Carbon Source Research Articles

The fed-batch production of mannosylerythritol lipids by Ustilago maydis DSM 4500 from hydrophilic carbon sources

The fed-batch production of mannosylerythritol lipids by Ustilago maydis DSM 4500 from hydrophilic carbon sources

A systematic review of Streptococcus Mutans and Veillonellae species interactions in dental caries progression: Positive or Negative impact?

Background The interaction between Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans) and Veillonella species (Veillonella spp.) is unclear. This study aims to investigate the interaction between S. mutans and Veillonella spp. on caries development using systematic review. Methods This systematic review was accorded to the guideline of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Three electronic databases, namely PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library, were used to conduct a systematic search for eligible studies from their inception until July 18, 2023. PROSPERO registration number was No. CRD42023445968. Results We initially identified 4,774 articles. After eliminating duplicates and irrelevant articles, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. The studies revealed important aspects of the relationship between S. mutans and Veillonellae spp. in dental caries. One significant finding is that Veillonellae spp. can affect the acid production capacity of S. mutans. Some studies indicate that Veillonellae spp. can inhibit the acid production by S. mutans, potentially reducing the cariogenic process. Another aspect is the competition for substrates. Veillonellae spp. utilize lactic acid, which is a by product of S. mutans metabolism, as a source of carbon. This metabolic interaction may decrease the availability of lactic acid for S. mutans, potentially influencing its cariogenic potential. Conclusions This systematic review highlights the emerging evidence on the interaction between S. mutans and Veillonellae spp. in dental caries. The findings suggest that Veillonellae spp. can modulate the acid production, and substrate competition of S. mutans, potentially influencing the cariogenic process.

Responses of soil microbial metabolism, function and soil quality to long-term addition of organic materials with different carbon sources

Biochar and green manure have been widely applied in agricultural production and are important means to achieve sustainable agriculture. However, there is limited research systematically and comprehensively exploring the response of soil microbiota and the changes in soil metabolomics after the addition of two different carbon source amendments to the soil, and the differential mechanisms of soil metabolomics between them remain unclear. In this study, a long-term field experiment (initiated in 2019) was conducted to investigate the effects of biochar and green manure application on soil nutrients and soil functions driven by soil microbes. Compared to the pure fertilizer treatment, biochar increased soil total carbon by 14.54% to 27.04% and soil available potassium by 4.67% to 27.46%. Ryegrass significantly increased soil available phosphorus and organic matter. Under different fertilization regimes, the ecological niches of soil microbes changed significantly. Network analysis revealed that long-term ryegrass returning reduced the complexity of soil microbial networks. Ryegrass and biochar increased dispersal limitation in fungal assemblages (reaching 93.33% and 86.67%, respectively), with biochar particularly enhancing variable selection in bacterial assemblages (accounting for 53.33%). Variation partitioning analysis based on redundancy analysis indicated that humic substances had the highest explanatory power for microbial community variation, with humic substances explaining 38.49% of bacteria and 52.19% of fungi variation. The ryegrass treatment mainly changed the abundance of carbohydrates (CH), amines (AM), c (AH), and lipids (LP), while the BC treatment mainly altered the abundance of organic acids (AC), amines (AM), and carbohydrates (CH). Meanwhile, both treatments significantly reduced the bisphenol A, one of the soil pollutants. Ryegrass incorporation significantly increased the abundance of genes related to soil C, N, P, and S cycling, especially genes involved in carbon decomposition, while biochar significantly enhanced the abundance of nitrogen fixation genes nifH and Hao in soil. Random forest model results indicated that carbohydrates, alcohols, aromatics (AR), and ester (ES) were the main categories of metabolites in soil influenced by differential microbes, and Finegoldia served as a common important metabolic driving species. In summary, this study reveals the processes of soil function, microbial community succession, and metabolism driven by ryegrass and biochar, providing important insights for optimizing soil management and improving soil quality.Graphical

A case study of the regional bioeconomy in Central Germany: construction with renewable resources

In response to global challenges like climate change and resource depletion, national and international policies are increasingly emphasising sustainability. The bioeconomy represents a promising field to reconcile environmental integrity with economic development. The objective of this study is to examine the role of renewable resources in the construction industry within the framework of the bioeconomy, with a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goal 11: ‘Sustainable cities and communities’. The case study analyses the practical challenges and opportunities for innovation in Central Germany through a comprehensive regional analysis of construction practices using renewable resources. The methodology involved monitoring biomass flows by assessing harvest yields, area shares and biomass potentials. It also analysed the importance of the bio-based economy by examining employment data and identifying potential growth sectors. Stakeholder engagement was facilitated through knowledge transfer workshops to encourage collaboration and innovation. The results of the study highlight key trends within the industry, including the increasing prevalence of timber buildings, wood as a renewable carbon source in the chemical industry and the growing demand for wood-based packaging solutions. Policy initiatives are playing a supportive role in driving these developments, taking advantage of the region’s extensive wood resources (14.7 million m3 harvested in 2021) and the significant employment contribution of the forestry, wood and construction industries (2% of total employment, representing no less than 81,506 employees). These figures demonstrate the potential for sustainable construction practices to drive local economic growth and contribute to wider environmental objectives.

Enhancement of lactate fraction in poly(lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) biosynthesized by metabolically engineered E. coli

Poly(lactate-co-3-hydroxybutyrate) [P(LA-co-3HB)] is a high-molecular-weight biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this study, the properties of P(LA-co-3HB) were examined and found to be affected by its lactate fraction. The efficiency of lactyl-CoA biosynthesis from intracellular lactate significantly affected the microbial synthesis of P(LA-co-3HB). Two CoA transferases from Anaerotignum lactatifermentans and Bacillota bacterium were selected for use in copolymer biosynthesis from 11 candidates. We found that cotAl enhanced the lactate fraction by 31.56% compared to that of the frequently used modified form of propionyl-CoA transferase from Anaerotignum propionicum. In addition, utilizing xylose as a favorable carbon source and blocking the lactate degradation pathway further enhanced the lactate fraction to 30.42 mol% and 52.84 mol%, respectively. Furthermore, when a 5 L bioreactor was used for fermentation utilizing xylose as a carbon source, the engineered strain produced 60.60 wt% P(46.40 mol% LA-co-3HB), which was similar to the results of our flask experiments. Our results indicate that the application of new CoA transferases has great potential for the biosynthesis of other lactate-based copolymers.Graphical

Differences in the physiology of Pichia pastoris grown on glycerol/glucose using polyurethane foam slabs as solid support

AbstractBACKGROUNDGrowth physiology and metabolic flux of Pichia pastoris were analyzed using glass columns containing slabs of polyurethane foam as a solid support and culture medium with glycerol or glucose as a carbon source.RESULTSMedia with glycerol produced an average of 30.91% more biomass than media where glucose was used. However, the specific growth rate registered higher values for media with glucose than those with glycerol at low substrate concentrations: 0.46 versus 0.22 h−1. Media with glycerol produced a large amount of d‐arabitol, whereas ethanol and citrate were the predominant metabolites in media with glucose. Both types of culture systems generated biphasic curves in terms of the respiratory quotient value, whose inflection point coincided with the transition from aerobic metabolism to a mixed one.CONCLUSIONAdequate oxygen transfer occurred in both culture systems; therefore, the differences found in growth physiology can be explained by the transport mechanism that internalizes glycerol, the access point to primary metabolism, and the degree of glycerol oxidation. The arrangement of cells in the polyurethane matrix allowed an attenuation of the repression phenomenon due to excess substrate for both carbon sources. This is the first work to study metabolic flux comparisons using this system. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Methyl red dye decolourization by the photosynthetic bacteria, Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Afifellamarina

Anoxygenic photosynthetic bacteria are common inhabitants of wastewater: we found that Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Afifella marina in eutrophic conditions only partially degraded the azo dye (50 mmol m−3), Methyl Red, but completely degraded it under specially defined conditions. The azo dye is potentially a source of both carbon and fixed nitrogen. Rhodopseudomonas palustris and Afifella marina can live heterotrophically, photoheterotrophically or photoautotrophically under anoxic conditions where they can fix N2 if no organic nitrogen or NH3 is available. If organic carbon sources are available or if NH3 is present, the cells again only partially catabolised Methyl Red. In the absence of no alternative organic carbon sources and no NH3, the cells almost completely spectroscopically decolourised Methyl Red in 4 days. In sewage ponds the ready availability of alternative organic carbon and NH3 would result in only partial removal of Methyl Red. Rhodopseudomonas cells responded to the availability of Methyl Red in N-free media, by increasing both Optimum irradiance and maximum ETR (Eopt 276.3 μmol quanta m−2 s−1; ETRmax 391.4 μmol e− g−1 BChl a s−1) compared to control cells incubated in PM media with no organic carbon source and no fixed N-source (Eopt 115.2 μmol quanta m−2 s−1; ETRmax = 153.0 μmol e− g−1 BChl a s−1. If no alternative C or N sources are available, Rhodopseudomonas embedded in alginate biobeads will completely and repeatedly break down Methyl Red. The marine Afifella readily broke down Methyl Red but again breakdown was only complete if alternative carbon and no fixed nitrogen sources were available. The toxicity of the breakdown products produced by photosynthetic bacteria from azo-dyes needs to be followed up. Photosynthetic bacterial-alginate biobeads have long lifetimes (Rhodopseudomonas ≈ 2 months, Afifella > 6 months) making them of great biotechnological potential.

Identification and Antagonistic Potential of Bacillus atrophaeus against Wheat Crown Rot Caused by Fusarium pseudograminearum

Fusarium pseudograminearum (Fpg) is a significant pathogen responsible for fusarium crown rot (FCR) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), a disease with devastating impacts on crop yield. The utilization of biocontrol bacteria to combat fungal diseases in plants is a cost-effective, eco-friendly, and sustainable strategy. In this trial, an endophytic bacterial species, designated as SW, was isolated from the roots of wheat. The strain exhibited potent antagonistic effects against Fpg and reduced the FCR disease severity index by 76.07 ± 0.33% in a greenhouse pot trial. Here, 106 colony-forming units (CFUs)/mL of the SW strain was determined to be the minimum dose required to exhibit the antagonism against Fpg. The strain was identified as Bacillus atrophaeus using genome sequencing and comparison with type strains in the NCBI database. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed that SW harbors genes for siderophores, antifungal metabolites, and antibiotics, which are key contributors to its antagonistic activity. Additionally, the strain’s ability to utilize various carbon and nitrogen sources, successfully colonize wheat root tissues as an endophyte, and form biofilms are critical attributes for promoting plant growth. In summary, these findings demonstrate the ability of Bacillus atrophaeus to control FCR disease in wheat in a sustainable agricultural setting.

Microbial degradation of contaminants of emerging concern: metabolic, genetic and omics insights for enhanced bioremediation

The perpetual release of natural/synthetic pollutants into the environment poses major risks to ecological balance and human health. Amongst these, contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) are characterized by their recent introduction/detection in various niches, thereby causing significant hazards and necessitating their removal. Pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, cyanotoxins and emerging pesticides are major groups of CECs that are highly toxic and found to occur in various compartments of the biosphere. The sources of these compounds can be multipartite including industrial discharge, improper disposal, excretion of unmetabolized residues, eutrophication etc., while their fate and persistence are determined by factors such as physico-chemical properties, environmental conditions, biodegradability and hydrological factors. The resultant exposure of these compounds to microbiota has imposed a selection pressure and resulted in evolution of metabolic pathways for their biotransformation and/or utilization as sole source of carbon and energy. Such microbial degradation phenotype can be exploited to clean-up CECs from the environment, offering a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to abiotic methods of removal, thereby mitigating their toxicity. However, efficient bioprocess development for bioremediation strategies requires extensive understanding of individual components such as pathway gene clusters, proteins/enzymes, metabolites and associated regulatory mechanisms. “Omics” and “Meta-omics” techniques aid in providing crucial insights into the complex interactions and functions of these components as well as microbial community, enabling more effective and targeted bioremediation. Aside from natural isolates, metabolic engineering approaches employ the application of genetic engineering to enhance metabolic diversity and degradation rates. The integration of omics data will further aid in developing systemic-level bioremediation and metabolic engineering strategies, thereby optimising the clean-up process. This review describes bacterial catabolic pathways, genetics, and application of omics and metabolic engineering for bioremediation of four major groups of CECs: pharmaceuticals, plasticizers, cyanotoxins, and emerging pesticides.

Metagenomic survey reveals hydrocarbon biodegradation potential of Canadian high Arctic beaches

BackgroundDecreasing sea ice coverage across the Arctic Ocean due to climate change is expected to increase shipping activity through previously inaccessible shipping routes, including the Northwest Passage (NWP). Changing weather conditions typically encountered in the Arctic will still pose a risk for ships which could lead to an accident and the uncontrolled release of hydrocarbons onto NWP shorelines. We performed a metagenomic survey to characterize the microbial communities of various NWP shorelines and to determine whether there is a metabolic potential for hydrocarbon degradation in these microbiomes.ResultsWe observed taxonomic and functional gene evidence supporting the potential of NWP beach microbes to degrade various types of hydrocarbons. The metagenomic and metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) taxonomy showed that known hydrocarbon-degrading taxa are present in these beaches. Additionally, we detected the presence of biomarker genes of aerobic and anaerobic degradation pathways of alkane and aromatic hydrocarbons along with complete degradation pathways for aerobic alkane degradation. Alkane degradation genes were present in all samples and were also more abundant (33.8 ± 34.5 hits per million genes, HPM) than their aromatic hydrocarbon counterparts (11.7 ± 12.3 HPM). Due to the ubiquity of MAGs from the genus Rhodococcus (23.8% of the MAGs), we compared our MAGs with Rhodococcus genomes from NWP isolates obtained using hydrocarbons as the carbon source to corroborate our results and to develop a pangenome of Arctic Rhodococcus. Our analysis revealed that the biodegradation of alkanes is part of the core pangenome of this genus. We also detected nitrogen and sulfur pathways as additional energy sources and electron donors as well as carbon pathways providing alternative carbon sources. These pathways occur in the absence of hydrocarbons allowing microbes to survive in these nutrient-poor beaches.ConclusionsOur metagenomic analyses detected the genetic potential for hydrocarbon biodegradation in these NWP shoreline microbiomes. Alkane metabolism was the most prevalent type of hydrocarbon degradation observed in these tidal beach ecosystems. Our results indicate that bioremediation could be used as a cleanup strategy, but the addition of adequate amounts of N and P fertilizers, should be considered to help bacteria overcome the oligotrophic nature of NWP shorelines.

Changes in growth, lanthanide binding, and gene expression in Pseudomonas alloputida KT2440 in response to light and heavy lanthanides.

Pseudomonas alloputida KT2440 is a ubiquitous, soil-dwelling bacterium that metabolizes recalcitrant and volatile carbon sources. The latter is utilized by two redundant, Ca- and lanthanide (Ln)-dependent, pyrroloquinoline quinone-dependent alcohol dehydrogenases (PQQ ADH), PedE and PedH, whose expression is regulated by Ln availability. P. alloputida KT2440 is the best-studied non-methylotroph in the context of Ln-utilization. Combined with microfluidic cultivation and single-cell elemental analysis, we studied the impact of light and heavy Ln on transcriptome-wide gene expression when growing P. alloputida KT2440 with 2-phenylethanol as the carbon and energy source. Light Ln (La, Ce, and Nd) and a mixture of light and heavy Ln (La, Ce, Nd, Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb) had a positive effect on growth, whereas supplementation with heavy Ln (Dy, Ho, Er, and Yb) exerted fitness costs. These were likely a consequence of mismetallation and non-utilizable Ln interfering with Ln sensing and signaling. The measured amounts of cell-associated Ln varied between elements. Gene expression analysis suggested that the Ln sensing and signaling machinery, the two-component system PedS2R2 and PedH, responds differently to (non-)utilizable Ln. We expanded our understanding of the lanthanide (Ln) switch in P. alloputida KT2440, demonstrating that it adjusts the levels of pedE and pedH transcripts based on the availability of Ln. We propose that the usability of Ln influences the bacterium's response to different Ln elements.IMPORTANCEThe Ln switch, the inverse regulation of Ca- and Ln-dependent PQQ ADH in response to Ln availability in organisms featuring both, is central to our understanding of Ln utilization. Although the preference of bacteria for light Ln is well known, the effect of different Ln, light and heavy, on growth and gene expression has rarely been studied. We provide evidence for a fine-tuning mechanism of Ca- and Ln-dependent PQQ ADH in P. alloputida KT2440 on the transcriptome level. The response to (non-)utilizable Ln differs depending on the element. Ln commonly co-occur in nature. Our findings underline that Ln-utilizing microbes must be able to discriminate between Ln to use them effectively. Considering the prevalence of Ln-dependent proteins in many microbial taxa, more work addressing Ln sensing and signaling is needed. Ln availability likely necessitates different adaptations regarding Ln utilization.

Dried Anaerobic Digestate from Slaughterhouse By-products: Emerging Cues for a Bio-Based Fertilization

AbstractThe slaughterhouse and meat industry are worldwide rapidly growing and produce billions of tonnes of organic wastes annually. These materials can be used to produce biogas through anaerobic digestion and the resulting digestate represents a potential source of organic carbon and nutrients that could be applied to the soil as organic fertilizer. The present work aims to assess the fertilizing potential of a dried anaerobic digestate (DD) produced from beef slaughtering waste. DD was characterized at the physic-chemical level, particularly focusing on macro- and micronutrient contents, potentially toxic element and organic contaminants. Then, a short-term soil incubation experiment was performed on two different soils. After the incubation, DD released 10–26% of their total nitrogen (N) and 13–16% of total phosphorus (P), depending on the soils that had different characteristics and responded differently to the treatments. However, DD had positive effects on the principal soil fertility indicators, such as chitinase and phosphatases, stimulating the microbial activity and therefore exploiting a fertilizing potential as well as the other organic fertilizers tested. Moreover, DD had minor effects on soil extractable carbon (Cext) suggesting the presence of recalcitrant C forms in spite of soluble C, indicating a higher stability of slaughterhouse by-products after anaerobic digestion in respect to the other organic fertilizers. The results obtained in this work raise the concrete possibility use DD as a bio-based fertilizer. Graphical Abstract

Fate of soil organic carbon in estuarine mangroves: Evidences from stable isotopes and lignin biomarkers

Coastal wetlands are increasingly recognized for their role in climate change mitigation, particularly through the sequestration of soil organic carbon (SOC). Despite widespread acknowledgement of their importance, the variation in organic carbon (OC) sources among different estuarine mangrove wetlands, and how these sources interact with environmental factors, is not fully elucidated. This research focuses on the role of estuarine mangrove wetlands in climate change mitigation through SOC sequestration. It explores the distribution, sources, and decomposition of SOC in a wetland with four mangrove communities along a tidal gradient. These include a tidal flat, a Sonneratia apetala forest, a mixed S. apetala and Kandelia obovata forest, and a K. obovata forest. The study employs biogenic element analysis (C, N, lignin phenols) and natural stable carbon isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) to assess SOC. Key findings show a decrease in SOC and total nitrogen (TN) from the upstream K. obovata forest to the downstream tidal flat. A stable isotope mixing model reveals a diminishing mangrove-derived OC contribution in topsoil (0–40 cm), estimated at 62 % in the K. obovata forest, 45 % in the central region, and 24 % in tidal flats. Soil profiles suggest microbial decomposition as the main isotope fractionation mechanism, with lignin analysis indicating woody angiosperms as the primary OC source. These findings enhance understanding of OC origins and decomposition in coastal wetlands and inform “blue carbon” management, highlighting the terrestrial-estuary continuum's significance.

Phosphatidylserine synthase plays a critical role in the utilization of n-alkanes in the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica.

The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica can assimilate n-alkane as a carbon and energy source. To elucidate the significance of phosphatidylserine (PS) in the utilization of n-alkane in Y. lipolytica, we investigated the role of the Y. lipolytica ortholog (PSS1) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae PSS1/CHO1, which encodes a PS synthase. The PSS1 deletion mutant (pss1Δ) of Y. lipolytica could not grow on minimal medium in the absence of ethanolamine and choline but grew when either ethanolamine or choline was supplied to synthesize phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. The pss1Δ strain exhibited severe growth defects on media containing n-alkanes even in the presence of ethanolamine and choline. In the pss1Δ strain, the transcription of ALK1, which encodes a primary cytochrome P450 that catalyzes the hydroxylation of n-alkanes in the endoplasmic reticulum, was upregulated by n-alkane as in the wild-type strain. However, the production of functional P450 was not detected, as indicated by the absence of reduced CO-difference spectra in the pss1Δ strain. PS was undetectable in the lipid extracts of the pss1Δ strain. These results underscore the critical role of PSS1 in the biosynthesis of PS, which is essential for the production of functional P450 enzymes involved in n-alkane hydroxylation in Y. lipolytica.

Atom Efficient Synthesis of Trimethine Cyanines Using Formaldehyde as a Single Carbon Source.

In this work, we present an innovative and atom-efficient synthesis of trimethine cyanines (Cy3) using formaldehyde (FA) as a single-carbon reagent. The widespread application of Cy3 dyes in bioimaging and genomics/proteomics is often limited by synthetic routes plagued with low atom economy and substantial side-product formation. Through systematic investigation, we have developed a practical and efficient synthetic pathway for both symmetric and asymmetric Cy3 derivatives, significantly minimizing resource utilization. Notably, this approach yields water as the byproduct, in alignment with sustainable chemistry principles. Moreover, the efficient one-pot synthesis facilitates the detection of intracellular FA levels, utilizing the fluorescence signal of Cy3 in live cells. It is also possible to detect the endogenous FA in the intestinal tissues. We observed a significant decrease of FA in the small intestine of the inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mice compared to the healthy mice. This methodological advancement not only enhances the scope of fluorescent dye synthesis but also contributes to the sustainable practices within chemical manufacturing, offering a significant leap forward in the development of environmentally friendly synthetic strategies.

Metal-organic framework-derived hierarchical Ag/Ti3C2Tx/Co/C nanocomposite for enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption

The microwave absorption (MA) performance of 2D Ti3C2Tx is significantly restricted due to its lack of magnetic loss capacity and mismatched electromagnetic impedance. The Ag/Ti3C2Tx/Co/C (ATCC) structure, based on a unique 2D layered Ti3C2Tx, has shown exceptional electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA) properties. The addition of a silver nanoparticles enhances the polarization effect and conductance loss of Ti3C2Tx. By incorporating ZIF-67 with varying Co content, nanocomposite heterostructures and interfaces are formed in Ag/Ti3C2Tx. Moreover, the carbon source of organic ligand and the 3D network structure of Ti3C2Tx provide additional electronic transition channels and improve conductive loss. This modification results in non-uniform interfaces between Ti3C2Tx and metal nanoparticles, leading to electron accumulation and the formation of a micro-capacitance structure that generates interface polarization. Eddy current loss and magnetic loss from metal nanoparticles further enhance EWA properties. This study envisions a novel strategy for developing efficient Ti3C2Tx-based microwave absorbers modified with metal nanoparticles.

De Novo Synthesis of Perdeuterated Phosphoinositide by Installing a Non-native Phospholipid Biopathway in E. coli.

Phosphatidylinositol (PI) and its phosphorylated derivatives are of paramount importance in cellular functions and diseases. Understanding their diverse roles is, however, challenged by difficulties in synthesis and labeling techniques. In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate that PI can be straightforwardly de novo-synthesized and deuterium (2H)-labeled in Escherichia coli by genomic insertion of PI synthase from Trypanosoma brucei under constitutive synthetic promoter proD. Insertion into loci atpi-gidB and ybb revealed PI accumulation of 41% and 34% (mol/mol), respectively, when cultivated with glycerol as the sole carbon source. Growth of the atpi-gidB-PIS strain in deuterium-labeled (2H) substrates D2O, D8-glycerol, and D6-myo-inositol achieved PI deuteration of 90%, PE deuteration of 95%, and total fatty acids|fatty acid (FA) deuteration of 97%. This study offers an alternative convenient route to chemical and enzymatic labeling synthesis of PI; more excitingly, this work also, in principle, opens a door for tailoring the FA profile of deuterated PI/PE for task-specific application by repurposing FA biosynthesis pathways.

Genome-wide survey of the bipartite structure and pathogenesis-related genes of Neostagonosporella sichuanensis, a causal agent of Fishscale bamboo rhombic-spot disease

Bamboo resources have garnered significant global attention due to their excellent capacity for regeneration and high yield. Rhombic-spot disease, a substantial threat to fishscale bamboo (Phyllostachys heteroclada), is primarily caused by Neostagonosporella sichuanensis. This study first reported the genome assemblies and characteristics of two N. sichuanensis isolates using PacBio and Illumina sequencing platforms. The genomes of N. sichuanensis strain SICAUCC 16–0001 and strain SICAUCC 23–0140, with sizes of 48.0 Mb and 48.4 Mb, respectively, revealed 10,289 and 10,313 protein-coding genes. Additionally, they contained 34.99 and 34.46% repetitive sequences within AT-rich regions, with notable repeat-induced point mutation activity. Comparative genome analysis identified 1,049 contracted and 45 expanded gene families in the genome of N. sichuanensis, including several related to pathogenicity. Several gene families involved in mycotoxin metabolism, secondary metabolism, sterol biosynthesis and transport, and cell wall degradation were contracted. Compared to most analyzed necrotrophic, hemibiotrophic, and phaeosphaeriacous pathogens, the genomes of two N. sichuanensis isolates exhibited fewer secondary metabolite enzymes, carbohydrate-active enzymes, plant cell wall degrading enzymes, secreted proteins, and effectors. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that N. sichuanensis shares more similar characteristics with hemibiotrophic pathogens. Based on single carbon source tests, N. sichuanensis strains demonstrated a higher potential for xylan decomposition than pectin and cellulose. The proportion of cell wall-degrading enzyme effectors occupied a high proportion of the total effectors of the N. sichuanensis genomes. These findings provide valuable insights into uncovering the pathogenesis of N. sichuanensis toward the efficient management of rhombic-spot disease of fishscale bamboo.

Characterization of Sinorhizobium strains isolated from arid and semi-arid areas of Morocco promoting the growth of Vachellia gummifera

Vachellia gummifera is a nitrogen-fixing shrub endemic to Morocco, and represents a suitable candidate for reforestation programs in dry areas. In this study, we identified seven root microsymbionts of V. gummifera, and determined their phenotypic characteristics, Plant Growth-Promoting (PGP) activities and their symbiotic efficiency. The bacteria were isolated from root nodules of the plant grown in Moroccan forest soils located in arid and semi-arid regions. The 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis of seven isolates showed similarity values ranging from 99.85% to 99.92% with Sinorhizobium fredii USDA205T. The phenotypic analyses displayed that the strains use different carbohydrates, mainly mono and di-saccharides, as a sole carbon source, and 13 out of 15 amino acids tested as the sole nitrogen source. The strains have variable tolerance to heavy metals, but are sensitive to salinity and high temperature, as no one grew in the presence of 2% NaCl (w/v) or at 40 °C, respectively. On the other hand, the strains grew in a very high osmotic stress environment induced by PEG 6000 (20% w/v), and they all grow in a pH range between 6.5 and 9. The strains possess PGP activities, such as phosphate solubilization, siderophore, and indole acetic acid production. Inoculation under axenic conditions showed that the strains increased the aerial biomass of inoculated plants up to 217%, whereas the relative symbiotic efficiency percentages (74.87–140,3%) showed that most strains are very efficient. From all these results we concluded that our strains may be proposed as inoculum for large-scale applications, such as reforestation programs.

Remarkable performance of Co3O4 anode coated with hard-soft carbon 2D nanosheets prepared from single pavement petroleum asphalt precursor

Incorporating extraneous carbonaceous materials to coat transitional metal oxide (TMO) anodes emerges as a viable strategy to mitigate the pulverization of TMO anode during Li-ion insertion/extraction processes. Herein, hard-soft carbon coated Co3O4 (HC-SC@Co3O4) composites were synthesized by employing a facile NaCl-mediated pyrolysis with Co(NO3)2·6 H2O as the oxide precursor and pavement petroleum asphalt as the single hard-soft carbon source. Microscopic structure characterizations revealed that HC-SC@Co3O4 exhibited a core-shell structure with a fluffy nanoflower-like S/O co-doped carbon shell. Benefiting from its distinctive coating structure, the HC-SC@Co3O4 anode demonstrated remarkable cycling stability and significant initial coulombic efficiency (ICE) of 71 %, after 150 cycles at 100 mA g−1, it still maintained a capacity of 742 mAh g−1. Moreover, introduction of soft carbon delivered outstanding rate capability upon HC-SC@Co3O4 anode, evidenced by discharge capacities of 1108 and 571 mA h g−1 at 100 and 1000 mA g−1, respectively. This study not only presents the potential to effectively solve the challenge of TMO anodes in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but also introduces an economically and environmentally approach for the efficient utilization of pavement petroleum asphalt.