Microbial anhydrobiosis

Bosch, Jason; Varliero, Gilda; Hallsworth, John E.; Dallas, Tiffany D.; Hopkins, D. W.; Frey, Beat; Kong, Weidong; Lebre, Pedro H.; Makhalanyane, Thulani P.; Cowan, Don A.

doi:10.1111/1462-2920.15699

Cited by 29 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 153 publications

(210 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Thus, the samples were dried at 40 • C and ground. This drying period might have caused changes in the relative abundances of the bacterial clades, since the temperature can generate selective pressure and adaptation to desiccation differs between species (Bosch et al, 2021). It is, however, difficult to predict changes in a complex environment like compost or soil.…”

Section: Shift Of the Bacterial Community Over Composting Toward Soil...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermophilic Composting of Human Feces: Development of Bacterial Community Composition and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Pool

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In times of climate change, practicing sustainable, climate-resilient, and productive agriculture is of primordial importance. Compost from different resources, now treated as wastes, could be one form of sustainable fertilizer creating a resilience of agriculture to the adverse effects of climate change. However, the safety of the produced compost regarding human pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and related resistance genes must be considered. We have assessed the effect of thermophilic composting of dry toilet contents, green cuttings, and straw, with and without biochar, on fecal indicators, the bacterial community, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Mature compost samples were analyzed regarding fecal indicator organisms, revealing low levels of Escherichia coli that are in line with German regulations for fertilizers. However, one finding of Salmonella spp. exceeded the threshold value. Cultivation of bacteria from the mature compost resulted in 200 isolates with 36.5% of biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) species. The majority is known as opportunistic pathogens that likewise occur in different environments. A quarter of the isolated BSL-2 strains exhibited multiresistance to different classes of antibiotics. Molecular analysis of total DNA before and after composting revealed changes in bacterial community composition and ARGs. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed a decline of the two most abundant phyla Proteobacteria (start: 36–48%, end: 27–30%) and Firmicutes (start: 13–33%, end: 12–16%), whereas the abundance of Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, and Planctomycetes rose. Groups containing many human pathogens decreased during composting, like Pseudomonadales, Bacilli with Bacillus spp., or Staphylococcaceae and Enterococcaceae. Gene-specific PCR showed a decline in the number of detectable ARGs from 15 before to 8 after composting. The results reveal the importance of sufficiently high temperatures lasting for a sufficiently long period during the thermophilic phase of composting for reducing Salmonella to levels matching the criteria for fertilizers. However, most severe human pathogens that were targeted by isolation conditions were not detected. Cultivation-independent analyses also indicated a decline in bacterial orders comprising many pathogenic bacteria, as well as a decrease in ARGs. In summary, thermophilic composting could be a promising approach for producing hygienically safe organic fertilizer from ecological sanitation.

show abstract

Section: Shift Of the Bacterial Community Over Composting Toward Soil...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermophilic Composting of Human Feces: Development of Bacterial Community Composition and Antimicrobial Resistance Gene Pool

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…We discussed the nature and mechanisms of structural damage related to the desiccation of bacterial cells (metabolic and physiological issues related to gene expression were discussed in [19]). We presented the issue of the importance of water in the cell, discussed the often confusing terminological issues, outlined the historical perspective and the state of modern research related to desiccation tolerance in bacteria.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, we should acknowledge here that some researchers tend to oppose this definition as not reflecting the complex and subtle realities of the anhydrobiosis phenomenon, while propounding the existence of basal anhydrobiotic steady-state metabolism (see [19]).…”

Section: Terminological Issuesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, most of the published research has focused on cell signaling and the expression of specific genes; the "omics" revolution is a major breakthrough in the study of the phenomenon of desiccation tolerance, e.g., [12,14,19]. Most articles concern the late embryogenesis abundant proteins (LEA proteins), originally detected in plants; today their homologues are known among both microorganisms and animals [14].…”

Section: Introduction and A Short Historical Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent review, published in August 2021, focusing on the hypothetical basal metabolic processes and enzymatic activities occurring in microorganisms in an anhydrobiotic state (thereby, questioning the classical definition of anhydrobiosis, see Section 2. Terminological issues), highlights important gaps in our understanding of the qualitative and quantitative aspects of molecular and biochemical processes in desiccated cells [19].…”

Section: Introduction and A Short Historical Overviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Introduction to Bacterial Anhydrobiosis: A General Perspective and the Mechanisms of Desiccation-Associated Damage

Grzyb

Skłodowska

2022

Microorganisms

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Anhydrobiosis is the ability of selected organisms to lose almost all water and enter a state of reversible ametabolism. Such an organism dries up to a state of equilibrium with dry air. Unless special protective mechanisms exist, desiccation leads to damage, mainly to proteins, nucleic acids, and membrane lipids. A short historical outline of research on extreme dehydration of living organisms and the current state of research are presented. Terminological issues are outlined. The role of water in the cell and the mechanisms of damage occurring in the cell under the desiccation stress are briefly discussed. Particular attention was paid to damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and membrane lipids. Understanding the nature of the changes and damage associated with desiccation is essential for the study of desiccation-tolerance mechanisms and application research. Difficulties related to the definition of life and the limits of life in the scientific discussion, caused by the phenomenon of anhydrobiosis, were also indicated.

show abstract