A: Microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology are intimately linked, offering solutions for environmental quality and human health. Their consensus view shows three future 'peaks': more powerful analytical tools, integrated '-omics' approaches, and more theory- or process-driven research.
Reference: Described as "a consensus view for partnership of microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology," a conference of pioneers in the field noted, "Microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology are blossoming fields that are taking advantage of profound advances in biology, materials, computing, and engineering. Although traditionally microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology have been distinct disciplines, their futures are intimately linked. Together, they offer much promise for helping society deal with some of its greatest challenges in environmental quality, sustainability, security, and human health ... The consensus vista for the partnership of microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology shows three 'peaks' in the distance, representing different themes: more powerful analytical tools, integrated '-omics' approaches, and research that is more theory- or process-driven ..." (from: Rittmann, B.E., M. Hausner, F. Loffler, N.G. Love, G. Muyzer, S. Okabe, D.B. Oerther, J. Peccia, L. Raskin, and M. Wagner. (2006). "A Vista for Microbial Ecology and Environmental Biotechnology." Environmental Science and Technology 40(4). https://doi.org/10.1021/es062631k).
A: Environmental biotechnology is applied to engineered and natural systems to improve water, soil, and gas treatment. Practical uses include developing methods to identify the origin of microbiological contamination from fecal wastes discharged to watersheds and making recommendations for improving sewage treatment systems.
A: Molecular biology tools, including the full cycle 16S rRNA approach, are introduced through three sustained educational activities: a term-length course, an international workshop, and intensive one-day seminars for adult professionals, allowing students to learn without biological science prerequisites.
Reference: "Over the past 15 years, molecular biology tools to track environmental micro-organisms have become a common analytical technique available in many environmental engineering and science research laboratories. To introduce students and adult practitioners of environmental engineering and science to molecular biology analytical tools, three educational activities were undertaken. First, five offerings of a termlength course to a total of 55 students demonstrated that teams of engineers completing the full cycle 16S rRNA approach were able to significantly improve their individual understanding of biology concepts without the need for prerequisite courses in the biological sciences. Second, a 2-week-long international workshop demonstrated interdisciplinary education can successfully overcome nationalistic differences. Third, six offerings of an intensive 1-day-long seminar to adult professionals provided sufficient introduction to uncommon vocabulary and critical concepts needed to begin to understand the benefits of using molecular biology analytical tools in the day-to-day practice of environmental engineering and science. Sustained efforts over a 5-year period have successfully integrated research, education, and professional outreach to introduce more than 250 students and adults to the applications of molecular biology analytical tools in environmental engineering and science." (from: Oerther, D.B. (2006). "Integrating Molecular Biology Research, Teaching, and Professional Outreach in Environmental Engineering and Science." Environmental Engineering Science 23(3). https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2006.23.451).
A: Analysis of membrane biofilm communities in full-scale MBRs found a core microbiome that is distinct from the activated sludge community. This suggests that the membrane biofilm communities are not randomly assembled but follow a specific microbial ecology.
Reference: "Highlights:
Membrane biofilm (early and mature) community analysis in five full-scale MBRs.
Clear difference in bacterial community diversity between AS and biofilm communities.
This difference was attributed to the presence of large number of unique but rare taxa in each sample.
Membrane biofilm (early and mature) communities are not randomly assembled from AS community.
A core membrane biofilm community exists in full-scale MBRs."
(from: Matar, G.K., S. Bagchi, K. Zhang, D.B. Oerther, and P.E. Saikaly (2017). "Membrane Biofilm Communities in Full-Scale Membrane Bioreactors are Not Randomly Assembled and Consist of a Core Microbiome." Water Research 123:124-133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.06.052).
A: Fecal metagenomics of the swine gut revealed genes associated with antibiotic resistance and carbohydrate metabolism. This suggests that the taxonomic composition and functional capacity of the swine gut microbiome are largely shaped by husbandry practices.
Reference: "Background
Uncovering the taxonomic composition and functional capacity within the swine gut microbial consortia is of great importance to animal physiology and health as well as to food and water safety due to the presence of human pathogens in pig feces. Nonetheless, limited information on the functional diversity of the swine gut microbiome is available.
Results
Analysis of 637,722 pyrosequencing reads (130 megabases) generated from Yorkshire pig fecal DNA extracts was performed to help better understand the microbial diversity and largely unknown functional capacity of the swine gut microbiome. Swine fecal metagenomic sequences were annotated using both MG-RAST and JGI IMG/M-ER pipelines …
Conclusions
The results from this metagenomic survey demonstrated the presence of genes associated with resistance to antibiotics and carbohydrate metabolism suggesting that the swine gut microbiome may be shaped by husbandry practices."
(from: Lamendella, R., J.W. Santo Domingo, S. Ghosh, J. Martinson, and D. B. Oerther (2011). "Comparative Fecal Metagenomics Unveils Unique Functional Capacity of the Swine Gut." BMC Microbiology 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2180-11-103).
A: A study in Guatemala found that children with high dietary aflatoxin exposure had 24 times higher odds of intestinal dysbiosis compared to non-exposed children. This research supports the need for in-depth studies on the critical interaction among aflatoxin, the microbiome, and child stunting.
Reference: "Recent literature suggests that intestinal microbiome may play a mediating role between aflatoxin exposure and the height-for-age of children. We tested the hypothesis that among children in Guatemala, aflatoxin exposure was associated with intestinal microbiome dysbiosis and lower height-for-age. De-identified data were acquired from local health officials for 35 children who attended a health clinic in Totonicapán, Guatemala, and had potentially been exposed to aflatoxin through their maize-based food supply. Microbial differences were assessed for children grouped by height, diarrhea, age, and aflatoxin exposure. Furthermore, two subgroups were identified—one healthy (n = 12) and one unhealthy/dysbiotic (n = 9)—based upon clustering of the children's microbiomes and morbidity data. Odds ratios were computed to assess the likelihood of a child having a healthy or dysbiotic microbiome based on the classification of height, diarrhea, age, or aflatoxin exposure. The results of the study supported significant differences in beta diversity between the intestinal microbiomes of children who were shorter (less than or equal to −2.54 standard deviation; SD) versus taller (greater than −2.54 SD), those who were older (>14 months of age) versus younger (<14 months of age), and those that had reported diarrhea in the past 2 weeks versus not. Most importantly, children whose aflatoxin-contaminated diet resulted in the consumption of >10 ng of aflatoxin/kg of body weight/day had 24 times higher odds of having a dysbiotic intestinal microbiome. The results build upon available literature and support the need for more in-depth studies concerning the interactions among aflatoxin exposure, the intestinal microbiome, and child stunting." (from: Voth-Gaeddert, L.E., O. Torres, J. Maldonado, R. Krajmalnik-Brown, B.E. Rittmann, and D.B. Oerther. (2019). "Aflatoxin Exposure, Child Stunting, and Dysbiosis in the Intestinal Microbiome Among Children in Guatemala." Environmental Science Science 36(8). https://doi.org/10.1089/ees.2019.0104).