Erratic calcareous deposits: Biotic formation insights and biomineralising bacterial strain isolation.

The present study investigated the contribution of microbial communities in producing "living stones" and the suitability of these clasts as sources of microorganisms with biomineralisation abilities. The calcareous samples were analysed for their microbial community (16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and culturable approach) and in vitro regeneration tests. Scanning electron microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) were applied to investigate microbial aggregation structures and footprints in natural and in vitro samples.

Polyhydroxybutyrate-producing cyanobacteria from lampenflora: The case study of the "Stiffe" caves in Italy.

This study aimed to estimate the green formation lampenflora of "Stiffe" caves in order to evaluate their suitability as an isolation source of cyanobacteria useful for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The cave system was chosen as the sampling site due to its touristic use and the presence of high-impact illuminations. The biofilms and the mats of the illuminated walls were sampled.