Bacteria and their secreted extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are widely distributed in ecosystems and have high capacity for heavy metal immobilization. The knowledge about the molecular-level interactions with heavy metal ions is essential for predicting the behavior of heavy metals in natural and engineering systems. This comprehensive study using potentiometric titration, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) was able to reveal the functional diversity and adsorption mechanisms for Pb onto bacteira and the EPS in greater detail than ever before. We identified mono-carboxylic, multi-carboxylic, phosphodiester, phosphonic and sulfhydryl sites and found the partitioning of Pb to these functional groups varied between gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial strains, the soluble and cell-bound EPS and Pb concentrations. The sulfhydryl and phosphodiester groups preferentially complexed with Pb in P. putida cells, while multifunctional carboxylic groups promoted Pb adsorption in B. subtilis cells and the protein fractions in EPS. Though the functional site diversity, the adsorption of Pb to organic ligands occurred spontaneously through a universal entropy increase and inner-sphere complexation mechanism. The functional group scale knowledge have implications for the modeling of heavy metal behavior in the environment and application of these biological resources.

Wastewater containing high concentrations of nitriles, if discharged without an appropriate nonhazardous disposal strategy, will cause serious environmental pollution. During secondary sewage biological treatment, most existing bacteria cannot endure high-concentration nitriles due to poor tolerance and low degradation ability. The Rhodococcus rhodochrous strain BX2 screened by our laboratory shows high resistance to nitriles and can efficiently degrade these compounds. Compared with sole high-concentration nitriles present in the biodegradation process, the addition of glucose at a suitable concentration can effectively increase the biomass of BX2, promote the expression of nitrile-degrading enzyme genes, improve the activities of these enzymes and enhance the pollutant removal efficiency via carbon catabolite repression (CCR) mechanisms. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the four key regulators of CCR identified in gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria are concomitant in BX2. This study provides an economically feasible strategy for the microbial remediation of high-concentration nitriles and other organic pollutants.

Previous studies worldwide have suggested the potential role of bioaerosols as ice-nuclei and cloud-condensation nuclei. Furthermore, their participation in regulating the global carbon cycle urges systematic studies from different environmental conditions throughout the globe. Towards this through one-year study, conducted from June 2015–May 2016, we report on atmospheric abundance and variability of viable bioaerosols, organic carbon (OC) and particles number and deduced mass concentrations from Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP; at Kanpur). Among viable bioaerosols, the highest concentrations of Gram-positive bacteria (GPB), Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) and Fungi were recorded during December–January (Avg.: 189 CFU/m³), November (244 CFU/m³) and September months (188 CFU/m³), respectively. Annual average concentration of GPB, GNB and Fungi were 105 ± 58, 144 ± 82 and 116 ± 51 CFU/m³. Particle number concentration (PNC) associated with fine-fraction aerosols (FFA) predominates throughout the year. However, mineral dust (coarser particle) remains a perennial constituent of atmospheric aerosols over the IGP. Temporal variability records and significant positive linear relationship (p < 0.05) of GPB and GNB with OC and biomass burning derived potassium (K⁺BB) indicates their association with massive emissions from paddy-residue burning (PRB) and bio-fuel burning. Influence of meteorological parameters on viable bioaerosols abundance has been rigorously investigated herein. Accordingly, ambient temperature seems to be more affecting the bacteria (anti-correlation), whereas wet-precipitation (1–4 mm) relates to higher abundance of Fungi. High abundance of GNB during large-scale biomass burning emissions has implications to endotoxin exposure on human health. Field-based data-set of bioaerosols, OC, PNC and deduced mass concentrations reported herein could serve to better constraint their role in human health and climate relevance.

This study investigated the network of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degraders in the Yangtze estuarine and coastal areas. Along the estuarine gradients, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacterial phyla, and forty-six potential PAH degraders were identified. The abundance of genes encoding the alpha subunit of the PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenases (PAH-RHDα) of gram-negative bacteria ranged from 5.5 × 10⁵ to 5.8 × 10⁷ copies g⁻¹, while that of gram-positive bacteria ranged from 1.3 × 10⁵ to 2.0 × 10⁷ copies g⁻¹. The PAH-degraders could represent up to 0.2% of the total bacterial community and mainly respond to PAHs and Cu concentrations, which indicate anthropogenic activities. Salinity and pH showed negative regulating effects on the PAH-degrading potential and the tolerance of bacteria to pollutants. PAH degraders such as Novosphingobium and Mycobacterium exhibit heavy-metal tolerance and core roles in the network of PAH degraders. These outcomes have important implications for bioremediation.

Airborne bacteria and fungi are important biological components of bioaerosol and play an important role in the conservation environmental. A microbiological study on bioaerosoles was carried out at the Municipal Waste Utilization Plant in Northern Poland and at points located beyond the facility at the distance of 150, 450, 1000 and 1250 m. The highest emission of bioaerosol occurred in the area of the waste landfill site and during compost pile turning. The total number of mesophilic bacteria, filamentous fungi and actinomycetes reached the values up to 104 CFU/m3. Strong air contamination with mannitol-positive and mannitol-negative staphylococci occurred remarkably more frequently in the area of the test facility than in the points beyond it. The number of indicator bacteria of Pseudomonas fluorescens was quite changeable and did not depend on a distance from pollutant emission source. The number of Escherichia coli rods remained at the low level of about 102 CFU/m3, and they were only isolated sporadically in the points beyond the landfill. The highest percentage of bacterial aerosol comprised Gram-positive cocci, and then Gram-positive bacilli. Mycological analyses confirmed the presence in the studied air of fungi with potentially allergic and mycotoxinogenic properties, such as: Aspergillus fumigatus, A. niger, A. terreus, Cladosporium herbarum and the genus Fusarium. The concentration level of microbial bioaerosol several times exceeded the threshold values recommended by the Polish Standards. The factors influenced the concentration of microorganisms in the tested air included the distance of the active landfill, weather conditions and the season.

The aim of this study was to evaluate bacterial and fungal aerosol concentrations at the holy mosque (Al-Masjid Al-Haram). Air samples were collected from different locations inside and outside the holy mosque, during the month of Ramadan-2011 (the fasting month), using a portable Air-port MD8 gelatin filter sampler. Trypticase soya agar and Capek's dox agar media were used to count bacteria and fungi, respectively. The mean concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi ranged between 105–106 colony forming unit per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3) outside, and ∼102–105 CFU/m3 inside locations. The highest outside bacterial concentrations 106 CFU/m3 were found at the Al Umra, Al Fatah and eastern plazas, and the highest inside fungal concentrations ∼105 CFU/m3 were found at the courtyard, expansion of 1st floor, and roof. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between bacterial and fungal concentrations inside and outside sampling locations, higher concentrations shifted towards to outside locations. Significant differences were also found between the bacterial and fungal concentrations inside–unclosed and semi-closed (P < 0.05) with inside-closed locations. Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus and Micrococcus, and fungi, Aspergillus niger were the dominant microbial aerosol genera. The obtained data is considered a step to make up the gap about airborne microbial contamination inside the holy mosque, and microbial air quality should be studied along over the year at the holy mosque in the future.

Turbinaria ornata mediated silver nanoparticles (TOAg-NPs) were evaluated for antibacterial activity against 15 biofilm forming bacterial isolates. A field study in natural seawater for 60days showed antifouling activity of TOAg-NPs on stainless steel coupons (SS-304) coated with Apcomin zinc chrome (AZC) primer. Though TOAg-NPs showed broad spectrum of antibacterial activity, the maximum zone of inhibition was with Escherichia coli (71.9%) and a minimum with Micrococcus sp. (40%) due to the EPS secretion from Gram-positive bacteria. Compared to control coupons (18.9 [×103], 67.0 [×103], 13.5 [×104] and 24.7 [×104]CFU/cm2), experimental biocide coupons (71.0 [×102], 32.0 [×103], 82.0 [×103] and 11.3 [×104]CFU/cm2) displayed lesser bacterial population density. Toxicity studies revealed 100% mortality for Balanus amphitrite larvae at 250μgml−1 concentration within 24h, while 56.6% recorded for Artemia marina at the same concentration indicating less toxicity to non target species. It proved that AZC+TOAg-NPs prevent biofouling by its Ag-NS affinity and antimicrobial effectivity.

Small fringing marshes are ecologically important habitats often impacted by petroleum. We characterized the phylogenetic structure (16S rRNA) and petroleum hydrocarbon degrading alkane hydroxylase genes (alkB and CYP 153A1) in a sediment microbial community from a New Hampshire fringing marsh, using alkane-exposed dilution cultures to enrich for petroleum degrading bacteria. 16S rRNA and alkB analysis demonstrated that the initial sediment community was dominated by Betaproteobacteria (mainly Comamonadaceae) and Gammaproteobacteria (mainly Pseudomonas), while CYP 153A1 sequences predominantly matched Rhizobiales. 24 h of exposure to n-hexane, gasoline, dodecane, or dilution culture alone reduced functional and phylogenetic diversity, enriching for Gammaproteobacteria, especially Pseudomonas. Gammaproteobacteria continued to dominate for 10 days in the n-hexane and no alkane exposed samples, while dodecane and gasoline exposure selected for gram-positive bacteria. The data demonstrate that small fringing marshes in New England harbor petroleum-degrading bacteria, suggesting that petroleum degradation may be an important fringing marsh ecosystem function.

We demonstrated a method to form magnetic antimicrobial POHABA (poly-N,N′-[(4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-phenylene)bis(methylene)]bisacrylamide)-based core-shell nanostructure by free-radical polymerization of OHABA on the Fe₃O₄ core surface. The magnetic antimicrobial agent Fe₃O₄@POHABA can be used in domestic water treatment against bacterial pathogens. The thickness of POHABA shell could be controlled from 10.4 ± 1.2 to 56.3 ± 11.7 nm by the dosage of OHABA. The results of antimicrobial-activity test indicated that POHABA-based core-shell nanostructure had broad-spectrum inhibitory against Gram-negative, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Fe₃O₄@POHABA nanostructure against Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis were both 0.4 mg/mL. Fe₃O₄@POHABA nanostructures responded to a permanent magnet and were easily recycled. Fe₃O₄@POHABA nanoparticles retained 100% antimicrobial efficiency for both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria throughout eight recycle procedures.

A Gram-positive bacterium, designated as strain B1(2015b), was isolated from the soil of the chemical factory “Organika-Azot” in Jaworzno, Poland. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolated strain was classified as a Bacillus thuringiensis species. Strain B1(2015b) is able to degrade ibuprofen and naproxen, however, these compounds are not sufficient carbon sources for this strain. In the presence of glucose, Bacillus thuringiensis B1(2015b) degrades ibuprofen and naproxen with higher efficiency. Twenty milligrams per liter of ibuprofen was degraded within 6 days and 6 mg l⁻¹ of naproxen was removed within 35 days. Simultaneously, the growth of the bacterial culture was observed. The obtained results suggest that Bacillus thuringiensis B1(2015b) appears to be a powerful and useful tool in the bioremediation of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs-contaminated environment.