Insulin fibrillation under physicochemical parameters of bioprocessing and intervention by peptides and surface-active agents.

Even after the centenary celebration of insulin discovery, there prevail challenges concerning insulin aggregation, not only after repeated administration but also during industrial production, storage, transport, and delivery, significantly impacting protein quality, efficacy, and effectiveness. The aggregation reduces insulin bioavailability, increasing the risk of heightened immunogenicity, posing a threat to patient health, and creating a dent in the golden success story of insulin therapy. Insulin experiences various physicochemical and mechanical stresses due to modulations in pH, temperature, ionic strength, agitation, shear, and surface chemistry, during the upstream and downstream bioprocessing, resulting in insulin unfolding and subsequent fibrillation. This has fueled research in the pharmaceutical industry and academia to unveil the mechanistic insights of insulin aggregation in an attempt to devise rational strategies to regulate this unwanted phenomenon. The present review briefly describes the impacts of environmental factors of bioprocessing on the stability of insulin and correlates with various intermolecular interactions, particularly hydrophobic and electrostatic forces. The aggregation-prone regions of insulin are identified and interrelated with biophysical changes during stress conditions. The quest for novel additives, surface-active agents, and bioderived peptides in decelerating insulin aggregation, which results in overall structural stability, is described. We hope this review will help tackle the real-world challenges of insulin aggregation encountered during bioprocessing, ensuring safer, stable, and globally accessible insulin for efficient management of diabetes.

Dynamic changes in and correlations between microbial communities and physicochemical properties during the composting of cattle manure with Penicillium oxalicum.

BACKGROUND: Penicillium oxalicum is an important fungal agent in the composting of cattle manure, but the changes that occur in the microbial community, physicochemical factors, and potential functions of microorganisms at different time points are still unclear. To this end, the dynamic changes occurring in the microbial community and physicochemical factors and their correlations during the composting of cattle manure with Penicillium oxalicum were analysed. RESULTS: The results showed that the main phyla observed throughout the study period were Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Halanaerobiaeota, Apicomplexa and Ascomycota. Linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) illustrated that Chitinophagales and Eurotiomycetes were biomarker species of bacteria and eukaryote in samples from Days 40 and 35, respectively. Bacterial community composition was significantly correlated with temperature and pH, and eukaryotic microorganism community composition was significantly correlated with moisture content and NH4+-N according to redundancy analysis (RDA). The diversity of the microbial communities changed significantly, especially that of the main pathogenic microorganisms, which showed a decreasing trend or even disappeared after composting. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, a combination of high-throughput sequencing and physicochemical analysis was used to identify the drivers of microbial community succession and the composition of functional microbiota during cattle manure composting with Penicillium oxalicum. The results offer a theoretical framework for explaining microecological assembly during cattle manure composting with Penicillium oxalicum.

Calcium regulates the interactions between dissolved organic matter and planktonic bacteria in Erhai Lake, Yunnan Province, China.

In recent years, the global carbon cycle has garnered significant research attention. However, details of the intricate relationship between planktonic bacteria, hydrochemistry, and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in inland waters remain unclear, especially their effects on lake carbon sequestration. In this study, we analyzed 16S rRNA, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), and inorganic nutrients in Erhai Lake, Yunnan Province, China. The results revealed that allochthonous DOM (C3) significantly regulated the microbial community, and that autochthonous DOM, generated via microbial mineralization (C2), was not preferred as a food source by lake bacteria, and neither was allochthonous DOM after microbial mineralization (C4). Specifically, the correlation between the fluorescence index and functional genes (FAPRPTAX) showed that the degree of utilization of DOM was a critical factor in regulating planktonic bacteria associated with the carbon cycle. Further examination of the correlation between environmental factors and planktonic bacteria revealed that Ca2+ had a regulatory influence on the community structure of planktonic bacteria, particularly those linked to the carbon cycle. Consequently, the utilization strategy of DOM by planktonic bacteria was also determined by elevated Ca2+ levels. This in turn influenced the development of specific recalcitrant autochthonous DOM within the high Ca2+ environment of Erhai Lake. These findings are significant for the exploration of the stability of DOM within karst aquatic ecosystems, offering a new perspective for the investigation of terrestrial carbon sinks.

Soil Organic Matter and Total Nitrogen Reshaped Root-Associated Bacteria Community and Synergistic Change the Stress Resistance of Codonopsis pilosula.

The stress resistance of medicinal plants is essential to the accumulation of pharmacological active ingredients, but the regulation mechanism of biological factors and abiotic factors on medicinal plants is still unclear. To investigate the mechanism of soil nutrient and microecology on the stress resistance of C. pilosula, rhizosphere soil and roots were collected across the four seasons in Minxian, Gansu, and their physicochemical properties, as well as root-associated microorganisms, were examined. The results showed that the bacterial α-diversity indexes increased in the endosphere and rhizosphere from summer to autumn. At the same time, the community composition and function changed considerably. The stability of the endophytic bacterial community was higher than that rhizospheric bacteria, and the complexity of the endophytic bacterial community was lower than rhizospheric bacteria. Soil organic matter (OM), water content (WC), total potassium (TK), and total nitrogen (TN) have been identified as the key factors affecting bacterial community diversity and stress resistance of C. pilosula. WC, TN, and OM showed significant differences from summer to autumn (P < 0.5). Four key soil physiochemical factors changed significantly between seasons (P < 0.01). TN and OM change the stress resistance of C. pilosula mainly by changing the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Changes of OM and endophytic bacterial diversity affect the accumulation of soluble sugars to alter stress resistance. These four key soil physicochemical factors significantly influenced the diversity of endophytic bacteria. WC and OM were identified as the most important factors for endophytic and rhizospheric bacteria, respectively. This study provided the research basis for the scientific planting of C. pilosula.

Association between bacterial community and cadmium distribution across Colombian cacao crops.

Assessing the bacterial community composition across cacao crops is important to understand its potential role as a modulator of cadmium (Cd) translocation to plant tissues under field conditions; Cd mobility between soil and plants is a complex and multifactorial problem that cannot be captured only by experimentation. Although microbes have been shown to metabolize and drive the speciation of Cd under controlled conditions, regardless of the link between soil bacterial community (SBC) dynamics and Cd mobilization in the rhizosphere, only a few studies have addressed the relationship between soil bacterial community composition (SBCC) and Cd content in cacao seeds (Cdseed). Therefore, this study aimed to explore the association between SBCC and different factors influencing the distribution of Cd across cacao crop systems. This study comprised 225 samples collected across five farms, where we used an amplicon sequencing approach to characterize the bacterial community composition. The soil Cd concentration alone (Cdsoil) was a poor predictor of Cdseed. Still, we found that this relationship was more apparent when the variation within farms was controlled, suggesting a role of heterogeneity within farms in modulating Cd translocation and, thus, seed Cd content. Our results provide evidence of the link between soil bacterial communities and the distribution of Cd across Colombian cacao crops, and highlight the importance of incorporating fine-spatial-scale studies to advance the understanding of factors driving Cd uptake and accumulation in cacao plants. IMPORTANCE: Cadmium (Cd) content in cacao crops is an issue that generates interest due to the commercialization of chocolate for human consumption. Several studies provided evidence about the non-biological factors involved in its translocation into the cacao plant. However, factors related to this process, including soil bacterial community composition (SBCC), still need to be addressed. It is well known that soil microbiome could impact compounds' chemical transformation, including Cd, on the field. Here, we found the first evidence of the link between soil bacterial community composition and Cd concentration in cacao soils and seeds. It highlights the importance of including the variation of bacterial communities to assess the factors driving the Cd translocation into cacao seeds. Moreover, the results highlight the relevance of the spatial heterogeneity within and across cacao farms, influencing the variability of Cd concentrations.

Survey of Physicochemical Variables in Molepo Dam, South Africa, Using Multivariate Analysis.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Molepo Dam is a small dam with several aquatic animal species. An assessment of the water quality index of Molepo Dam is necessary because it is situated close to a largely rural community. In this study, the physicochemical variables of Molepo Dam were observed to better understand the water quality situation of this dam. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The study was carried out from October 2022 to March 2023; 126 samples of water were taken from the Molepo Dam. The physicochemical parameters of the water were determined through standard methods. <b>Results:</b> The site within the dam exhibited a clear separation. Site 1, 2 and 4 were found to be more similar to each other, while Site 3 was separated from them. Site 5, 6 and 7 were more similar together as well. The results showed that the pollution level in Site 3 was the lowest. The pollution level in Site 1, 2 and 4 was more similar and the level of pollution in Site 5, 6 and 7 was the highest. <b>Conclusion:</b> According to the study, pollution levels were found to be different in various parts of the Molepo Dam. This was because the wastewater generated by rural communities was predominantly discharged towards the northern part of the dam.

Influence of host phylogeny and water physicochemistry on microbial assemblages of the fish skin microbiome.

The skin of fish contains a diverse microbiota that has symbiotic functions with the host, facilitating pathogen exclusion, immune system priming, and nutrient degradation. The composition of fish skin microbiomes varies across species and in response to a variety of stressors, however, there has been no systematic analysis across these studies to evaluate how these factors shape fish skin microbiomes. Here, we examined 1922 fish skin microbiomes from 36 studies that included 98 species and nine rearing conditions to investigate associations between fish skin microbiome, fish species, and water physiochemical factors. Proteobacteria, particularly the class Gammaproteobacteria, were present in all marine and freshwater fish skin microbiomes. Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Ralstonia, Sphingomonas and Flavobacterium were the most abundant genera within freshwater fish skin microbiomes, and Alteromonas, Photobacterium, Pseudoalteromonas, Psychrobacter and Vibrio were the most abundant in saltwater fish. Our results show that different culturing (rearing) environments have a small but significant effect on the skin bacterial community compositions. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and salinity significantly correlated with differences in beta-diversity but not necessarily alpha-diversity. To improve study comparability on fish skin microbiomes, we provide recommendations for approaches to the analyses of sequencing data and improve study reproducibility.

Exploring the controllability of the Baijiu fermentation process with microbiota orientation.

Product quality and stability improvement is important for development of the Baijiu industry. Generally, Baijiu brewing is carried out in a spontaneous fermentation system mediated by microbiota. Thus, complexity and instability are major features. Due to the insufficient understanding of the mechanism for producing Baijiu, the precise control of the fermentation progress has still not been realized, ultimately affecting product quality and stability. The flavor of Baijiu is the most important factor in determining its quality and is formed by microbiota under the driving force of various physicochemical parameters, such as moisture, acidity, and temperature. Therefore, exploring the association among microbiota (core), physicochemical factors (reference) and flavor compounds (target) has become a key point to clarify the formation mechanism for the flavor quality of Baijiu. Daqu fermentation and liquor fermentation are the two major stages of Baijiu brewing. Daqu, distillers' grains, and pit mud, as the most important fermentation substrates of the microbiota respectively, provide a large number of functional microorganisms related to the flavor components. To this end, we reviewed the relevant research progress of microbiota diversity in different fermentation substrates and the interaction mechanisms among microbiota, physicochemical parameters, and flavor components in this paper. Moreover, a research hypothesis of precise control of the Baijiu fermentation process by building fermentation models based on this is proposed. The key point for this idea is the identification of core microbiota closely associated with the formation of key flavor components by multi-omics technology and the acquisition of culturable strains. With this foundation, fermentation models suitable for different brewing environments will be established by constructing synthetic microbiota, designing mathematical models, and determining key fermentation model parameters. The ultimate goal will be to effectively improve the quality and stability of Baijiu products through model regulation.

Coptischinensis Franch root rot infection disrupts microecological balance of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbiomes.

Introduction: The ecological balance of the plant microbiome, as a barrier against pathogens, is very important for host health. Coptis chinensis is one of the important medicinal plants in China. In recent years, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology was frequently used to analyze root rot pathogens and the effects of root rot on rhizosphere microorganisms of C. chinensis. But the effects of root rot infection on rhizosphere microecological balance of C. chinensis have received little attention. Methods: In this study, Illumina Miseq high-throughput sequencing technology was applied to analyze the impact on microbial composition and diversity of C. chinensis by root rot. Results: The results showed that root rot infection had significant impact on bacterial α-diversity in rhizome samples, but had no significant effect on that in leaf samples and rhizosphere soil samples, while root rot infection exhibited significant impact on the fungal α-diversity in leaf samples and rhizosphere soil samples, and no significant impact on that in rhizome samples. PCoA analysis showed that the root rot infection had a greater impact on the fungal community structure in the rhizosphere soil, rhizome, and leaf samples of C. chinensis than on the bacterial community structure. Root rot infection destroyed the microecological balance of the original microbiomes in the rhizosphere soil, rhizome, and leaf samples of C. chinensis, which may also be one of the reasons for the serious root rot of C. chinensis. Discussion: In conclusion, our findings suggested that root rot infection with C. chinensis disrupts microecological balance of rhizosphere soil and endophytic microbiomes. The results of this study can provide theoretical basis for the prevention and control of C. chinensis root rot by microecological regulation.

[Effects of Different Carbon Inputs on Soil Stoichiometry in Tianshan Mountains].

Soil C, N, and P elements are important components of the forest ecosystem. Studying the influence of exogenous carbon input change on the stoichiometry of the forest soil can reveal the element recycling process and the balanced feedback mechanism of the forest ecosystem. In this study, using the research object of a spruce forest in Tianshan Mountain, the short-term effect of exogenous carbon input on soil C, N, and P in the soil was analyzed through Detritus Input and Removal Treatment (DIRT), and then the interrelationship between soil stoichiometry and other soil physicochemical factors under different treatments was discussed. The results showed that:① the soil C, N, and P contents in most soil layers were the highest double litter (DL) treatment, soil ω(C) by soil depth from shallow to deep was 168.92, 119.88, 103.33, and 64.23 g·kg-1; soil ω(N) was 10.60, 9.32, 8.78, and 8.07 g·kg-1; soil ω(P) was 0.50, 0.45, 0.37, and 0.36 g·kg-1; in the no input (NI) treatment, soil ω(C) by soil depth from shallow to deep was 104.56, 89.24, 48.08, and 43.96 g·kg-1; soil ω(N) was 6.83, 2.60, 2.63, and 2.22 g·kg-1; soil ω(P) was 0.40, 0.34, 0.32, and 0.22 g·kg-1; and a decreased trend was shown with the deepening of the soil layer. Except in the NI treatment, C:N was 0-10 cm and significantly higher than that in other soils (P<0.05), NL soil C:P at 30-50 cm was significantly higher than that in other soils, and NI soil N:P was 0-10 cm and significantly higher than that in other soils (P<0.05). ② Microbial carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus were significantly higher from 0-10 cm than that in other soil layers (P<0.05). ③ Redundancy analysis results showed that soluble organic carbon and microbial nitrogen at different carbon input levels were important factors affecting the stoichiometric characteristics of soil C, N, and P.

The Influence of Shallow Peatland Water Quality on Characteristics of the Occurrence of Selected Herb Species in the Peatlands of Eastern Poland.

The aim of the analysis was to compare the physicochemical variables of the quality of shallow groundwater in the peatlands of Eastern Poland in the context of the occurrence of selected herb species with similar habitat requirements: bogbean (Menyanthes trifoliata), small cranberry (Oxycoccus palustris), and purple marshlocks (Comarum palustre). The analysis of the quality variables of the shallow groundwater included the following physicochemical variables: reaction (pH), electrolytic conductivity (EC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen (Ntot.), ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4), nitrite nitrogen (N-NO2), nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3), total phosphorus (Ptot.), phosphates (P-PO4), sulphates (SO2), sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg). Internal metabolism was shown to influence the hydro-chemical status of peatland water, free of substantial human impact. The variables tested were within the range of the habitat preferences of the herb species and indicated that they have a wide ecological tolerance. However, their identical habitat preferences were not reflected in identical values for the physicochemical variables of the water essential for building populations of these species. The occurrence of these plant species was also shown to be determined by the hydro-chemical characteristics of the habitat, but the characteristics of their occurrence did not indicate the hydro-chemical aspect of the habitat.

Proper irrigation amount for eggplant cultivation in a solar greenhouse improved plant growth, fruit quality and yield by influencing the soil microbial community and rhizosphere environment.

Water scarcity is a worldwide problem, and in order to obtain plenty of production, agricultural irrigation water accounts for a large portion. Many studies have shown that the interaction of root microorganisms and soil can promote crop growth. Developing ways to reduce irrigation to maintain soil fertility and ensure crop yield by regulating the root microenvironment is an important research goal. Here, we developed a reasonable irrigation plan for eggplant cultivation in a solar greenhouse. The maximum theoretical amount of water demand during eggplant planting obtained from a previous study was used as the control (CK), and the irrigation in the treatments was reduced by 10, 20 and 30% relative to this amount. The 10% irrigation reduction treatment (T1) significantly improved soil nutrients and increased soil catalase, urease and alkaline phosphatase activities (p < 0.05). Further analysis of rhizosphere microorganisms revealed the highest richness and diversity of the microbial community under the T1 treatment, with Bacilli as the most abundant bacteria and Aspergillaceae as the most abundant fungi and lower relative abundances of Chloroflexi and Acidobacteria (p < 0.05). Changes in microbial community structure under the influence of different irrigation treatments resulted in improvements in rhizosphere N cycling and nutrient catabolism. The plant-microbe interactions led to significant increases in eggplant plant height, root vigour, root surface area, leaf chlorophyll a, leaf net photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance under the T1 treatment compared to the CK treatment; soluble sugar, soluble protein and free amino acid contents in eggplant fruit increased by 10.8, 12.3 and 6.7%, respectively; and yield increased by 3.9%. Our research proved that the 10% irrigation reduction treatment (T1) could improve microbial community richness and fruit yield, which would improve irrigation efficiency and cost reduction in agriculture.

Assessment of Water Quality Index in Anzali Lagoon using Multivariate Analysis.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Water quality in freshwater bodies is involved with multiple aspects such as physical, chemical and biological processes and their interactions. Due to the vulnerability of water resources, quality control of surface water is one of the key issues in environmental conservation programs. The objectives of the present work were to study the water quality in the Anzali Lagoon and to study the classification of water based on the water quality index in different parts of the Anzali Lagoon. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> In this study, we sampled water from January to December, 2015 in the Anzali Lagoon. All physicochemical parameters were sampled and determined according to standard methods. <b>Results:</b> The Water Quality Index results showed the Anzali Lagoon water quality had been "medium" in site 1 and "bad" in sites 2, 3 and 4. The result showed a significant difference between sit 1 and sites 2, 3 and 4 (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between sit 2, 3 and 4 (p>0.05). The result showed a clear spatial separation among parts in the Anzali Lagoon. The Eastern part of the Anzali Lagoon showed lower water quality compared to the central and western stations. <b>Conclusion:</b> This study showed that the level of pollution was different on all of the Anzali Lagoons. The water of the Anzali Lagoon has different quality classes according to the aggregation methods employed. Nutrient loadings from the adjacent agricultural lands combined with high mean salinity values affect all organism conditions. The three primary sources of nutrients, including fertilizers used in agriculture, household waste and livestock waste, reduced the water quality of the Anzali Lagoon.

Environmental Factors Associated With Soil Prevalence of the Melioidosis Pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei: A Longitudinal Seasonal Study From South West India.

Melioidosis is a seasonal infectious disease in tropical and subtropical areas caused by the soil bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei. In many parts of the world, including South West India, most cases of human infections are reported during times of heavy rainfall, but the underlying causes of this phenomenon are not fully understood. India is among the countries with the highest predicted melioidosis burden globally, but there is very little information on the environmental distribution of B. pseudomallei and its determining factors. The present study aimed (i) to investigate the prevalence of B. pseudomallei in soil in South West India, (ii) determine geochemical factors associated with B. pseudomallei presence and (iii) look for potential seasonal patterns of B. pseudomallei soil abundance. Environmental samplings were performed in two regions during the monsoon and post-monsoon season and summer from July 2016 to November 2018. We applied direct quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) together with culture protocols to overcome the insufficient sensitivity of solely culture-based B. pseudomallei detection from soil. A total of 1,704 soil samples from 20 different agricultural sites were screened for the presence of B. pseudomallei. Direct qPCR detected B. pseudomallei in all 20 sites and in 30.2% (517/1,704) of all soil samples, whereas only two samples from two sites were culture-positive. B. pseudomallei DNA-positive samples were negatively associated with the concentration of iron, manganese and nitrogen in a binomial logistic regression model. The highest number of B. pseudomallei-positive samples (42.6%, p < 0.0001) and the highest B. pseudomallei loads in positive samples [median 4.45 × 103 genome equivalents (GE)/g, p < 0.0001] were observed during the monsoon season and eventually declined to 18.9% and a median of 1.47 × 103 GE/g in summer. In conclusion, our study from South West India shows a wide environmental distribution of B. pseudomallei, but also considerable differences in the abundance between sites and within single sites. Our results support the hypothesis that nutrient-depleted habitats promote the presence of B. pseudomallei. Most importantly, the highest B. pseudomallei abundance in soil is seen during the rainy season, when melioidosis cases occur.

Integrated organic and inorganic fertilization and reduced irrigation altered prokaryotic microbial community and diversity in different compartments of wheat root zone contributing to improved nitrogen uptake and wheat yield.

The effect of long-term water and integrated fertilization on prokaryotic microorganisms and their regulation for crop nutrient uptake remains unknown. Therefore, the impact of soil water and integrated fertilization after eight years on prokaryotic microbial communities in different compartments of root zone and their association with wheat nitrogen (N) absorption and yield were investigated. The results showed that compared with fertilization treatments (F), water regimes (W) more drastically modulated the prokaryotic microbial community structure and diversity in bulk soil, rhizosphere and endosphere. The increase of irrigation improved the prokaryotic diversity in the rhizosphere and endosphere while decreased the diversity in the bulk soil. Application of organic fertilizers significantly improved soil organic matter (SOM) and nutrient contents, increased rhizosphere and endophytic prokaryotic microbial diversity, and elevated the relative abundance of aerobic ammonia oxidation and nitrification-related functional microorganisms in rhizosphere and endosphere. Increasing irrigation elevated the relative abundance of functional microorganisms related to aerobic ammonia oxidation and nitrification in the rhizosphere and endosphere. Soil water content (SWC) and NH4+-N as well as NO3--N were key predictors of prokaryotic microbial community composition under W and F treatments, respectively. Appropriate application of irrigation and organic fertilizers increased the relative abundance of some beneficial bacteria such as Flavobacterium. Water and fertilization treatments regulated the prokaryotic microbial communities of bulk soil, rhizosphere and endosphere by altering SWC and SOM, and provided evidence for the modulation of prokaryotic microorganisms to promote nitrogen uptake and wheat yield under long-term irrigation and fertilization. Conclusively, the addition of organic manure (50 %) with inorganic fertilizers (50 %) and reduced amount of irrigation (pre-sowing and jointing-period irrigation) decreased the application amount of chemical fertilizers and water, while increased SOM and nutrient content, improved prokaryotic diversity, and changed prokaryotic microbial community structure in the wheat root zone, resulting in enhanced nutrient uptake and wheat yield.

Analysis of fermentation control factors on volatile compounds of primary microorganisms in Jiang-flavor Daqu.

Chinese Jiang-flavor Baijiu is the most widely consumed liquor. Jiang-flavor Daqu, a fermentation starter, is important sources of key flavors of Jiang-flavor Baijiu. Some microbes play significant roles in flavor formation of Daqu. In order to clarify the microbial population that promotes the formation of Daqu flavor, we use high throughput sequencing technology combined with headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to investigate microbial population and volatile compounds in Jiang-flavor Daqu. In addition, the dynamic changes of physicochemical factors and enzyme activities in Jiang-flavor Daqu were investigated. Correlations between microbial population, volatile compounds, physicochemical factors, and enzyme activities of Jiang-flavor Daqu were disclosed by redundancy analysis and Spearman correlation analysis. A total of 66 volatile compounds were identified and 14 primary microorganisms were selected. Results showed that high temperature environment could promote the formation of acids, aldehydes and ketones, phenols, furans by affecting the growth of Monascus, Trichomonascus, Cutaneotrichosporon, Wallemia, Millerozyma, Nigrospora, Cladosporium, Bacillus, and Pediococcus in the early fermentation stage. While high nitrogen environment was more suitable for the growth of Virgibacillus and Kroppenstedtia, who could promote the formation of pyrazines in the late fermentation stage. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: This study has provided a scientific basis for the directed regulation of Daqu fermentation through physicochemical factors, developed scientific basis for artificially constructing Daqu microbial population and obtaining an easy-to-operate, reproducible fermentation system for Daqu production.

Natural infections and distributions of parasitic mermithids (Nematoda: Mermithidae) infecting larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in tropical streams of Malaysia.

Mermithids are parasites of black flies that cause host mortality along with physical and behavioural changes in infected hosts. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the distribution of mermithids infecting black fly larvae and the factors that influence these distributions in Asia, including Malaysia. A total of 13,116 mid- to late-instar black fly larvae belonging to 42 species were collected from 138 streams across East and West Malaysia and screened for the presence of mermithid parasites. Overall, 121 mermithids were obtained from 107 (0.82%) larvae of nine (21.4%) black fly species. The average number of mermithids per black fly host was 1.10 ± 0.04 (SE), ranging from one to three mermithids per host. Mermithid infection was highest in Simulium trangense, with a frequency of occurrence of 6.5%, followed by S. cheongi (5.8%) and S. angulistylum complex (2.9%). Infection was lowest in S. brevipar and S. tahanense, with a frequency of occurrence of 0.7% each. Regression analysis indicated that mermithid infections in larval black flies were significantly associated with cooler and shallower streams with more canopy cover, dense riparian vegetation, high dissolved oxygen, and lower conductivity and complete pH. Forward logistic regression further indicated that infections in S. cheongi were associated with shaded, cooler, slightly acidic streams with higher conductivity and dissolved oxygen. These findings suggest that mermithid infections in larval black flies in Malaysia are not randomly distributed and are influenced by the breeding habitat of their hosts.

Effects of biochar on transport and retention of phosphorus in porous media: Laboratory test and modeling.

Given the complexity of soil components, a detailed understanding of the effects of single factors on phosphorus transport and retention will play a key role in understanding the environmental effects of phosphorus. In this work, quartz sand columns (considering five factors: doping rate, pH, particle size, ionic strength and cation type), combined with a two-site nonequilibrium transport model (TSM), were used to investigate phosphate (P) transport behavior. The results show that changes in doping ratio (0.4%-1.6%) and pH (5-9) have a notable effect on the transport of P, while, particle size of quartz sand hardly impacts the transport. When biochar was added at 1.6%, the surface of biochar increased the P fixation rate by about 37% through direct interaction with phosphate and bridging action with metal ions. As the morphology of P changed under different pH conditions, a part of P was immobilized in the form of precipitation. The immobilization of P was further enhanced with the increase of ionic strength. Compared with the direct interaction of P with biochar in Na+ solution, Ca2+ and Mg2+ solutions are more likely to adsorb P. Meanwhile, the TSM model also fits the transport behavior well. This study provides a perspective for evaluating the environmental behavior of P in the porous media interaction with biochar.

Physicochemical factors of bioprocessing impact the stability of therapeutic proteins.

The aggregation of therapeutic proteins is potentially encountered during various steps such as bioprocessing, formulation, storage, transportation and administration. The aggregation results in irreversible drug loss and also leads to an increase in the risk of immunogenicity. The aggregated proteins have also been associated with various protein deposition diseases like amyloidosis. Various physicochemical factors like pH, temperature, salt concentrations, ionic strength, shear and surface affect the stability of proteins. Interestingly, therapeutic proteins simultaneously experience these physical, chemical and mechanical stresses during upstream, downstream and storage processes. The above physicochemical factors are reported to induce the unfolding and aggregation of proteins. The mechanistic insights of this complex aggregation behavior may allow devising strategies to limit/restrict this unwanted phenomenon. This review intends to undertake systematic descriptions of the key physicochemical factors in upstream and downstream bioprocesses and correlating their implications with the unfolding and aggregation of therapeutic proteins. The present review highlights the impacts of environmental, chemical and mechanical factors of the bioprocessing on the stability/aggregation of therapeutic proteins. The present review offers insight into this important phenomenon, which will be helpful for real-world challenges in the bioprocess and bio-therapeutic industries.

Diversity of microbial community structure and their association with phthalic acid esters and physicochemical parameters in informal landfills.

Informal landfill is a common waste treatment method employed in rural areas of China, and phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are one of the typical pollutants in landfill leachate. However, there is no corresponding theoretical basis for whether microbial treatment technology can be used to reduce environmental risk of PAEs in informal landfills. Thus, a typical informal landfill site in northern China was selected and approximately 1,133,023 effective sequences were obtained from 21 samples collected from three layers (different deposit depths) of the landfill. This research explored the correlation between PAEs and the composition and distribution of microbial community in specific environments of informal landfill sites. Here we found that dis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) were positively and significantly correlated with Bhargavaea, Planococcus, Virgibacillus, and Oceanobacillus, respectively. The redundancy analysis demonstrated that moisture content, pH, NO2--N, and SUVA254 among the seven physicochemical factors (pH, TN, NO3--N,NO2--N,NH4+-N, SUVA254, and moisture content) significantly affected bacterial communities. The research conclusion can provide theoretical basis for the degradation technology of PAEs by microorganism and research basis for the treatment of informal landfill sites.