Toxicity mechanism of microplastics on the growth traits and metabolic pathways of Vallisneria natans under different light environments.

Freshwater plants are threatened by microplastics (MPs). While many studies have reported the effects of MPs on aquatic plants and animals, few have examined the effects of MPs on plant metabolism at different light intensities. We explore cellular, metabolic, and stress responses of Vallisneria natans at different light intensities (0, 20, 90, 160, 280 μmol·m·s), without and with (50 mg·L) MPs.

Pangenomic and functional investigations for dormancy and biodegradation features of an organic pollutant-degrading bacterium Rhodococcus biphenylivorans TG9.

Environmental bacteria contain a wealth of untapped potential in the form of biodegradative genes. Leveraging this potential can often be confounded by a lack of understanding of fundamental survival strategies, like dormancy, for environmental stress. Investigating bacterial dormancy-to-degradation relationships enables improvement of bioremediation.

Enhancement of perchloroethene dechlorination by a mixed dechlorinating culture via magnetic nanoparticle-mediated isolation method.

Highly enriched active dechlorinating cultures are important in advancing microbial remediation technology. This study attempted to enrich a rapid perchloroethene (PCE) dechlorinating culture via magnetic nanoparticle-mediated isolation (MMI). MMI is a novel method that can separate the fast-growing and slow-growing population in a microbial community without labelling.

Alterations in the Cell Wall of Under Norfloxacin Stress.

Many microorganisms can enter a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state under various environmental stresses, while they can also resuscitate when the surroundings turn to suitable conditions. Cell walls play a vital role in maintaining cellular integrity and protecting cells from ambient threats. Here, we investigated the alterations in the cell wall of TG9 at VBNC state under norfloxacin stress and then at resuscitated state in fresh lysogeny broth medium.

Induction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 into a viable but non-culturable state by high temperature and its resuscitation.

Escherichia coli O157:H7, a causative agent of haemolytic uremic syndrome, can enter into a viable but non-culturable (VBNC) state in response to harsh stress. Bacteria in this state can retain membrane integrity, metabolic activity and virulence expression, which may present health risks. However, virulence expression and resuscitation ability of the VBNC state are not well understood.

Alternative Evaluation to Earthworm Toxicity Test in Polychlorinated Biphenyls Spiked and Remediated Soils.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that pose a threat to environment and human health. Aiming at predicting PCBs risk in actual soil ecosystem, this study was conducted by chemical and biological methods to assess the bioavailability of PCBs in spiked soil, and in field-contaminated soils before or after remediation. The three chemical methods were Soxhlet, n-butanol and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD).