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A major unknown in the field of planetary protection is the degree to which natural atmospheric processes remove terrestrial microorganisms from robotic and crewed spacecraft that could potentially contaminate Mars (i.e., forward contamination). We present experiments in which we measured the removal rate of Bacillus subtilis HA101 spores from aluminum surfaces under the bombardment of naturally rounded sand grains. To simulate grain impacts, we constructed a pneumatic sand-feed system and gun to accelerate grains to a desired speed, with independent control of impacting grain mass, flux, and angle. Spore counts of the resulting bombarded surfaces when using scanning electron microscopy indicate that although spores directly impacted by sand grains would likely be killed, those immediately adjacent to grain impacts might be released into the environment intact. The experiments demonstrate a linear relationship between the fractional dislodgement rate of spores and grain impact speed, which can be used to estimate input to microbial transport models (e.g., using numerical models of saltation). Even the slowest grain impacts (∼2.7 m/s) dislodged spores. Such slow events may be common and widespread on Mars, which suggests that microbial dislodgement by slow saltation near the surface is largely unavoidable.

For decades, the risk of exposure to infectious diseases in recreational beaches has been evaluated through the quantification of fecal indicator bacteria in water samples using culture methods. The analyses of sand samples have recently been developed as a complement to the monitoring of recreational waters in beach quality assessments. The growing use of molecular techniques for environmental monitoring allows for the rapid detection of pathogenic genes, thus providing more accurate information regarding the health risk of exposure to contaminated sand. The aim of this work was to determine the relationship between the fecal indicators abundance in water and sand and the presence of Shiga toxin-producer Escherichia coli (STEC) in sand by analyzing samples from touristic beaches using culture-dependent (fecal coliforms assay) and culture-independent (real-time PCR of stx1, stx2, and eae genes) techniques. We found a high concentration of coliform bacteria in water and sand in several beaches in eastern Uruguay, with different levels of sanitation networks and levels of urbanization. The presence of STEC virulence genes (mainly stx1) was confirmed in 8 out of 20 sand samples. The recreational use of sandy beaches may imply a risk to the health of its users, especially near streams and creek outflows, thus highlighting the need of monitoring sand bacteriological quality and pathogens using molecular tools., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

Sandy soils contain around 70% sand in their composition, making them highly fragile and susceptible to land degradation. Practices such as no-tillage cultivation, the use of bioinoculants, and the application of organic amendments can restore the organic matter in these soils, ensuring sustainable production. In this context, this work aimed to study the microbiological aspects of two sandy soil areas (Brazilian Northeast and South) under contrasting climatic conditions (tropical and temperate). With this purpose, prokaryotic communities were evaluated, and the plant growth-promoting potential of isolated bacteria was assessed by rice inoculation in sandy soil. Despite the high sand content in both soils, soil from the NE was related to the highest phosphorous, calcium, potassium, copper, sodium, zinc, magnesium, and manganese contents, organic matter percentage, and pH. The Shannon diversity index indicated that prokaryotic communities in NE were more diverse than in SU, and PCA revealed that microbial composition exhibited distinct patterns. The rice inoculation experiments were executed to verify if the bacterial isolates displayed a similar growth promotion potential when inoculated in sandy soil areas subjected to different climatic conditions. When all PGP characteristics evaluated were pooled in a PCA, a similar pattern was observed for SU and NE. Burkholderia sp. SU94 was related to highest PGP characteristics evaluated. Paraburkholderia sp. NE32 showed similar results to those of the non-inoculated control. This similar effect of rice growth in the Northeast and South of Brazil suggests that isolate SU94 adapts to different environmental conditions., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Utilizing coastal land for agriculture presents challenges such as low water content, high soil salinity, and low organic compound content. To support plant growth under these conditions, biofertilizers composed of plant growth promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), especially those inhabiting coastal areas, are needed. The Parangkusumo sand dunes on the southern coast of Java, Indonesia, is a unique coastal ecosystem characterized by arid conditions, high temperatures, and high soil salinity. To date, no studies have reported the isolation of PGPR from this ecosystem. This study is the first to isolate and identify PGPR associated with Spinifex littoreus, a dominant plant species in the Parangkusumo sand dunes, which are adapted to the harsh condition of Parangkusumo sand dunes. Ten rhizobacterial isolates were obtained, with five identified as members of the Bacillaceae family. All isolates demonstrated phosphate solubilization activity, while seven exhibited cellulolytic activity. One isolate, Priestia aryabhattai strain 2, notably showed phosphate solubilization and nitrogen fixation activities. The findings of this PGPR activity screening offer valuable insights for developing biofertilizers tailored for coastal agricultural applications.

The change and mechanism of soil and soil bacterial diversity during the change of herbaceous litter thickness in desert areas is crucial to understand. In the study, the dominant herbaceous litter mixture in Baijitan National Nature Reserve was selected as the research material, and an experiment was established by adjusting the litter depth. The results showed that the measured values of soil physicochemical factors (total nitrogen, total protein, total potassium, available phosphorus, available potassium, pH, and soil water content) increased with the increase of herbaceous litter mixture thickness in 0-5 cm soil layer. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Gemmatimonadetes were the dominant bacterial phyla under different thicknesses of herbaceous litter in 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers. Balneimonas, Rubrobacter , and Geodermatophilus were the dominant bacterial genera under different thicknesses of herbaceous litter in 0-5 and 5-10 cm soil layers. There was no obvious change in the α-diversity index of bacterial community the same soil layer, but the α-diversity index in the 0-5 cm soil layer was lower compared to the 5-10 cm soil layer. The results of this study revealed that the change of herbaceous litter thickness had no significant effect on soil bacterial community structure in desert areas., Competing Interests: As the authors have stated, there are no conflicts of interest.

Depending on the texture of soil, different physicochemical and microbiological parameters are characterized, and these characteristics are influenced by crop cultivation. Stevia , a popular zero-calorie sweetener crop, is widely cultivated around the world on various soil textures. Sandy loam and clay soil show great differences in physicochemical and biological parameters and are often used for Stevia cultivation. To understand the effects of Stevia cultivation on soil physicochemical and biological features, we investigated the changes of physicochemical and microbiological parameters in sandy loam and clay soil following Stevia cultivation. This study was carried out through different physiological and biochemical assays and microbiomic analysis. The results indicated that the sandy loam soil had significantly lower pH and higher nutrient content in the rhizosphere and bulk soils after the Stevia cultivation. The sandy loam soil maintained higher bacterial diversity and richness than the clay soil after Stevia harvest. Beneficial bacteria such as Dongia, SWB02 , Chryseolinea , Bryobacter and Devosia were enriched in the sandy loam soil; however, bacteria such as RB41 , Haliangium and Ramlibacter , which are unfavorable for nutrient accumulation, predominated in clay soil. Redundancy analysis indicated that the variation in the composition of bacterial community was mainly driven by soil pH, organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, and microbial biomass phosphorus. This study provides a deeper understanding of physicochemical and microbiological changes in different soil textures after Stevia cultivation and guidance on fertilizer management for Stevia rotational cultivation., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests., (©2024 Xu et al.)

Microplastics (MPs) with different physical-chemical properties are considered as vectors for the propagation of microbes in aquatic environments. It remains unclear how plastic types impact on the plastisphere and whether different MPs spread microbes more rapidly than natural materials in microbes across distinct water bodies as proposed previously. We used in-situ incubation to investigate the microbes attached on MPs of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), versus that on two natural microcarriers (quartz sands and bamboo) during the travel from aquaculture ponds with impacted by fish farming to adjacent freshwater stream. The results showed that the microbial communities on the carriers were shaped not only by environmental conditions, which were primary determinants but also by carrier types. All the tested plastics did not carry more microbes than the natural carriers during the journey. The biofilm community composition on PVC is distinct from that on PE and PP MPs and natural carriers. The plastisphere of PE and PP kept microbial proportions as natural materials did but PVC retained less than nature materials. Bamboo carried more potential pathogens than plastic polymers and quartz. The results indicated that the communities of plastisphere is polymer-type dependent, and, compared with the natural materials, MPs did not show enhanced propagation of microbes, including pathogens, cross distinct environments., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

High salt wastewater is produced in industries, including seafood and pickling processing. The salinity in such wastewaters has been shown to negatively impact biological treatment efficacy. Little is known about the changes in the microbial community structure in the mature biological 2 treatment systems, the impacts of salinity on community composition, and the shifts over time during operation. This study aimed to identify the changes in the microbial community due to both salt and days of operation through 16s rRNA sequencing and KEGG functional predictions. Intermittent sand bioreactors (ISBs) with a focus on ammonia treatment were utilized. Results showed that the overall community structure and diversity were distinct as wastewater salinity varied from 0%-1.3%. At 1.3% salinity Zoogloea, a common genus in wastewater treatment plants, was not present and Aequorovita, Thauera and Dokdonella became the dominant genera. Nitrosomonas, an important ammonia oxidizing bacteria, increased in abundance with days of operation but was not significantly impacted by an increase in salinity. This finding was further supported by an increase in predicted nitrification potential with time of operation within all intermittent sand bioreactors tested. These results provide a deeper understanding of the impacts of salinity on microbial community development in biological treatment systems and elucidate the shifts in community structure occurring during early operations and into system maturity.

Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, milk-white coloured, non-motile, short rod-shaped bacteria, designated as strains SYSU D60010 T and SYSU D60012 T , were isolated from sand samples collected from the Taklimakan Desert of Xinjiang Province in China. Both strains were positive for oxidase, catalase and nitrate reduction, but negative for amylase, H 2 S production, hydrolysis of gelatin and cellulase. Strains SYSU D60010 T and SYSU D60012 T grew well at 28 °C, at pH 7 and had the same NaCl tolerance range of 0-1 % (w/v). The major fatty acids (>5 %) of strains SYSU D60010 T and SYSU D60012 T were summed feature 8 (C 18 : 1  ω 7 c and/or C 18 : 1  ω 6 c ), iso-C 19 : 0 cyclo ω 8 c , C 16 : 0 and iso-C 18 : 1 2-OH. Q-10 was the only respiratory ubiquinone. Strains SYSU D60010 T and SYSU D60012 T showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Aestuariivirga litoralis SYSU M10001 T (94.2 and 94.1 %), Rhodoligotrophos jinshengii BUT-3 T (92.0 and 91.9 %) and Rhodoligotrophos appendicifer 120-1 T (91.8 and 91.7 %), and the genomes were 7.4 and 5.8 Mbp in size with DNA G+C contents of 62.8 and 63.0 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics indicated that these two strains represent a novel genus and two novel species within the family Aestuariivirgaceae . We propose the name Taklimakanibacter deserti gen. nov., sp. nov. for strain SYSU D60010 T , representing the type strain of this species (=KCTC 52783 T =NBRC 113344 T ) and Taklimakanibacter lacteus gen. nov., sp. nov. for strain SYSU D60012 T , representing the type strain of this species (=KCTC 52785 T =NBRC 113128 T ).

A bacterial strain, designated S6 T , was isolated from the sandy soil on a rocky mountain in South China. Cells of S6 T were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile and non-prosthecae-producing. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed the highest similarities to 12 uncultured bacteria, followed by Phenylobacterium sp. B6.10-61 (97.14 %). The closest related validly published strains are Caulobacter henricii ATCC 15253 T (96.15 %), Phenylobacterium conjunctum FWC 21 T (96.08 %) and Caulobacter mirabilis FWC 38 T (96.08 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene, genome and proteome sequences demonstrated that S6 T formed a separated lineage in the genus Phenylobacterium . Strain S6 T contained Q-10 (97.5 %) as the major ubiquinone and C 18 : 1  ω7 c and C 16 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, an unknown phosphoglycolipid and three unknown glycolipids. The assembled genome comprises a chromosome with a length of 5.5 Mb and a plasmid of 96 014 bp. The G+C content was 67.6 mol%. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus it is proposed that strain S6 T represents a novel species in the genus Phenylobacterium , for which the name Phenylobacterium montanum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S6 T (=NBRC 115419 T =GCMCC 1.18594 T ).

A Gram-negative, non-motile, and creamy-white coloured bacterium, designated CAU 1616 T , was isolated from sea sand collected at Ayajin Beach, Goseong-gun, Republic of Korea. The bacterium was found to grow optimally at 37 °C, pH 8.0-8.5, and with 1-5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed strain CAU 1616 T within the order Rhodospirillales . The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was to Fodinicurvata fenggangensis YIM D812 T (94.1 %), Fodinicurvata sediminis YIM D82 T (93.7 %), Fodinicurvata halophila BA45AL T (93.6 %) and Algihabitans albus HHTR 118 T (92.3 %). Comparing strain CAU 1616 T with closely related species ( Fodinicurvata fenggangensis YIM D812 T and Fodinicurvata sediminis YIM D82 T ), the average nucleotide identity based on blast+ values were 69.7-69.8 %, the average amino acid identity values were 61.3-61.4 %, and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were 18.4-18.5 %. The assembled draft genome of strain CAU 1616 T had 29 contigs with an N50 value of 385.8 kbp, a total length of 3 490 371 bp, and a DNA G+C content of 65.1 mol%. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C 18 : 1 2-OH, C 19 : 0 cyclo ω 8 c , and summed feature 8 (C 18 : 1  ω 6 c and/or C 18 : 1  ω 7 c ). The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic evidence, strain CAU 1616 T represents a novel genus in the family Rhodovibrionaceae , for which the name Aquibaculum arenosum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 1616 T (=KCTC 82428 T =MCCC 1K06089 T ).

The effects of wind erosion, one of the crucial causes of soil desertification in the world, on the terrestrial ecosystem are well known. However, ecosystem responses regarding soil microbial carbon metabolism to sand deposition caused by wind erosion, a crucial driver of biogeochemical cycles, remain largely unclear. In this study, we collected soil samples from typical aeolian deposition farmland in the Songnen Plain of China to evaluate the effects of sand deposition on soil properties, microbial communities, and carbon metabolism function. We also determined the reads number of carbon metabolism-related genes by high-throughput sequencing technologies and evaluated the association between sand deposition and them. The results showed that long-term sand deposition resulted in soil infertile, roughness, and dryness. The impacts of sand deposition on topsoil were more severe than on deep soil. The diversity of soil microbial communities was significantly reduced due to sand deposition. The relative abundances of Nitrobacteraceae, Burkholderiaceae, and Rhodanobacteraceae belonging to α-Proteobacteria significantly decreased, while the relative abundances of Streptomycetaceae and Geodermatophilaceae belonging to Actinobacteria increased. The results of the metagenomic analysis showed that the gene abundances of carbohydrate metabolism and carbohydrate-activity enzyme (GH and CBM) significantly decreased with the increase of sand deposition amount. The changes in soil microbial community structure and carbon metabolism decreased soil carbon emissions and carbon cycling in aeolian deposition farmland, which may be the essential reasons for land degradation in aeolian deposition farmland., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Biocementation, driven by ureolytic bacteria and their biochemical activities, has evolved as a powerful technology for soil stabilization, crack repair, and bioremediation. Ureolytic bacteria play a crucial role in calcium carbonate precipitation through their enzymatic activity, hydrolyzing urea to produce carbonate ions and elevate pH, thus creating favorable conditions for the precipitation of calcium carbonate. While extensive research has explored the ability of ureolytic bacteria isolated from natural environments or culture conditions, bacterial synergy is often unexplored or under-reported. In this study, we isolated bacterial strains from the local eutrophic river canal and evaluated their suitability for precipitating calcium carbonate polymorphs. We identified two distinct bacterial isolates with superior urea degradation ability (conductivity method) using partial 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. Molecular identification revealed that they belong to the Comamonas and Bacillus genera. Urea degradation analysis was performed under diverse pH (6,7 and 8) and temperature (15 °C,20 °C,25 °C and 30 °C) ranges, indicating that their ideal pH is 7 and temperature is 30 °C since 95% of the urea was degraded within 96 h. In addition, we investigated these strains individually and in combination, assessing their microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) in silicate fine sand under low (14 ± 0.6 °C) and ideal temperature 30 °C conditions, aiming to optimize bio-mediated soil enhancement. Results indicated that 30 °C was the ideal temperature, and combining bacteria resulted in significant (p ≤ 0.001) superior carbonate precipitation (14-16%) and permeability (> 10 - 6 m/s) in comparison to the average range of individual strains. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of combining ureolytic bacteria for future MICP research on field applications including soil erosion mitigation, soil stabilization, ground improvement, and heavy metal remediation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Climate change and global warming have contributed to increase terrestrial drought, causing negative impacts on agricultural production. Drought stress may be addressed using novel agronomic practices and beneficial soil microorganisms, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), able to enhance plant use efficiency of soil resources and water and increase plant antioxidant defence systems. Specific traits functional to plant resilience improvement in dry conditions could have developed in AMF growing in association with xerophytic plants in maritime sand dunes, a drought-stressed and low-fertility environment. The most studied of such plants are European beachgrass (Ammophila arenaria Link), native to Europe and the Mediterranean basin, and American beachgrass (Ammophila breviligulata Fern.), found in North America. Given the critical role of AMF for the survival of these beachgrasses, knowledge of the composition of AMF communities colonizing their roots and rhizospheres and their distribution worldwide is fundamental for the location and isolation of native AMF as potential candidates to be tested for promoting crop growth and resilience under climate change. This review provides quantitative and qualitative data on the occurrence of AMF communities of A. arenaria and A. breviligulata growing in European, Mediterranean basin and North American maritime sand dunes, as detected by morphological studies, trap culture isolation and molecular methods, and reports on their symbiotic performance. Moreover, the review indicates the dominant AMF species associated with the two Ammophila species and the common species to be further studied to assess possible specific traits increasing their host plants resilience toward drought stress under climate change., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The flushing of wet wipes down toilets leads to blockages of sewerage systems. This, together with unregulated sewage discharge, often results in increasing numbers of wet wipes washing up onto beaches. However, it is unclear how long wet wipes can persist on the beach and whether they pose a prolonged public health risk if contaminated by E. coli. In this mesocosm study, three types of wet wipes (plastic containing, and home and commercially compostable) colonised with E. coli were buried in beach sand and their degradation, tensile strength, and concentration of E. coli was quantified over 15 weeks. Wet wipes containing plastic remained largely intact for 15 weeks, whilst both compostable wet wipes fragmented and degraded. Importantly, E. coli persisted on all three wet wipe types, representing localised reservoirs of E. coli in the sand, which could present a human health risk at the beach. • Wet wipes persist in beach sand for up to 15 weeks. • Compostable wet wipes degraded whilst plastic wipes remained largely intact. • E. coli persisted on the wet wipe surfaces for up to 15 weeks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erosion poses a significant threat to oceanic beaches worldwide. To combat this threat, management agencies often utilize renourishment, which supplements eroded beaches with offsite sand. This process can alter the physical characteristics of the beach and can influence the presence and abundance of microbial communities. In this study, we examined how an oceanic beach renourishment project may have impacted the presence and abundance of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a common bacteria species, and sand grain size, a sediment characteristic that can influence bacterial persistence. Using an observational field approach, we quantified the presence and abundance of E. coli in sand (from sub-tidal, intertidal, and dune zones on the beach) and water samples at study sites in both renourished and non-renourished sections of Folly Beach, South Carolina, USA in 2014 and 2015. In addition, we also measured how renourishment may have impacted sand grain size by quantifying the relative frequency of grain sizes (from sub-tidal, intertidal, and dune zones on the beach) at both renourished and non-renourished sites. Using this approach, we found that E. coli was present in sand samples in all zones of the beach and at each of our study sites in both years of sampling but never in water samples. Additionally, we found that in comparison to non-renourished sections, renourished sites had significantly higher abundances of E. coli and coarser sand grains in the intertidal zone, which is where renourished sand is typically placed. However, these differences were only present in 2014 and were not detected when we resampled the study sites in 2015. Collectively, our findings show that E. coli can be commonly found in this sandy beach microbial community. In addition, our results suggest that renourishment has the potential to alter both the physical structure of the beach and the microbial community but that these impacts may be short-lived., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Lewis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-mobile and spherical strain, designated ZS9-10 T , belonging to the genus Deinococcus was isolated from soil sampled at the Chinese Zhong Shan Station, Antarctica. Growth was observed in the presence of 0-4 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0-8.0 and at 4-25 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ZS9-10 T formed a lineage in the genus Deinococcus . It exhibited highest sequence similarity (97.4 %) to Deinococcus marmoris DSM 12784 T . The major phospholipids of ZS9-10 T were unidentified phosphoglycolipid, unidentified glycolipids and unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1  ω 7 c and/or C 16 : 1  ω 6 c ), C 16 : 0 and C 16 : 1  ω 7 c . MK-8 was the predominant respiratory quinone. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain ZS9-10 T and its close relative D. marmoris DSM 12784 T were 27.4 and 83.9 %, respectively. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, a novel species, named Deinococcus arenicola sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain iis ZS9-10 T (=CCTCC AB 2019392 T =KCTC43192 T ).

Microbial pollution of recreational waters leads to millions of skin, respiratory, and gastrointestinal illnesses globally. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) are monitored to assess recreational waters but may not reflect the presence of Staphylococcus aureus, a global leader in bacterial fatalities. Since many community-acquired S. aureus skin infections are associated with high recreational water usage, this study measured and modeled S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and FIB (Enterococcus spp., Clostridium perfringens) concentrations in seawater and sand at six beaches in Hilo, Hawai'i, USA, over 37 sample dates from July 2016 to February 2019 using culturing techniques. Generalized linear models predicted bacterial concentrations with physicochemical and environmental data. Beach visitors were also surveyed on their preferred activities. S. aureus and FIB concentrations were roughly 6-78 times higher at beaches with freshwater discharge than at those without. Seawater concentrations of Enterococcus spp. were positively associated with MRSA but not S. aureus. Elevated S. aureus was associated with lower tidal heights, higher freshwater discharge, onsite sewage disposal system density, and turbidity. Regular monitoring of beaches with freshwater input, utilizing real-time water quality measurements with robust modeling techniques, and raising awareness among recreational water users may mitigate exposure to S. aureus, MRSA, and FIB. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Staphylococcus aureus and fecal bacteria concentrations were higher in seawater and sand at beaches with freshwater discharge. In seawater, Enterococcus spp. positively correlated with MRSA, but not S. aureus. Freshwater discharge, OSDS density, water turbidity, and tides significantly predicted bacterial concentrations in seawater and sand. Predictive bacterial models based upon physicochemical and environmental data developed in this study are readily available for user-friendly application., (© 2024 Water Environment Federation.)

A Gram-negative, aerobic bacterial strain RR6 T was isolated from the sea sand to produce lipase and proposed as a novel species of Halopseudomonas. The optimum growth occurred at 28-37 °C, and the pH was 6.0-8.0. The optimum growth occurred at 3.0 -6.5% (w/v) NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids were C10:0 3OH, C12:0, C16:1 ω7c/16:1 ω6c, 18:1 ω7c and/or 18:1 ω6c, and C16:0. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, unidentified phospholipid, and unidentified lipids. The genome is 3.93 Mb, and the G + C content is 61.3%. The 16S rRNA gene sequences shared 99.73-99.87% sequence similarity with the closely related type strains of Halopseudomonas. The average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity of strain RR6 T with reference type strains were below 95-96%, and the corresponding in-silico DNA-DNA hybridization values were below 70%. Strain RR6 T clustered with Halopseudomonas gallaeciensis V113 T and Halopseudomonas pachastrellae CCUG 46540  T in the phylogenetic tree. Further, lipase produced by this bacterium belongs to α/β hydrolase lipase family and exhibits structural similarity to the lactonizing lipase. Based on the polyphasic analysis, the new isolates RR6 T represent a novel species of Halopseudomonas for which Halopseudomonas maritima sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RR6 T (= NBRC 115418  T  = TBRC 15628  T )., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

The water surface microlayer (SML) serves as a boundary through which microbes can be exchanged. To evaluate exchanges of microbes, this study compared microbial communities within different reservoirs, with an emphasis on the water SML and aerosols. Additionally, the microbial communities during a sewage spill and perigean tides were evaluated and the results were compared to times without these events. Results show that during perigean tides and during the sewage spill, levels of culturable bacteria were highest and showed an increase via sequencing in potential pathogenic bacteria (Corynebacterium and Vibrio, which increased from 3.5%-1800% depending on sample type). In the aerosol samples, Corynebacterium (average of 2.0%), Vibrio (1.6%), and Staphylococcus (10%), were the most abundant genera. Aerosolization factors, which were used to examine the transfer of the microbes, were high for these three genera. Measurements of general marine bacteria (GMB) by culture showed a weak but significant correlation between culturable GMB in aerosol samples versus in water and in the SML. More research is needed to evaluate the exchange of pathogens between the SML and air, given the increase in potentially pathogenic microbes within the SML during rare events and evidence that suggests that microbes maintain viability during transfers across reservoirs., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of FEMS.)

A novel species of the genus Limimaricola , designated ASW11-118 T , was isolated from an intertidal sand sample of the Yellow Sea, PR China. Growth of strain ASW11-118 T occurred at 10-40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 5.5-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.5) and with 0.5-8.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.5%). Strain ASW11-118 T has the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Limimaricola cinnabarinus LL-001 T (98.8%) and 98.6 % to Limimaricola hongkongensis DSM 17492 T . Phylogenetic analysis based on genomic sequences indicated that strain ASW11-118 T belongs to the genus Limimaricola . The genome size of strain ASW11-118 T was 3.8 Mb and DNA G+C content was 67.8 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain ASW11-118 T and other members of the genus Limimaricola were below 86.6 and 31.3 %, respectively. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The predominant cellular fatty acid was C 18 : 1  ω 7 c . The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and one unknown aminolipid. On the basis of the data presented, strain ASW11-118 T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Limimaricola , for which the name Limimaricola litoreus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ASW11-118 T (=MCCC 1K05581 T =KCTC 82494 T ).

Beach sand may act as a reservoir for numerous microorganisms, including enteric pathogens. Several of these pathogens originate in human or animal feces, which may pose a public health risk. In August 2019, high levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) were detected in the sand of the Azorean beach Prainha, Terceira Island, Portugal. Remediation measures were promptly implemented, including sand removal and the spraying of chlorine to restore the sand quality. To determine the source of the fecal contamination, during the first campaign, supratidal sand samples were collected from several sites along the beach, followed by microbial source tracking (MST) analyses of Bacteroides marker genes for five animal species, including humans. Some of the sampling sites revealed the presence of marker genes from dogs, seagulls, and ruminants. Making use of the information on biological sources originating partially from dogs, the municipality enforced restrictive measures for dog-walking at the beach. Subsequent sampling campaigns detected low FIB contamination due to the mitigation and remediation measures that were undertaken. This is the first case study where the MST approach was used to determine the contamination sources in the supratidal sand of a coastal beach. Our results show that MST can be an essential tool to determine sources of fecal contamination in the sand. This study shows the importance of holistic management of beaches that should go beyond water quality monitoring for FIB, putting forth evidence for beach sand monitoring.

Coastal habitats provide important ecosystem services, such as the maintenance of ecological sustainability, water quality regulation, nutrient recycling, and sandy beaches which are important areas for recreation and tourism. The quality of seawater is generally measured by determining the concentrations of Escherichia coli and intestinal Enterococci, which might be affected by the persistent populations of these bacteria in sand. Sand might thus be a significant source of pathogen exposure to beachgoers. The quality of coastal recreational waters can also be affected by eutrophication, water discoloration, and harmful algal blooms, which pose additional human health risks. Here, we conducted a monitoring of the beaches quality along the Taranto Gulf by determining the concentrations of fecal indicator organisms, as well as other parameters that are not traditionally measured (physicochemical parameters, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and harmful microalgae), in shallow seawater and sand sampled from three beaches. The concentrations of bacteria were determined using both standard microbiological methods and the IDEXX system. Our results demonstrate the utility of measuring a greater number of parameters in addition to those conventionally measured, as well as the importance of assessing the health risks posed by the sand matrix. Additional work is needed to develop rapid analytical techniques that could be used to monitor the microbiological parameters of solid matrices., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

A novel Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped, bacterial strain (CAU 1598 T ) was isolated from marine sand. Strain CAU 1598 T grew well at 30 °C, pH 6.5-7.0 and with 3 % NaCl (w/v). Phylogeny results based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the identified strain had the highest similarity (94.3%) to Pseudoxanthomonas putridarboris , indicating that strain CAU 1598 T belongs to the family Xanthomonadaceae . Further, the fatty acid profile of the strain was primarily composed of C 16:0, iso-C 15 : 0 , iso-C 16 : 0 , summed feature 3 (consisting of C 16 : 1  ω 7 c /iso-C 15 : 0 2-OH) and summed feature 9 (consisting of iso-C 17 : 1  ω 9 c and/or C 16 : 0 10-methyl), with ubiquinone-8 as the major isoprenoid quinone. The polar lipid profile included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoglycolipid, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. The G+C content of the bacterial genome was 62.6 mol% and its 5.4 Mb length encompassed 144 contigs and 4236 protein-coding genes. These phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data indicate that CAU 1598 T belongs to a new genus and species, for which the name Pseudomarimonas arenosa gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 1598 T (=KCTC 82406 T =MCCC 1K05673 T ).

Enzyme activities (EAs) and the FERTBIO sample concept have been increasingly adopted as a novel approach to estimate the soil quality in Brazil. However, the performance of this strategy in sandy soils of the Cerrado biome remains unclear. During 2 years, in a Cerrado's sandy soil, the short-term effects of ten different cropping systems (conventional tillage or no-tillage associated with monoculture, rotations, and/or successions) on the activities of β-glucosidase, acid phosphatase, and arylsulfatase were studied. Issues related to annual variability and the feasibility of using the FERTBIO sample concept for soil enzymes activities were also evaluated. Soil samples were collected at three different depths (0-10 cm, 10-20 cm, and 20-40 cm) in March 2017 and February 2018. Five years since the beginning of the experiment, the presence of cover crops and no-till promoted improvements in EAs evidencing the importance of regenerative management practices for the sustainability of agroecosystems in sandy soils. Regardless of the cropping systems and depths evaluated, soil organic carbon and EAs showed low temporal variation during the 2 years of monitoring. Our results also showed that it is possible to use the FERTBIO sample concept for the Quartzipsament soils of Western Bahia, Brazil., (© 2021. Sociedade Brasileira de Microbiologia.)

The genus Fusarium contains many fungal species known to be pathogenic to animals and plants alike. One species complex within this genus, the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC), is of particular concern due to its high numbers of pathogenic members. FSSC members are known to contribute significantly to plant, human and other animal fungal disease. One member of the FSSC, Fusarium keratoplasticum, is of particular ecological concern and has been implicated in low hatching success of endangered sea turtle eggs, as well as contribute to human and other animal Fusarium pathogenesis. Species-specific primers for molecular identification of F. keratoplasticum currently do not exist to our knowledge, making rapid identification, tracking and quantitation of this pathogenic fungus difficult. The objective of this study was to develop primers specific to F. keratoplasticum that could be applied to DNA from isolated cultures as well as total (mixed) DNA from environmental samples. RPB2 sequence from 109 Fusarium isolates was aligned and analysed to determine nucleotide polymorphisms specific to F. keratoplasticum useful for primer design. A set of primers were generated and found to be effective for identification of F. keratoplasticum from total DNA extracted from sand surrounding sea turtle nesting sites., (© 2021 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Four yeast isolates with an affinity to the genus Wickerhamiella were obtained from beach sand, a marine zoanthid and a tree exudate at different localities in Brazil. Two other isolates with almost identical ITS and D1/D2 sequences of the large subunit rRNA gene were isolated from the small intestine of cattle and a grease trap in Thailand. These isolates represent a novel species phylogenetically related to Wickerhamiella verensis , Wickerhamiella osmotolerans , Wickerhamiella tropicalis , Wickerhamiella sorbophila and Wickerhamiella infanticola . The novel species differs by 15-30 nucleotide differences from these species in the D1/D2 sequences. The name Wickerhamiella martinezcruziae f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The holotype of Wickerhamiella martinezcruziae sp. nov. is CBS 16104 T . The MycoBank number is MB 839328.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, short rod-shaped, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive bacterium, strain CAU 1568 T , was isolated from marine sediment sand sampled at Sido Island in the Republic of Korea. The optimum conditions for growth were at 25-30 °C, at pH 6.5-8.5 and with 0-4.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain CAU 1568 T was a member of the genus Photobacterium with high similarity to Photobacterium salinisoli JCM 30852 T (97.7 %), Photobacterium halotolerans KACC 17089 T (97.3 %) and Photobacterium galatheae LMG F28894 T (97.3 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids were C 16 : 0 , summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1  ω 6 c and/or C 16 : 1  ω 7 c ) and summed feature 8 (C 18 : 1  ω 7 c and/or C 18 : 1  ω 6 c ), with Q-8 as the major of isoprenoid quinone. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerols, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipid, two aminophospholipids and three unidentified lipids. The whole genome size of strain CAU 1568 T was 4.8 Mb with 50.1 mol% G+C content; including 38 contigs and 4233 protein-coding genes. These taxonomic data support CAU 1568 T as representing a novel Photobacterium species, for which the name Photobacterium arenosum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this novel species is CAU 1568 T (=KCTC 82404 T =MCCC 1K05668 T ).

Microbially Induced Carbonate Precipitation (MICP) is currently viewed as one of the potential prominent processes for field applications towards the prevention of soil erosion, healing cracks in bricks, and groundwater contamination. Typically, the bacteria involved in MICP manipulate their environment leading to calcite precipitation with an enzyme such as urease, causing calcite crystals to form on the surface of grains forming cementation bonds between particles that help in reducing soil permeability and increase overall compressive strength. In this paper, the main focus is to study the MICP performance of three indigenous landfill bacteria against a well-known commercially bought MICP bacteria (Bacillus megaterium) using sand columns. In order to check the viability of the method for potential field conditions, the tests were carried out at slightly less favourable environmental conditions, i.e., at temperatures between 15-17°C and without the addition of urease enzymes. Furthermore, the sand was loose without any compaction to imitate real ground conditions. The results showed that the indigenous bacteria yielded similar permeability reduction (4.79 E-05 to 5.65 E-05) and calcium carbonate formation (14.4-14.7%) to the control bacteria (Bacillus megaterium), which had permeability reduction of 4.56 E-5 and CaCO3 of 13.6%. Also, reasonably good unconfined compressive strengths (160-258 kPa) were noted for the indigenous bacteria samples (160 kPa). SEM and XRD showed the variation of biocrystals formation mainly detected as Calcite and Vaterite. Overall, all of the indigenous bacteria performed slightly better than the control bacteria in strength, permeability, and CaCO3 precipitation. In retrospect, this study provides clear evidence that the indigenous bacteria in such environments can provide similar calcite precipitation potential as well-documented bacteria from cell culture banks. Hence, the idea of MICP field application through biostimulation of indigenous bacteria rather than bioaugmentation can become a reality in the near future., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Microbialites accrete where environmental conditions and microbial metabolisms promote lithification, commonly through carbonate cementation. On Little Ambergris Cay, Turks and Caicos Islands, microbial mats occur widely in peritidal environments above ooid sand but do not become lithified or preserved. Sediment cores and porewater geochemistry indicated that aerobic respiration and sulfide oxidation inhibit lithification and dissolve calcium carbonate sand despite widespread aragonite precipitation from platform surface waters. Here, we report that in tidally pumped environments, microbial metabolisms can negate the effects of taphonomically-favorable seawater chemistry on carbonate mineral saturation and microbialite development.

Coastal sands are important natural recreational facilities that have become hotspots for tourism and economic development. However, these sands harbour diverse microbial assemblages that play a critical role in the balance between public health and ecology. In this study, targeted high-throughput sequencing analysis was used to identify sand-borne bacterial populations at four public beaches in Durban. The effect of heavy metal in shaping the distribution of bacterial metacommunities was determined using canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), while the functional gene profiles were predicted using PICRUSt2 analysis. Sequences matching those of the bacterial phylum Proteobacteria were the most abundant in all samples, followed by those of the phyla Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Gemmatimonadetes. Genus-level taxonomic analysis showed the presence of 1163 bacterial genera in all samples combined. The distribution of bacterial communities was shaped by heavy metal concentrations, with the distribution of Flavobacteria, Bacteroidia, and Deltaproteobacteria influenced by Pb and Zn, while B and Cr influenced the distribution of Clostridia and Gammaproteobacteria, respectively. Identified antibiotic resistance genes included the peptidoglycan biosynthesis gene II, III, IV, and V, as well as the polymyxin resistance gene, while the virulence genes included the sitA, fimB, aerobactin synthase, and pilL gene. Our findings demonstrate that beach sand-borne bacteria are reservoirs of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Contamination of beach sands with heavy metals selects for both heavy metal resistance and antibiotic resistance in beach sand bacterial communities. Children and immunocompromised people engaging in recreational activities on beaches may be exposed to higher risk of infection.

Aims: Microbial induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is one of the bio-cementation methods for improving granular soils. This study evaluate the feasibility of obtaining a bacterial solution with high optical density and urease activity by an inexpensive corn steep liquor (CSL) medium in non-sterile conditions in order to achieve sand improvement., Methods and Results: Corn steep liquor media with different concentrations (different dilution rates) were prepared and, without any autoclaving (non-sterile conditions), different percentage of the inoculum solutions were added to them and incubated. Effect of inoculum solution percentage and CSL dilution rates on specifications of bacterial solution was evaluated. Urease activity and scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) were used to efficiency of CLS media in sand improvement. The considerable urease activity was measured as 5·7 mS cm -1  min -1 using nonsterile CLS. By using CYNU (CSL-Yeast extract-NH4Cl-Urea) bacterial solution, the urease activity of 5·5 mS cm -1  min -1 for the OD 600 (optical density at 600 nm) of 1·88 and, consequently, specific urease activity of 2·93 mS cm -1  min -1  OD 600 -1 was obtained. The highest unconfined compressive strength (811 kPa) was obtained for the CYNU. XRD revealed new calcite peaks next to the quartz peaks., Conclusions: Production of inexpensive bacterial solution using diluted CSL as the inexpensive, effective and powerful culture media for Sporosarcina pasteurii cultivation in nonsterile conditions, allows geotechnical and biotechnological engineers to use MICP technology more widely in land improvement and field-scale bio-cementation and bioremediation projects., Significance and Impact of the Study: Obtaining high urease activity of inexpensive microbial solution using diluted CSL as the culture medium in nonsterile conditions, as the unique results of this study, can be significant in the field of bioremediation studies using MICP., (© 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Background: Minqin is suffering from a serious desertification, whereas the knowledge about its bacterial community is limited. Herein, based on Nitraria tangutorum and Haloxylon ammodendron from Minqin, the bacterial community diversities in fixed sandy land, semi-fixed sandy land and shifting sandy land were investigated by combining with culture-dependent and culture-independent methods., Results: Minqin stressed with high salinity and poor nutrition is an oligotrophic environment. Bacterial community in Minqin was shaped primarily by the presence of host plants, whereas the type of plant and sandy land had no marked effect on those, which displayed a better survival in the rhizospheres of N. tangutorum and H. ammodendron. The dominant groups at phyla level were Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Planctomycetes, Chloroflexi, Acidobacteria and Candidate_division_TM7. The abundance of Firmicutes with ability of desiccation-tolerance was significantly higher in harsh environment, whereas Bacteroidetes were mainly distributed in areas with high nutrient content. The abundances of Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were relatively high in the rhizospheres of N. tangutorum and H. ammodendron, which had more plant-growth promoting rhizobacteria. A large number of Actinobacteria were detected, of which the most abundant genus was Streptomyces. The physicochemical factors related to the diversity and distribution of the bacterial community were comprehensively analyzed, such as pH, electrical conductivity, soil organic matter, C/N and sand, and the results indicated that Minqin was more suitable for the growth of N. tangutorum, which should be one of most important sand-fixing plants in Minqin., Conclusions: The bacterial community diversities in different types of sandy lands of Minqin were comprehensively and systematically investigated by culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches, which has a great significance in maintaining/restoring biological diversity.

A bacterial strain, designated Y40 T , was isolated from sandy soil sampled on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A polyphasic study confirmed the affiliation of the strain with the genus Mesobacillus . Strain Y40 T was found to be an aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, motile and rod-shaped bacterium. The strain grew at 10-42 °C, pH 6-9 and with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl. The diagnostic amino acid was meso -diaminopimeilic acid. MK7 was predominant menaquinone, and iso-C 15:0 , iso-C 17:1 ω10 c and anteiso-C 15:0 were the major fatty acids. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was 40.6 mol%. Based on he results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Y40 T was phylogenetically closely related to Mesobacillus zeae JJ-247 T and Mesobacillus foraminis CV53 T , with similarities of 98.0 and 97.7 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity (ANIb) values between strain Y40 T and Mesobacillus zeae JJ-247 T and Mesobacillus foraminis CV53 T were 69.9 and 70.0 %, respectively. Based on the morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic data, it is proposed that strain Y40 T (=CICC 24459 T =JCM 32794 T ) should be classified into the genus Mesobacillus as Mesobacillus harenae sp. nov.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Biological fertilization in the development of agriculture became one new strategy in the increased production of field crops to decrease the costs of production input and environmental pollution. This study focused on the influence of biochar fertilization on the productivity of faba bean varieties under sandy soils. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Appreciation of the yield and its components, in addition to measurement of grain protein content as well as carbohydrates (%) of faba bean. <b>Results:</b> The data obtained indicated that the biochar amendment affects plant production at different rates, where the best yield obtained is 90 kg fed<sup>1</sup>. The grain yield increase is significant for the variety's types where, Mariout-2, followed by Nubaria-3 followed by Giza-716 for the addition of 90 kg fed<sup>1</sup> of biochar as referenced by the non-conditioning treatment. Likewise, the protein content was highest in the Mariout-2 variety, followed by Nubaria-3 variety and Giza-716 variety for the addition. This improvement may be regarded to the impact of biochar on the physic-chemical characteristics for the soils, in addition to the biological characteristics. Furthermore, the biochar itself add nutrient to the soil after decomposition. The best improvement happens by the long-term cropping for a long period could be reached up to years. <b>Conclusion:</b> The conclusion that plant growth was better at a high rate (90 kg fed<sup>1</sup>) but the economy of this rate may be questioned, under the condition of the study. However, the validation for different soils may vary with different rates, which needs more research. Also, it is recommended to use Mariout-2 cultivars for their high production under these conditions.

The taxonomic position of strain H1 T isolated from crude oil contaminated desert sands was determined. Strain H1 T was Gram-stain-negative and cocci to short rod-shaped bacterium. It grew at 15-42ºC (optimum, 30-35ºC) and pH 6.5-8.8 (optimum, 7.0-7.5). No added NaCl was required for the growth. The isolate showed 98% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the Alkanindiges illinoisensis GTI MVAB Hex1 T , 95.5% with Alkanindiges hongkongensis HKU9 T and < 95.2% with other members of the family Moraxellaceae of the phylum Proteobacteria. C 10:0 , C 10:0 -2OH, C 12:0 -3OH, C 16:0 , C 16:0 N alcohol and C16:1ω6c/C 16:1 ω7c were present as major (5%) fatty acids with minor (< 5%) amounts of C 12:0 , C 14:0 , C 14:1 ω5c and C 18:1 ω9c in strain H1 T . It contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and unidentified two unidentified lipids. Distinct morphological, physiological, phylogenetic, and genomic differences from the previously described taxa support the classification of strain H1 T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Alkanindiges for which the name Alkanindiges hydrocarboniclasticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H1 T (= JCM 31550 T  = KEMB 2255-480 T ). Emended description of the genus Alkanindiges is also proposed based on additional characteristics.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-pigmented, non-spore-forming, motile, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated CAU 1492 T , was isolated from a coastal sand dune and its taxonomic position was examined using a polyphasic approach. Cells of strain CAU 1492 T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and in 3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of CAU 1492 T showed that it formed a distinct lineage within the family Rhodobacteraceae as a separate deep branch, with 96.8 % or lower sequence similarity values to representatives of the genera Marivita , Donghicola , Sulfitobacter , Marinovum , Phaeobacter , Primorskyibacter , Roseovarius and Aestuariihabitans . Strain CAU 1492 T was closely related to Marivita geojedonensis DPG-138 T (96.8 %), Donghicola eburneus SW-277 T (96.7 %), Sulfitobacter porphyrae SCM-1 T (96.7 %), Marinovum algicola FF3 T (96.6 %) and Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis BB-MW15 T (96.4 %) based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CAU 1492 T were cyclo-C 19 : 0  ω 8 c and summed feature 8 (C 18 : 1  ω 7 c /C 18 : 1  ω 6 c ). The polar lipid pattern was composed of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified aminolipid. The strain contained Q-10 as the sole respiratory quinone. The draft genome of strain CAU 1492 T was 4.63 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 63.1 mol%. The genome includes 4292 protein-coding genes and a five rRNA operons. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic data, strain CAU 1492 T represents a novel genus in the family Rhodobacteraceae for which the name Arenibacterium halophilum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Arenibacterium halophilum is CAU 1492 T (=KCTC 62998 T =NBRC 113696 T ).

A polyphasic study was undertaken to establish the position of a Streptomyces strain, isolate PRKS01-65 T , recovered from sand dune soil collected at Parangkusumo, Yogyakarta Province, Java, Indonesia. A combination of chemotaxonomic, cultural and morphological properties confirmed its position in the genus of Streptomyces . Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the isolate was most closely related to Streptomyces leeuwenhoekii C34 T (99.9 % similarity) and loosely associated with the type strains of Streptomyces chiangmaiensis (98.7 % similarity) and Streptomyces glomeratus (98.9 % similarity). Multilocus sequence analyses based on five conserved housekeeping gene alleles confirmed the close relationship between the isolate and S. leeuwenhoekii C34 T , although both strains belonged to a well-supported clade that encompassed the type strains of S. glomeratus , Streptomyces griseomycini , Streptomyces griseostramineus , Streptomyces labedae , Streptomyces lomondensis and Streptomyces spinoverrucosus . A comparison of the draft genome sequence generated for the isolate with corresponding whole genome sequences of its closest phylogenomic neighbours showed that it formed a well-separated lineage with S. leeuwenhoekii C34 T . These strains can also be distinguished using a combination of phenotypic properties and by average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization similarities of 94.3 and 56 %, values consistent with their classification in different species. Based on this wealth of data it is proposed that isolate PRKS01-65 T (=NCIMB 15211 T =CCMM B1302 T =ICEBB-03 T ) be classified as Streptomyces harenosi sp. nov. The genome of the isolate contains several biosynthetic gene clusters with the potential to produce new natural products.

The Desert of Maine, not a real desert, is a 160,000 m 2 tourist attraction of glacial silt which resembles a desert, surrounded by a pine forest in the state of Maine located in the northeastern USA. Though not a true desert, the soil of the Desert of Maine has a sandy texture with poor water-holding abilities, nutrient retention capabilities, and a relatively low pH value (pH 5.09). Samples from this site may be of interest to examine the bacterial diversity present on mineral sandy loam soils with an acidic pH, low concentrations of organic materials though surrounded by a pine forest, and compare it with true desert soil microbial populations. Two surface sand samples from the Desert of Maine were obtained, and pyrosequencing of PCR amplified 16S rRNA genes from total extracted DNA was used to assess bacterial diversity, community structure, and the relative abundance of major bacterial taxa. We found that the soil samples from the Desert of Maine displayed high levels of bacterial diversity, with a predominance of members belonging to the Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria phyla. Bacteria from the most abundant genus, Acidiphilium, represent 12.5% of the total 16S rDNA sequences. In total, 1394 OTUs were observed in the two samples, with 668 OTUs being observed in both samples. By comparing Desert of Maine bacterial populations with studies on similar soil environments, we found that the samples contained less Acidobacteria than soils from acid soil forests, and less Firmicutes plus more Proteobacteria than oligotrophic desert soils. Interestingly, our samples were found to be highly similar in their composition to an oak forest soil in France.

A novel proteobacterial bacterium, designated strain CAU 1489T, was isolated from Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Cells were strictly anaerobic, Gram stain-negative, cream-pigmented, non-spore-forming, motile and short rod-shaped. Strain CAU 1489T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.2%) to Nitratireductor mangrovi SY7T. Multilocus sequence analysis of 16S rRNA and four housekeeping genes (rpoB, rpoC, gyrB and dnaK) indicated that CAU 1489T represents a distinct branch within Nitratireductor. The whole genome was 4.8 Mb with a G + C content of 64.7 mol%, including protein-coding genes related to the function terms amino acids and derivatives, nucleotides and nucleosides, protein metabolism, carbohydrates and cofactors, vitamins, prosthetic groups and pigments. The major fatty acids were 11-methyl C18:1ω7c, cyclo- C19:0ω8c, iso-C17:0 and summed feature 8 (C18:1ω6c and/or C18:1ω7c), and the predominant respiratory quinone was Q-10. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified phospholipids. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values were 19.4-22.0% and 72.4-79.1%, respectively. On the basis of taxonomic characterization, strain CAU 1489T constitutes a novel species, for which the name Nitratireductor arenosus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 1489T ( = KCTC 62997T = NBRC 113694T)., (© FEMS 2020.)

A novel rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain RZ05 T , was isolated from a sand sample collected from the intertidal zone of the Yellow Sea, PR China. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain RZ05 T clusters within the genus Maribacter , a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae , and has the highest sequence similarity to Maribacter polysiphoniae KCTC 22021 T (97.8 %), followed by Maribacter arenosus KCTC 52191 T (97.2 %). Cells of this strain were observed to be aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, motile by gliding and formed yellow colonies. Growth occurred at 7-40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.5-9.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0.5-6 % (optimum, 2 %) NaCl. Its polar lipid profile included phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, one unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C 15 : 0 , iso-C 15 : 1 G, iso-C 17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C 16 : 0 3-OH, iso-C 15 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 9 (10-methyl C 16 : 0 /iso-C 17 : 1   ω9 c ) and summed feature 3 (iso-C 15 : 0 2-OH/C 16 : 1   ω7 c /C 16 : 1   ω6 c ). The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The genome of strain RZ05 T was 4.65 Mbp with a G+C content of 38.9 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain RZ05 T and its most closely related type strain M. polysiphoniae KCTC 22021 T were 80.3 and 26.3  %, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses indicated that strain RZ05 T represents a novel species of the genus Maribacter , for which the name Maribacter luteus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RZ05 T (=KCTC 62834 T =MCCC 1K03617 T ).

Aerobic ammonia oxidation to nitrite has been established as an important ecosystem process in regulating the level of nitrogen in marine ecosystems. This process is carried out by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) within the classes Betaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria and ammonia-oxidizing Archaea (AOA) from the phylum Thaumarchaeota, and the latter of which has been established as more prevalent in marine systems. This study investigated the presence, abundance, and activity of these groups of microbes at a beach near Springmaid Pier in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, through the implementation of next generation sequencing, quantitative PCR (qPCR), and microcosm experiments to monitor activity. Sequencing analysis revealed a diverse community of ammonia-oxidizing microbes dominated by AOA classified within the family Nitrosopumilaceae, and qPCR revealed the abundance of AOA amoA genes over AOB by at least an order of magnitude in most samples. Microcosm studies indicate that the rates of potential ammonia oxidation in these communities satisfy Michaelis-Menten substrate kinetics and this process is more active at temperatures corresponding to summer months than winter. Potential rates in AOA medium were higher than that of AOB medium, indicating a potentially greater contribution of AOA to this process in this environment. In conclusion, this study provides further evidence of the dominance of AOA in these environments compared with AOB and highlights the overall efficiency of this process at turning over excess ammonium that may be present in these environments., (© 2020 The Authors. MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The environment affects the composition and function of soil microbiome, which indirectly influences the quality of plants. In this study, 16S amplicon sequencing was used to reveal the differences in soil microbial community composition of Cistanche deserticola in three ecotypes (saline-alkali land, grassland and sandy land). Through the correlation analysis of microbial community abundance, phenylethanoid glycoside contents and ecological factors, the regulatory relationship between microbial community and the quality variation of C. deserticola was expounded. The metabolic function profile of soil microbiome was predicted using Tax4Fun. Data showed that the soil microbial communities of the three ecotypes were significantly different (AMOVA, P < 0.001), and the alpha diversity of grassland soil microbial community was the highest. Core microbiome analysis demonstrated that the soil microbial communities of C. deserticola were mostly have drought, salt tolerance, alkali resistance and stress resistance, such as Micrococcales and Bacillales. The biomarkers, namely, Oceanospirillales (saline-alkali land), Sphingomonadales (grassland) and Propionibacteriales (sandy land), which can distinguish three ecotype microbial communities, were excavated through LEfSe and random forest. Correlation analysis results demonstrated that 2'-acetylacteoside is positively correlated with Oceanospirillales in saline-alkali land soil. The metabolic function profiles displayed highly enriched metabolism (carbohydrate and amino acid metabolisms) and environmental information processing (membrane transport and signal transduction) pathways. Overall, the composition and function of soil microbiomes were found to be important factors to the quality variation of C. deserticola in different ecotypes. This work provided new insight into the regulatory relationship amongst the environment, soil microbial community and plant quality variation.

Three aerobic, rod-shaped actinobacterial strains, designated MMS17-SY117 T , MMS17-SY207-3 T and MMS17-SY213 T , were isolated from soil and their taxonomic positions were analysed using a polyphasic approach. The isolates showed best growth at 30 °C, pH 7 and 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the isolates were affiliated to the genus Nocardioides , and the closest species to MMS17-SY117 T , MMS17-SY207-3 T and MMS17-SY213 T were Nocardioides aestuarii JC2056 T (97.76%), Nocardioides currus IB-3 T (97.41%) and Nocardioides exalbidus RC825 T (98.71%), respectively. Each isolate formed a distinct cluster within the Nocardioides clade in the phylogenetic tree. The orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were in the range of 74.4-85.7 % and 16.6-39.2 %, respectively, with the type strains of related species. The major polar lipids in all three strains were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C 16 : 0 and C 17 : 1  ω8 c . MK-8(H 4 ) was the major isoprenoid quinone and ll-DAP was the major diamino acid. Galactose, glucose and rhamnose were present in the whole-cell hydrolysate, and MMS17-SY213 T also contained mannose and ribose. The DNA G+C contents of MMS17-SY117 T , MMS17-SY207-3 T and MMS17-SY213 T were 72.2, 70.4 and 71.5 mol%, respectively. The phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data supported the classification of each strain as representing a new species of Nocardioides , for which the names Nocardioides euryhalodurans sp. nov. (MMS17-SY117 T =KCTC 49175 T =JCM 32831 T ), Nocardioides seonyuensis sp. nov. (MMS17-SY207-3 T =KCTC 49176 T =JCM 32832 T ) and Nocardioides eburneiflavus sp. nov. (MMS17-SY213 T =KCTC 49177 T =JCM 32833 T ) are proposed accordingly.

A bacterial strain, designated GEM5 T , was isolated from sand soil samples from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. The polyphasic study confirmed the affiliation of the isolate with the genus Massilia . GEM5 T had Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped cells and grew at 4-30 °C, pH 6-8 and with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl. Its cell wall contained ribose. Q8 was the predominant respiratory quinone, and summed feature 3 (C 16 : 1 ω6 c /ω7 c ) and C 16 : 0 were the major components of the fatty acids. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 65.1 mol%. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed a stable clade being formed by GEM5 T , Massilia timonae CCUG 45783 T (97.94 %) and Massilia oculi CCUG 43427A T (97.58 %). The average nucleotide identity (ANIb) values between GEM5 T and M. timonae CCUG 45783 T , M.oculi CCUG 43427A T were 91.3 and 91.7 %, respectively. On the basis of the morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic pattern, it was proposed that strain GEM5 T (=JCM 32744 T =CICC 24458 T ) should be classified as representing a member of the genus Massilia with the name Massilia arenae sp. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium with peritrichous flagella, designated strain HB161719 T , was isolated from coastal sand collected from Tanmen Port in Hainan, PR China. The isolate was found to grow with 2-11 % (w/v) NaCl, at 15-45 °C and pH 6.0-10.0, with an optima of 2-3 % NaCl, 37 °C and pH 7.0, respectively. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that Q-8 was detected as the sole respiratory quinone and that iso-C 15 : 0 and summed features 3, 8 and 9 were the major cellular fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 58.2 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain showed an affiliation with the genus Microbulbifer , sharing 98.7, 98.4, 97.8 and 97.8 % sequence similarities to the closest relatives of Microbulbifer okinawensis ABABA23 T , Microbulbifer pacificus SPO729 T , Microbulbifer taiwanensis CC-LN1-12 T and Microbulbifer gwangyangensis GY2 T , respectively. Low DNA-DNA hybridization values showed that it formed a distinct genomic species. The combined phenotypic and molecular features supported that strain HB161719 T represents a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer , for which the name Microbulbifer harenosus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HB161719 T (=CGMCC 1.13584 T =JCM 32688 T ).

An alginate lyase-excreting bacterium, designated strain HB161718 T , was isolated from coastal sand collected from Tanmen Port in Hainan, PR China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative rods and motile with a single polar flagellum. Its major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone 8 (Q-8), and its cellular fatty acid profile mainly consisted of C 16 : 1  ω7 c and/or C 16 : 1  ω6 c , C 18 : 1  ω6 c and/or C 18 : 1  ω7 c , C 16 : 0 , C 17 : 0 10-methyl and C 16 : 0  N alcohol. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.1 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis suggested that strain HB161718 T belonged to the genus Alteromonas , sharing 99.5, 99.4, 99.2, 98.9 and 98.5 % sequence similarities to its closest relatives, Alteromonas macleodii JCM 20772 T , Alteromonas gracilis 9a2 T , Alteromonas australica H17 T , Alteromonas marina SW-47 T and Alteromonas mediterranea DE T , respectively. The low values of DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity showed that it formed a distinct genomic species. The combined phenotypic and molecular features supported the conclusion that strain HB161718 T represents a novel species of the genus Alteromonas , for which the name Alteromonas portus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HB161718 T (=CGMCC 1.13585 T =JCM 32687 T ).

Studies of microbial community structure in intertidal and supratidal beach sands along the California and Gulf of Mexico coasts have begun to reveal geographical patterns in microbial diversity through the use of next generation sequencing technology. Only a few studies have targeted communities along the Eastern seaboard, leaving a variety of microbial ecosystems uncharacterized. In this study, we examine the microbial community structure within three South Carolina beaches along the Grand Strand via sequencing of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene to discern relationships between diversity and temporal or regional factors. Gammaproteobacteria, Planctomycetes, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria dominated the composition of these beaches. Diversity analyses revealed that highly diverse communities were similar in overall composition and diversity but showed different levels of community structure stability over time. The community structure in Pawleys Island sands showed no significant change over time, while Garden City experienced significant shifts between each sampling date. Community structure also differed between beaches and, to a lesser degree, sampling date. These data provide evidence of the high microbial diversity within these beach sands and suggest that even though beaches of the same geographic region can show similarity in composition and diversity at a particular timepoint, the nature of their community structure and underlying diversity may differ comparatively and over time., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

A novel gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and non-nitrogen-fixing bacterium, named SPY-1 T , was isolated from biological soil crusts collected at Mu Us Sandy Land, China. Based on 16S rRNA sequence similarity, strain SPY-1 T was most closely related to Neorhizobium alkalisoli CCTCC AB 2014138 T (98.7%), Neorhizobium huautlense CGMCC 1.2538 T (98.6%), Neorhizobium galegae DSM 11542 T (98.4%), Rhizobium wenxiniae 166 T (97.9%), and Rhizobium smilacinae CCTCC AB 2013016 T (97.5%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequencing and multilocus sequence analysis of partial sequences of atpD-glnII-glnA-recA-ropD-thrC housekeeping genes both indicated that strain SPY-1 T was a member of the genus Rhizobium. The draft genome of strain SPY-1 T was 4.75 Mb in size, and the G + C content was 60.0%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values to N. alkalisoli CCTCC AB 2014138 T and R. smilacinae CCTCC AB 2013016 T were both 84.0%. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values to N. alkalisoli CCTCC AB 2014138 T and R. smilacinae CCTCC AB 2013016 T were 20.9% and 20.2%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C 18:1 ω7c and/or C 18:1 ω6c) and C 16:0 . Based on the data from chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic, and phenotypic evidence, strain SPY-1 T represents a novel species in the genus Rhizobium, for which the name Rhizobium deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SPY-1 T (= ACCC 61627 T  = JCM 33732 T ).