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Black liquor (BL) bioconversion into valuable by-products is essential to develop a bioeconomy strategy; however, its furfural content hinders microbial fermentation activities. Hence, this study utilizes paper mill sludge (PMS) to provide extracellular enzymes, furfural-degrading microbial consortia, and electron donor required for promoting the BL hydrogenesis potential. Three up-flow anaerobic sequential batch reactors (UASBRs) are fed with PMS (UASBR1), BL (UASBR2), and PMS + BL (UASBR3) and operated in parallel at 15 min fill, 72 h reaction, and 4 h settling. The UASBR3 achieves the maximum volumetric H 2 of 1.483 ± 0.088 L/L/d and H 2 yield of 2.06 ± 0.12 mol/mol glucose, which drops by 88% in UASBR2 and 24% in UASBR1. The insufficient H 2 productivity values in UASBR2 could be due to a lack of nutrients availability (C:N = 440:1 and C:P = 19:1), higher furfural concentration (2116 ± 422 mg/L), and involvement of the butyrate fermentation pathway. The synergetic effect between PMS and BL overcomes these limitations and enriches the fermentation medium with Proteobacteria phyla (22.8%) and Acinetobacter sp. degrading furfural (6.1%). The microbial community at the phylum level (e.g., Proteobacteria , Firmicutes , and Actinobacteria) in UASBR3 maximizes the migration of electrons (e−eq = 9.34 ± 0.54%) towards efficient H 2 formation. [Display omitted] • Paper mill sludge (PMS) mitigated inhibitory effect of furfural in black liquor (BL). • PMS improved H 2 yield from the BL by 8.3-folds and accounted for 2.1 mol/mol glucose. • e– eq transferred to H 2 was 9.3% in the PMS:BL, 7.4% in PMS, and 1.27% in BL. • Acinetobacter degrading furfural (6.1%) was abundant with PMS addition. • Bacilli (8.9%) and Clostridia (5.4%) was dominant in the hydrogenesis of PMS:BL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid bacteria occupy an important position in silage microorganisms, and the effects of exogenous lactic acid bacteria on silage quality have been widely studied. Microbial metabolism has been proved as an indicator of substrate utilization by microorganisms. Paper mulberry is rich in free carbohydrate, amino acids, and other components, with the potential to be decomposed and utilized. In this study, changes in the microbial metabolism characteristics of paper mulberry silage with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) and Lentilactobacillus buchneri (LB) were studied along with a control (CK) using BIOLOG ECO microplates. The results showed that average well-color development (AWCD), Shannon diversity, Shannon evenness, and Simpson diversity exhibited significant temporal trends. LB and LP responded differently in the early ensiling phase, and the AWCD of LB was higher than LP at 7 days. Principal component analysis revealed that CK, LB, and LP samples initially clustered at 3 days and then moved into another similar cluster after 15 days. Overall, the microplates methodology applied in this study offers important advantages, not least in terms of accuracy.

Kaihua paper is a type of precious hand-made paper in China that has been used throughout Chinese history. Due to its extraordinary whiteness and fine texture, it was adopted by the imperial palace in the reign of Emperor Kang Xi and Yong Zheng of the Qing Dynasty of China in the 17th and 18th century. It is stained by a special type of yellowish-brown spot after years of storage, which is called a "peachy spot." The formation of such spots remains unclear, although complicated physicochemical processes or microbial activities might be involved. We performed nondestructive sampling and high-throughput sequencing on peachy spot surfaces, unstained areas, and air samples in the stack room to analysis the the bacterial and fungal communities, and performed prediction of functional genes of the bacterial communities. The results showed that peachy spot formation was mainly related to bacterial communities rather than fungal communities. Significantly more potential acid-producing, acidophilic or cellulase-producing bacteria, such as, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Lysinibacillus, and pigment-producing bacteria, such as Methylobacterium and Rubrobacter, were identified in the peachy spot samples. Prediction of the functional genes of the bacterial community also suggested the production of acidic substance pigments. These findings provide new insights into the pigment formation mechanism in ancient paper and open an opportunity to develop new strategies to preserve the ancient paper documents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermophilic methane fermentation was a valid approach for handling the stillage eluted from ethanol fermentation of waste paper and kitchen waste. The wide organic loading rate (OLR) range (2–14 g VTS/(L d)) for stable performance and relatively high energy recovery efficiency (79.0%) were achieved, and OLR of 8 g VTS/(L d) was optimum for achievement of highest biogas evolution and VTS removal efficiency. Microbial community analysis revealed that hydrolysis of cellulose was the critical step for methane production from the stillage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Great variation has been observed in the composition of the normal microbiota of the ocular surface, and therefore, in addition to differences in detection techniques, the method of collecting ocular surface specimens has a significant impact on the test results.The goal of this study is to ascertain whether the eye surface microbial communities detected by two different sampling methods are consistent and hence explore the feasibility of using tear test paper instead of conjunctival swabs to collect eye surface samples for microbial investigation. Materials and methods: From July 15, 2021, to July 30, 2021, nonirritating tear test strips and conjunctival swabs of both eyes were used in 158 elderly people (> 60 years old) (79 diabetic and 79 nondiabetic adults) in Xinjing Community for high-throughput sequencing of the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. The composition of the microbial communities in tear test paper and conjunctival swab samples was analyzed. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in Alpha diversity of ocular surface microorganisms represented by tear strip and conjunctival swab in diabetic group (P > 0.05), but there was statistically significant difference in Alpha diversity of ocular surface microorganisms detected by tear strip and conjunctival swab in nondiabetic group (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in Beta diversity of ocular surface microorganisms detected by two sampling methods between diabetic group and nondiabetic group (P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences in ocular surface microorganisms detected by tear strip method between diabetic group and nondiabetic group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in conjunctival swab method (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Tear test paper and conjunctival swabs detect different compositions of microbes through two different techniques of eye surface microbe sampling. Tear test paper cannot completely replace conjunctival swab specimens for the study of microbes related to eye surface diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The co-composting of oil palm fronds and paper mill sludge may be economical and eco-friendly, yet the complex indigenous configuration of lignocellulose reduces the bioavailability of waste, resulting in the hindrance to the humification process. In this work, oil palm fronds after hydrothermal pretreatment were mixed with paper mill sludge for co-composting, and the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on the humification process was explored using excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed that the duration of thermophilic phase was extended from 13 days to 17 days after hydrothermal pretreatment. During hydrothermal-pretreated composting, the consumption of protein-like substances and the production of humus-like substances increased by 24.7% and 33.9%, respectively, compared with those of control. The degradation of polysaccharide (decreased from 76.5 to 20.0 g/kg) was accelerated and the content of reducing sugar (ranged from 11.5 to 13.5 g/kg) was increased. The key microbial communities (including Bacillaceae , Sphingobacteriaceae , Streptosporangiaceae and Thermonosporaceae) showed obviously stronger activity. Correlation analysis showed that the production of reducing sugar and the activity of key microbial communities were reinforced, and both were favorable for the rapid synthesis of humus. Collectively, this work provides an overview of a regulatory mechanism underlying humus formation during the composting of lignocellulosic wastes. [Display omitted] • HP of OPF was applied to their co-composting with PMS. • HP significantly improved the humification process during co-composting. • RS content and key microbial communities' activity contributed to humus formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the production of large and conspicuous flowers can be costly, self‐pollinated or asexually reproducing plants are expected to lose characters for pollinator attraction. However, some plants still produce conspicuous flowers despite not relying on pollinators for fertilization, suggesting overlooked benefits of receiving flower visitors. Here, we present visitor‐mediated microbial dispersal as a potential benefit of receiving flower visitors. Recent studies revealed that diverse microbes inhabit plant surfaces or plant tissues and that these microbes substantially benefit host plants. Animal flower visitors disperse these microbes. Since some microbes can migrate to seeds, the enhanced dispersal via visitors can modulate microbial communities of the next generations. Microbial dispersal via flower visitors may improve plant fitness via increased opportunities to receive microbes mutualistic for seeds and higher variances in seed microbial communities that function as "bet‐hedging." We can test this hypothesis by comparing microbial communities and the performance of seeds from experimentally visitor‐excluded flowers and naturally animal‐visited control flowers. Further experiments with sterilization or microbe inoculation may confirm the contribution of specific taxa or microbial community structures to the observed effects on seed performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Journal of Plant Ecology (JPE) established the JPE Best Paper awards in 2022 to recognize papers with high impacts in the field of plant ecology. The awards are given annually to two to five papers selected by the editors based on novelty and contributions to the field. Emphasis is placed on authors who have completed their graduate studies within five years prior to submission. The winners receive a certificate and a prize of Chinese RMB 5000. This year, three papers were selected as the winners, covering topics such as sexual differences in plant responses to stress, changes in soil microbial communities following degradation in grasslands, and the effects of nitrogen addition on plant biomass allocation. The authors of these papers are Miao Liu, Yang Yu, and Kai Yue, who are all researchers in the field of plant ecology. [Extracted from the article]

A two-stage thermophilic hydrogen fermentation and mesophilic methane production from paper sludge was successfully explored. The maximum hydrogen and methane potential were 0.165 L/g VS and 0.376 L/g COD effluent , respectively with Clostridium thermocellum augmentation. 63 L of hydrogen and 122 L of methane were recovered from 1 kg Paper sludge (PS, dry weight) with an energy yield of 4.5 MJ/kg PS, 50% higher compared to the single-stage anaerobic digestion (94 L CH 4 , 3.0 MJ/kg PS). The bacterial community of second-stage process was dominated by genus Propionispira , Mesotoga and Aminobecterium with stability, whereas the bacterial structure in single-stage process presented dynamic changes where genus Acetivibrio and Fibrobacter played an indispensable role. However, Genus Methanosaeta , Methanosarcina , Methanobacterium and Methanospirillum existed stably and predominantly in the archaeal community of single-stage and second-stage processes. The present study suggests the potential application of the established two-stage process in valorization of low-value waste biomass. Image 1 • C. thermocellum enhanced two-stage H 2 and CH 4 production from PS was established. • 50% more energy recovery was achieved from two-stage than single-stage. • Archaeal community structure of two BMP tests showed no difference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Solid fermentation of paper was successful in lysimeters at 35 and 55 °C. • Homoacetogenesis was prominent under mesophilic conditions. • Alcohol production, ethanol and methanol, was favored under thermophilic conditions. • Dysgonomonas and Ruminococcus were the most abundant populations at 35 °C. • Thermicanus was the main population at a thermophilic temperature of 55 °C. This study explored the hydrolysis and fermentation of paper with hydrogen (H 2) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) recovery using a natural microbial consortium added to lysimeters. Serial dilutions of rumen fluid in natura were performed to obtain a fermentative nonmethanogen consortium, which was used as inoculum in lysimeters under two different incubation temperatures, L1 at 35 °C and L2 at 55 °C. H 2 was detected in both lysimeters: 791.5 mL (L1) and 70.4 mL (L2). In L1, the production of 16,856 mg L−1 acetic acid was likely due to the occurrence of homoacetogenesis. Under thermophilic conditions, L2, a low volume of H 2 was detected, and the highlight was the production of ethanol and methanol at 2289 and 5614 mg L−1, respectively. According to the Shannon index, there was great diversity of microorganism populations in the rumen fluid in natura (6.34) compared with the purified rumen fluid (2.73), L1 (2.67) and L2 (3.21). The most abundant genus in the rumen fluid in natura was Prevotella (37.5 %); in the purified consortium (68.7 %) and L1 (63.8), Dysgonomonas ; and in L2 (88.7 %), Thermicanus. In conclusion, the temperature influenced the microbial community structure, the metabolic route and, consequently, the main byproducts produced by the fermentative activity at 35 °C and 55 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paper production generates pulp and paper wastewater (PPW), and it is difficult to remove the high-level pollutants in PPW efficiently. Herein, an efficient industrial-scale pulp and paper wastewater treatment plant (PP-WWTP) that integrated physicochemical and biological processes is investigated and reported. This PP-WWTP treated 2.3 Mt of wastewater with 17,388 ± 1436 mg/L chemical oxygen demand (COD) annually. The PP-WWTP can effectively remove over 99.81% of the COD. In detail, the physical, anaerobic, aerobic and chemical steps accounted for 41.6%, 40.0%, 11.9%, and 6.5% of COD removal, respectively. The microbial communities of the bioreactors removed the pollutants efficiently and contained diverse microbes. Further metagenomic analyses of the bioreactors identified more than 90,000 genes/gene fragments encoding for carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZys), demonstrating high lignocellulose degradation ability of the bioreactors at molecular level. The xylanase activity assay showed some lignocellulase in the bioreactors were functional. Recycling the residual heat from the PPW along with energy recovered from biological treatment of the PPW, in the form of biogas (20,000 m³/d), could generate more than 1.5 M USD benefits/y. The results of this study demonstrated that the integrated physicochemical and biological process for PPWW treatment could effectively remove pollutants while generating revenue. Image 1 • An integrated process was applied in an industrial-scale pulp and paper wastewater treatment plant. • Most pollutants were removed in the biological part of the integrated process. • The wastewater treatment can generate benefits. • The high efficient COD removal ability was driven by large amounts of lignocellulase genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to isolate, characterize, and identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains from various sources and evaluate their effects on the nutritional quality, fermentation characteristics, and microbial compositions of paper mulberry (PM) after 60 days of ensiling. Forty-nine LAB strains were isolated from Phalaris arundinacea silage, pickle, and fresh PM leaves; three of these strains (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, YC1; Levilactobacillus brevis, PC3; and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, BP17) and one commercial inoculant Gaofuji (GFJ) were subsequently used. Compared with other treatments, PC3 and BP17 increased (P < 0.05) the LAB count and crude protein content and decreased (P < 0.05) the molds and coliform bacteria counts, pH, and ammonia-N content of PM silages. BP17 and PC3 increased the relative Lactiplantibacillus abundance and decreased that of Lelliottia and Cladosporium, improving PM silage quality. Therefore, PC3 and BP17 can improve the fermentation quality of PM silage and could be used as silage starter cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the centuries, various types of paper have been produced, each characterized by a different ratio of natural macromolecules, mainly lignin and cellulose. Handmade paper has a higher content of cellulose with respect to the early machine-made paper, where lignin is the other important component. Microorganisms are able to colonize and deteriorate both types. They can release on their surfaces pigments and colorants which produced anesthetic stains. To better understand the microbiota colonizing these stains, 17 samples were analyzed, from both handmade and machine-made paper surfaces, as well as library and archive environments. Combination of microbiological and high-throughput sequencing (HTS) approaches were applied. The culture-dependent methodology comprised: isolation, DNA identification, hydrolytic and paper staining assays. The HTS was performed by MinION platform and for the mycobiome a more suitable bioinformatics analysis pipeline, MetONTIIME based on QIIME2 framework, was applied. The paper model staining assay permitted the direct recognition of colorizing isolates which in combination with sequencing data evidenced a complex microbial community able to stain the two types of paper. Staining abilities were confirmed by frequently isolated and detected fungi as well as newly discovered ones Roussoella euonymi and Achaetomium. We have also evidenced the staining ability of several bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultures assigned to the genus Thermoanaerobacterium according to the partial sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were isolated on CM3 and GS2 media at 55°С from two laboratory methanogenic thermophilic cellulolytic microbial communities producing biogas from various paper substrates. Cellulolytic activity was shown for three isolates grown on solid and in liquid media with microcrystalline cellulose and filter paper as the only substrates. In order to compare the phylogenetic relations between these isolates and the reference strains of T. thermosaccharolyticum (DSM 571, M0795, and TG57), it was shown that the isolates I2 and I3 belonged to one cluster, whereas the I1 isolate formed a separate branch on the phylogenetic tree. A unique feature of isolate I2 is the formation of an insoluble yellow affinity substance (YAS), which is usually produced by certain anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria, such as Clostridium thermocellum; it is considered a binding component between the cellulase enzyme and its substrate, cellulose. Our results confirmed that cellulolytic T. thermosaccharolyticum strains predominated among cellulose-degrading bacteria within the thermophilic microbial communities converting the paper substrates into biogas. Although the type strain T. thermosaccharolyticum DSM 571 lacks cellulolytic capacity, our results are consistent with the recent data on the ability of several T. thermosaccharolyticum strains to degrade cellulose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored changes in the microbial community structure during straw degradation by a microbial decomposer, M44. The microbial community succession at different degradation periods was analyzed using MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. The results showed that 14 days after inoculation, the filter paper enzyme and endoglucanase activities increased to 2.55 U·mL-1 and 2.34 U·mL-1. The xylanase, laccase, and lignin peroxidase activities rose to 9.86 U·mL-1, 132.16 U·L-1, and 85.43 U·L-1 after 28 d, which was consistent with changes in the straw degradation rate. The degradation rates of straw, lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose were 31.43%, 13.67%, 25.04%, and 21.69%, respectively, after 28 d of fermentation at 15°C. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes were the main bacterial species in samples at different degradation stages. The dominant genera included Pseudomonas, Delftia, and Paenibacillus during the initial stage (1 d, 7 d) and the mid-term stage (14 d). The key functional microbes during the late stage (21 d, 28 d) were Rhizobium, Chryseobacterium, Sphingobacterium, Brevundimonas, and Devosia. Changes in the bacterial consortium structure and straw degradation characteristics during different degradation periods were clarified to provide a theoretical basis for the rational utilization of microbial decomposer M44. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Pulp & Paper is the property of China Pulp & Paper Magazines Publisher and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Microbial carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZyme) can be harnessed for valorization of Lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) to value-added chemicals/products. The two Indian Rivers Ganges and the Yamuna having different origins and flow, face accumulation of carbon-rich substrates due to the discharge of wastewater from adjoining paper and pulp industries, which could potentially contribute to the natural enrichment of LCB utilizing genes, especially at their confluence. We analyzed CAZyme diversity in metagenomic datasets across the sacred confluence of the Rivers Ganges and Yamuna. Functional annotation using CAZyme database identified a total of 77,815 putative genes with functional domains involved in the catalysis of carbohydrate degradation or synthesis of glycosidic bonds. The metagenomic analysis detected ~ 41% CAZymes catalyzing the hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass polymers- cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and pectin. The Beta diversity analysis suggested higher CAZyme diversity at downstream region of the river confluence, which could be useful niche for culture-based studies. Taxonomic origin for CAZymes revealed the predominance of bacteria (97%), followed by archaea (1.67%), Eukaryota (0.63%), and viruses (0.7%). Metagenome guided CAZyme diversity of the microflora spanning across the confluence of Ganges-Yamuna River, could be harnessed for biomass and bioenergy applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lactic acid bacteria occupy an important position in silage microorganisms, and the effects of exogenous lactic acid bacteria on silage quality have been widely studied. Microbial metabolism has been proved as an indicator of substrate utilization by microorganisms. Paper mulberry is rich in free carbohydrate, amino acids, and other components, with the potential to be decomposed and utilized. In this study, changes in the microbial metabolism characteristics of paper mulberry silage with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) and Lentilactobacillus buchneri (LB) were studied along with a control (CK) using BIOLOG ECO microplates. The results showed that average well-color development (AWCD), Shannon diversity, Shannon evenness, and Simpson diversity exhibited significant temporal trends. LB and LP responded differently in the early ensiling phase, and the AWCD of LB was higher than LP at 7 days. Principal component analysis revealed that CK, LB, and LP samples initially clustered at 3 days and then moved into another similar cluster after 15 days. Overall, the microplates methodology applied in this study offers important advantages, not least in terms of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy resources can potentially solve global warming issues that arise from the large amounts of CO2 emissions from currently used energy resources. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) can produce electrical energy from the environment, making them attractive for energy harvesting. The structures and mechanisms of MFC have been studied for a few decades, and the performance of MFC has constantly been improved using new materials in the devices or by interacting microbial species on the anode chamber of MFC. However, the ecological phenomena, especially inter‐species interactions, within the microbial community in MFC are still largely unknown. Analysis and control of the microbial community have high potential to improve the MFC performance. In this idea paper, I have provided ways to analyze the species interactions in the microbial communities of MFC: (a) empirical dynamic modeling for detecting species interactions in MFC, and (b) network analysis to explore the core microbe species in the MFC. The interaction analyses of the microbial communities in MFC devices can potentially contribute to improving the performance of MFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Thermophilic digestion of sewage sludge with PW was studied by various mixed ratio. • Biogas yield increased from 438 to 594 mL/g-VS with paper waste ratio up to 60%. • Paper waste addition weakened protein degradation and aggravated NH 4 +-N shortage. • The cellulolytic bacteria became predominant functional group after PW addition. To recover the biogas from sewage sludge and paper waste (PW), the methanogenic performance of thermophilic anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge with PW was assessed by a continuous experiment. The effects on the biogas production and microbial community were investigated by changing the PW ratio from 0 to 66.7%. The optimal performance was obtained at the ratio of sewage sludge: PW = 4:6 (total solids), where the COD removal efficiency and biogas production increased from 58.34±5.90% to 72.92±0.08% and 438±53 to 594±72 mL/g-VS added , respectively. By investigating the trend of carbohydrate and protein degradation rates, the competition between carbohydrate and protein degradation was quantified. The critical PW addition ratio was about (63.64%), where the protein degradation rate decreased to zero with increasing PW addition. Meanwhile, the microbial analysis showed that cellulolytic bacteria outcompeted proteolytic bacteria and to be the predominant group after PW addition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-applying biochar and paper mill biosolids (PB) improves the potential of these by-products as soil amendments. Assessing the response of soil microbial communities to the co-application of biochar and PB is of great importance to further understanding their effectiveness. This hypothesis was tested in a 112-day incubation study performed separately on two acidic soils (Kamouraska clay and St-Antoine sandy loam) using two PB types (PB1 with C/ N = 24 and PB2 with C/ N = 13), co-applied with one of three rates (0%, 2.5%, and 5% w/w) of pine (Pinus strobus L.) biochar. An unamended control and a mineral-fertilized treatment were used as a reference. In the Kamouraska clay soil, co-applying 5% biochar and any PB increased microbial activity compared to PB-only application, as indicated by the fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolysis assay. In both soils, co-applying biochar and PB did not affect microbial diversity and community structure compared with PB only. The application of any PB, however, increased microbial activity in both soils, while only PB2 shifted microbial community structure. Within each amendment and in both soils, microbial activity was lower at day 112 than at days 28 and 56, while major temporal shifts were observed only for bacterial community structure. Indeed, the difference in bacterial community structure between amendments was more pronounced at day 112. This study suggests that co-applying biochar and PB can improve soil properties than application of PB alone by increasing soil microbial activity without side effects on microbial diversity and community structure, especially in acidic clay soils. • Co-applying biochar and paper mill biosolids (PB) increased soil microbial activity. • Co-applying biochar and PB did not affect soil microbial community structure. • The incubation time affected soil microbial activity and community structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Microbiology is the property of Canadian Science Publishing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Sludges from pulp and paper mills represent a major ecological and environmental cost, and anaerobic digestion represents a method of waste reduction and energy recovery for these mills. This study compared methane production potential and microbial communities across 11 primary- and biosludges from five pulp and paper mills using various mill processes. We measured methane production from sludges in anaerobic batch reactor experiments over 64 days. Sludges were incubated with and without added substrate to test for organic substrate limitation versus inhibition of methanogens. Initial microbial communities and changes to community composition were determined using Illumina MiSeq for metabarcoding of bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes. Mean methane production potential varied greatly between sludges (0.002–79 mL CH4 g–1 TS). Among primary sludges, kraft mill sludge produced more methane than other mill types. For these other mills, biosludge produced more methane than primary sludge, which had evidence of methanogen inhibition. Microbial communities and diversity were influenced by the initial community composition, and high methane production was only seen in sludges with high diversity. A number of sludges innately produced substantial methane and may be targets for further modelling and larger scale testing of anaerobic digestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to effectively use locally available woody forage and hay resources in tropics, paper mulberry (PM) silages were prepared using Napier grass (NG) and rice straw (RS) hays. The mixing proportion of hays were 10%, 20%, and 30% on fresh matter basis. After 60 days of ensiling, single molecule, real-time (SMRT) sequencing technology was used to analyse the dynamic changes of microbial community and silage fermentation. When PM silages were prepared with both hays, the moisture of PM were adjusted below 67.6%. The dominant microbial community rapidly shifted from Gram-negative to Gram-positive bacteria during ensiling. Before ensiling, aerobic bacteria were dominant in materials, but after ensiling, Lactobacillus plantarum became the main bacterial community and dominated the fermentation process. The result of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis shown that hay-treated PM silages increased the proportion of Global and overview maps and carbohydrate metabolic pathways, while decreasing the proportion of amino acid metabolic pathway. Fatty acid metabolism, glycolysis and proteolysis categories may improve the flavour and quality of the silage. PM silage prepared with 10% hay effectively improved better fermentation quality than PM alone silage. The result confirmed that PM and hay are the ideal combination, they can prepare good-quality silage for ruminant feed to alleviate the shortage of feed in tropics. • Napier grass and rice straw improve fermentation suitability of paper mulberry. • Paper mulberry with 10% hay are the ideal combination for silage preparation. • Microbial metabolic pathways improve the flavour and quality of the silage. • Hay addition increases the proportion of carbohydrate metabolic pathway in silage. • SMRT technology accurately revealed specific microbial information of silage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Modern Food Science & Technology is the property of Editorial Office of Modern Food Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• This is the first report on metabolic gene clusters in paper mulberry silage. • Ensiling causes a shift in dominant bacteria from Gram-negative to Gram-positive. • Enterobacter and Lactobacillus species determine silage fermentation quality. • PacBio sequencing reveals microbial dynamics during silage fermentation. • Paper mulberry can be used to prepare high-quality nutrient-rich silage. To develop a new high-protein woody forage resource for livestock to alleviate feed shortages in the tropics, we applied PacBio single-molecule, real-time (SMRT) sequencing to explore the community structure, species diversity and metabolic gene clusters of natural microorganisms associated with paper mulberry (PM) silage fermentation. High levels of microbial diversity and abundance were observed in PM raw material, and these levels decreased with the progression of silage fermentation. During woody ensiling, the dominant bacteria shifted from pathogenic Gram-negative Proteobacteria to beneficial Gram-positive Firmicutes. Lactic acid bacteria became the most dominant bacteria that affected fermentation quality in terminal silages. Global and overview maps, carbohydrate metabolism and amino-acid metabolism were the important microbial metabolic pathways that impacted the final fermentation product of silage. PacBio SMRT sequencing revealed specific microbial-related information concerning silage. PM is rich in nutrients and macro mineral contents, which are preserved well during ensiling, indicating that PM silage can serve as a new woody resource suitable for ruminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stacking is a widely used method of microbial enrichment in the field of fermentation and is traditionally used to promote flavor in Chinese sauce-flavor Baijiu; however, its precise mechanism is unknown. This study assessed the fermentation process of light-flavor Baijiu with the simplest microbial source. After comparing differences in the microbial composition of different kinds of Daqu, a high-temperature Daqu with a microbial composition that significantly differs from light-flavor Daqu was selected for stacking. The physical and chemical indicators, microbial community composition, and metabolite profiles during the fermentation process were tracked, and the total ester content in Baiju was significantly higher with stacking than Baijiu without stacking. The dominant bacteria during stacking fermentation were Bacillus and Enterococcus, while Lactobacillus was the dominant bacteria during middle and late fermentation periods. Low levels of Lactobacillus and Pichia in Daqu were screened and enriched during the stacking process, while the glucose and acetate content significantly increased. Flavor compounds such as esters and acids were positively correlated with dominant genera such as Lactobacillus, Bacillus, and Pichia. Stacking provides microorganisms for environmental screening, which regulates the microbial community structure and produces various metabolites and precursors of flavor substances to fully saccharify and promote the production of flavor substances. Stacking during the production of light-flavor Baijiu can help regulate the fermentation process and improve Baijiu quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical representation of metagenomics analysis of pulp and paper industry wastewater via 16S rRNA V3-V4 sequencing. • Environmental pollutants from industries cause enormous ecological impacts. • Bacterial community has strong prospects for removing metal pollutants. • The best approach to microbes profiling is use of metagenomic strategies. This work aimed to study the profiling and efficiency of microbial communities and their abundance in the pulp and paper industry wastewater, which contained toxic metals, high biological oxygen demands, chemical oxygen demand, and ions contents. Sequence alignment of the 16S rRNA V3-V4 variable region zone with the Illumina MiSeq framework revealed 25356 operating taxonomical units (OTUs) derived from the wastewater sample. The major phyla identified in wastewater were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria, Spirochetes, Patesibacteria, Acidobacteria, and others including unknown microbes. The study showed the function of microbial communities essential for the oxidation and detoxifying of complex contaminants and design of effective remediation techniques for the re-use of polluted wastewater. Findings demonstrated that the ability of different classes of microbes to adapt and survive in metal-polluted wastewater irrespective of their relative distribution, as well as further attention can be provided to its use in the bioremediation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solid organic waste is a significant source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and effective treatment strategies are urgently required to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Here, we studied ARG diversity and abundance as well as the relationship between antibiotic resistome and microbial community structure within a lab-scale solid-state anaerobic digester treating a mixture of food waste, paper and cardboard. A total of 10 samples from digester feed and digestion products were collected for microbial community analysis including small subunit rRNA gene sequencing, total community metagenome sequencing and high-throughput quantitative PCR. We observed a significant shift in microbial community composition and a reduction in ARG diversity and abundance after 6 weeks of digestion. ARGs were identified in all samples with multidrug resistance being the most abundant ARG type. Thirty-two per cent of ARGs detected in digester feed were located on plasmids indicating potential for horizontal gene transfer. Using metagenomic assembly and binning, we detected potential bacterial hosts of ARGs in digester feed, which included Erwinia , Bifidobacteriaceae , Lactococcus lactis and Lactobacillus. Our results indicate that the process of sequential solid-state anaerobic digestion of food waste, paper and cardboard tested herein provides a significant reduction in the relative abundance of ARGs per 16S rRNA gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nine paddy straw-degrading microbial consortia were isolated from 253 paddy straw samples from northern China and the Yangtze River Valley, which are two major rice production regions in China. The microbial consortia completely degraded filter paper within 15 d at 25 °C. The V4 region of the microbial consortia 16S rRNA gene was amplified, and the amplicons were sequencing using the Illumina Miseq high-throughput platform. Compilobacterota and Bacteroidota were the predominant phyla in the samples. At the genus level, the relative abundance of Macellibacteroides was the highest in Y2, and Arcobacter was predominant in the other samples. Analysis of the microbial community structure revealed that the diversity and richness in samples from the Yangtze River Valley were significantly higher compared with those of the samples from northern China, and the community structure of the four microbial consortia from the northern region had higher similarity than the five consortia from the Yangtze River Valley. • Campilobacterota and Bacteroidetes were the predominant phyla of microbial consortia. • The major genera in the two regions were significantly different. • Pseudomonas , Comamonas , Fibrobacter , Sphingobacterium , Ruminiclostridium , and Ruminococcus are the functional bacteria. • The northern bacterial community richness and diversity were lower than the Yangtze River Valley. • The northern microbial community structure was higher in similarity than the Yangtze River Valley. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the microbial community (Bacteria, Archaea, and Fungi) of a historical manuscript was investigated by microscopic observation (field emission scanning electron microscopy), culture-dependent methods, and sequencing of amplicons on the Illumina MiSeq platform. Microbial isolates were also assayed for production of hydrolytic enzymes (cellulase, amylase, and protease). Observation of gold-coated paper samples in high-vacuum mode revealed bacterial cells, conidia, and fungal mycelium among the fibers. Eleven bacterial strains, including species of Bacillus, Streptomyces,Corynebacterium, and four fungal strains, including species of Aspergillus and Alternaria, were isolated by culture-dependent methods and identified by 16S rRNA and ITS sequencing, by comparison with the EzBioCloud and MycoBank databases, respectively. Illumina MiSeq sequencing revealed the presence of 20 bacterial genera, including Pseudomonas,Bacillus, Citrococcus, Promicromonospora, Carnobacterium, Arthrobacter, Salinibacterium, and Streptomyces. According to the number of reads, Pseudomonas (58%) was the most abundant genus and P. stutzeri (55.2%) was the most abundant bacterial species. Sequencing results of fungal amplicons indicated 62 genera, including Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria, Mucor, and Chaetomium. Penicillium (58.89%) and Aspergillus (33.02%) were the most abundant genera. P. polonicum (55.45%) and A. ruber (22.55%) were the most abundant species of the fungal community. The results of searching for archaea in the microbial community of the manuscript by culture-dependent and high-throughput amplicon sequencing were negative. The enzymatic activity of microbial isolates indicated a potential risk of biodeterioration. It seems that using a combination of culture-dependent and high-throughput sequencing methods has a significant advantage over using them individually. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coating wastewater from paper mills has been characterized by a high chemical oxygen demand (COD), high total suspended solids (TSS) and a high degree of color. In this paper, a sequencing batch biofilm reactor (SBBR) and an anaerobic-oxic (AO) system that consisted of a hydrolytic acidification reactor and an activated sludge reactor (HAASR) were implemented to treat coagulated coating wastewater from a paper mill. The COD, color and TSS removal efficiencies of the SBBR were 87.7%, 33.5%, and 41.4%, and those of the HAASR were 85.3%, 22.5% and 19.4%, respectively. It is proposed that more recalcitrant compounds were removed by the SBBR than by the HAASR. The microbial communities of the SBBR sludge and the HAASR sludge were evaluated and indicated that the SBBR sludge had lower microbial richness and diversity than the HAASR sludge. Moreover, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacteria in both the HAASR and SBBR sludges.

The structured water is obtained by quantum technology, exclusively on the basis of natural elements, under the influence of electromagnetic field with magnitude of the waves in the order of 10-40. The aim of this paper is to present the results of research carried out in greenhouse conditions to assess the influence of irrigation with quantum structured water, as compared with irrigation with tap water, on biodiversity and structure of microbial communities in rhizosphere of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) FLAVIOLA variety and to evaluate the biological quality of plants. The paper presents the total counts and species of bacteria and fungi estimated by dilution plate method, diversity index of Shannon (H), equitability and similarity index. The influence of structured water on plants hight, fresh biomass accumulated, biological quality and vitality are discussed comparatively with tap water using image-forming methods, namely biocrystallization, circular chromatography and capillary dynamolysis by the evaluation of structures formed consequently to the reaction of plant extracts with certain inorganic salts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Romania owns important areas with High Natural Value (HNV) agriculture systems. The aim of the paper was to assess the biodiversity aspects of microbial communities in two soils from the areal selected for HNV payments, that belongs to the Pilot Zone II in Lupac, Caras-Severin County: P3-cultivated in conventional system with maize for forage and P4-under HNV agriculture system with forage plants, mainly leguminous, between abandoned orchard trees. Microbial counts and taxonomy of bacteria and fungi have been determined (by dilution plate method). Diversity index of Shannon and similarity index between the habitats have been calculated, as well as soil respiration potential (estimated by substrate-induced respiration method). Microbial diversity varied from 3 to 9 species. Dominant species included Pseudomonas fluorescent, Bacillus spp. and cosmopolitan genera Penicillium and Trichoderma, with role in improving the control of phytopathogens in rhizosphere and nutrients uptake by plants, aggregation of soil, cellulose decomposition and carbon sequestration. Circular paper chromatograms provided information on biological quality of studied soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This paper presents a preliminary study on whether low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-TMS) can modulate the gut microbiota in mice with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Methods: Mice received LF-TMS (1Hz, 20 mT) for 28 consecutive days under chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). The composition of gut microbiota of stool samples were tested. Results: CUMS caused significant changes in gut microbiotas, specifically in community diversity of gut microbiotas (P < .05). Compared with the stressed group mice, the Chao1 index (P < .05), Observed species index (P < .05), Faith’s PD index (P < .05) and Shannon index (P < .05) of the LF-TMS treatment group were significantly increased. Furthermore, 1Hz LF-TMS-treatment partially recovered chronic stress induced changes of microbiotas, such as the abundance of Chloroflexi, Actinobacteria. Conclusion: These results manifested that LF-TMS treatment can improve the anhedonic behaviors caused by CUMS in mice, which are connected with regulating the related intestinal microbial community disturbance, including species diversity, structure of gut microbiota, and species composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aimed to present the results of research carried out on soil microbiota as compared to that colonizing rhizosphere of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.), FLAVIOLA variety, for assessing the influence of root exudates on composition and abundance of microbial communities in relationship with benefits for plant nutrition and health conferred by their interaction. Cosmopolitan fungal species from genera Fusarium, Penicillium and Humicola, as well as bacteria from genera Bacillus, Pseudomonas, associated with Actinomycetes dominated microbial communities from soil. Rhizosphere communities were dominated by fungal species belonging to genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Trichoderma accompanied by nematophagous fungi from genus Arthrobotrys. Pseudomonas fluorescens, important for biocontrol of root pathogenic microorganisms, associated with other non-fluorescent species of Pseudomonas were the most abundant in rhizosphere. Rhizosphere effect assessed using as indicator the ratio between the value of total counts of microbes in rhizosphere and in soil (R/S) confirmed the stimulation of microbial abundance and diversity by plant root exudates as compared to soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is an essential nutrient for all life on earth and has a major impact on plant growth and crop yield. The forms of phosphorus that can be directly absorbed and utilized by plants are mainly HPO42− and H2PO4−, which are known as usable phosphorus. At present, the total phosphorus content of soils worldwide is 400–1000 mg/kg, of which only 1.00–2.50% is plant-available, which seriously affects the growth of plants and the development of agriculture, resulting in a high level of total phosphorus in soils and a scarcity of available phosphorus. Traditional methods of applying phosphorus fertilizer cannot address phosphorus deficiency problems; they harm the environment and the ore material is a nonrenewable natural resource. Therefore, it is imperative to find alternative environmentally compatible and economically viable strategies to address phosphorus scarcity. Phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) can convert insoluble phosphorus in the soil into usable phosphorus that can be directly absorbed by plants, thus improving the uptake and utilization of phosphorus by plants. However, there is no clear and systematic report on the mechanism of action of PSB. Therefore, this paper summarizes the discovery process, species, and distribution of PSB, focusing on the physiological mechanisms outlining the processes of acidolysis, enzymolysis, chelation and complexation reactions of PSB. The related genes regulating PSB acidolysis and enzymatic action as well as genes related to phosphate transport and the molecular direction mechanism of its pathway are examined. The effects of PSB on the structure and abundance of microbial communities in soil are also described, illustrating the mechanism of how PSB interact with microorganisms in soil and indirectly increase the amount of available phosphorus in soil. And three perspectives are considered in further exploring the PSB mechanism in utilizing a synergistic multi-omics approach, exploring PSB-related regulatory genes in different phosphorus levels and investigating the application of PSB as a microbial fungicide. This paper aims to provide theoretical support for improving the utilization of soil insoluble phosphorus and providing optimal management of elemental phosphorus in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floccularia luteovirens, a rare wild edible and medicinal fungus, is endemic to the Tibetan plateau. However, attempts to artificially domesticate this species have not been successful, resulting in extremely limited utilization of this valuable resource. This paper presents the geographical distribution of F. luteovirens, along with its ecological and biological characteristics. It explores population relations, symbiotic relationships, soil microbial community relations, fruiting body occurrence conditions, nutritional metabolism, and reproductive patterns. The cultivation techniques, as well as the edible and medicinal value of this mushroom, are also reviewed. Through an overall analysis of the physiological characteristics and current research status of F. luteovirens, the paper discusses its development prospects. The aim is to provide a reference for other researchers and promote its artificial domestication, resource development, and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some studies have shown that appropriate Fe2+ and Fe3+ can promote the metabolism of anammox bacteria, but the effect on the N2O production of bacteria is still unknown. In this paper, a batch experiment was conducted to investigate the N2O production of anammox at different concentrations of Fe2+ and Fe3+, and analyze its microbiome and functional genes. The results showed the highest N2O (0.29 mg/L) in the Fe2+ group was at 20 mg/L Fe2+, and decreased by 47.01% at 30 mg/L Fe2+. In the Fe3+ group, the N2O emission increases with the Fe3+ concentration, and the maximum N2O emission is 0.17 mg/L at 30 mg/L Fe3+. Microbial community diversity analysis showed that 5 mg/L Fe2+ and Fe3+ could stimulate the growth of Candidatus Kuenenia, but denitrification bacteria Denitratisoma and Limnobacter increased with the increase of Fe2+ and Fe3+ concentrations. Functional gene analysis showed that the release of N2O was related to functional genes in nitrification pathway, DNRA pathway, denitrification pathway and anammox pathway, and was significantly positively correlated with genes norB, nirD and hcp (P<0.05). This paper describes the effects of Fe2+ and Fe3+ on N2O emission in anammox system, which can provide reference for N2O control in anammox process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims There has been an increased interest in studying the association between microbial communities and different diseases and in discovering microbiome biomarkers. This association is pivotal to discover such biomarkers. In this paper, we present a unified modelling approach that can be used to detect and develop microbiome biomarkers for different clinical responses of interest at different levels of the microbiome ecosystem. Methods and results We extended the methodology rooted in the information theory and joint modelling approaches for the evaluation of surrogate endpoints in randomized clinical trials to the high-dimensional microbiome setting. The unified modelling approach introduced in this paper allows for detecting biomarkers associated with a clinical response of interest, adjusting for the intervention applied to the subjects. For some microbiome features, the association is driven by the treatment, while for others, the association reflects the correlation between the microbiome biomarker and the clinical response of interest. Conclusions The results have demonstrated that biomarkers can be identified at different levels of the microbiome phylogenetic tree using various measures as biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]