Microscopic Methods for Identification of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria from Various Habitats

This paper is devoted to microscopic methods for the identification of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). In this context, it describes various habitats, morphology and techniques used for the detection and identification of this very heterogeneous group of anaerobic microorganisms. SRB are present in almost every habitat on Earth, including freshwater and marine water, soils, sediments or animals. In the oil, water and gas industries, they can cause considerable economic losses due to their hydrogen sulfide production; in periodontal lesions and the colon of humans, they can cause health complications. Although the role of these bacteria in inflammatory bowel diseases is not entirely known yet, their presence is increased in patients and produced hydrogen sulfide has a cytotoxic effect. For these reasons, methods for the detection of these microorganisms were described. Apart from selected molecular techniques, including metagenomics, fluorescence microscopy was one of the applied methods. Especially fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in various modifications was described. This method enables visual identification of SRB, determining their abundance and spatial distribution in environmental biofilms and gut samples.     

Bridging the Gap: Plant-Endophyte Interactions as a Roadmap to Understanding Small-Molecule Communication in Marine Microbiomes

Probing the composition of the microbiome and its association with health and disease states is more accessible than ever due to the rise of affordable sequencing technology. Despite advances in our ability to identify members of symbiont communities, untangling the chemical signaling that they use to communicate with host organisms remains challenging. In order to gain a greater mechanistic understanding of how the microbiome impacts health, and how chemical ecology can be leveraged to advance small-molecule drug discovery from microorganisms, the principals governing communication between host and symbiont must be elucidated. Herein, we review common modes of interkingdom small-molecule communication in terrestrial and marine environments, describe the differences between these environments, and detail the advantages and disadvantages for studies focused on the marine environment. Finally, we propose the use of plant-endophyte interactions as a stepping stone to a greater understanding of similar interactions in marine invertebrates, and ultimately in humans.     

Dietary strategies may influence human nerves and emotions by regulating intestinal microbiota: an interesting hypothesis

The human body hosts enormous diversity of microbiota. Recently, the importance of microbial communities to host physiology has been recognised. Evidence is now emerging that the bidirectional communication between the central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract may affect human nerves, cognition and behaviour through the gut-brain axis (GBA). Although the connection between enteropathy and neurological diseases has been found, it now seems intestinal microorganisms represent the direct mediator of psychopathology. The interactions between host neurological function and intestinal microbiota suggested dietary is a possible way to alleviate psychopathological and neurodegenerative diseases. This review discusses the possible effect of intestinal microbiota on the changes of nerves and emotions in human brain. Maintaining healthy diet strategies should be an important part of preventing neurological diseases and psychopathologies caused by systemic metabolic changes. We hope to provide a novel insight for the design of dietary therapies from the perspective of GBA.     

Thermal diffusion and diffusion thermo effects of Eyring‐Powell nanofluid flow with gyrotactic microorganisms through the boundary layer

In this article, the effects of thermal diffusion and diffusion thermo on the motion of a non‐Newtonian Eyring Powell nanofluid with gyrotactic microorganisms in the boundary layer are investigated. The system is stressed with a uniform external magnetic field. The problem is modulated mathematically by a system of a nonlinear partial differential equation, which governs the equations of motion, temperature, the concentration of solute, nanoparticles, and microorganisms. This system is converted to nonlinear ordinary differential equations by using suitable similarity transformations with the appropriate boundary conditions. These equations are solved numerically by using the Rung‐Kutta‐Merson method with a shooting technique. The velocity, temperature, concentration of solute, nanoparticles, and microorganisms are obtained as functions of the physical parameters of the problem. The effects of these parameters on these solutions are discussed numerically and illustrated graphically through figures. It is found that the velocity decreases with the increase in the non‐Newtonian parameter and the magnetic field, whereas, the velocity increases with a rise in thermophoresis and Brownian motion. Also, the temperature increases with an increase in the non‐Newtonian parameter, magnetic field, thermophoresis, and Brownian motion. These parameters play an important role and help in understanding the mechanics of complicated physiological flows.     

Gyrotactic microorganisms bioconvection in combined convective magnetohydrodynamic Casson nanofluid flow over a vertically surfaced saturated porous media with variable viscosity

The current article focuses on mass and thermal transfer analysis of a two-dimensional immovable combined convective nanofluid flow including motile microorganisms with temperature-dependent viscosity on top of a vertical plate through a porous medium, and a model has been developed to visualize the velocity slip impacts on a nonlinear partial symbiotic flow. The governed equations include all of the above physical conditions, and suitable nondimensional transfigurations are utilized to transfer the governed conservative equations to a nonlinear system of differential equations and obtain numerical solutions by using the Shooting method. Numerical studies have been focusing on the effects of intricate dimensionless parameters, namely, the Casson fluid parameter, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis parameter, Peclet number, bioconvection parameter, and Rayleigh number, which have all been studied on various profiles such as momentum, thermal, concentration, and density of microorganisms. The concentration boundary layer thickness and density of microorganisms increased as the Casson fluid parameter, Brownian and thermophoresis parameters increased, whereas the bioconvection parameter, Peclet number, and Rayleigh number increased. The thermal boundary layer thickness, concentration boundary layer thickness, and density of microorganisms all decreased. The velocity distribution decreases as the Peclet number, bioconvection, and thermophoresis parameters rise but rises as the Rayleigh number, Brownian motion parameter, and Casson fluid parameter rise. These are graphed via plots along with divergent fluid parameters.     

Review of methods to collect settled dust and isolate culturable microorganisms

Examination of settled dust is often included in investigations of indoor environments to identify the types and concentrations of particles to which building occupants may be exposed. Fungi and bacteria are among the many components in dust that have been studied. Isolation by culture is an established method that is used widely to quantify and identify microorganisms in environmental samples. However, no standard procedures for culturing fungi or bacteria from dust have been adopted widely to ensure the validity of comparing findings from different studies. This paper reviews methods various researchers have used to study surface particles and to isolate culturable microorganisms from dust. Factors that were found to differ included the method of sample collection, the ways dust was prepared for inoculation onto growth media, and the culture media chosen for specific categories of agents. The need for reference methods in environmental microbiology for use in the assessment of indoor environmental quality is discussed.     

Aquatic microbial activity and macrofaunal profiles of an Oklahoma stream

A toxicity assessment was conducted on Skeleton Creek, near Enid, Okla. This creek received effluents from an oil refinery, municipal waste treatment facility, and a fertilizer processing plant. Microbial activity assays, which focused on sediments, included: dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, glucosidase, amylase and protease activity. Microbial electron transport system activity was also measured in overlying waters and sediments. Results were compared to a study conducted at the same time by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which measured in-stream fish, plankton and benthic communities. In addition, EPA conducted 7-day Ceriodaphnia reproductive toxicity tests and 7-day larval fathead minnow growth tests. Effects occurred below the 3 discharges and similar response patterns were noted between surrogate microbial assays and stream communities. These results highlight the importance and feasibility of multi-tiered test schemes in aquatic toxicity assessments.     

Activated charcoal and microflora in water treatment

Significant sanitation was achieved by using 0.5% activated charcoal in influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant. The drastic reduction in the microorganisms was confirmed for twelve tester strains, including gram-positives, gram-negatives, Candida albicans, Vahlkampfia avara, Leptospira biflexa and Trichomonas foetus. The removal of microflora correlates positively with the quality of the activated charcoal used. Once adsorbed, the bacteria could not be eluted by salt, alkalinization or citric acid. Diatomaceous earth also eliminated some of the microflora, but white clay (Bolus alba) and zinc dust are inefficient. The activated carbon may be reused several times after regeneration by heat (2 h at 160°C), but eventually a slight decrease in adsorbing capacity occurs.     

固定化微生物处理河流微污染水体试验研究

采用固定化微生物-曝气生物滤池(IBAF)系统对北京市马草河微污染水体进行了现场连续运转中试研究.通过对进水与出水COD、氨氮和总磷的监测,研究了IBAF系统对河湖微污染水体的处理性能.结果显示:采用IBAF系统处理河流微污染水体,处理后主要水质指标可达到地表水Ⅳ类水体标准;各污染物的去除率分别达到:CODcr60%以上、CODMn30%以上、氨氮90%以上和总磷在50%以上;克氏定氮法测定表明IBAF系统中的生物量为35 g/L,可极大地提高处理效率;IBAF系统在驯化完成后,能够满足重复使用的要求;试验还表明在温度5～15℃的条件下,IBAF系统脱除氨氮性能未受影响,这对低温脱氮的研究具有重要的意义.     

高盐低渗油藏内源微生物驱油潜力实验研究

结合靖安油田五里湾-区油藏高盐低渗特点,对其内源微生物进行了普查和分析,结果表明内源微生物类型和数量具有多样化的特点。以五里湾-区油井采出液为数活对象,在初步筛选营养成分的基础上,确定了碳源、氮源、磷源及其大致浓度,采用PB、最陡爬坡和响应面实验方法,以微生物生长和代谢为筛选条件,对影响微生物生长效果的因素进行了优化和评价,得到了最佳激活体系配方。该激活体系能够高效地激活该油藏中的内源微生物,并显著降低发酵液的表面张力,表明高盐低渗的五里湾-区油藏具有较大的内源微生物驱油提高原油采收率潜力。