Micropollutants in Lake Como water in the context of circular economy: A snapshot of water cycle contamination in a changing pollution scenario.

In this work we evaluated the contamination of the water cycle in Como Bay by measuring 38 selected pharmaceuticals in two main wastewater treatment plant in Switzerland and in Italy, two influents (River Breggia and Cosia), lake water (epilimnion and hypolimnion), as well as potable water. The collection of comparative information on the presence and environmental fate of these substances contributes to set specific environmental quality standard (EQS). The results presented show that the contamination of the lake reflects national health policies, which deeply influence the usage of chemicals.

Effect of Powdered Activated Carbon as Advanced Step in Wastewater Treatments on Antibiotic Resistant Microorganisms.

Background: Conventional wastewater treatment plants discharge significant amounts of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes into natural water bodies contributing to the spread of antibiotic resistance. Some advanced wastewater treatment technologies have been shown to effectively decrease the number of bacteria. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of knowledge about the effectiveness of these treatments on antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistant genes.

A simple and reliable methodology to detect egg white in art samples.

A protocol for a simple and reliable dot-blot immunoassay was developed and optimized to test work of art samples for the presence of specific proteinaceus material (i.e. ovalbumin-based).

Molecular studies of microbial community structure on stained pages of Leonardo da Vinci's Atlantic Codex.

In 2006, after a visual inspection of the Leonardo da Vinci's Atlantic Codex by a scholar, active molds were reported to have been present on Codex pages showing areas of staining. In the present paper, molecular methods were used to assess the current microbiological risk to stained pages of the manuscript. Bacterial and fungal communities were sampled by a non-invasive technique employing nitrocellulose membranes.

N-vanillylnonanamide tested as a non-toxic antifoulant, applied to surfaces in a polyurethane coating.

The potential on N-vanillylnonanamide (NVN) in preventing the attachment of Pseudomonas stutzeri and a Bacillus cereus-group strain was investigated. NVN up to 852 microM was not toxic, nor was it an energy source for either organism. Microbial attachment assays were carried out on glass and polylysine slides.

The effect of copper on the structure of the ammonia-oxidizing microbial community in an activated sludge wastewater treatment plant.

Molecular approaches based on both whole-cell and extracted DNA were applied to assess chronic and acute effects of copper on the ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) community in an activated sludge system. The ammonia monooxygenase amoA gene was chosen as the functional marker to evaluate changes in the AOB community. Using in situ polymerase chain reaction, we were able to visualize the peripheric distribution of the amoA gene-possessing bacteria in activated sludge flocs.

Bacterial and fungal deterioration of the Milan Cathedral marble treated with protective synthetic resins.

Surfaces are continuously exposed to physical, chemical and biological degradation. Among the biological agents that cause deterioration, microorganisms are of critical importance. This work is part of a research programme for the characterisation of the alterations of the Milan Cathedral (Italy).

Synthetic consolidants attacked by melanin-producing fungi: case study of the biodeterioration of Milan (Italy) cathedral marble treated with acrylics.

Monuments and artistic stone surfaces are often consolidated and protected with synthetic polymers, in particular, acrylics. Although it is generally thought that acrylic polymers are resistant to biodeterioration, we report for the first time the systematic occurrence of dematiaceous meristematic fungi on many marble samples of the cathedral in Milan (Italy) previously treated with this material. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy applied to the Milan cathedral stone samples revealed characteristic features of biodeteriorated synthetic resins that differentiated them from the aged but nonbiodeteriorated samples.

Biodeterioration of modern materials in contemporary collections: can biotechnology help?

Contemporary collections frequently contain man-made materials. Although synthetic materials are considered more resistant to chemical, physical and biological damage than natural materials, they can also undergo rapid deterioration. In this Opinion article, we claim that biotechnology can help to identify biodeteriogens and prevent colonisation of polymeric surfaces through the application of biological products that reduce cell adhesion.

Microbiological aspects of humid husk composting.

The feasibility of composting as disposal practice of husk mixed with olive mill wastewaters (OMW) was studied in the present research. The process was investigated with regards to some reliable and easy to be determined microbial activity parameters such as the ATP content, the activity of a pool of enzymes and the viable counts, keeping in mind the well known bias of this last technique. Two different composting technologies were compared: static pile and reactor by studying the cured composts obtained.