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Arnold ND, Paper M, Fuchs T, Ahmad N, Jung P, Lakatos M, Rodewald K, Rieger B, Qoura F, Kandawa‐Schulz M, Mehlmer N, Brück TB. High-quality genome of a novel Thermosynechococcaceae species from Namibia and characterization of its protein expression patterns at elevated temperatures. Microbiologyopen 2024; 13:e70000. [PMID: 39365014 PMCID: PMC11450739 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.70000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 10/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Thermophilic cyanobacteria thrive in extreme environments, making their thermoresistant enzymes valuable for industrial applications. Common habitats include hot springs, which act as evolutionary accelerators for speciation due to geographical isolation. The family Thermosynechococcaceae comprises thermophilic cyanobacteria known for their ability to thrive in high-temperature environments. These bacteria are notable for their photosynthetic capabilities, significantly contributing to primary production in extreme habitats. Members of Thermosynechococcaceae exhibit unique adaptations that allow them to perform photosynthesis efficiently at elevated temperatures, making them subjects of interest for studies on microbial ecology, evolution, and potential biotechnological applications. In this study, the genome of a thermophilic cyanobacterium, isolated from a hot spring near Okahandja in Namibia, was sequenced using a PacBio Sequel IIe long-read platform. Cultivations were performed at elevated temperatures of 40, 50, and 55°C, followed by proteome analyses based on the annotated genome. Phylogenetic investigations, informed by the 16S rRNA gene and aligned nucleotide identity (ANI), suggest that the novel cyanobacterium is a member of the family Thermosynechococcaceae. Furthermore, the new species was assigned to a separate branch, potentially representing a novel genus. Whole-genome alignments supported this finding, revealing few conserved regions and multiple genetic rearrangement events. Additionally, 129 proteins were identified as differentially expressed in a temperature-dependent manner. The results of this study broaden our understanding of cyanobacterial adaptation to extreme environments, providing a novel high-quality genome of Thermosynechococcaceae cyanobacterium sp. Okahandja and several promising candidate proteins for expression and characterization studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathanael D. Arnold
- Department of Chemistry Werner Siemens‐Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Michael Paper
- Department of Chemistry Werner Siemens‐Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Tobias Fuchs
- Department of Chemistry Werner Siemens‐Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Nadim Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry Werner Siemens‐Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Patrick Jung
- Department of Integrative BiotechnologyUniversity of Applied Sciences KaiserslauternPirmasensGermany
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Department of Integrative BiotechnologyUniversity of Applied Sciences KaiserslauternPirmasensGermany
| | - Katia Rodewald
- Department of Chemistry, WACKER‐Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Bernhard Rieger
- Department of Chemistry, WACKER‐Chair of Macromolecular Chemistry, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Farah Qoura
- Department of Chemistry Werner Siemens‐Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | | | - Norbert Mehlmer
- Department of Chemistry Werner Siemens‐Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
| | - Thomas B. Brück
- Department of Chemistry Werner Siemens‐Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, TUM School of Natural SciencesTechnical University of MunichGarchingGermany
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Vítová M, Mezricky D. Microbial recovery of rare earth elements from various waste sources: a mini review with emphasis on microalgae. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:189. [PMID: 38702568 PMCID: PMC11068686 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03974-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are indispensable in contemporary technologies, influencing various aspects of our daily lives and environmental solutions. The escalating demand for REEs has led to increased exploitation, resulting in the generation of diverse REE-bearing solid and liquid wastes. Recognizing the potential of these wastes as secondary sources of REEs, researchers are exploring microbial solutions for their recovery. This mini review provides insights into the utilization of microorganisms, with a particular focus on microalgae, for recovering REEs from sources such as ores, electronic waste, and industrial effluents. The review outlines the principles and distinctions of bioleaching, biosorption, and bioaccumulation, offering a comparative analysis of their potential and limitations. Specific examples of microorganisms demonstrating efficacy in REE recovery are highlighted, accompanied by successful methods, including advanced techniques for enhancing microbial strains to achieve higher REE recovery. Moreover, the review explores the environmental implications of bio-recovery, discussing the potential of these methods to mitigate REE pollution. By emphasizing microalgae as promising biotechnological candidates for REE recovery, this mini review not only presents current advances but also illuminates prospects in sustainable REE resource management and environmental remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milada Vítová
- Department of Phycology, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czechia.
| | - Dana Mezricky
- Institute of Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, IMC Krems, Krems, Austria
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Paper M, Jung P, Koch M, Lakatos M, Nilges T, Brück TB. Stripped: contribution of cyanobacterial extracellular polymeric substances to the adsorption of rare earth elements from aqueous solutions. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1299349. [PMID: 38173874 PMCID: PMC10762542 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1299349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The transformation of modern industries towards enhanced sustainability is facilitated by green technologies that rely extensively on rare earth elements (REEs) such as cerium (Ce), neodymium (Nd), terbium (Tb), and lanthanum (La). The occurrence of productive mining sites, e.g., is limited, and production is often costly and environmentally harmful. As a consequence of increased utilization, REEs enter our ecosystem as industrial process water or wastewater and become highly diluted. Once diluted, they can hardly be recovered by conventional techniques, but using cyanobacterial biomass in a biosorption-based process is a promising eco-friendly approach. Cyanobacteria can produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) that show high affinity to metal cations. However, the adsorption of REEs by EPS has not been part of extensive research. Thus, we evaluated the role of EPS in the biosorption of Ce, Nd, Tb, and La for three terrestrial, heterocystous cyanobacterial strains. We cultivated them under N-limited and non-limited conditions and extracted their EPS for compositional analyses. Subsequently, we investigated the metal uptake of a) the extracted EPS, b) the biomass extracted from EPS, and c) the intact biomass with EPS by comparing the amount of sorbed REEs. Maximum adsorption capacities for the tested REEs of extracted EPS were 123.9-138.2 mg g-1 for Komarekiella sp. 89.12, 133.1-137.4 mg g-1 for Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03, and 103.5-129.3 mg g-1 for Nostoc sp. 20.02. A comparison of extracted biomass with intact biomass showed that 16% (Komarekiella sp. 89.12), 28% (Desmonostoc muscorum 90.03), and 41% (Nostoc sp. 20.02) of REE adsorption was due to the biosorption of the extracellular EPS. The glucose- rich EPS (15%-43% relative concentration) of all three strains grown under nitrogen-limited conditions showed significantly higher biosorption rates for all REEs. We also found a significantly higher maximum adsorption capacity of all REEs for the extracted EPS compared to cells without EPS and untreated biomass, highlighting the important role of the EPS as a binding site for REEs in the biosorption process. EPS from cyanobacteria could thus be used as efficient biosorbents in future applications for REE recycling, e.g., industrial process water and wastewater streams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Paper
- Werner Siemens-Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Patrick Jung
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Max Koch
- Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Michael Lakatos
- Integrative Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, Germany
| | - Tom Nilges
- Synthesis and Characterization of Innovative Materials, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Thomas B. Brück
- Werner Siemens-Chair of Synthetic Biotechnology, Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
- Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, TUM AlgaeTec Center, Ludwig Bölkow Campus, Taufkirchen, Germany
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Al-Bagawi AH, Yushin N, Hosny NM, Gomaa I, Ali S, Boyd WC, Kalil H, Zinicovscaia I. Terbium Removal from Aqueous Solutions Using a In 2O 3 Nanoadsorbent and Arthrospira platensis Biomass. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2698. [PMID: 37836339 PMCID: PMC10574616 DOI: 10.3390/nano13192698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Terbium is a rare-earth element with critical importance for industry. Two adsorbents of different origin, In2O3 nanoparticles and the biological sorbent Arthrospira platensis, were applied for terbium removal from aqueous solutions. Several analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy, were employed to characterize the adsorbents. The effect of time, pH, and terbium concentration on the adsorption efficiency was evaluated. For both adsorbents, adsorption efficiency was shown to be dependent on the time of interaction and the pH of the solution. Maximum removal of terbium by Arthrospira platensis was attained at pH 3.0 and by In2O3 at pH 4.0-7.0, both after 3 min of interaction. Several equilibrium (Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin) and kinetics (pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, and Elovich) models were applied to describe the adsorption. The maximum adsorption capacity was calculated from the Langmuir model as 212 mg/g for Arthrospira platensis and 94.7 mg/g for the In2O3 nanoadsorbent. The studied adsorbents can be regarded as potential candidates for terbium recovery from wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amal H. Al-Bagawi
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Ha’il, Ha’il City 1560, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nikita Yushin
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 141980 Dubna, Russia;
| | - Nasser Mohammed Hosny
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Port Said University, Port Fouad P.O. Box 42522, Egypt;
| | - Islam Gomaa
- Nanotechnology Research Centre (NTRC), The British University in Egypt (BUE), Suez Desert Road, El-Sherouk City, Cairo 11837, Egypt;
| | - Sabah Ali
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt;
| | | | - Haitham Kalil
- Chemistry Department, Cleveland State University, Cleveland, OH 44115, USA;
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Inga Zinicovscaia
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 141980 Dubna, Russia;
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str. MG-6, 077125 Magurele, Romania
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Zinicovscaia I, Yushin N, Grozdov D, Peshkova A, Vergel K, Rodlovskaya E. The Remediation of Dysprosium-Containing Effluents Using Cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis and Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2009. [PMID: 37630569 PMCID: PMC10458459 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082009] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysprosium is one of the most critical rare earth elements for industry and technology. A comparative study was carried out to assess the biosorption capacity of cyanobacteria Spirulina platensis and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae toward dysprosium ions. The effect of experimental parameters such as pH, dysprosium concentration, time of contact, and temperature on the biosorption capacity was evaluated. Biomass before and after dysprosium biosorption was analyzed using neutron activation analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. For both biosorbents, the process was quick and pH-dependent. The maximum removal of dysprosium using Spirulina platensis (50%) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (68%) was attained at pH 3.0 during a one-hour experiment. The adsorption data for both biosorbents fitted well with the Langmuir isotherm model, whereas the kinetics of the process followed the pseudo-second-order and Elovich models. The maximum biosorption capacity of Spirulina platensis was 3.24 mg/g, and that of Saccharomyces cerevisiae was 5.84 mg/g. The thermodynamic parameters showed that dysprosium biosorption was a spontaneous process, exothermic for Saccharomyces cerevisiae and endothermic for Spirulina platensis. Biological sorbents can be considered an eco-friendly alternative to traditional technologies applied for dysprosium ion recovery from wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inga Zinicovscaia
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Horia Hulubei National Institute for R&D in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, 30 Reactorului Str., MG-6, 077125 Magurele, Romania
| | - Nikita Yushin
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Dmitrii Grozdov
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Alexandra Peshkova
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Konstantin Vergel
- Department of Nuclear Physics, Joint Institute for Nuclear Research, Joliot-Curie Str., 6, 1419890 Dubna, Russia; (N.Y.); (D.G.); (A.P.); (K.V.)
| | - Elena Rodlovskaya
- N. Nesmeyanov Institute of Organoelement Compounds of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilova Str., 28, 119991 Moscow, Russia;
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Abdel Azim A, Vizzarro A, Bellini R, Bassani I, Baudino L, Pirri CF, Verga F, Lamberti A, Menin B. Perspective on the use of methanogens in lithium recovery from brines. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1233221. [PMID: 37601371 PMCID: PMC10434214 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1233221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Methanogenic archaea stand out as multipurpose biocatalysts for different applications in wide-ranging industrial sectors due to their crucial role in the methane (CH4) cycle and ubiquity in natural environments. The increasing demand for raw materials required by the manufacturing sector (i.e., metals-, concrete-, chemicals-, plastic- and lubricants-based industries) represents a milestone for the global economy and one of the main sources of CO2 emissions. Recovery of critical raw materials (CRMs) from byproducts generated along their supply chain, rather than massive mining operations for mineral extraction and metal smelting, represents a sustainable choice. Demand for lithium (Li), included among CRMs in 2023, grew by 17.1% in the last decades, mostly due to its application in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. In addition to mineral deposits, the natural resources of Li comprise water, ranging from low Li concentrations (seawater and freshwater) to higher ones (salt lakes and artificial brines). Brines from water desalination can be high in Li content which can be recovered. However, biological brine treatment is not a popular methodology. The methanogenic community has already demonstrated its ability to recover several CRMs which are not essential to their metabolism. Here, we attempt to interconnect the well-established biomethanation process with Li recovery from brines, by analyzing the methanogenic species which may be suitable to grow in brine-like environments and the corresponding mechanism of recovery. Moreover, key factors which should be considered to establish the techno-economic feasibility of this process are here discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Abdel Azim
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
| | - Arianna Vizzarro
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Ruggero Bellini
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
| | - Ilaria Bassani
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
| | - Luisa Baudino
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Candido Fabrizio Pirri
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Francesca Verga
- Department of Environment, Land and Infrastructure Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Andrea Lamberti
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
- Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
| | - Barbara Menin
- Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Turin, Italy
- Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, Consiglio Nazionale Delle Ricerche, Milan, Italy
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