Submit to Microorganisms Review for Microorganisms Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation

Print Special Issue Flyer
Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2021) | Viewed by 35210

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Anna Maria Persiani

E-Mail Website
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, they 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 able to transform a huge variety of substrates, including natural polymers, but also many anthropogenic products such as pesticides, explosives, and other xenobiotics. Fungi, thanks 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 thanks to their relatively short generation times and lifestyle, bacteria and fungi may sense and respond rapidly to environmental change and evolve resistance to pollutant stress or physiologically adapt 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”, we aim to increase knowledge through the latest research in these areas. We encourage researchers to send 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;
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

Published Papers (12 papers)

Download All Papers

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 1765 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Fungal Diversity in Two Wastewater Treatment Plants in North Italy

by Simone Buratti, Carolina Elena Girometta, Rebecca Michela Baiguera, Barbara Barucco, Marco Bernardi, Giuseppe De Girolamo, Maura Malgaretti, Desdemona Oliva, Anna Maria Picco and Elena Savino

Microorganisms 2022, 10(6), 1096; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms10061096 - 25 May 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2049

Abstract

In urban wastewater treatment plants, bacteria lead the biological component of the depuration process, but the microbial community is also rich in fungi (mainly molds, yeasts and pseudo-yeasts), whose taxonomical diversity and relative frequency depend on several factors, e.g., quality of wastewater input, climate, seasonality, and depuration stage. By joining morphological and molecular identification, we investigated the fungal diversity in two different plants for the urban wastewater treatment in the suburbs of the two major cities in Lombardia, the core of industrial and commercial activities in Italy. This study presents a comparison of the fungal diversity across the depuration stages by applying the concepts of α-, β- and ζ-diversity. Eurotiales (mainly with Aspergillus and Penicillium), Trichosporonales (Trichosporon sensu lato), Saccharomycetales (mainly with Geotrichum) and Hypocreales (mainly with Fusarium and Trichoderma) are the most represented fungal orders and genera in all the stages and both the plants. The two plants show different trends in α-, β- and ζ-diversity, despite the fact that they all share a crash during the secondary sedimentation and turnover across the depuration stages. This study provides an insight on which taxa potentially contribute to each depuration stage and/or keep viable propagules in sludges after the collection from the external environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 1342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Glyphosate-Eating Fungi: Study on Fungal Saprotrophic Strains’ Ability to Tolerate and Utilise Glyphosate as a Nutritional Source and on the Ability of Purpureocillium lilacinum to Degrade It

by Veronica Spinelli, Andrea Ceci, Chiara Dal Bosco, Alessandra Gentili and Anna Maria Persiani

Microorganisms 2021, 9(11), 2179; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9112179 - 20 Oct 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2951

Abstract

Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide worldwide. Its improper use during recent decades has resulted in glyphosate contamination of soils and waters. Fungal bioremediation is an environmentally friendly, cost effective, and feasible solution to glyphosate contamination in soils. In this study, several saprotrophic fungi isolated from agricultural environments were screened for their ability to tolerate and utilise Roundup in different cultural conditions as a nutritional source. Purpureocillium lilacinum was further screened to evaluate the ability to break down and utilise glyphosate as a P source in a liquid medium. The dose–response effect for Roundup, and the difference in toxicity between pure glyphosate and Roundup were also studied. This study reports the ability of several strains to tolerate 1 mM and 10 mM Roundup and to utilise it as nutritional source. P. lilacinum was reported for the first time for its ability to degrade glyphosate to a considerable extent (80%) and to utilise it as a P source, without showing dose-dependent negative effects on growth. Pure glyphosate was found to be more toxic than Roundup for P. lilacinum. Our results showed that pure glyphosate toxicity can be only partially addressed by the pH decrease determined in the culture medium. In conclusion, our study emphasises the noteworthy potential of P. lilacinum in glyphosate degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

12 pages, 1633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Characterization of Fungal Biodiversity in Long-Term Polychlorinated Biphenyl-Contaminated Soils

by Camille Marchal, Joaquim Germain, Muriel Raveton, Blandine Lyonnard, Cindy Arnoldi, Marie-Noëlle Binet and Bello Mouhamadou

Microorganisms 2021, 9(10), 2051; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9102051 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1473

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) belong to the organic pollutants that are toxic to humans and harmful to environments. Numerous studies dealing with the impact of PCBs on soil microorganisms have focused on bacterial communities. The effects of PCBs on fungal communities in three different PCB-polluted soils from former industrial sites were investigated using high-throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 region. Significant differences in fungal alpha diversity were observed mainly due to soil physico-chemical properties. PCBs only influenced the richness of the fungal communities by increasing it. Fungal composition was rather strongly influenced by both PCBs and soil properties, resulting in different communities associated with each soil. Sixteen Ascomycota species were present in all three soils, including Stachybotrys chartarum, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium canescens, Penicillium chrysogenum,Penicillium citrosulfuratum and Penicillium brevicompactum, which are usually found in PCB-polluted soils, and Fusarium solani, Penicillium canescens, Penicillium citrosulfuratum and Penicillium chrysogenum, which are known PCB degraders. This study demonstrated that PCBs influence the richness and the composition of fungal communities. Their influence, associated with that of soil physico-chemical properties, led to distinct fungal communities, but with sixteen species common to the three soils which could be considered as ubiquitous species in PCB-polluted soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Fungus Enzymes in Spent Mushroom Composts from Edible Mushroom Cultivation for Phthalate Removal

by Bea-Ven Chang, Chiao-Po Yang and Chu-Wen Yang

Microorganisms 2021, 9(9), 1989; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9091989 - 19 Sep 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3410

Abstract

Spent mushroom composts (SMCs) are waste products of mushroom cultivation. The handling of large amounts of SMCs has become an important environmental issue. Phthalates are plasticizers which are widely distributed in the environment and urban wastewater, and cannot be effectively removed by conventional wastewater treatment methods. In this study, SMCs are tested for their ability to remove phthalates, including benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP). Batch experiments reveal that BBP, DBP, and DEP can be degraded by the SMC enzyme extracts of four edible mushrooms: Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus djamor, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Auricularia polytricha. Potential fungus enzymes associated with BBP, DBP, and DEP degradation in SMCs (i.e., esterases, oxygenases, and oxidases/dehydrogenases) are uncovered by metaproteomic analysis using mass spectrometry. Bioreactor experiments indicate that the direct application of SMCs can remove BBP, DBP, and DEP from wastewater, through adsorption and biodegradation. The results of this study extend the application of white-rot fungi without laccases (e.g., Auricularia sp.) for the removal of organic pollutants which are not degraded by laccases. The application of SMCs for phthalate removal can be developed into a mycoremediation-based green and sustainable technology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 3120 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effectiveness of Biostimulation, Bioaugmentation and Sorption-Biological Treatment of Soil Contaminated with Petroleum Products in the Russian Subarctic

by Vladimir A. Myazin, Maria V. Korneykova, Alexandra A. Chaporgina, Nadezhda V. Fokina and Galina K. Vasilyeva

Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1722; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9081722 - 13 Aug 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3396

Abstract

The effectiveness of different bioremediation methods (biostimulation, bioaugmentation, the sorption-biological method) for the restoration of soil contaminated with petroleum products in the Russian Subarctic has been studied. The object of the study includes soil contaminated for 20 years with petroleum products. By laboratory experiment, we established five types of microfungi that most intensively decompose petroleum hydrocarbons: Penicillium canescens st. 1, Penicillium simplicissimum st. 1, Penicillum commune, Penicillium ochrochloron, and Penicillium restrictum. One day after the start of the experiment, 6 to 18% of the hydrocarbons decomposed: at 3 days, this was 16 to 49%; at 7 days, 40 to 73%; and at 10 days, 71 to 87%. Penicillium commune exhibited the greatest degrading activity throughout the experiment. For soils of light granulometric composition with a low content of organic matter, a more effective method of bioremediation is sorption-biological treatment using peat or granulated activated carbon: the content of hydrocarbons decreased by an average of 65%, which is 2.5 times more effective than without treatment. The sorbent not only binds hydrocarbons and their toxic metabolites but is also a carrier for hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms and prevents nutrient leaching from the soil. High efficiency was noted due to the biostimulation of the native hydrocarbon-oxidizing microfungi and bacteria by mineral fertilizers and liming. An increase in the number of microfungi, bacteria and dehydrogenase activity indicate the presence of a certain microbial potential of the soil and the ability of the hydrocarbons to produce biochemical oxidation. The use of the considered methods of bioremediation will improve the ecological state of the contaminated area and further the gradual restoration of biodiversity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 2989 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Genomic and Transcriptomic Study on the DDT-Resistant Trichoderma hamatum FBL 587: First Genetic Data into Mycoremediation Strategies for DDT-Polluted Sites

by Domenico Davolos, Fabiana Russo, Loredana Canfora, Eligio Malusà, Małgorzata Tartanus, Ewa Maria Furmanczyk, Andrea Ceci, Oriana Maggi and Anna Maria Persiani

Microorganisms 2021, 9(8), 1680; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9081680 - 07 Aug 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2690

Abstract

Trichoderma hamatum FBL 587 isolated from DDT-contaminated agricultural soils stands out as a remarkable strain with DDT-resistance and the ability to enhance DDT degradation process in soil. Here, whole genome sequencing and RNA-Seq studies for T. hamatum FBL 587 under exposure to DDT were performed. In the 38.9 Mb-genome of T. hamatum FBL 587, 10,944 protein-coding genes were predicted and annotated, including those of relevance to mycoremediation such as production of secondary metabolites and siderophores. The genome-scale transcriptional responses of T. hamatum FBL 587 to DDT exposure showed 1706 upregulated genes, some of which were putatively involved in the cellular translocation and degradation of DDT. With regards to DDT removal capacity, it was found upregulation of metabolizing enzymes such as P450s, and potentially of downstream DDT-transforming enzymes such as epoxide hydrolases, FAD-dependent monooxygenases, glycosyl- and glutathione-transferases. Based on transcriptional responses, the DDT degradation pathway could include transmembrane transporters of DDT, antioxidant enzymes for oxidative stress due to DDT exposure, as well as lipases and biosurfactants for the enhanced solubility of DDT. Our study provides the first genomic and transcriptomic data on T. hamatum FBL 587 under exposure to DDT, which are a base for a better understanding of mycoremediation strategies for DDT-polluted sites. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 2778 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Clary Sage Cultivation and Mycorrhizal Inoculation Influence the Rhizosphere Fungal Community of an Aged Trace-Element Polluted Soil

by Robin Raveau, Anissa Lounès-Hadj Sahraoui, Mohamed Hijri and Joël Fontaine

Microorganisms 2021, 9(6), 1333; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9061333 - 19 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2349

Abstract

Soil fungal communities play a central role in natural systems and agroecosystems. As such, they have attracted significant research interest. However, the fungal microbiota of aromatic plants, such as clary sage (Salvia sclarea L.), remain unexplored. This is especially the case in trace element (TE)-polluted conditions and within the framework of phytomanagement approaches. The presence of high concentrations of TEs in soils can negatively affect not only microbial diversity and community composition but also plant establishment and growth. Hence, the objective of this study is to investigate the soil fungal and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) community composition and their changes over time in TE-polluted soils in the vicinity of a former lead smelter and under the cultivation of clary sage. We used Illumina MiSeq amplicon sequencing to evaluate the effects of in situ clary sage cultivation over two successive years, combined or not with exogenous AMF inoculation, on the rhizospheric soil and root fungal communities. We obtained 1239 and 569 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASV), respectively, in the rhizospheric soil and roots of S. sclarea under TE-polluted conditions. Remarkably, 69 AMF species were detected at our experimental site, belonging to 12 AMF genera. Furthermore, the inoculation treatment significantly shaped the fungal communities in soil and increased the number of AMF ASVs in clary sage roots. In addition, clary sage cultivation over successive years could be one of the explanatory parameters for the inter-annual variation in both fungal and AMF communities in the soil and root biotopes. Our data provide new insights on fungal and AMF communities in the rhizospheric soil and roots of an aromatic plant, clary sage, grown in TE-polluted agricultural soil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 3820 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Black Fungi and Hydrocarbons: An Environmental Survey for Alkylbenzene Assimilation

by Noemi Carla Baron, Fernando Carlos Pagnocca, Ayumi Aquino Otsuka, Francesc Xavier Prenafeta-Boldú, Vânia Aparecida Vicente and Derlene Attili de Angelis

Microorganisms 2021, 9(5), 1008; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9051008 - 07 May 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2610

Abstract

Environmental pollution with alkylbenzene hydrocarbons such as toluene is a recurring phenomenon. Their toxicity and harmful effect on people and the environment drive the search for sustainable removal techniques such as bioremediation, which is based on the microbial metabolism of xenobiotic compounds. Melanized fungi present extremophilic characteristics, which allow their survival in inhospitable habitats such as those contaminated with hydrocarbons. Screening methodologies for testing the microbial assimilation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) are scarce despite their importance for the bioremediation of hydrocarbon associated areas. In this study, 200 strains of melanized fungi were isolated from four different hydrocarbon-related environments by using selective methods, and their biodiversity was assessed by molecular and ecological analyses. Seventeen genera and 27 species from three main orders, namely Chaetothyriales, Cladosporiales, and Pleosporales, were identified. The ecological analysis showed a particular species distribution according to their original substrate. The isolated strains were also screened for their toluene assimilation potential using a simple and inexpensive methodology based on miniaturized incubations under controlled atmospheres. The biomass produced by the 200 strains with toluene as the sole carbon source was compared against positive and negative controls, with glucose and with only mineral medium, respectively. Nineteen strains were selected as the most promising for further investigation on the biodegradation of alkylbenzenes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potentiality of Native Ascomycete Strains in Bioremediation of Highly Polychlorinated Biphenyl Contaminated Soils

by Joaquim Germain, Muriel Raveton, Marie-Noëlle Binet and Bello Mouhamadou

Microorganisms 2021, 9(3), 612; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9030612 - 16 Mar 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1938

Abstract

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are organic pollutants that are harmful to environment and toxic to humans. Numerous studies, based on basidiomycete strains, have reported unsatisfactory results in the mycoremediation of PCB-contaminated soils mainly due to the non-telluric origin of these strains. The abilities of a five-Ascomycete-strain consortium in the mycoremediation of PCB-polluted soils and its performance to restore their sound functioning were investigated using mesocosm experiments associated with chromatography gas analysis and enzymatic activity assays. With the soil H containing 850 ppm PCB from which the strains had been isolated, a significant PCB depletion of 29% after three months of treatment was obtained. This led to an important decrease of PCBs from 850 to 604 ppm. With the soil L containing 36 ppm PCB, biodegradation did not occur. In both soils, the fungal biomass quantified by the ergosterol assay, did not increase at the end of the treatment. Biodegradation evidenced in the soil H resulted in a significantly improved stoichiometry of N and P acquiring enzymatic activities. This unprecedented study demonstrates that the native Ascomycetes display remarkable properties for remediation and restoration of functioning of the soil they originated from paving the way for greater consideration of these strains in mycoremediation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 3402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrocarbon Degradation and Enzyme Activities of Aspergillus oryzae and Mucor irregularis Isolated from Nigerian Crude Oil-Polluted Sites

by Michael Dare Asemoloye, Solveig Tosi, Chiara Daccò, Xiao Wang, Shihan Xu, Mario Andrea Marchisio, Wenyuan Gao, Segun Gbolagade Jonathan and Lorenzo Pecoraro

Microorganisms 2020, 8(12), 1912; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms8121912 - 30 Nov 2020

Cited by 30 | Viewed by 4096

Abstract

Many free-living saprobic fungi are nature recruited organisms for the degradation of wastes, ranging from lignocellulose biomass to organic/inorganic chemicals, aided by their production of enzymes. In this study, fungal strains were isolated from contaminated crude-oil fields in Nigeria. The dominant fungi were selected from each site and identified as Aspergillus oryzae and Mucor irregularis based on morphological and molecular characterization, with site percentage incidences of 56.67% and 66.70%, respectively. Selected strains response/tolerance to complex hydrocarbon (used engine oil) was studied by growing them on Bushnell Haas (BH) mineral agar supplemented with the hydrocarbon at different concentrations, i.e., 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, with a control having dextrose. Hydrocarbon degradation potentials of these fungi were confirmed in BH broth culture filtrates pre-supplemented with 1% engine oil after 15 days of incubation using GC/MS. In addition, the presence of putative enzymes, laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and lignin peroxidase (LiP) was confirmed in culture filtrates using appropriate substrates. The analyzed fungi grew in hydrocarbon supplemented medium with no other carbon source and exhibited 39.40% and 45.85% dose inhibition response (DIR) respectively at 20% hydrocarbon concentration. An enzyme activity test revealed that these two fungi produced more Lac than MnP and LiP. It was also observed through the GC/MS analyses that while A. oryzae acted on all hydrocarbon components in the used engine oil, M. irregularis only degraded the long-chain hydrocarbons and BTEX. This study confirms that A. oryzae and M. irregularis have the potential to be exploited in the bio-treatment and removal of hydrocarbons from polluted soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2921 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genome Sequence of Trichoderma lixii MUT3171, A Promising Strain for Mycoremediation of PAH-Contaminated Sites

by Francesco Venice, Domenico Davolos, Federica Spina, Anna Poli, Valeria Paola Prigione, Giovanna Cristina Varese and Stefano Ghignone

Microorganisms 2020, 8(9), 1258; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms8091258 - 20 Aug 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3001

Abstract

Mono- and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread and recalcitrant pollutants that threaten both environmental and human health. By exploiting the powerful enzymatic machinery of fungi, mycoremediation in contaminated sites aims at removing a wide range of pollutants in a cost-efficient and environmentally friendly manner. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques are powerful tools for understanding the molecular basis of biotransformation of PAHs by selected fungal strains, allowing genome mining to identify genetic features of biotechnological value. Trichoderma lixii MUT3171, isolated from a historically PAH-contaminated soil in Italy, can grow on phenanthrene, as a sole carbon source. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of T. lixii MUT3171 obtained with high-throughput sequencing method. The genome of T. lixii MUT3171 was compared with other 14 Trichoderma genomes, highlighting both shared and unique features that can shed a light on the biotransformation of PAHs. Moreover, the genes potentially involved in the production of important biosurfactants and bioactive molecules have been investigated. The gene repertoire of T. lixii MUT3171 indicates a high degrading potential and provides hints on putative survival strategies in a polluted environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 1083 KiB

Open AccessReview

Port Sediments: Problem or Resource? A Review Concerning the Treatment and Decontamination of Port Sediments by Fungi and Bacteria

by Grazia Cecchi, Laura Cutroneo, Simone Di Piazza, Giovanni Besio, Marco Capello and Mirca Zotti

Microorganisms 2021, 9(6), 1279; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/microorganisms9061279 - 11 Jun 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2741

Abstract

Contamination of marine sediments by organic and/or inorganic compounds represents one of the most critical problems in marine environments. This issue affects not only biodiversity but also ecosystems, with negative impacts on sea water quality. The scientific community and the European Commission have recently discussed marine environment and ecosystem protection and restoration by sustainable green technologies among the main objectives of their scientific programmes. One of the primary goals of sustainable restoration and remediation of contaminated marine sediments is research regarding new biotechnologies employable in the decontamination of marine sediments, to consider sediments as a resource in many fields such as industry. In this context, microorganisms—in particular, fungi and bacteria—play a central and crucial role as the best tools of sustainable and green remediation processes. This review, carried out in the framework of the Interreg IT-FR Maritime GEREMIA Project, collects and shows the bioremediation and mycoremediation studies carried out on marine sediments contaminated with ecotoxic metals and organic pollutants. This work evidences the potentialities and limiting factors of these biotechnologies and outlines the possible future scenarios of the bioremediation of marine sediments, and also highlights the opportunities of an integrated approach that involves fungi and bacteria together. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Fungal Biodiversity for Bioremediation

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (12 papers)

Research

Review

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI