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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation 2.0
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Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation 2.0

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2023) | Viewed by 15439

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Anna Maria Persiani

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Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: fungal biodiversity; mycoremediation; fungal functional traits; omics approach; microbial consortia; remediation biotechnology; polluted environments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Solveig Tosi

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Mycology Laboratory, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via S. Epifanio 14, 27100 Pavia, Italy
Interests: fungal biodiversity; mycoremediation; fungal functional traits; omics approach; microbial consortia; remediation biotechnology; polluted environments
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungi are ubiquitous chemoorganotrophic organisms and, given their wide taxonomical and functional biodiversity, play fundamental roles in ecological and geological processes. As decomposers, pathogens, and symbionts, fungi provide fundamental ecological functions for ecosystems and human wellbeing. They have been proven to be able to transform a huge variety of substrates, such as natural polymers and even many anthropogenic products, such as pesticides, explosives, and other xenobiotics. Fungi, due to their biochemical and ecological characteristics, can also mitigate the risk associated with metals, metalloids, and radionuclides.

In fact, although contamination may reduce biodiversity tolerant strains could be isolated from microbial communities of contaminated sites, since due to their relatively short generation times and lifestyle bacteria and fungi may sense and respond rapidly to environmental change, evolving resistance to pollutant stress or physiologically adapting to new conditions. Fungi not only directly cause degradation and potential remediation but might also stimulate the activity of bacteria through the production of exudates used as an energy source, in order to cooperate in the process of pollutant degradation.

Therefore, considering the pivotal role that fungi play in nature, they acquire a great importance in developing nature-based solutions to cope with environmental issues such as pollution.

In this Special Issue of Microorganisms, entitled “Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation 2.0”, we aim to increase knowledge through sharing the latest research in these areas. We encourage researchers to send in their research papers or reviews dealing with the investigation of fungal potential in bioremediation. Some of the potential topics include:

  • Biodiversity from polluted environments: native fungal strains as bioresources;
  • Fungal capacity of handling and degrading pollutants;
  • Plastic-eating fungi for reducing the negative impact of plastic pollution;
  • Studies on phenotypical, physiological, and multi-omics approaches to evaluate fungal traits useful in bioremediation;
  • Synergistic interactions in mycoremediation: saprotrophic- and mycorrhizal-fungi-assisted phytoremediation, fungi–bacteria consortia;
  • Fungi in remediation biotechnology: strengths and weaknesses.

Prof. Dr. Anna Maria Persiani
Prof. Dr. Solveig Tosi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • fungal biodiversity
  • mycoremediation
  • fungal functional traits
  • omics approach
  • microbial consortia
  • remediation biotechnology
  • polluted environments
  • fungi attacking plastic

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 4154 KiB  
Article
Characterization of the Mycoremediation of n-Alkanes and Branched-Chain Alkanes by Filamentous Fungi from Oil-Polluted Soil Samples in Kazakhstan
by Mariam Gaid, Doreen Pöpke, Anne Reinhard, Ramza Berzhanova, Togzhan Mukasheva, Tim Urich and Annett Mikolasch
Microorganisms 2023, 11(9), 2195; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092195 - 30 Aug 2023
Viewed by 801
Abstract
For decades, researchers have focused on containing terrestrial oil pollution. The heterogeneity of soils, with immense microbial diversity, inspires them to transform pollutants and find cost-effective bioremediation methods. In this study, the mycoremediation potentials of five filamentous fungi isolated from polluted soils in [...] Read more.
For decades, researchers have focused on containing terrestrial oil pollution. The heterogeneity of soils, with immense microbial diversity, inspires them to transform pollutants and find cost-effective bioremediation methods. In this study, the mycoremediation potentials of five filamentous fungi isolated from polluted soils in Kazakhstan were investigated for their degradability of n-alkanes and branched-chain alkanes as sole carbon and energy sources. Dry weight estimation and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) monitored the growth and the changes in the metabolic profile during degradation, respectively. Penicillium javanicum SBUG-M1741 and SBUG-M1742 oxidized medium-chain alkanes almost completely through mono- and di-terminal degradation. Pristane degradation by P. javanicum SBUG-M1741 was >95%, while its degradation with Purpureocillium lilacinum SBUG-M1751 was >90%. P. lilacinum SBUG-M1751 also exhibited the visible degradation potential of tetradecane and phytane, whereby in the transformation of phytane, both the mono- and di-terminal degradation pathways as well as α- and ß-oxidation steps could be described. Scedosporium boydii SBUG-M1749 used both mono- and di-terminal degradation pathways for n-alkanes, but with poor growth. Degradation of pristane by Fusarium oxysporum SBUG-M1747 followed the di-terminal oxidation mechanism, resulting in one dicarboxylic acid. These findings highlight the role of filamentous fungi in containing oil pollution and suggest possible degradation pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation 2.0)
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17 pages, 1242 KiB  
Article
Screening of Native Trichoderma Species for Nickel and Copper Bioremediation Potential Determined by FTIR and XRF
by Gordana Racić, Igor Vukelić, Branko Kordić, Danka Radić, Milana Lazović, Ljiljana Nešić and Dejana Panković
Microorganisms 2023, 11(3), 815; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11030815 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1675
Abstract
Soil pollution with heavy metals is a serious threat to the environment. However, soils polluted with heavy metals are considered good sources of native metal-resistant Trichoderma strains. Trichoderma spp. are free-living fungi commonly isolated from different ecosystems, establishing endophytic associations with plants. They [...] Read more.
Soil pollution with heavy metals is a serious threat to the environment. However, soils polluted with heavy metals are considered good sources of native metal-resistant Trichoderma strains. Trichoderma spp. are free-living fungi commonly isolated from different ecosystems, establishing endophytic associations with plants. They have important ecological and biotechnological roles due to their production of a wide range of secondary metabolites, thus regulating plant growth and development or inducing resistance to plant pathogens. In this work we used indigenous Trichoderma strains that were previously isolated from different soil types to determine their tolerance to increased copper and nickel concentrations as well as mechanisms of metal removal. The concentrations of bioavailable metal concentrations were determined after extraction with diethylene-triamine pentaacetate (DTPA)-extractable metals (Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, and Zn) from the soil samples by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Two indigenous T. harzianum strains were selected for copper tolerance, and three indigenous T. longibrachiatum strains were selected for nickel tolerance tests. Strains were isolated from the soils with the highest and among the lowest DTPA-extractable metal concentrations to determine whether the adaptation to different concentrations of metals affects the mechanisms of remediation. Mechanisms of metal removal were determined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), non-destructive methods characterized by high measurement speed with little or no need for sample preparation and very low costs. Increased DTPA-extractable metal content for nickel and copper was detected in the soil samples above the target value (TV), and for nickel above the soil remediation intervention values (SRIVs), for total metal concentrations which were previously determined. The SRIV is a threshold of metal concentrations indicating a serious soil contamination, thus confirming the need for soil remediation. The use of FTIR and XRF methods revealed that the presence of both biosorption and accumulation of metals in the Trichoderma cells, providing good bioremediation potential for Ni and Cu. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation 2.0)
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22 pages, 6033 KiB  
Article
Proteomic Study of Response to Copper, Cadmium, and Chrome Ion Stress in Yarrowia lipolytica Strains Isolated from Andean Mine Tailings in Peru
by Tito Sánchez-Rojas, Abraham Espinoza-Culupú, Pablo Ramírez, Leo Kei Iwai, Fabio Montoni, Diego Macedo-Prada, Marcos Sulca-López, Yerson Durán, Mariella Farfán-López and Jennifer Herencia
Microorganisms 2022, 10(10), 2002; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10102002 - 11 Oct 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2375
Abstract
Mine tailings are produced by mining activities and contain diverse heavy metal ions, which cause environmental problems and have negative impacts on ecosystems. Different microorganisms, including yeasts, play important roles in the absorption and/or adsorption of these heavy metal ions. This work aimed [...] Read more.
Mine tailings are produced by mining activities and contain diverse heavy metal ions, which cause environmental problems and have negative impacts on ecosystems. Different microorganisms, including yeasts, play important roles in the absorption and/or adsorption of these heavy metal ions. This work aimed to analyze proteins synthesized by the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica AMJ6 (Yl-AMJ6), isolated from Andean mine tailings in Peru and subjected to stress conditions with common heavy metal ions. Yeast strains were isolated from high Andean water samples impacted by mine tailings from Yanamate (Pasco, Peru). Among all the isolated yeasts, the Yl-AMJ6 strain presented LC50 values of 1.06 mM, 1.42 mM, and 0.49 mM for the Cr+6, Cu+2, and Cd+2 ions, respectively. Proteomic analysis of theYl-AMJ6 strain under heavy metal stress showed that several proteins were up- or downregulated. Biological and functional analysis of these proteins showed that they were involved in the metabolism of proteins, nucleic acids, and carbohydrates; response to oxidative stress and protein folding; ATP synthesis and ion transport; membrane and cell wall; and cell division. The most prominent proteins that presented the greatest changes were related to the oxidative stress response and carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting the existence of a defense mechanism in these yeasts to resist the impact of environmental contamination by heavy metal ions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation 2.0)
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Review

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27 pages, 5057 KiB  
Review
Fungal Enzymes Involved in Plastics Biodegradation
by Marta Elisabetta Eleonora Temporiti, Lidia Nicola, Erik Nielsen and Solveig Tosi
Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1180; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10061180 - 08 Jun 2022
Cited by 66 | Viewed by 9137
Abstract
Plastic pollution is a growing environmental problem, in part due to the extremely stable and durable nature of this polymer. As recycling does not provide a complete solution, research has been focusing on alternative ways of degrading plastic. Fungi provide a wide array [...] Read more.
Plastic pollution is a growing environmental problem, in part due to the extremely stable and durable nature of this polymer. As recycling does not provide a complete solution, research has been focusing on alternative ways of degrading plastic. Fungi provide a wide array of enzymes specialized in the degradation of recalcitrant substances and are very promising candidates in the field of plastic degradation. This review examines the present literature for different fungal enzymes involved in plastic degradation, describing their characteristics, efficacy and biotechnological applications. Fungal laccases and peroxidases, generally used by fungi to degrade lignin, show good results in degrading polyethylene (PE) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), while esterases such as cutinases and lipases were successfully used to degrade polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane (PUR). Good results were also obtained on PUR by fungal proteases and ureases. All these enzymes were isolated from many different fungi, from both Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes, and have shown remarkable efficiency in plastic biodegradation under laboratory conditions. Therefore, future research should focus on the interactions between the genes, proteins, metabolites and environmental conditions involved in the processes. Further steps such as the improvement in catalytic efficiency and genetic engineering could lead these enzymes to become biotechnological applications in the field of plastic degradation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation 2.0)
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