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Rabbachin L, Nir I, Waldherr M, Vassallo Y, Piñar G, Graf A, Kushmaro A, Sterflinger K. Diversity of fungi associated with petroglyph sites in the Negev Desert, Israel, and their potential role in bioweathering. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2024; 5:1400380. [PMID: 39035870 PMCID: PMC11257853 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2024.1400380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
The petroglyphs of the Negev Desert, Israel, are famous and valuable archaeological remains. Previous studies have investigated the microbial communities associated with petroglyphs and their potential role in stone deterioration; nevertheless, the role of fungi remains unclear. In this study, the fungal communities present on the stone and, as a comparison, in the surrounding environment (soil and air) at Negev petroglyph sites were analyzed by means of culture-dependent and -independent (metagenomic) techniques. The metagenomic results showed a high fungal biodiversity in the soil, and both approaches highlighted the prevalence of species producing melanized, large, thick-walled spores (mainly Alternaria spp.). From the air sampling, mostly Cladosporium spp. were retrieved. On the other hand, on the rock, the results seem to indicate a low presence of fungi, but with a rock-specialized mycobiota consisting of extremotolerant microcolonial fungi (MCF) (e.g., Vermiconidia and Coniosporium) and lichens (Flavoplaca). In addition, low proportions of cosmopolitan fungi were detected on the stone, but the comparison of the data clearly indicates that they are transients from the surrounding environment. The ability of the isolated strains to dissolve CaCO3 and therefore be a potential threat to the petroglyphs (limestone substrate) was tested, but only one strain resulted in positive acid production under laboratory conditions. Nevertheless, both lichens and MCF detected in this study are well-known stone deteriogens, which may have a significant impact on the petroglyph's deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Rabbachin
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology in the Arts (INTK), Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Irit Nir
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Monika Waldherr
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Applied Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ylenia Vassallo
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Guadalupe Piñar
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology in the Arts (INTK), Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Graf
- Department of Bioinformatics, University of Applied Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ariel Kushmaro
- Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory, Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel
- School of Sustainability and Climate Change, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Katja Sterflinger
- Institute of Natural Sciences and Technology in the Arts (INTK), Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Barreiro C, Albillos SM, García-Estrada C. Penicillium chrysogenum: Beyond the penicillin. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2024; 127:143-221. [PMID: 38763527 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2024.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Almost one century after the Sir Alexander Fleming's fortuitous discovery of penicillin and the identification of the fungal producer as Penicillium notatum, later Penicillium chrysogenum (currently reidentified as Penicillium rubens), the molecular mechanisms behind the massive production of penicillin titers by industrial strains could be considered almost fully characterized. However, this filamentous fungus is not only circumscribed to penicillin, and instead, it seems to be full of surprises, thereby producing important metabolites and providing expanded biotechnological applications. This review, in addition to summarizing the classical role of P. chrysogenum as penicillin producer, highlights its ability to generate an array of additional bioactive secondary metabolites and enzymes, together with the use of this microorganism in relevant biotechnological processes, such as bioremediation, biocontrol, production of bioactive nanoparticles and compounds with pharmaceutical interest, revalorization of agricultural and food-derived wastes or the enhancement of food industrial processes and the agricultural production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Barreiro
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain; Instituto de Biología Molecular, Genómica y Proteómica (INBIOMIC), Universidad de León, León, Spain.
| | - Silvia M Albillos
- Área de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Departamento de Biotecnología y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Burgos, Burgos, Spain
| | - Carlos García-Estrada
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, León, Spain; Instituto de Biomedicina (IBIOMED), Universidad de León, León, Spain
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Polyak YM, Bakina LG, Mayachkina NV, Chugunova MV, Bityutskii NP, Yakkonen KL, Shavarda AL. Long-term effects of oil contamination on soil quality and metabolic function. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2023; 46:13. [PMID: 38147148 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-023-01779-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Widespread soil contamination with oil and the toxicity of petroleum hydrocarbons to soil biota make it extremely important to study microbial responses to oil stress. Soil metabolites reflect the main metabolic pathways in the soil microbial community. The examination of changes in the soil metabolic profile and metabolic function is essential for a better understanding of the nature of the pollution and restoration of the disturbed soils. The present study aimed to assess the long-term effect of oil on the ecological state of the soil, evaluate quantitative and qualitative differences in metabolite composition between soil contaminated with oil and non-contaminated soil, and reveal biologically active metabolites that are related to oil contamination and can be used for contamination assessment. A long-term field experiment was conducted to examine the effects of various oil concentrations on the biochemical properties and metabolic profile of the soil. Podzolic soil contaminated with oil demonstrated the long-term inhibition of soil biological activity and vegetation. Oil affected the metabolic activity of soil fungi increasing the production of toxic metabolites. A metabolomic approach was employed to determine soil metabolites. The metabolite profile was found to vary greatly between oil-contaminated and non-contaminated soils. Carbohydrates had the largest number of metabolites negatively affected by oil, while the content of organic acids, phenolic compounds, and terpenoids was mainly increased in oil-contaminated soil. The evaluation of the long-term impact of oil on microbial metabolism can make a valuable contribution to the assessment of soil quality and the activity of soil microorganisms being under stress from oil pollution. The results contribute to a further understanding of the role of microorganisms in the ecological functions of contaminated soil, which can be useful in the development of rehabilitation strategies for disturbed sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia M Polyak
- St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Scientific Research Centre for Ecological Safety of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia.
| | - Lyudmila G Bakina
- St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Scientific Research Centre for Ecological Safety of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Natalya V Mayachkina
- St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Scientific Research Centre for Ecological Safety of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Marina V Chugunova
- St. Petersburg Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg Scientific Research Centre for Ecological Safety of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | | | | | - Alexey L Shavarda
- Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
- Komarov Botanical Institute, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Ameen F. Improving Tannery Wastewater Treatments Using an Additional Microbial Treatment with a Bacterial-Fungal Consortium. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1507. [PMID: 38132333 PMCID: PMC10741134 DOI: 10.3390/biology12121507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Environmental pollutants such as toxic heavy metals and oxygen-demanding solids are generated by leather manufacturing. In most tanneries, wastewaters are treated with physico-chemical methods but overly high levels of pollutants remain in surface waters. The efficiency of tanning wastewater treatment with conventional techniques was evaluated in four tanneries in Saudi Arabia. It was observed that the wastewaters contained high amounts of pollutants, needing further treatment. We isolated microorganisms from the wastewaters and carried out experiments to treat the effluents with different bacteria, fungi, and their consortia. We hypothesized that a consortium of microorganisms is more efficient than the single microorganisms in the consortium. The efficiency of five single bacterial and five fungal species from different genera was tested. In a consortium experiment, the efficiency of nine bacterial-fungal consortia was studied. The bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum and the fungus Acremonium sp. were the most efficient in the single-microbe treatment. In the consortium treatment, the consortium of these two was the most efficient at treating the effluent. The factory wastewater treatment reduced total dissolved solids (TDS) from 1885 mg/L to 880 mg/L. C. glutamicum treatment reduced TDS to 150 mg/L and Acremonium sp. to 140 mg/L. The consortium of these two reduced TDS further to 80 mg/L. Moreover, the factory treatment reduced BOD from 943 mg/L to 440 mg/L, C. glutamicum to 75 mg/L, and Acremonium sp. 70 mg/L. The consortium reduced BOD further to 20 mg/L. The total heavy-metal concentration (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, and Pb) was reduced by the factory treatment from 43 μg/L to 26 μg/L and by the consortium to 0.2 μg/L. The collagen concentration that was studied using hydroxyproline assay decreased from 120 mg/L to 39 mg/L. It was shown that the consortium of the bacterium C. glutamicum and the fungus Acremonium sp. was more efficient in reducing the pollutants than the single species. The consortium reduced almost all parameters to below the environmental regulation limit for wastewater discharge to the environment in Saudi Arabia. The consortium should be studied further as an additional treatment to the existing conventional tannery wastewater treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuad Ameen
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
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Awad MF, Albogami B, Mwabvu T, Hassan MM, Baazeem A, Hassan MM, Elsharkawy MM. Identification and biodiversity patterns of Aspergillus species isolated from some soil invertebrates at high altitude using morphological characteristics and phylogenetic analyses. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15035. [PMID: 37033730 PMCID: PMC10075209 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background
The carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic chemicals such as aflatoxin are a worldwide health problem. Aspergillus spp., responsible for most cases of aflatoxin contamination, are common in the environment and spread easily to many different types of food. The objectives of this study were to conduct a survey of fungi associated with three soil invertebrates in Taif, Saudi Arabia, identify these isolates and explore mycotoxins formation.
Methods
In total, 114 fungal isolates were collected from various soil invertebrates (millipedes, Armadillidium vulgare and Porcellio laevis) in Taif, Saudi Arabia, among them, 22 isolates were identified as Aspergillus spp. based on morphological and molecular characteristics followed by both Fusarium and Penicillium.
Results
The sequences of ITS 1 and ITS 4 were utilized. Using bootstrap analysis, phylogenetic tree was split into two distinct clusters. Five sub clusters were included inside the first major cluster, and their bootstrap value was 99%. While, there were two small clusters in the second major cluster. All the tested Aspergillus strains were able to have a single PCR fragment amplified using the primer AspTef. TEF-1 DNA sequence bootstrap analysis with 1,000 replicates revealed two distinct groups. Additionally, the Aspergillus isolates were grouped into two different clusters with about 65% genetic similarity using ISSR-PCR analysis. The standard polymerase chain reaction was used to effectively amplify the Aopks, afl-A and omt-A genes in aflatoxigenic Aspergillus strains. Four Aspergillus strains used in this investigation were shown to generate aflatoxin B1. While, three Aspergillus stains showed ochratoxin genes.
Conclusions
In conclusion, the results indicate significant differences in the fungal community between ecoregions and soil invertebrates. Moreover, mycotoxin detection and identification among Aspergillus isolates were elucidated. This study could shed light on the risk of mycotoxin contamination along the supply chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Fadl Awad
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- High Altitude Research Centre, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bander Albogami
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- High Altitude Research Centre, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tarombera Mwabvu
- School of Biology & Environmental Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Mbombela, South Africa
| | - Montaser M. Hassan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- High Altitude Research Centre, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Alaa Baazeem
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- High Altitude Research Centre, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed M. Hassan
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
- High Altitude Research Centre, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohsen Mohamed Elsharkawy
- Department of Agricultural Botany, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr Elsheikh, Egypt
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Alwakeel S, Alothman N, Ameen F, Alotaibi M, Mohammed AE, Alhomaidi E. Stress-driven metabolites of desert soil fungi. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2023:1-14. [PMID: 36852923 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2023.2182537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Microorganisms produce secondary metabolites to survive under stressful conditions. The effect of drought and heat stress on fungi isolated from Arabian desert soil during the hot (ca 40°C) and cool (ca 10°C) seasons was studied using the genome mining approach. The presence of three stress-related genes (calmodulin, polyketide synthase and beta tubulin) was analyzed molecularly using specific primers. The presence of the genes in desert fungi was compared to their antimicrobial (ten bacterial or fungal pathogens) and anticancer (liver, cervical and breast) properties and the production of thermostable enzymes (phytase and xylanase). The genes appeared to be present in the fungal sequence obtained during the summer, while none of the genes were present during winter. Appreciable differences were observed in enzyme activities, with summer activities high and winter low. The antagonistic activities of A. niger were relatively stable and varying, while those of P. chrysogenum were consistently higher in summer than in winter. The presence of the three genes seemed to correlate with the highly antagonistic activities of P. chrysogenum, while A. niger had relatively active winter isolates without any of the genes. The hot season in deserts yields fungal isolates with biological activities useful in biotechnological solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suaad Alwakeel
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nouf Alothman
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fuad Ameen
- Department of Botany & Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Modhi Alotaibi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Afrah E Mohammed
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman Alhomaidi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Ameen F, AlNAdhari S, Al-Homaidan AA. Marine fungi showing multifunctional activity against human pathogenic microbes and cancer. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276926. [PMID: 36441723 PMCID: PMC9704632 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Multifunctional drugs have shown great promise in biomedicine. Organisms with antimicrobial and anticancer activity in combination with antioxidant activity need further research. The Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf coasts were randomly sampled to find fungi with multifunctional activity. One hundred strains (98 fungi and 2 lichenized forms) were isolated from 15 locations. One-third of the isolates inhibited clinical bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi) and fungal pathogens (Talaromycets marneffei, Malassezia globose, Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus) and four cancer cell lines (Hep G2 liver, A-549 lung, A-431skin, MCF 7 breast cancer). Bacterial and cancer inhibition was often accompanied by a high antioxidant activity, as indicated by the principal component analysis (PCA). PCA also indicated that fungal and bacterial pathogens appeared to be inhibited mostly by different marine fungal isolates. Strains with multifunctional activity were found more from the Rea Sea than from the Arabian Gulf coasts. The highest potential for multifunctional drugs were observed for Acremonium sp., Acrocalymma sp., Acrocalymma africana, Acrocalymma medicaginis (activity reported for the first time), Aspergillus sp. Cladosporium oxysporum, Emericellopsis alkaline, Microdochium sp., and Phomopsis glabrae. Lung, skin, and breast cancers were inhibited 85%-97% by Acremonium sp, while most of the isolates showed low inhibition (ca 20%). The highest antifungal activity was observed for Acremonium sp., Diaporthe hubeiensis, Lasiodiplodia theobromae, and Nannizia gypsea. One Acremonium sp. is of particular interest to offer a multifunctional drug; it displayed both antifungal and antibacterial activity combined with high antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging 97%). A. medicaginis displayed combined antibacterial, anticancer, and antioxidant activity being of high interest. Several genera and some species included strains with both high and low biological activities pointing out the need to study several isolates to find the most efficient strains for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuad Ameen
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia,* E-mail:
| | - Saleh AlNAdhari
- Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali A. Al-Homaidan
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Procter M, Kundu B, Sudalaimuthuasari N, AlMaskari RS, Saeed EE, Hazzouri KM, Amiri KMA. Microbiome of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Reveals a Potential Association with Non-Photosynthetic Cyanobacteria. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10102083. [PMID: 36296358 PMCID: PMC9607294 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10102083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Citrullus colocynthis grows in the sandy desert soil of the Arabian Peninsula with limited access to water, aside from occasional precipitation or dew. Understanding its ability to produce water-filled fruit and nutrient-rich seeds despite the harsh environment, can be useful for agricultural applications. However, information regarding the microbiome of C. colocynthis is lacking. We hypothesized that C. colocynthis associates with bacteria that aid its survival, like what has been observed in other desert plants. Here, we used 16S rRNA gene data to gain insight into the microbiome of C. colocynthis to identify its associated bacteria. In total, 9818 and 6983 OTUs were generated from root, soil, and leaf samples combined. Overall, bulk soils had the highest alpha diversity, followed by rhizosphere and root zone soils. Furthermore, C. colocynthis is associated with known plant-growth-promoting bacteria (including Acidobacteria, Bacterioidetes, and Actinobacteria), and interestingly a class of non-photosynthetic Cyanobacteria (Melainabacteria) that is more abundant on the inside and outside of the root surface than control samples, suggesting its involvement in the rhizophagy process. This study will provide a foundation for functional studies to further understand how C. colocynthis-microbes interactions help them grow in the desert, paving the path for possible agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda Procter
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Biduth Kundu
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Naganeeswaran Sudalaimuthuasari
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raja S. AlMaskari
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Esam E. Saeed
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
| | - Khaled M. Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.)
| | - Khaled M. A. Amiri
- Department of Biology, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box. 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Correspondence: (K.M.H.); (K.M.A.A.)
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