Recent developments in the biology and biotechnological applications of halotolerant yeasts.

Natural hypersaline environments are inhabited by an abundance of prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms capable of thriving under extreme saline conditions. Yeasts represent a substantial fraction of halotolerant eukaryotic microbiomes and are frequently isolated as food contaminants and from solar salterns. During the last years, a handful of new species has been discovered in moderate saline environments, including estuarine and deep-sea waters. Although Saccharomyces cerevisiae is considered the primary osmoadaptation model system for studies of hyperosmotic stress conditions, our increasing understanding of the physiology and molecular biology of halotolerant yeasts provides new insights into their distinct metabolic traits and provides novel and innovative opportunities for genome mining of biotechnologically relevant genes. Yeast species such as Debaryomyces hansenii, Zygosaccharomyces rouxii, Hortaea werneckii and Wallemia ichthyophaga show unique properties, which make them attractive for biotechnological applications. Select halotolerant yeasts are used in food processing and contribute to aromas and taste, while certain gene clusters are used in second generation biofuel production. Finally, both pharmaceutical and chemical industries benefit from applications of halotolerant yeasts as biocatalysts. This comprehensive review summarizes the most recent findings related to the biology of industrially-important halotolerant yeasts and provides a detailed and up-to-date description of modern halotolerant yeast-based biotechnological applications.

Restructured fungal community diversity and biological interactions promote metolachlor biodegradation in soil microbial fuel cells.

Soil microbial fuel cells (MFCs) provide an inexhaustible electron acceptor for the removal of metolachlor and in situ biocurrent stimulation for fungal activity was investigated. The metolachlor degradation rates enhanced by 33%-36% upon the introduction of electrodes after 23 d. In closed MFCs, the abundance of Mortierella as the most dominant genus increased to 43%-54% from 17% in the original soil, whereas those of Aphanoascus and Penicillium decreased to 0.24%-0.39% and 0.38-0.72% from 14% to 11%, respectively. Additionally, a 10-fold amplification of unique OTUs was observed, mainly from increase on the electrode surface. The different treatments were clustered, especially samples near the cathode. The linear discriminant analysis showed that Aphanoascus fulvescens acted as a biomarker between the original and treated soils. The co-occurrence networks demonstrated that Mortierella universally competed for growth with coexisting species while Cladosporium exhibited the most affiliations with species from the 36 other genera present. The correlation analysis indicated that the species associated with degradation belonged to Mortierella, Kernia, Chaetomium and Trichosporon, while the species associated with electrogenesis were Debaryomyces hansenii and Mortierella polycephala. Importantly, this study is the first to reveal fungal community structure in soil MFCs with degrading pollutants and producing electricity.

Study on the metabolites of DH-e, a Halomonas marine bacterium, against three toxic dinoflagellate species.

Algicidal bacteria play an important role in mitigating harmful algal blooms (HABs). In the study, five bacterial strains were isolated from the East China Sea. One strain of algicidal bacterium, named DH-e, was found to selectively inhibit the motor ability of Prorocentrum donghaiense, Alexandrium tamarense (ATDH-47) and Karenia mikimotoi Hansen. Both 16S rDNA sequence analysis and morphological characteristics revealed that the algicidal DH-e bacterium belonged to Halomonas. Furthermore, results showed that the metabolites in the DH-e cell-free filtrate could kill algae directly, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the bacterial metabolites on the cells of the three dinoflagellate species ranged from 35.0-70.0 µg/mL. Following short-term inhibitory tests, the dinoflagellates in mixed crude extract solution (0.7 mg/mL) ceased movement after 5 min. The algicidal mechanism of the metabolites was investigated through enzyme activities, including that of catalase (CAT), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), acetone peroxide (T-ATP) synthetase and nitrite reductase (NR). Results indicated that metabolites did not disrupt the energy or nutrient routes of the algae (P > 0.05), but did initiate an increase in free radicals in the algal cells, which might explain the subsequent death of sensitive algae. Thus, the metabolites of the DH-e bacterium showed promising potential for controlling HABs.

Leaching of rare earth elements from fluorescent powder using the tea fungus Kombucha.

In most modern technologies such as flat screens, highly effective magnets and lasers, as well as luminescence phosphors, Rare Earth Elements (REE) are used. Unfortunately no environmentally friendly recycling process exists so far. In comparison to other elements the interaction of microorganisms with REE has been studied to a less extent. However, as REE are ubiquitously present in nature it can be assumed that microorganisms play an important role in the biogeochemistry of REE. This study investigates the potential of organic acid-producing microbes for extracting REE from industrial waste. In Germany, 175 tons of fluorescent phosphor (FP) are collected per year as a distinct fraction from the recycling of compact fluorescent lamps. Because the FP contains about 10% of REE-oxides bound in the so-called triband dyes it is a readily accessible secondary resource of REE. Using the symbiotic mixed culture Kombucha, consisting of yeasts and acetic acid bacteria, REE were leached at a significant rate. The highest leaching-rates were observed in shake cultures using the entire Kombucha-consortium or its supernatant as leaching agent compared to experiments using the isolates Zygosaccharomyces lentus and Komagataeibacter hansenii as leaching organisms. During the cultivation, the pH decreased as a result of organic acid production (mainly acetic and gluconic acid). Thus, the underlying mechanism of the triband dye solubilisation is probably linked to the carboxyl-functionality or a proton excess. In accordance with the higher solubility of REE-oxides compared to REE-phosphates and -aluminates, the red dye Y2O3:Eu2+ containing relatively expensive REE was shown to be preferentially solubilized. These results show that it is possible to dissolve the REE-compounds of FP with the help of microbial processes. Moreover, they provide the basis for the development of an eco-friendly alternative to the currently applied methods that use strong inorganic acids or toxic chemicals.

Fungal diversity in composting process of pig manure and mushroom cultural waste based on partial sequence of large subunit rRNA.

Fungal diversity during composting was investigated by culture-independent rDNA sequence analysis. Composting was carried out with pig manure and mushroom cultural waste using a field-scale composter (Hazaka system), and samples were collected at various stages. Based on partial sequence analysis of large subunit (LSU) ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and sequence identity values, a total of 12 different fungal species were found at six sampling sites; Geotrichum sp., Debaryomyces hansenii, Monographella nivalis, Acremonium strictum, Acremonium alternatum, Cladosporium sphaerospermum, Myriangium durosai, Pleurotus eryngii, Malassezia globosa, Malassezia restricta, Rhodotorula glutinis, and Fusarium sporotrichioides. Geotrichum sp. of the class Saccharomycetes was the most predominant fungal species throughout the composting process (185 out of a total of 236 identified clones, or 78.4%), followed by Acremonium strictum (7.6%), Monographella nivalis (5.1%), and Pleurotus eryngii (3.8%). The prevalence of Geotrichum sp. was the lowest (61.1%) at the beginning of composting, and then gradually increased to 92.5% after 10 days of composting.

Desulfomusa hansenii gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel marine propionate-degrading, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from Zostera marina roots.

The physiology and phylogeny of a novel sulfate-reducing bacterium, isolated from surface-sterilized roots of the marine macrophyte Zostera marina, are presented. The strain, designated P1T, was enriched and isolated in defined oxygen-free, bicarbonate-buffered, iron-reduced seawater medium with propionate as sole carbon source and electron donor and sulfate as electron acceptor. Strain P1T had a rod-shaped, slightly curved cell morphology and was motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Cells generally aggregated in clumps throughout the growth phase. High CaCl2 (10 mM) and MgCl2 (50 mM) concentrations were required for optimum growth. In addition to propionate, strain P1T utilized fumarate, succinate, pyruvate, ethanol, butanol and alanine. Oxidation of propionate was incomplete and acetate was formed in stoichiometric amounts. Strain P1T thus resembles members of the sulfate-reducing genera Desulfobulbus and Desulforhopalus, which both oxidize propionate incompletely and form acetate in addition to CO2. However, sequence analysis of the small-subunit rDNA and the dissimilatory sulfite reductase gene revealed that strain P1T was unrelated to the incomplete oxidizers Desulfobulbus and Desulforhopalus and that it constitutes a novel lineage affiliated with the genera Desulfococcus, Desulfosarcina, Desulfonema and 'Desulfobotulus'. Members of this branch, with the exception of 'Desulfobotulus sapovorans', oxidize a variety of substrates completely to CO2. Strain P1T (= DSM 12642T = ATCC 700811T) is therefore proposed as Desulfomusa hansenii gen. nov., sp. nov. Strain p1T thus illustrates the difficulty of extrapolating rRNA similarities to physiology and/or ecological function.

Microbial degradation of amygdalin of bitter apricot seeds (Prunus armeniaca).

Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glycoside occurring among others in almonds and bitter apricot seeds with interesting levels of dietary protein. Utilization of seeds for human or animal nutrition requires adequate detoxification. In the present paper, selected filamentous fungi (Mucor circinelloides, Penicillium nalgiovense) and yeasts (Hanseniaspora valbyensis, Endomyces fibuliger) were tested for their in-situ ability to decompose amygdalin. The latter (Endomyces fibuliger) was best able to grow on autoclaved bitter apricot seeds and detoxify them from 30 microMol CN/g dry matter to less than 1 microMol CN/g dry matter after 48 h of incubation at 27 degrees C.

Fracture fixation with biodegradable rods. Forty-one cases of severe ankle fractures.

In a prospective study of 41 patients, severe ankle fractures of Lauge-Hansen types SE III-IV, PA III, and PE III-IV were treated by open reduction and internal fixation using biodegradable self-reinforced polyglycolide cylinder-shaped rods. Disruption of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis and/or fracture of the posterior tibial margin requiring reduction and fixation were the inclusion criteria for the study. The mean follow-up time after operation was 16 (12-32) months. Two failures of fixation necessitated reoperation. A secondary displacement of 1-2 mm of the lateral malleolus occurred in 3 cases. Transient accumulation of soluble polyglycolide mass complicated the course in 3 cases, but did not influence the radiographic or the functional result. Function became good in 30 patients. The advantage of the biodegradable implants is that they do not need to be removed at secondary operations.