Endophytic Aspergillii and Penicillii from medicinal plants: a focus on antimicrobial and multidrug resistant pathogens inhibitory activity.

The rise of multidrug resistance among microorganisms, where they develop resistance against formerly efficacious drugs, has led to increased disease prevalence and mortality rates, posing a growing challenge. Globally, antibiotic resistance has made a significant impact, causing millions of fatalities each year. Endophytic fungi have gained considerable attention in research due to their potential to produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites, including natural substances with antimicrobial capabilities. The genera Aspergillus and Penicillium stand out as the most prevalent species of endophytic fungi. Filamentous fungi, such as these are responsible for the production of 45% of known microbial metabolites. This review focuses on exploring the bioactive substances produced by endophytic fungi from these two genera, particularly in conjunction with medicinal plants. Emphasis is placed on their antimicrobial activity and their ability to inhibit multidrug-resistant pathogens. As the need for alternative treatments to combat drug-resistant infections continues to grow, endophytic fungi have the potential to provide a valuable source of bioactive molecules for medical applications.

The interplay between the inoculation of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria and the rhizosphere microbiome and their impact on plant phenotype.

Microbial inoculation stands as a pivotal strategy, fostering symbiotic relationships between beneficial microorganisms and plants, thereby enhancing nutrient uptake, bolstering resilience against environmental stressors, and ultimately promoting healthier and more productive plant growth. However, while the advantageous roles of inoculants are widely acknowledged, the precise and nuanced impacts of inoculation on the intricate interactions of the rhizosphere microbiome remain significantly underexplored. This study explores the impact of bacterial inoculation on soil properties, plant growth, and the rhizosphere microbiome. By employing various bacterial strains and a synthetic community (SynCom) as inoculants in common bean plants, the bacterial and fungal communities in the rhizosphere were assessed through 16 S rRNA and ITS gene sequencing. Concurrently, soil chemical parameters, plant traits, and gene expression were evaluated. The findings revealed that bacterial inoculation generally decreased pH and V%, while increasing H+Al and m% in the rhizosphere. It also decreased gene expression in plants related to detoxification, photosynthesis, and defense mechanisms, while enhancing bacterial diversity in the rhizosphere, potentially benefiting plant health. Specific bacterial strains showed varied impacts on rhizosphere microbiome assembly, predominantly affecting rhizospheric bacteria more than fungi, indirectly influencing soil conditions and plants. Notably, Paenibacillus polymyxa inoculation improved plant nitrogen (by 5.2%) and iron levels (by 28.1%), whereas Bacillus cereus boosted mycorrhization rates (by 70%). Additionally, inoculation led to increased complexity in network interactions within the rhizosphere (∼15%), potentially impacting plant health. Overall, the findings highlight the significant impact of introducing bacteria to the rhizosphere, enhancing nutrient availability, microbial diversity, and fostering beneficial plant-microbe interactions.

Short-term restoration practices change the bacterial community in degraded soil from the Brazilian semiarid.

Land degradation by deforestation adversely impacts soil properties, and long-term restoration practices have been reported to potentially reverse these effects, particularly on soil microorganisms. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the short-term effects of restoration on the soil bacterial community in semiarid areas. This study evaluates the bacterial community in soils experiencing degradation (due to slash-and-burn deforestation) and restoration (utilizing stone cordons and revegetation), in comparison to a native soil in the Brazilian semiarid region. Three areas were selected: (a) under degradation; (b) undergoing short-term restoration; and (c) a native area, and the bacterial community was assessed using 16S rRNA sequencing on soil samples collected during both dry and rainy seasons. The dry and rainy seasons exhibited distinct bacterial patterns, and native sites differed from degraded and restoration sites. Chloroflexi and Proteobacteria phyla exhibited higher prevalence in degraded and restoration sites, respectively, while Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria were more abundant in sites undergoing restoration compared to degraded sites. Microbial connections varied across sites and seasons, with an increase in nodes observed in the native site during the dry season, more edges and positive connections in the restoration site, and a higher occurrence of negative connections in the degradation site during the rainy season. Niche occupancy analysis revealed that degradation favored specialists over generalists, whereas restoration exhibited a higher prevalence of generalists compared to native sites. Specifically, degraded sites showed a higher abundance of specialists in contrast to restoration sites. This study reveals that land degradation impacts the soil bacterial community, leading to differences between native and degraded sites. Restoring the soil over a short period alters the status of the bacterial community in degraded soil, fostering an increase in generalist microbes that contribute to enhanced soil stability.

Soil fertility impact on recruitment and diversity of the soil microbiome in sub-humid tropical pastures in Northeastern Brazil.

Soil fertility is key point to pastures systems and drives the microbial communities and their functionality. Therefore, an understanding of the interaction between soil fertility and microbial communities can increase our ability to manage pasturelands and maintain their soil functioning and productivity. This study probed the influence of soil fertility on microbial communities in tropical pastures in Brazil. Soil samples, gathered from the top 20 cm of twelve distinct areas with diverse fertility levels, were analyzed via 16S rRNA sequencing. The soils were subsequently classified into two categories, namely high fertility (HF) and low fertility (LF), using the K-Means clustering. The random forest analysis revealed that high fertility (HF) soils had more bacterial diversity, predominantly Proteobacteria, Nitrospira, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidetes, while Acidobacteria increased in low fertility (LF) soils. High fertility (HF) soils exhibited more complex network interactions and an enrichment of nitrogen-cycling bacterial groups. Additionally, functional annotation based on 16S rRNA varied between clusters. Microbial groups in HF soil demonstrated enhanced functions such as nitrate reduction, aerobic ammonia oxidation, and aromatic compound degradation. In contrast, in the LF soil, the predominant processes were ureolysis, cellulolysis, methanol oxidation, and methanotrophy. Our findings expand our knowledge about how soil fertility drives bacterial communities in pastures.

Genomic insights of Fictibacillus terranigra sp. nov., a versatile metabolic bacterium from Amazonian Dark Earths.

The Amazon rainforest, a hotspot for biodiversity, is a crucial research area for scientists seeking novel microorganisms with ecological and biotechnological significance. A key region within the Amazon rainforest is the Amazonian Dark Earths (ADE), noted for supporting diverse plant and microbial communities, and its potential as a blueprint for sustainable agriculture. This study delineates the isolation, morphological traits, carbon source utilization, and genomic features of Fictibacillus terranigra CENA-BCM004, a candidate novel species of the Fictibacillus genus isolated from ADE. The genome of Fictibacillus terranigra was sequenced, resulting in 16 assembled contigs, a total length of 4,967,627 bp, and a GC content of 43.65%. Genome annotation uncovered 3315 predicted genes, encompassing a wide range of genes linked to various metabolic pathways. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CENA-BCM004 is a putative new species, closely affiliated with other unidentified Fictibacillus species and Bacillus sp. WQ 8-8. Moreover, this strain showcased a multifaceted metabolic profile, revealing its potential for diverse biotechnological applications. It exhibited capabilities to antagonize pathogens, metabolize multiple sugars, mineralize organic matter compounds, and solubilize several minerals. These insights substantially augment our comprehension of microbial diversity in ADE and underscore the potential of Fictibacillus terranigra as a precious resource for biotechnological endeavors. The genomic data generated from this study will serve as a foundational resource for subsequent research and exploration of the biotechnological capabilities of this newly identified species.

From desertification to restoration in the Brazilian semiarid region: Unveiling the potential of land restoration on soil microbial properties.

Land desertification poses a significant challenge in the Brazilian semiarid region, encompassing a substantial portion of the country. Within this region, the detrimental effects of human activities, particularly unsuitable anthropic actions, have resulted in diminished vegetation cover and an accelerated rate of soil erosion. Notably, practices such as overgrazing and the conversion of native forests into pasturelands have played a pivotal role in exacerbating the process of land desertification. Ultimately, land desertification results in significant losses of soil organic matter and microbial diversity. To address this pressing issue and contribute to the existing literature, various land restoration practices, such as grazing exclusion, cover crops, and terracing, have been implemented in the Brazilian semiarid. These practices have shown promising results in terms of enhancing soil fertility and restoring microbial properties. Nonetheless, their effectiveness in improving soil microbial properties in the Brazilian semiarid region remains a subject of ongoing study. Recent advances in molecular techniques have improved our understanding of microbial communities in lands undergoing desertification and restoration. In this review, we focus on assessing the effectiveness of these restoration practices in revitalizing soil microbial properties, with a particular emphasis on the soil microbiome and its functions. Through a critical assessment of the impact of these practices on soil microbial properties, our research aims to provide valuable insights that can help mitigate the adverse effects of desertification and promote sustainable development in this ecologically sensitive region.

Repeated exposure of wheat to the fungal root pathogen Bipolaris sorokiniana modulates rhizosphere microbiome assembly and disease suppressiveness.

BACKGROUND: Disease suppressiveness of soils to fungal root pathogens is typically induced in the field by repeated infections of the host plant and concomitant changes in the taxonomic composition and functional traits of the rhizosphere microbiome. Here, we studied this remarkable phenomenon for Bipolaris sorokiniana in two wheat cultivars differing in resistance to this fungal root pathogen. RESULTS: The results showed that repeated exposure of the susceptible wheat cultivar to the pathogen led to a significant reduction in disease severity after five successive growth cycles. Surprisingly, the resistant wheat cultivar, initially included as a control, showed the opposite pattern with an increase in disease severity after repeated pathogen exposure. Amplicon analyses revealed that the bacterial families Chitinophagaceae, Anaerolineaceae and Nitrosomonadaceae were associated with disease suppressiveness in the susceptible wheat cultivar; disease suppressiveness in the resistant wheat cultivar was also associated with Chitinophagaceae and a higher abundance of Comamonadaceae. Metagenome analysis led to the selection of 604 Biosynthetic Gene Clusters (BGCs), out of a total of 2,571 identified by AntiSMASH analysis, that were overrepresented when the soil entered the disease suppressive state. These BGCs are involved in the biosynthesis of terpenes, non-ribosomal peptides, polyketides, aryl polyenes and post-translationally modified peptides. CONCLUSION: Combining taxonomic and functional profiling we identified key changes in the rhizosphere microbiome during disease suppression. This illustrates how the host plant relies on the rhizosphere microbiome as the first line of defense to fight soil-borne pathogens. Microbial taxa and functions identified here can be used in novel strategies to control soil-borne fungal pathogens.

Phytotherapy: knowledge, experience and prescription in oral healthcare. A cross-sectional survey of dental practitioners / Conhecimento, experiência e prescrição de fitoterapia em saúde bucal: Um levantamento transversal com dentistas clínicos

ABSTRACT Herbal medicine is widely used as an integrative complementary treatment for common chronic diseases, yet potential risks include adverse effects and coprescription Aim This exploratory survey assessed Brazilian dentists' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding phytotherapy Material and Method This study used a consecutive sample of registered dentists who were active in clinical practice and attending advanced training for complex oral rehabilitation at a leading dental school in Latin America. Participants responded to a semi-structured 38-item instrument designed to collect data on sociodemographic, professional and health variables, and on their knowledge, use, prescription and opinions of phytotherapy. Quantitative data were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data were described and analyzed with a thematic approach Results A total 53 dentists responded the survey (88.3% response rate). Six dentists reported formal education in phytotherapy and 33 had informal knowledge. Twenty-one dentists (39.6%) reported using herbal medicine, and 17 (32.1%) prescribed phytotherapy to their patients, mostly traditional medicinal plants. A logistic regression model showed that post-graduate degree and personal use of phytotherapy were associated with phytotherapy prescription. Opinions on how to improve the rational use of phytotherapy included the need for research evidence, specific academic education, and knowledge dissemination to clinicians. As a clinical recommendation, it was proposed that questions on herbal medicine should be asked during the dental patient's anamnesis Conclusions Dentists with post-graduate degrees and personal use of phytotherapy prescribe herbal medicines for their patients in real-world clinics, regardless of formal education on the subject. Qualitative findings indicate the need to implement scientific initiatives.

RESUMO A fitoterapia é amplamente utilizada como um tratamento integrativo e complementar para doenças crônicas comuns, mas os riscos potenciais incluem efeitos adversos e co-prescrição Objetivo Esta pesquisa exploratória avaliou o conhecimento, as atitudes e as práticas de cirurgiões-dentistas brasileiros sobre fitoterapia Materiais e Método Uma amostra consecutiva foi composta por dentistas com registro profissional, que eram ativos em prática clínica e frequentavam treinamento avançado para reabilitação oral complexa em uma das principais escolas de odontologia da América Latina. Os participantes responderam a um instrumento semiestruturado de 38 itens para coletar dados sobre variáveis sociodemográficas, profissionais e de saúde, bem como conhecimento, uso, prescrição e opiniões sobre fitoterapia. Os dados quantitativos foram analisados com estatística descritiva e inferencial. Os dados qualitativos foram descritos e analisados com abordagem temática Resultados Um total de 53 dentistas respondeu à pesquisa (taxa de resposta de 88,3%). Seis cirurgiões-dentistas relataram formação em fitoterapia e 33 possuíam conhecimento informal. Vinte e um dentistas (39,6%) relataram o uso de fitoterápicos e 17 (32,1%) prescreveram fitoterapia para seus pacientes, principalmente plantas medicinais tradicionais. Um modelo de regressão logística mostrou que pós-graduação e uso pessoal de fitoterapia estiveram associados à prescrição de fitoterapia. As opiniões para melhorar o uso racional da fitoterapia incluíram a necessidade de evidências de pesquisa, formação acadêmica específica e disseminação do conhecimento para os clínicos. Como recomendação clínica, foram propostas questões sobre fitoterapia para a anamnese odontológica do paciente Conclusões Cirurgiões-dentistas com pós-graduação e uso pessoal de fitoterapia prescrevem mais medicamentos fitoterápicos para seus pacientes em clínicas do mundo real, independentemente da educação formal sobre o assunto. Os resultados qualitativos indicam a necessidade de iniciativas de implementação científica.

Draft genome sequences of representative Paenibacillus polymyxa, Bacillus cereus, Fictibacillus sp., and Brevibacillus agri strains isolated from Amazonian dark earth.

Here, we report 10 distinct bacterial genomes from Amazonian dark earths, including six identified as Paenibacillus polymyxa, while the remaining four were unique representatives of Paenibacillus vini, Bacillus cereus, Brevibacillus agri, and Fictibacillus sp., respectively. Each strain exhibited antagonistic activity against Fusarium oxysporum, underscoring their potential as sustainable agriculture resources.

Soil and foliar Si fertilization alters elemental stoichiometry and increases yield of sugarcane cultivars.

Silicon (Si) fertilization is widely recognized to improve the development of crops, especially in tropical soils and cultivation under dryland management. Herein, our working hypothesis was that Si stoichiometry favors the efficient use of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) in sugarcane plants. Therefore, a field experiment was carried out using a 3 × 3 factorial scheme consisting of three cultivars (RB92579, RB021754 and RB036066) and three forms of Si application (control without Si; sodium silicate spray at 40 mmol L-1 in soil during planting; sodium silicate spray at 40 mmol L-1 on leaves at 75 days after emergence). All Si fertilizations altered the elemental C and P stoichiometry and sugarcane yield, but silicon-induced responses varied depending on sugarcane cultivar and application method. The most prominent impacts were found in the leaf Si-sprayed RB92579 cultivar, with a significant increase of 7.0% (11 Mg ha-1) in stalk yield, 9.0% (12 Mg ha-1) in total recoverable sugar, and 20% (4 Mg ha-1) in sugar yield compared to the Si-without control. In conclusion, our findings clearly show that silicon soil and foliar fertilization alter C:N:P stoichiometry by enhancing the efficiency of carbon and phosphorus utilization, leading to improved sugarcane production and industrial quality.

Responses of a 6LiI Bonner Sphere Spectrometer using the Monte Carlo codes PHITS and MCNPX.

The response functions (RFs) of a Bonner Sphere Spectrometer (BSS) with a 6LiI thermal neutron detector were calculated using the Monte Carlo codes PHITS (version 3.26) and MCNPX (version 2.7.0), with their own default nuclear data libraries, and physics models. RFs were compared with other published data, obtained for the same spectrometer using the MCNP6.1 code with its own physics models. A discussion on the influence of using different nuclear data libraries and physics models using these codes/versions is analyzed.

Impact of the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum on the taxonomic and functional diversity of the common bean root microbiome.

BACKGROUND: Plants rely on their root microbiome as the first line of defense against soil-borne fungal pathogens. The abundance and activities of beneficial root microbial taxa at the time prior to and during fungal infection are key to their protective success. If and how invading fungal root pathogens can disrupt microbiome assembly and gene expression is still largely unknown. Here, we investigated the impact of the fungal pathogen Fusarium oxysporum (fox) on the assembly of rhizosphere and endosphere microbiomes of a fox-susceptible and fox-resistant common bean cultivar. RESULTS: Integration of 16S-amplicon, shotgun metagenome as well as metatranscriptome sequencing with community ecology analysis showed that fox infections significantly changed the composition and gene expression of the root microbiome in a cultivar-dependent manner. More specifically, fox infection led to increased microbial diversity, network complexity, and a higher proportion of the genera Flavobacterium, Bacillus, and Dyadobacter in the rhizosphere of the fox-resistant cultivar compared to the fox-susceptible cultivar. In the endosphere, root infection also led to changes in community assembly, with a higher abundance of the genera Sinorhizobium and Ensifer in the fox-resistant cultivar. Metagenome and metatranscriptome analyses further revealed the enrichment of terpene biosynthesis genes with a potential role in pathogen suppression in the fox-resistant cultivar upon fungal pathogen invasion. CONCLUSION: Collectively, these results revealed a cultivar-dependent enrichment of specific bacterial genera and the activation of putative disease-suppressive functions in the rhizosphere and endosphere microbiome of common bean under siege.

Linking above and belowground carbon sequestration, soil organic matter properties, and soil health in Brazilian Atlantic Forest restoration.

Forest restoration mitigates climate change by removing CO2 and storing C in terrestrial ecosystems. However, incomplete information on C storage in restored tropical forests often fails to capture the ecosystem's holistic C dynamics. This study provides an integrated assessment of C storage in above to belowground subsystems, its consequences for greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes, and the quantity, quality, and origin of soil organic matter (SOM) in restored Atlantic forests in Brazil. Relations between SOM properties and soil health indicators were also explored. We examined two restorations using tree planting ('active restoration'): an 8-year-old forest with green manure and native trees planted in two rounds, and a 15-year-old forest with native-planted trees in one round without green manure. Restorations were compared to reformed pasture and primary forest sites. We measured C storage in soil layers (0-10, 10-20, and 20-30 cm), litter, and plants. GHG emissions were assessed using CH4 and CO2 fluxes. SOM quantity was evaluated using C and N, quality using humification index (HLIFS), and origin using δ13C and δ15N. Nine soil health indicators were interrelated with SOM attributes. The primary forest presented the highest C stocks (107.7 Mg C ha-1), followed by 15- and 8-year-old restorations and pasture with 69.8, 55.5, and 41.8 Mg C ha-1, respectively. Soil C stocks from restorations and pasture were 20% lower than primary forest. However, 8- and 15-year-old restorations stored 12.3 and 28.3 Mg ha-1 more aboveground C than pasture. The younger forest had δ13C and δ15N values of 2.1 and 1.7‰, respectively, lower than the 15-year-old forest, indicating more C derived from C3 plants and biological N fixation. Both restorations and pasture had at least 34% higher HLIFS in deeper soil layers (10-30 cm) than primary forest, indicating a lack of labile SOM. Native and 15-year-old forests exhibited higher soil methane influx (141.1 and 61.9 µg m-2 h-1). Forests outperformed pasture in most soil health indicators, with 69% of their variance explained by SOM properties. However, SOM quantity and quality regeneration in both restorations approached the pristine forest state only in the top 10 cm layer, while deeper soil retained agricultural degradation legacies. In conclusion, active restoration of the Atlantic Forest is a superior approach compared to pasture reform for GHG mitigation. Nonetheless, the development of restoration techniques to facilitate labile C input into deeper soil layers (>10 cm) is needed to further improve soil multifunctionality and long-term C storage.

Exploring the diversity and composition of soil microbial communities in different soybean-maize management systems.

Soybean-maize are cultivated in different management systems, such as no-tillage and pastures, which presents potential to add organic residues, and it can potentially impacts the soil microbial community present in these systems. Thus, this study aimed to examine the effects of different soybean-maize management practices on the diversity and composition of soil microbial communities. Specifically, 16 S rRNA amplicon sequencing was used to investigate whether the use of pasture species in a fallowing system influences microbial communities in a soybean-maize rotation system, as compared to conventional tillage and no-tillage systems. The results indicate that the inclusion of the pasture species Urochloa brizantha in soybean-maize management systems leads to distinct responses within the soil microbial community. It was found that different soybean-maize management systems, particularly those with U. brizantha, affected the microbial community, likely due to the management applied to this pasture species. The system with 3 years of fallowing before soybean-maize showed the lowest microbial richness (∼2000 operational taxonomic units) and diversity index (∼6.0). Proteobacteria (∼30%), Acidobacteria (∼15%), and Verrucomicrobia (∼10%) were found to be the most abundant phyla in the soil under tropical native vegetation, while soils under cropland had an increased abundance of Firmicutes (∼30% to ∼50%) and Actinobacteria (∼30% to ∼35%). To summarize, this study identified the impacts of various soybean-maize management practices on the soil microbial community and emphasized the advantages of adding U. brizantha as a fallow species.

Interkingdom interaction: the soil isopod Porcellio scaber stimulates the methane-driven bacterial and fungal interaction.

Porcellio scaber (woodlice) are (sub-)surface-dwelling isopods, widely recognized as "soil bioengineers", modifying the edaphic properties of their habitat, and affecting carbon and nitrogen mineralization that leads to greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, the impact of soil isopods on methane-cycling processes remains unknown. Using P. scaber as a model macroinvertebrate in a microcosm study, we determined how the isopod influences methane uptake and the associated interaction network in an agricultural soil. Stable isotope probing (SIP) with 13C-methane was combined to a co-occurrence network analysis to directly link activity to the methane-oxidizing community (bacteria and fungus) involved in the trophic interaction. Compared to microcosms without the isopod, P. scaber significantly induced methane uptake, associated to a more complex bacteria-bacteria and bacteria-fungi interaction, and modified the soil nutritional status. Interestingly, 13C was transferred via the methanotrophs into the fungi, concomitant to significantly higher fungal abundance in the P. scaber-impacted soil, indicating that the fungal community utilized methane-derived substrates in the food web along with bacteria. Taken together, results showed the relevance of P. scaber in modulating methanotrophic activity with implications for bacteria-fungus interaction.

Forest restoration rehabilitates soil multifunctionality in riparian zones of sugarcane production landscapes.

Brazilian sugarcane plays a vital role in the production of both sugar and renewable energy. However, land use change and long-term conventional sugarcane cultivation have degraded entire watersheds, including a substantial loss of soil multifunctionality. In our study, riparian zones have been reforested to mitigate these impacts, protect aquatic ecosystems, and restore ecological corridors within the sugarcane production landscapes. We examined (i) how forest restoration enables rehabilitation of the soil's multifunctionality after long-term sugarcane cultivation and (ii) how long it takes to regain ecosystem functions comparable to those of a primary forest. We investigated a time series of riparian forests at 6, 15, and 30 years after starting restoration by planting trees (named 'active restoration') and determined soil C stocks, δ13C (indicative of C origin), as well as measures indicative of soil health. A primary forest and a long-term sugarcane field were used as references. Eleven soil physical, chemical, and biological indicators were used for a structured soil health assessment, calculating index scores based on soil functions. Forest-to-cane conversion reduced 30.6 Mg ha-1 of soil C stocks, causing soil compaction and loss of cation exchange capacity, thus degrading soil's physical, chemical, and biological functions. Forest restoration for 6-30 years recovered 16-20 Mg C ha-1 stored in soils. In all restored sites, soil functions such as supporting root growth, aerating the soil, nutrient storage capacity, and providing C energy for microbial activity were gradually recovered. Thirty years of active restoration was sufficient to reach the primary forest state in overall soil health index, multifunctional performance, and C sequestration. We conclude that active forest restoration in sugarcane-dominated landscapes is an effective way to restore soil multifunctionality approaching the level of the native forest in approximately three decades. Moreover, the C sequestration in the restored forest soils will help to mediate global warming.

Short-term responses of plant growth-promoting bacterial community to the herbicides imazethapyr and flumioxazin.

Imazethapyr and flumioxazin are widely recommended herbicides for soybean fields due to their broad-spectrum effects. However, although both herbicides present low persistence, their potential impact on the community of plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) is unclear. To address this gap, this study assessed the short-term effect of imazethapyr, flumioxazin, and their mixture on the PGPB community. Soil samples from soybean fields were treated with these herbicides and incubated for 60 days. We extracted soil DNA at 0, 15, 30, and 60 days and sequenced the 16S rRNA gene. In general, the herbicides presented temporary and short-term effects on PGPB. The relative abundance of Bradyrhizobium increased, while Sphingomonas decreased on the 30th day with the application of all herbicides. Both herbicides increased the potential function of nitrogen fixation at 15th days and decreased at 30th and 60th days of incubation. The proportions of generalists were similar (∼42%) comparing each herbicide and the control, while the proportion of specialists increased (varying from 24.9% to 27.6%) with the application of herbicides. Imazethapyr, flumioxazin and their mixture did not change the complexity and interactions of the PGPB network. In conclusion, this study showed that, in the short term, the application of imazethapyr, flumioxazin, and their mixture, at the recommended field rates, does not negatively affect the community of plant growth-promoting bacteria.

Shifts in functional traits and interactions patterns of soil methane-cycling communities following forest-to-pasture conversion in the Amazon Basin.

Deforestation threatens the integrity of the Amazon biome and the ecosystem services it provides, including greenhouse gas mitigation. Forest-to-pasture conversion has been shown to alter the flux of methane gas (CH4 ) in Amazonian soils, driving a switch from acting as a sink to a source of atmospheric CH4 . This study aimed to better understand this phenomenon by investigating soil microbial metagenomes, focusing on the taxonomic and functional structure of methane-cycling communities. Metagenomic data from forest and pasture soils were combined with measurements of in situ CH4 fluxes and soil edaphic factors and analysed using multivariate statistical approaches. We found a significantly higher abundance and diversity of methanogens in pasture soils. As inferred by co-occurrence networks, these microorganisms seem to be less interconnected within the soil microbiota in pasture soils. Metabolic traits were also different between land uses, with increased hydrogenotrophic and methylotrophic pathways of methanogenesis in pasture soils. Land-use change also induced shifts in taxonomic and functional traits of methanotrophs, with bacteria harbouring genes encoding the soluble form of methane monooxygenase enzyme (sMMO) depleted in pasture soils. Redundancy analysis and multimodel inference revealed that the shift in methane-cycling communities was associated with high pH, organic matter, soil porosity and micronutrients in pasture soils. These results comprehensively characterize the effect of forest-to-pasture conversion on the microbial communities driving the methane-cycling microorganisms in the Amazon rainforest, which will contribute to the efforts to preserve this important biome.

Physicochemical and bacterial changes during composting of vegetable and animal-derived agro-industrial wastes.

This study investigates the impact of different agro-industrial organic wastes (i.e., sugarcane filter cake, poultry litter, and chicken manure) on the bacterial community and their relationship with physicochemical attributes during composting. Integrative analysis was performed by combining high-throughput sequencing and environmental data to decipher changes in the waste microbiome. The results revealed that animal-derived compost stabilized more carbon and mineralized a more organic nitrogen than vegetable-derived compost. Composting enhanced bacterial diversity and turned the bacterial community structure similar among all wastes, reducing Firmicutes abundance in animal-derived wastes. Potential biomarkers indicating compost maturation were Proteobacteria and Bacteroidota phyla, Chryseolinea genus and Rhizobiales order. The waste source influenced the final physicochemical attributes, whereas composting enhanced the complexity of the microbial community in the order of poultry litter > filter cake > chicken manure. Therefore, composted wastes, mainly the animal-derived ones, seem to present more sustainable attributes for agricultural use, despite their losses of C, N, and S.

Longitudinal behavior of orthodontic extraction spaces: A retrospective dental cast analysis.

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate orthodontic extraction space behavior and size at the end of treatment and the short- and long-term stages in Class I, II, and III malocclusions. METHODS: The sample comprised records of 1283 orthodontic patients treated with extractions (cross-sectional group). From these patients, 1- and 5-year posttreatment records of 214 patients were additionally evaluated (longitudinal group). Orthodontic extraction sites of immediate (end of treatment), short-term (1-year posttreatment), and long-term (5-year posttreatment) stage dental casts were measured with a digital caliper. Extraction spaces were classified according to their qualitative behavior in the open, closed, reopened, and recently closed spaces. Space qualitative longitudinal behavior was compared among the malocclusion types with chi-square tests. Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality tests were performed to check the variable's distribution. All variables showed normal distribution, except the malocclusion group ages. Therefore, parametric tests were used for all comparisons between the malocclusion groups, except for age comparisons in each stage, which were compared with the Kruskal-Wallis tests. Thus, space size and its reduction were compared among the 3 stages, in general, and between the maxillary and mandibular arches, with analysis of variance followed by Tukey tests and t tests, respectively. RESULTS: Classes I, II, and III malocclusion patients presented similar ages at each stage. At the end of treatment, 71.4% and 65.1% of the quadrants were closed in the cross-sectional and longitudinal groups, respectively, and 43.6% and 38.2% of patients presented all quadrants closed at this same stage in both groups. The reopening and late closure tendencies were 2.9 and 2.3 times greater in the short term than in the long term. Reopening tendency in the short-term was greater in Class II than in Class I malocclusion. Of the quadrants closed at the end of treatment, 87% were stable in the long term. From the quadrants with residual spaces at the end of treatment, 28.4% persisted openly in the long term. Residual space size reduced significantly in the short and long term, primarily in the mandibular arch. CONCLUSIONS: The percentage of patients with residual spaces at the end of treatment was 56.4%. Space reopening and late closure occur mainly in the first year after treatment. There was long-term stability in 87% of the quadrants closed at the end of treatment. There was a significant reduction in orthodontic extraction space size in the short and long term, especially in the mandibular arch.