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Microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technology has gained significant traction as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and intelligent self-healing method for concrete cracks. The harsh service environment and high alkalinity of cement matrices have posed a significant challenge to the survival and growth of bacteria, which is crucial for the success of MICP technologies in concrete components. This article aims to present an up-to-date overview of the current research status of self-healing concrete cracks utilizing MICP technology. Specifically, it comprehensively reviews the selection of mineralization repair systems, encompassing repair mechanisms, effects, processes, nutrient addition sequences, and carrier selection. Furthermore, various characterization methods for evaluating the self-healing ability of concrete are explored, accompanied by an in-depth analysis of practical applications of self-healing concrete. Finally, this paper highlights the pressing issues facing this technology while outlining promising directions for future advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of fossil fuels leads to environmental contamination during their extraction, processing and distribution. Microbial biodegradation provides a sustainable method for cleaning contaminated areas which follows the principles of sustainability. This paper presents the dynamics of biodegradation of hydrocarbon fractions of diesel oil, using Planomicrobium sp. and Rhodococcus sp. isolated from petroleum-contaminated sites. GC–MS analysis was employed to analyse abundances of the specific compounds such as n-alkanes, isoprenoids, sesquitepranes, hopanes, steranes and aromatic compounds (naphthalene and its methylated homologues, phenanthrene and anthracene and their methylated homologues, and dibenzothiophene and its methylated homologues). The obtained results showed that after 30 days of biodegradation of diesel, a significant degradation was achieved, with almost complete degradation of n-alkanes and a decrease in the amount of sesquiterapanes. Rhodococcus sp. had a higher efficiency in degradation of n-alkanes, while Planomicrobium sp. had a higher efficiency in the degradation of branched hydrocarbons. Both strains showed high activity in the biodegradation of sesquitepranes and demonstrate ability to degrade methylated phenanthrenes. Additionally, dimethyl-dibenzothiophenes were almost completely degraded and removed from the system. This study presents the first comprehensive report on the GC–MS analysis of the diesel biodegradation pattern of the Planomicrobium sp., compared with the well-established Rhodococcus sp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spirulina species are photosynthetic and filamentous bacteria, commonly called 'blue-green microalgae'. Spirulina has a high nutrient content. It contains 60–70% protein with all essential amino acids present, and is rich in several vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. Spirulina is also rich in essential fatty acids, and antioxidants. This rich nutritional content provides to Spirulina several health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulation, and insulin-sensitizing properties as well as positive effects in various diseases which could be also interesting for athletes. This paper mainly aims to review the interest and effects of Spirulina supplementation in athletes at rest, and in relation to exercise/training. Spirulina's biochemical composition, health properties/effects in humans, and effects in athletes including nutritional status, body composition, physical performance and intense exercise-related disorders were discussed in this review. Literature data showed that Spirulina seems to have positive effects on body composition especially in overweight and obese subjects which could not be the case in other pathologies and athletes. Spirulina appears to be also effective in improving aerobic fitness especially in untrained and moderately trained subjects. Results reported in the literature suggest that Spirulina may improve strength and power performance despite the minor or no significant effects in highly trained subjects. Most studies have shown that Spirulina improves antioxidant status, prevents and accelerates the recovery of exercise-induced lipid peroxidation, muscle damage and inflammation in trained and untrained subjects. Taken together, the results from these studies are encouraging and may demonstrate the potential benefits of Spirulina supplementation in athletes despite methodological differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mohangic acids are a class of p-aminoacetophenonic acids that contain a conjugated triene or diene moiety. Herein, this paper reports two new mohangic acids E and F (1-2) together with a known compound mohangic acid A (3), which were isolated from the deep-sea sediment-derived bacteria Alcanivorax dieselolei BC-5. The structures of 1 and 2 were established by HRESIMS, 1 D and 2 D NMR, and IR spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although not as well studied as the bacterial component of the human microbiota, the commensal fungi or mycobiota play important roles in maintaining our health by augmenting our immune system. This mycobiota is also associated with various fatal diseases like opportunistic mycoses, and even cancer, with different cancers having respective type-specific mycobiota. The different fungal species which comprise these different intratumoral mycobiota play important roles in cancer progression. The aim of this review paper is to decipher the association between mycobiota and cancer, and shed light on new avenues in cancer diagnosis, and the development of new anti-cancer therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to analyse the potential of Lamiaceae essential oils, extracts, and hydrolats against bacterial biofilms. Bacterial cells Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus were exposed to Thymus vulgaris L. (thyme), Salvia officinalis L. (sage), Mentha × piperita L. (mint) essential oils, extracts, and hydrolats. The result of the minimal inhibitory concentration assessment shows the highest antibacterial potential for essential oils, followed by extracts and hydrolats respectively. The anti-biofouling capacity revealed that thyme essential oil has the highest potential for biofilm prevention for all tested bacteria, reducing up to 91% of biofilm, followed by mint (88%) and sage (87%) essential oil. While the thyme extract (84%), sage extract (83%) and hydrolat (77%) we less effective. The chemical composition of thyme essential oil showed a high percentage of monoterpene hydrocarbons and oxygenated monoterpenes, among which p-cymene and thymol were the most predominant. The bacterial cell membrane integrity assessment shows a significant increase in dead cells by increasing the concentration of thyme essential oil. The findings of our research indicate that the choice of herbal preparation significantly affects the active components, thereby influencing both antibacterial and anti-biofouling capabilities. Lamiaceae essential oils show great potential for biofilm management and represent a good candidate for antibacterial application in pharmacy, medicine, and industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For the past few years, microbial biofilms have been emerging as a significant threat to the modern healthcare system, and their prevalence and antibiotic resistance threat gradually increase daily among the human population. The biofilm has a remarkable impact in the field of infectious diseases, in particular healthcare-associated infections related to indwelling devices such as catheters, implants, artificial heart valves, and prosthetic joints. Bacterial biofilm potentially adheres to any biotic or abiotic surfaces that give specific shelter to the microbial community, making them less susceptible to many antimicrobial agents and even resistant to the immune cells of animal hosts. Around thirty clinical research reports available in PUBMED have been considered to establish the occurrence of biofilm-forming bacteria showing resistance against several regular antibiotics prescribed against infection by clinicians among Indian patients. After the extensive literature review, our observation exhibits a high predominance of biofilm formation among bacteria such as Escherichia sp., Streptococcus sp., Staphylococcus sp., and Pseudomonas sp., those are the most common biofilm-producing antibiotic-resistant bacteria among Indian patients with urinary tract infections and/or catheter-related infections, respiratory tract infections, dental infections, skin infections, and implant-associated infections. This review demonstrates that biofilm-associated bacterial infections constantly elevate in several pathological conditions along with the enhancement of the multi-drug resistance phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of algicidal bacteria has gained prominence as natural solution to control the worrying increase of harmful algal blooms worldwide. However, although cyanobacterial blooms (cyanoHABs) often dominate freshwater bodies, recent reviews on the subject have addressed cyanobacteria in the second place and focused more on bacteria-algae interactions. This article provides a critical review of the fundamental aspects of searching for, isolating and assaying candidate algicidal bacteria targeting cyanobacteria. Possible species-specific interactions and the different modes of action of bacteria against different species of cyanobacteria are also discussed. It has been observed that there is a clear bias in the literature toward the genus Microcystis, being by far the most studied and reviewed to date. This contrasts with the numerous studies showing cyanobacterial blooms dominated by other harmful species, such as the genera Planktothrix, Aphanizomenon or Raphidiopsis. To add new knowledge to the lack of current studies on these genera, a separate experimental section has been included in this review with research results on the sensitivity of nine harmful freshwater cyanobacteria and two green algae to different bacteria and algicidal compounds. Finally, certain ecological and biosafety risks that must be taken into account when applying algicidal bacteria as a bioaugmentation strategy are also highlighted. Overall, this review is presented as an attempt to outline the knowledge gathered over the last thirty years of research, while raising new questions and debates on key issues that remain poorly understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil samples were collected from research farm of Ebonyi State University and mining site in Izzi Local Government Area (L.G.A) of Ebonyi State. Rhizobacteria from rhizosphere of maize were identified using molecular methods. Tolerance of the isolates to heavy metals was assessed using standard laboratory techniques. The heavy metal profile of the soil was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Ability of the PGPB to remediate heavy metal polluted soil was assessed with hot plate aqua-regiae digestion method. The isolates were identified as: Pseudomonas fluorescens strain 5113, Alcaligenes faecalis strain P156, Pseudomonas syringae HS191, Bacillus subtilis strain NBSL51 and Bacillus cereus strain 20 UPMNR. P. fluorescens exhibited maximum tolerance at different concentrations of metals while A. faecalis had minimum tolerance. The heavy metal profile of the soil was determined and expressed in ppm as lead (25.0), copper (2.4), chromium (1.2) and zinc (16.0). The Isolates remediated the heavy metals. P. fluorescens + B. cereus maximally degraded the metals with values of (Pb = 87.2%, Zn = 69.25%, Cr =67.5%) while B. cereus alone degraded 70.0% Cu. P. fluorescens + B. cereus is recommended for soil that is contaminated with chromium, lead and zinc while B. cereus is recommended for copper contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]