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“Longer dry and wet spells alter the stochasticity of microbial community assembly in grassland soils”. Li L, Nijs I, De Boeck H, Vinduskova O, Reynaert S, Donnelly C, Zi L, Verbruggen E, Soil biology and biochemistry 178, 108969 (2023). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.SOILBIO.2023.108969
Abstract: Climate change is increasing the duration of alternating wet and dry spells. These fluctuations affect soil water availability and other soil properties which are crucial drivers of soil microbial communities. While soil microbial communities have a moderate capacity to recover once a drought ceases, the expected alternation of strongly opposing regimes can challenge their capacity to adapt. Here, we set up experimental grassland mesocosms where precipitation frequency was adjusted along a gradient while holding total precipitation constant. The gradient varied the duration of wet and dry spells from 1 to 60 days during a total of 120 days, where we hy-pothesized that especially intermediate durations would increase the importance of stochastic community as-sembly due to frequent alternation of opposing environmental regimes. We examined bacterial and fungal community composition, diversity, co-occurrence patterns and assembly mechanisms across these different precipitation treatments. Our results show that 1) intermediate regimes of wet and dry spells increased the stochasticity of microbial community assembly whereas microbial communities at low and high regimes were subjected to more deterministic assembly, and 2) more persistent precipitation regimes (>6 days duration) reduced the fungal diversity and network connectivity but had little effect on bacterial communities. Collec-tively, these findings indicate that longer alternating wet and dry events lead to a less predictable and connected soil microbial community. This study provides new insight into the likely mechanisms through which precipi-tation persistence alters soil microbial communities and their predictability.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; ADReM Data Lab (ADReM); Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research (IMPRES); Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 9.7
DOI: 10.1016/J.SOILBIO.2023.108969
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“The organo-metal-like nature of long-range conduction in cable bacteria”. Pankratov D, Hidalgo Martinez S, Karman C, Gerzhik A, Gomila G, Trashin S, Boschker HTS, Geelhoed JS, Mayer D, De Wael K, Meysman FJR, Bioelectrochemistry: an international journal devoted to electrochemical aspects of biology and biological aspects of electrochemistry 157, 108675 (2024). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOELECHEM.2024.108675
Abstract: Cable bacteria are filamentous, multicellular microorganisms that display an exceptional form of biological electron transport across centimeter-scale distances. Currents are guided through a network of nickel-containing protein fibers within the cell envelope. Still, the mechanism of long-range conduction remains unresolved. Here, we characterize the conductance of the fiber network under dry and wet, physiologically relevant, conditions. Our data reveal that the fiber conductivity is high (median value: 27 S cm−1; range: 2 to 564 S cm−1), does not show any redox signature, has a low thermal activation energy (Ea = 69 ± 23 meV), and is not affected by humidity or the presence of ions. These features set the nickel-based conduction mechanism in cable bacteria apart from other known forms of biological electron transport. As such, conduction resembles that of an organic semi-metal with a high charge carrier density. Our observation that biochemistry can synthesize an organo-metal-like structure opens the way for novel bio-based electronic technologies.
Keywords: A1 Journal article
Impact Factor: 5
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOELECHEM.2024.108675
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“Recent advances in metal-doped defective TiO₂, for photocatalytic CO₂, conversion”. Raes A, Minja AC, Ag KR, Verbruggen SW, Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering 44, 101013 (2024). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.COCHE.2024.101013
Abstract: Introducing defects in TiO2-based photocatalytic materials is a promising strategy for improving light-driven CO2 reduction. However, defects such as oxygen vacancies are generally unstable. As a solution and to further enhance the photocatalytic activity, metal doping has been applied. This mini review aims to summarize recent progress in this particular field. Herein, we have classified metal-doped architectures into three different categories: single metal doping, alloy- and co-doping, and doping of morphologically nanoengineered TiO2−x substrates. The direct relationship between specific metals and product selectivity remains complex, as selectivity can vary significantly among seemingly similar materials. However, numerous methods do show promise in fine-tuning selectivity towards either CO or CH4. In terms of photocatalytic turnover, remarkable yields have been reported in isolated reports, but insufficient experimental data and divergent reaction conditions hamper a true comparison. This puts an emphasis on the need for standardized activity testing.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Engineering sciences. Technology
Impact Factor: 6.6
DOI: 10.1016/J.COCHE.2024.101013
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“Singlet oxygen-based photoelectrochemical detection of miRNAs in prostate cancer patients&rsquo, plasma : a novel diagnostic tool for liquid biopsy”. Thiruvottriyur Shanmugam S, Campos R, Trashin S, Daems E, Carneiro D, Fraga A, Ribeiro R, De Wael K, Bioelectrochemistry: an international journal devoted to electrochemical aspects of biology and biological aspects of electrochemistry 158, 108698 (2024). http://doi.org/10.1016/J.BIOELECHEM.2024.108698
Abstract: Dysregulation of miRNA expression occurs in many cancers, making miRNAs useful in cancer diagnosis and therapeutic guidance. In a clinical context using methods such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the limited amount of miRNAs in circulation often limits their quantification. Here, we present a PCR-free and sensitive singlet oxygen (1O2)-based strategy for the detection and quantification of miRNAs in untreated human plasma from patients diagnosed with prostate cancer. A target miRNA is specifically captured by functionalised magnetic beads and a detection oligonucleotide probe in a sandwich-like format. The formed complex is concentrated at the sensor surface via magnetic beads, providing an interface for the photoinduced redox signal amplification. The detection oligonucleotide probe bears a molecular photosensitiser, which produces 1O2 upon illumination, oxidising a redox reporter and creating a redox cycling loop, allowing quantification of pM level miRNA in diluted human plasma within minutes after hybridisation and without target amplification.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Antwerp Electrochemical and Analytical Sciences Lab (A-Sense Lab)
Impact Factor: 5
DOI: 10.1016/J.BIOELECHEM.2024.108698
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“Unraveling microbial processes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling and greenhouse gas emissions in rewetted peatlands by molecular biology”. Gios E, Verbruggen E, Audet J, Burns R, Butterbach-Bahl K, Espenberg M, Fritz C, Glatzel S, Jurasinski G, Larmola T, Mander U, Nielsen C, Rodriguez AF, Scheer C, Zak D, Silvennoinen HM, Biogeochemistry (2024). http://doi.org/10.1007/S10533-024-01122-6
Abstract: Restoration of drained peatlands through rewetting has recently emerged as a prevailing strategy to mitigate excessive greenhouse gas emissions and re-establish the vital carbon sequestration capacity of peatlands. Rewetting can help to restore vegetation communities and biodiversity, while still allowing for extensive agricultural management such as paludiculture. Belowground processes governing carbon fluxes and greenhouse gas dynamics are mediated by a complex network of microbial communities and processes. Our understanding of this complexity and its multi-factorial controls in rewetted peatlands is limited. Here, we summarize the research regarding the role of soil microbial communities and functions in driving carbon and nutrient cycling in rewetted peatlands including the use of molecular biology techniques in understanding biogeochemical processes linked to greenhouse gas fluxes. We emphasize that rapidly advancing molecular biology approaches, such as high-throughput sequencing, are powerful tools helping to elucidate the dynamics of key biogeochemical processes when combined with isotope tracing and greenhouse gas measuring techniques. Insights gained from the gathered studies can help inform efficient monitoring practices for rewetted peatlands and the development of climate-smart restoration and management strategies.
Keywords: A1 Journal article; Plant and Ecosystems (PLECO) – Ecology in a time of change
Impact Factor: 4
DOI: 10.1007/S10533-024-01122-6
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