network areas. Full article

Chromium (Cr) is a common heavy-metal pollutant that poses a significant threat to both the environment and human health. Herein, a novel strain Lysinibacillus capsici FPHNCRA4-48, with a high Cr tolerance and removal performance, was isolated from Cr-contaminated plant water in Changde, Hunan Province. Structural characterization and proteomic analyses were performed to investigate the Cr removal performance and molecular mechanism of L. capsici FPHNCRA4-48. FPHNCRA4-48 can effectively remove more than 99% of the Cr(VI) at an initial concentration of 1000 μmol/L. The FTIR, 3D-EEM, and XPS results revealed that -OH, -NH₂, and -CO-NH₂ derived from extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) were mainly involved in Cr(VI) removal. Interestingly, the protein content in the EPS increased significantly (1.32-fold) after exposure to Cr(VI). Moreover, proteomic analysis revealed that genes (rpmA, rpmI, rpmC, rplI, rpmD, deoB, deoC) related to translation and carbohydrate metabolism, and genes (pyk, icd, rpiB, eno) related to amino acid biosynthesis were all significantly up-regulated, suggesting that these pathways related to protein synthesis in L. capsici FPHNCRA4-48 were activated under Cr(VI) stress. Finally, KEGG ribosome pathway enrichment occurred. These data highlight the importance of microbial EPSs in bioremediation in Cr-polluted environments. This study identified highly efficient Cr(VI)-removing bacterial strains and conducted an in-depth analysis of the removal mechanism of their extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs), thereby providing theoretical foundations and technical support for the biological remediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated water bodies. Full article

Rivers are dynamic systems that flow from higher elevations to lowlands, eventually discharging into lakes, seas, or oceans, and play a key role in sustaining ecosystems and supporting human activities. River basin characterisation extends beyond the watercourse itself, encompassing land uses, tributaries and hydromorphological features that influence ecological processes. This review analyses three river basins in northern Portugal, Ave, Douro, and Vouga, using a holistic characterisation approach. These basins represent contrasting river systems in terms of size, hydrological regulation and dominant land uses, while simultaneously being subject to pressures frequently reported in many other river basins in Europe, and around the world. The analysis includes a general basin description, a hydromorphological assessment with emphasis on land use, and an evaluation of water ecological status, with particular focus on estuarine ecosystems. Water quality in the three basins has been strongly influenced by anthropogenic pressures, including industrial and agricultural activities, and wastewater discharges. Although the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive has led to improvements in recent decades, the degree of recovery varies among basins. Persistent challenges, such as nutrient concentrations, microbial contamination, and heavy metal pollution, highlight the need for integrated river basin management and improved monitoring strategies. This review provides transferable insights for the management of river basins facing similar environmental pressures. Full article

With the rapid development of intensive animal husbandry, the widespread use of livestock and poultry manure as organic fertilizers has become a major anthropogenic source of antibiotic contamination in agricultural soils. Antibiotics, classified as “emerging contaminants” owing to their persistence, biological activity, and potential ecotoxicity, undergo environmental fate processes such as adsorption–desorption, migration, transformation, and degradation upon entering orchard soils, with their behaviors regulated by multiple factors, including soil physicochemical properties, microbial communities, and climatic conditions. Antibiotics not only alter the structure and diversity of soil microbial communities, inhibit soil enzyme activities, and interfere with the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus nutrients but also induce the generation and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and affect the growth and reproduction of soil animals, triggering cascading effects on ecological processes. Moreover, antibiotics can be absorbed by fruit tree roots and transported to aboveground organs via the xylem or phloem. By interfering with photosynthesis, disrupting antioxidant systems, and affecting hormone balance, they inhibit the growth and development of fruit trees, thereby altering the appearance, nutritional, and flavor qualities of fruits. Furthermore, antibiotic residues and ARGs in fruits pose potential risks to food safety. This paper thoroughly analyzes the pollution levels, environmental interactions, and disposition of antibiotics in orchard soils, focusing on the mechanisms that influence their impact on soil microecology and biochemical processes. It also explores the absorption, transport, and accumulation patterns of antibiotics in fruit trees, as well as their effects on tree physiology, growth, fruit quality, and safety. Finally, the current research gaps and prospects are identified, aiming to provide a theoretical basis for ecological risk assessment, scientific prevention and control of antibiotic contamination in orchard ecosystems, and safeguarding of agricultural product safety. Full article