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Soil and wastewater samples contaminated by petroleum-related industries were collected from various locations in Saudi Arabia, a country known for its vast oil reserves. The samples were analyzed for their physicochemical properties, including the presence of metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and aromatic compounds. A total of 264 fungal isolates were analyzed and categorized into eight groups of Aspergillus (194 isolates) and four groups of Penicillium (70 isolates). The potential of these fungal groups to grow in oil or its derivatives was investigated. Two isolates, Aspergillus tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FU-KSU69, were utilized in two remediation experiments—one targeting wastewater and the other focusing on polluted soil. The FA-KSU5 strain demonstrated complete removal of Fe3+, As3+, Cr6+, Zn2+, Mn2+, Cu2+ and Cd2+, with bioremediation efficiency for petroleum hydrocarbons in the wastewater from these sites ranging between 90.80 and 98.58%. Additionally, the FU-KSU69 strain achieved up to 100% reduction of Co2+, Ba2+, B3+, V+, Ni2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, with removal efficiency ranging from 93.17 to 96.02% for aromatic hydrocarbons after 180 min of wastewater treatment. After 21 days of soil incubation with Aspergillus tubingensis FA-KSU5, there was a 93.15% to 98.48% reduction in total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) and an 88.11% to 97.31% decrease in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This strain exhibited the highest removal rates for Cd2+ and As3+ followed by Fe3+, Zn2+, Cr6+, Se4+ and Cu2+. Aspergillus niger FU-KSU69 achieved a 90.37% to 94.90% reduction in TPHs and a 95.13% to 98.15% decrease in PAHs, with significant removal of Ni2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, followed by Co2+, V+, Ba2+ and B3+. The enzymatic activity in the treated soils increased by 1.54- to 3.57-fold compared to the polluted soil. Although the mixture of wastewater and polluted soil exhibited high cytotoxicity against normal human cell lines, following mycoremediation, all treated soils and effluents with the dead fungal biomass showed no toxicity against normal human cell lines at concentrations up to 500 µL/mL, with IC50 values ≥ 1000 µL/mL. SEM and IR analysis revealed morphological and biochemical alterations in the biomass of A. tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FA-KSU69 when exposed to petroleum effluents. This study successfully introduces non-toxigenic and environmentally friendly fungal strains play a crucial role in the bioremediation of contaminated environments. Both strains serve as low-cost and effective adsorbents for bio-remediating petroleum wastewater and oil-contaminated soil. Heavy metals and hydrocarbons, the primary pollutants, were either completely removed or reduced to permissible levels according to international guidelines using the dead biomass of FA-KSU5 and FA-KSU69 fungi. Consequently, the environments associated with this globally significant industry are rendered biologically safe, particularly for humans, as evidenced by the absence of cytotoxicity in samples treated with A. tubingensis FA-KSU5 and A. niger FA-KSU69 on various human cell types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, we use an isolated strain of Geotrichum candidum (MH680587) to propose a sustainable treatment technique based on mycoremediation for the biodegradation and decolorization of Congo Red (CR) azo dye. FTIR analysis and UV–vis spectroscopy were used to confirm the decolorization process. Furthermore, a novel mechanism for the fungus's biocatalysis of CR was postulated, based on the discovery of intermediates by LC–MS/MS analysis. Screening and optimization of important cultural parameters to control dye biodegradation were performed using a fractional factorial design (27–4). Optimal decolorization conditions were determined by varying seven factors: agitation, initial dye concentration, (NH4)2SO4 concentration, glucose concentration, inoculum size, pH, and temperature. The results achieved showed that maximum decolorization was reached under static conditions, with of 0.2 g L−1 as an original concentration of dye, (NH4)2SO4 concentration of 2 g. L−1, and inoculum size of 3 g L−1. Biodegradation assays conducted under these optimal conditions resulted in over 90% removal of optical density (OD). Manganese peroxidase (MnP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) were found to be involved in the degradation process of this dye. Toxicity assessment demonstrated that these intermediate metabolites were less toxic to plant tissues and bacteria compared to the raw azo dye. Overall, the findings indicate that G. candidum (MH680587) possesses a strong decolorization ability for CR under static conditions. It exhibits promising possibility of utilizing in the field of dye wastewater treatment, with the added benefit of low energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-based pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are widely used for different applications due to their cost and convenience. However, their synthesis relies on petroleum-based acrylic monomers, which negatively affects their biodegradability and recyclability. Hybrid acrylic polymers combining acrylic monomers and acrylate-functionalized lactide-based macromonomers could help solve this issue. Recently, we reported on the remarkable biodegradability of these hybrid PSAs in their latex format when using fungal treatments. In this study, we focused on the degradation of dried PSA films, a prevalent application format in commercial settings, by utilizing fungal consortia and solid-state fermentation. Our findings indicated that the type of fungal treatment, carbon source provided, and substrate thickness significantly affected biodegradation rates. The co-culture of Pestalotiopsis microspora and Trametes versicolor demonstrated particularly promising results, achieving degradation rates exceeding 50%, notably, when utilizing wheat bran as a carbon source. Moreover, the renewal of culture media and inoculum further amplified PSA biodegradation. These results underscore the potential of fungal consortia in solid-state cultures to substantially enhance the biodegradation of hybrid acrylic PSA films, offering insights for the design of more sustainable adhesive bio-based products and finally leading to an environmentally responsible end of the PSAs lifecycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micropollutants, such as heavy metals and pesticides, inhibit microbial growth, threatening ecosystems. Yet, the mechanism behind mycoremediation of the pesticide lindane and multiple metals (Cd, Total Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) remains poorly understood. In our study, we investigated cellular responses in Aspergillus fumigatus PD-18 using LC-MS/MS, identifying 2190 proteins, 1147 of which were consistently present under both stress conditions. Specifically, Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase and heat shock proteins were up-regulated to counter oxidative stress and protein misfolding. Proteins involved in intracellular trafficking, secretion, and vesicular transport; RNA processing and modification showed enhanced abundance and regulating stress response pathways. Additionally, haloalkane dehalogenase and homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase played pivotal roles in lindane mineralization. Bioinformatics analysis highlighted enriched pathways such as Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism and Purine metabolism, that are crucial for combating adverse environments. We identified the hub protein 26 S proteasome regulatory subunit complex as potential biomarker and remedial targets for mycoremediation of wastewater, suggesting practical applications for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, we have developed for the first time a carbon ultramicroelectrode modified by a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) for selective determination of 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (MNP) in aqueous media. The polymeric film based on a non-covalent approach was obtained by electropolymerization of ortho-phenylenediamine in the presence of MNP to generate a template-polymer association on the electrode surface. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) was used for MIP elaboration, performing 20 cycles in the range from 0 to 0.7 V versus Ag/AgCl/Cl−sat. After removing the template, we obtained a specific MNP recognition site on the modified microelectrode. The surfaces of the modified and unmodified microelectrodes were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Many parameters influencing the electropolymerization process were optimized. Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV) was used for the quantitative analysis of MNP with the optimized following parameters: frequency 50 Hz, potential amplitude 70 mV, and scan increment 15 mV. The peak current increased linearly with the MNP concentration in the range from 1 to 17 mg L−1, and the limit of detection (LoD) for MNP was calculated to be 0.69 mg L−1. The elaborated UME-MIP was applied to study the bioremediation of MNP in a fungal microbial fuel cell using a ligninolytic fungus Trametes trogii (strain CLBE 55). The obtained results showed a zero-order kinetic with a kinetic constant of 10.5 mg L−1 h−1 at 22 °C and a half-time degradation of 4.5 h under an optimal external resistance of 20,950 Ohm and a power density of 1.2 mW m−3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) pollution is a major concern in many developing nations of the world. Hence, there is a need for the development of an environmentally safe and cost-effective method for the clean-up of contaminated environments. The present study investigated the tolerance of presumptively identified fungal species isolated from 5 different dumpsite soils to Pb concentrations 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 5000, and 10000 mg/L. The identity of strains exhibiting outstanding tolerance was confirmed using molecular technique, and their biosorption capacity at 10000 mg/L was evaluated. FTIR and SEM analyses were performed on the Pb2+ untreated and treated fungal biomasses. A total of 17 fungal isolates belonging to the genera Aspergillus Alternaria, Chrysosporium, and Penicillium were obtained. All the fungi were resistant to the test concentrations of Pb2+ except Chrysosporium sp. (at 5000 mg/L and 10000 mg/L) and Alternaria sp. (at 1500 mg/L, 5000 mg/L, and 10000 mg/L). Four isolates molecularly identified as A. awamori OP341445 and OP341446 and A. niger OP342447 and OP341448 recorded outstanding tolerance (> 1). Biosorption capacity was at its peak on day 5 except in OP34148, day 10 with a value of 97.82 mg/g. The Pb2+ removal rate was at equilibrium on day 5 (≈86%) except for OP41447 and OP41448 (≈87%) on day 15. FTIR analysis reveals the involvement of functional groups O-H, C-H, N-H, O=C=O, C≡C, N=C=S, C=C, N-O, C-N, and S=O in the biosorption process. SEM showed distortion in the cellular structure of the fungi. These results indicated the lead remediation potential of the fungal strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) pollution is a major concern in many developing nations of the world. Hence, there is a need for the development of an environmentally safe and cost-effective method for the clean-up of contaminated environments. The present study investigated the tolerance of presumptively identified fungal species isolated from 5 different dumpsite soils to Pb concentrations 200, 400, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 5000, and 10000 mg/L. The identity of strains exhibiting outstanding tolerance was confirmed using molecular technique, and their biosorption capacity at 10000 mg/L was evaluated. FTIR and SEM analyses were performed on the Pb2+ untreated and treated fungal biomasses. A total of 17 fungal isolates belonging to the genera Aspergillus Alternaria, Chrysosporium, and Penicillium were obtained. All the fungi were resistant to the test concentrations of Pb2+ except Chrysosporium sp. (at 5000 mg/L and 10000 mg/L) and Alternaria sp. (at 1500 mg/L, 5000 mg/L, and 10000 mg/L). Four isolates molecularly identified as A. awamori OP341445 and OP341446 and A. niger OP342447 and OP341448 recorded outstanding tolerance (> 1). Biosorption capacity was at its peak on day 5 except in OP34148, day 10 with a value of 97.82 mg/g. The Pb2+ removal rate was at equilibrium on day 5 (≈86%) except for OP41447 and OP41448 (≈87%) on day 15. FTIR analysis reveals the involvement of functional groups O-H, C-H, N-H, O=C=O, C≡C, N=C=S, C=C, N-O, C-N, and S=O in the biosorption process. SEM showed distortion in the cellular structure of the fungi. These results indicated the lead remediation potential of the fungal strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large volume of wastewater is generated by tannery industry. The wastewater generated in the form of effluent contains heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, and other pollutants. The heavy metals are toxic chemicals released into the water bodies and contaminate soil and other related parts of the environment. In the study, tannery effluents were collected from Challawa industrial area, Kano, Nigeria. Physicochemical parameters were determined in which pH, DO, BOD, TSS, electric conductivity and turbidity were assessed, while the heavy metal such as Cd, Cr, and Pb were all found above permitted limits, which indicate the levels of contamination by toxic materials in the tannery effluent. Bioremediation process involves use of microbes to convert harmful chemical substances into harmless. In the present study, two tolerant fungal isolates Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus terreus were obtained from the enriched effluent which were further tested individually and together in the form of a consortium. The highest biosorptions of metal ions were obtained as 93.28% of Cd, 89.41% of Cr, and 97.13% of Pb at 144 h, indicative of the bioremediation potential of the fungal isolates individually and in the form of a consortium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-based acrylic pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSA) are a common component of disposable products such as tapes, labels, and packaging. Such adhesives are generated from fossil-derived monomers and additives and persist in the environment due to their low biodegradability. Furthermore, they can interfere with the recycling and remediation of products they interact with, such as plastic and paper products. Although touted as a promising remedy to these issues, adhesive polymers generated using renewable and degradable monomers tend to fall short regarding performance and cost. This study reports on the fungal degradation behaviors of hybrid PSAs copolymerized mainly from traditional acrylics and lactide-based macromonomers. These structures provide high performance at a reasonable cost and represent an alternative approach to addressing environmental concerns. Evaluating the biodegradability of these hybrid PSAs involved solid and liquid cultures using 53 unique fungal species. Nearly 50% (n = 23) of the screened species showed PSA-degrading capacities of varying degrees, including Trametes versicolor and Pestalotiopsis microspora, providing roughly complete (> 96%) polymer removal in liquid cultures. Fungal degradation of cast adhesive films was monitored using evolved CO2 and mass loss and confirmed through scanning electron microscopy and spectral analysis (FTIR). Enzyme assays, namely laccases, lipases, and proteases, showed a high correlation with the observed biodegradation rates, suggesting that hydrolytic and oxidative enzymes were likely factors driving latex degradation. These results demonstrate that the high-performing hybrid formulation is degradable by fungi. While a portion of the studied adhesive was synthesized using petroleum-derived monomers, this could serve as a bridge technology, helping to usher in more sustainable disposable consumer products until a time comes when all components are renewably sourced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid industrialization leads to synthesis of many xenobiotic organic compounds, which has an adverse effect on the environment. The Rhodamine B is a xanthene class dye having a carcinogenic, mutagenic and fluorescent properties. Rhodamine B's increased toxicity causes developmental, neurological, skin-related, and many other forms of cancer even at low concentrations. This research assessed the microbial degradation of Rhodamine B through fungal cultures. The potent culture were screened and identified as Aspergillus fumigatus isolate P5. After the optimization with one factor at a time, 97.28% decolorization of Rhodamine B was obtained at pH 6.5, 25 °C with cellulose as carbon and diammonium hydrogen phosphate as nitrogen source with 5% inoculum at 10 ppm dye concentration. The statistical study was performed with response surface methodology followed Box–Behnken design. Four different parameters were selected and 28 combinations were tested for obtaining maximum Rhodamine B decolorization. Results found that the p-value < 0.05 means model was significant, and Rhodamine B concentration and pH were significant parameters for the research. The LC–MS analysis of metabolites reveals that Rhodamine B dye was degraded into N-diethyl-N′-ethyl rhodamine, N-ethyl rhodamine, butane 1,3-diol, propane 1,2,3-triol, hydroquinone and propionic acid by A. fumigatus isolate P5. As per the investigation, A. fumigatus have a potency to degrade a Rhodamine B efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the ability of Pleurotus eryngii fungus to absorb lead and cadmium from industrial wastewater. After culturing the fungus on a potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium containing 0 (control), 150 mg L−1, 250 mg L−1, and 350 mg L−1 concentrations of lead and cademium for 30 days, the mycelia were isolated from the culture medium and their extracts were used to measure protein content and the activity of antioxidant enzymes. Also, heavy metal contents were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry using flame photometry. Results showed that the growth of mycelia was significantly affected by different concentrations of the two heavy metals. High tolerance of heavy metal pollution in the culture media and the ability to accumulate lead and cademium confirmed that Pleurotus eryngii is a favorable option for mycoremediation. Also, molecular studies for fungal sequencing were investigated using the trench method, the sequence of the fungus was recorded in the gene bank, and finally the fungus was identified in the study. Key points: Mycoremediation is a fast and low-cost heavy metal removal solutiok The proposed process does not add any harmful substances to the environment after cleaning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoremediation, a subset of bioremediation, is considered an advanced method to eliminate environmental contaminations. To identify tolerant fungi to copper contamination and study the related gene expression, sampling was carried out from the soil of "Sarcheshmeh Copper Mine," which is one of the biggest open-cast copper mines in the world. A total of 71 fungal isolates were obtained and purified. Afterward, the inhibitory effect of different concentrations (1000, 1500, 3500, 4000, and 5500 ppm) of copper sulfate on mycelial growth was evaluated. Results indicated that only 5500 ppm of copper sulfate inhibited fungal growth compared to the control. Based on the bioassay experiments, three isolates including S3-1, S3-21, and S1-7, which were able to grow on solid and broth medium containing 5500 ppm of copper sulfate at different pH conditions, were selected and identified using molecular approaches. Also, laccase and metallothionein gene expression has been assessed in these isolates. According to the molecular identification using ITS1-5.8S- ITS2 region, isolates S3-1 and S1-7 were identified as Pleurotus eryngii, and isolate S3-21 belonged to the genus Sarocladium. In addition, P. eryngii showed laccase gene expression reduction after 8 days of exposure to copper sulfate. While in the genus Sarocladium, it increased (almost 2 times) from 6 to 8 days. Besides, metallothionein gene expression has increased from 6 to 8 days of copper sulfate treatment compared to the control which reveals its role in copper tolerance of all studied isolates. In this study, Pleurotus eryngii and Sarocladium sp. are introduced as heavy metal tolerant fungi and the related gene expression to copper tolerance was studied for the first time in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current industrial and human activities scenario has accelerated the widespread use of endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), which can be found in everyday products, including plastic containers, bottles, toys, cosmetics, etc., but can pose a severe risk to human health and the environment. In this regard, fungal bioremediation appears as a green and cost-effective approach to removing pollutants from water resources. Besides, immobilizing fungal cells onto nanofibrous membranes appears as an innovative strategy to improve remediation performance by allowing the adsorption and degradation to occur simultaneously. Herein, we developed a novel nanostructured bioremediation platform based on polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membrane (PAN NFM) as supporting material for immobilizing an endophytic fungus to remove bisphenol A (BPA), a typical EDC. The endophytic strain was isolated from Handroanthus impetiginosus leaves and identified as Phanerochaete sp. H2 by molecular methods. The successful assembly of fungus onto the PAN NFM surface was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Compared with free fungus cells, the PAN@H2 NFM displayed a high BPA removal efficiency (above 85%) at an initial concentration of 5 ppm, suggesting synergistic removal by simultaneous adsorption and biotransformation. Moreover, the biotransformation pathway was investigated, and the chemical structures of fungal metabolites of BPA were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - high-resolution mass (UHPLC-HRMS) analysis. In general, our results suggest that by combining the advantages of enzymatic activity and nanofibrous structure, the novel platform has the potential to be applied in the bioremediation of varied EDCs or even other pollutants found in water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accidental oil leaks and spills often cause server soil pollution, and in situ remediation is a powerful and economical treatment technology. While during in situ remediation process, unpredicted migration of petroleum hydrocarbon in heterogeneous soil will lead to a long-term source of persistent aquifer contamination. To reduce the migration of petroleum hydrocarbon and effectively improve the in situ remediation efficiency, herein, fungal biomineralization strategy was proposed for the immobilization of petroleum contaminants. A ureolytic fungi strain with crude oil-degradation ability was screened and identified as Chaetomium globosum. When incubated in medium containing Ca2+ and crude oil, a mineral corona with spiny nanoparticles was formed at the edge of oil and the interface characters were analyzed using fluorescent pH and dissolved oxygen (DO) sensing films, respectively. Results indicated that biominerals preferred to aggregate around the edge of crude oil, providing favorable microenvironment for fungal growth and then leading to the increase of pH in the microenvironment, eventually accompanied by the formation of mineral corona. The mineral corona with numerous nanoparticles may act as a solid and stable shell, limiting or reducing the mobility of crude oil, and providing enough time for fungal biodegradation. After 28 days incubation, oil-contaminated soil treated with fungal biomineralization showed better immobilization ability for total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) under simulated acid-rain condition and higher TPH removal efficiency. This is the first demonstration for the immobilization of oil through fungal biomineralized nanoparticles, thus providing a novel strategy for the in situ remediation of oil-contaminated sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of azo dye effluent from the dyeing process, as well as the sustainable development of the environment, can all be achieved through the use of green mycoremediation. In this in vitro study, Trichothecium roseum was isolated by the sedimentation technique from the environment of an unplasticized polyvinyl chloride pipe manufacturing plant and used to decolourize and optimise the biosorption percentage of Azo Lanasyn Navy M-DNL dye. T. roseum was also used to test the decolourization percentage of the dyes Lanasyn Navy M-DNL, Isolan Black 2S-LDN, and Isolan Yellow 2S-GLN. The outcomes showed that Lanasyn Navy M-DNL dye has the highest decolourization percentage (94%). Lanasyn Navy M-DNL dye was also found to be adsorbed onto the surface of T. roseum using scan electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy investigations. Under ideal optimisation parameters, the biosorption percentage of Lanasyn Navy M-DNL dye by beads of immobilised T. roseum cells was 96%, 97%, 96%, 97%, and 96%, respectively, for beads number 60, fresh weight 1 g, incubation temperature 25 °C, pH 6, dye concentrations 10 mg/l, and sucrose concentrations 10 g/l. Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms show good agreement between the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model and the adsorption process. Also, the elution cycle was found to be effective enough to be employed for five cycles using sixty beads of immobilised T. roseum cells. The current study suggests that T. roseum is an influencer of Lanasyn Navy M-DNL dye biosorption to create a successful green strategy for handling Lanasyn Navy M-DNL dye-contaminated effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal bioremediation is a very attractive tool to cope with environmental pollution. We aimed to decipher the cadmium (Cd) response of Purpureocillium sp. CB1, isolated from polluted soil, at transcriptome level by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). We used 500 and 2500 mg/L of Cd2+ concentrations at two time points (t6;36). RNA-seq determined 620 genes that were co-expressed in all samples. The highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was obtained within the first six h of exposure to 2500 mg/L of Cd2+. Several genes encoding transcriptional regulators, transporters, heat shock proteins, and oxidative stress-related genes were differentially expressed under Cd2+ stress. Remarkably, the genes that encode salicylate hydroxylase, which is involved in naphthalene biodegradation pathway, were significantly overexpressed. Utilization of diesel as the sole carbon source by CB1 even in the presence of Cd2+ supported concomitant upregulation of hydrocarbon degradation pathway genes. Furthermore, leucinostatin-related gene expression levels increased under Cd2+ stress. In addition, leucinostatin extracts from Cd2+-treated CB1 cultures showed higher antifungal activity than the control. Notably, Cd2+ in CB1 was mainly found as bound to the cell wall, thus confirming its adsorption potential. Cd2+ stress slightly reduced growth and led to mycelial malformation due to Cd2+ adsorption, especially at a concentration of 2500 mg/L at t36. A strong correlation was recorded between RNA-seq and reverse-transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) data. In conclusion, the study represents the first transcriptome analysis of Purpureocillium sp. under Cd2+ stress, providing insights into the primary targets for rational engineering to construct strains with remarkable bioremediation potency. Key points: • Upregulation of genes encoding salicylate hydroxylases under Cd2+ stress • Maximum Cd2+ adsorption at 500 mg/L at t36 as tightly bound to the cell wall • Concordant bioremediation potential of CB1 on Cd2+ and diesel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ability of the white-rot fungus Peniophora lycii LE-BIN 2142 to degrade such phthalic acid esters (PAEs) as diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), and n-butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP) was studied. It was shown that DEHP was most efficiently biodegraded by the fungus (over 98% on day 6 of cultivation). The residual content of DBP and DiBP in the culture liquid of the fungus at the end of cultivation (10 days) was ~17–18%. BBP turned out to be the most difficult-to-degrade compound: its residual content on day 10 of P. lycii cultivation was ~40%. DEP was resistant to fungal biodegradation and exhibited a toxic effect at 1.5 g/L: the rate of radial growth of the fungus on agar decreased threefold compared to the control, and the amount of fungal biomass during liquid-phase submerged cultivation decreased by about 1.5 times. During the cultivation of P. lycii on media with PAEs, an increase in esterase activity by about 2 times and a significant decrease (by 2–4 times) in oxidase activity was shown compared to the control medium without phthalates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorinated herbicides are one of the main types of pesticide used in agriculture. In Argentina, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) is the most applied herbicide for the control of broadleaf weeds, but the risks it poses for the environment and human health are cause for great concern. A promising technology to remove this kind of pollutants, or neutralize them in such a way that they become less or non-toxic, is the use of degrading or detoxifying microorganisms from contaminated sites. Filamentous fungi can bioremediate xenobiotics thanks to their efficient enzymatic machinery. However, most studies on the degradation of 2,4-D have been carried out with bacteria, and little is known about whether it can be efficiently biodegraded by fungi. In the environment, fungal strains and native microbiota may detoxify contaminants through mechanisms like biosorption, bioabsortion, biotransformation, and/or degradation. Whether these processes occur separately or simultaneously depends on the metabolic ability of the strains that conform the microbial community. Another important concern when attempting to introduce detoxifying microorganisms into a contaminated environment is the GRAS ("Generally Recognized As Safe") assessment or status. These are studies that help predict a biodegrading microorganism's pathogenicity, toxicity, and infectivity before in situ application. This application, moreover, is regulated by different legal frameworks. The present review aims to outline the main aspects of 2,4-D degradation by fungi, and to summarize the current state of research on the topic in Argentina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Goiânia, the Goiás State capital, starred in 1987, where one of the largest radiological accidents in the world happened. A teletherapy machine was subtracted from a derelict radiotherapy clinic and disassembled by scavengers who distributed fragments of the 50 TBq 137CsCl source among relatives and acquaintances, enchanted by the blue shine of the substance. During the 15 days before the accident was acknowledged, contaminated recycling materials were delivered to recycling factories in four cities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in the form of recycling paper bales. The contaminated bales were spotted, collected, and stored in fifty 1.6 m3 steel boxes at the interim storage facility of the Nuclear and Energy Research Institute (IPEN). In 2017, a check of the content was performed in a few boxes and the presence of high moisture content was observed even though the bales were dry when conditioned and the packages were kept sealed since then. The main objective of this work was to report the fungi found in the radioactive waste after they evolved for 30 years in isolation inside the waste boxes and their role in the decay of the waste. Examination of the microbiome showed the presence of nematodes and fungal communities. The fungi species isolated were Aspergillus quadricinctus, Fusarium oxysporum, Lecanicillium coprophilumi, Scedosporium boydii, Scytalidium lignicola, Xenoacremonium recifei, and Pleurostoma richardsiae. These microorganisms showed a significant capacity to digest cellulose in our trials, which could be one of the ways they survive in such a harsh environment, reducing the volume of radioactive paper waste. These metabolic abilities give us a future perspective of using these fungi in biotechnology to remediate radioactively contaminated materials, particularly cellulose-based waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. that causes a threat to food safety and human health. Fungal biodegradation might be a promising strategy for reducing the OTA contamination in the future. In this study, the ability of Trichoderma koningii strains to degrade OTA produced by Aspergillus niger T2 (MW513392.1) isolated from tomato seeds was investigated. Among T. koningii strains tested, three strains; AUMC11519, AUMC11520 and AUMC11521 completely eliminated OTA from the culture medium, while AUMC11522 strain eliminated only 41.82% of OTA. OTα-amide, 3-phenylpropionic acid, OTα and phenylalanine were assayed as degradation products by FTIR analysis and LC–MS/MS spectra. Carboxypeptidase A (CPA) was found responsible for OTA degradation when a metal ion chelator, EDTA, was added to cell free supernatants of the three effective strains. OTA detoxification by T. koningii could present new prospective strategies for a possible application in food commodities intoxicated with ochratoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination (HMs) in water and soil is the most serious problem caused by industrial and mining processes and other human activities. Mycoremediation is a biotechnology that employs fungi to remove toxic contaminants from the environment in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Pleurotus spp. have been shown to either increase plant growth on metal-contaminated soils by providing more nutrients or by reducing metal toxicity. Pleurotus species (J. Lange), a mushroom that can be eaten, has been observed growing on plantations of wood trees in Kerman's orchards. P. sp. was the subject of this study, which examined the effects of different concentrations of various heavy metals Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), and Nickel (Ni) (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/L) on fungal colony diameters, mycelial dry weights, accumulation of heavy metals, and antioxidative enzymes. The findings revealed that P. sp. was more tolerant of Co than other metals, so the fungus grew more in the presence of low concentrations of Co and Cu. However, even at concentrations as low as 15 mg/L, Ni greatly inhibited the growth of biomass and colony diameter. Heavy metals increased the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase (CAT) up to 45 mg/L, but an increase in metal concentration above 45 mg/L resulted in a significant decrease in SOD. Metals in mycelium also increased as the concentrations of these heavy metals increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zearalenone (ZEN) and its derivatives are one of the most contaminated fungal toxins worldwide, posing a severe threat to food security and human life. Traditional physical and chemical detoxifying methods are unsatisfactory due to incomplete detoxification, nutrient loss, and secondary pollutants. In recent years, bioremediation for eliminating fungal toxins has been gradually investigated. ZEN lactone hydrolase (lactonase) has been widely studied because of its high activity, mild conditions, and non-toxic product property. This review comprehensively represents the gene mining, characterization, molecular modification, and application of microbial-derived ZEN lactonases. It is aimed to elucidate the advantages and challenges of ZEN lactonases in industrial application, which also provides perspectives on obtaining innovative and promising biocatalysts for ZEN degradation. Key points: • A timely and concise review related to enzymatic elimination towards ZEN is shown. • The catalytic conditions and mechanism of ZEN lactonase is presented. • The modification and application of ZEN lactonase are exhibited also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was the removal of 200 mg L−1 of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in wastewater by combined bio-processes, a novel isolate, and Typha angustifolia. The fungal strain was isolated and identified from agricultural soil irrigated for 20 years with wastewater and selected for its PCP removal capacity. The isolated strain was tested in PCP contaminated (200 mg L−1) liquid mineral medium (MSM). After that, a combined bio-processes phytoremediation with Typha angustifolia and bioaugmentation with Aspergillus sydowii in PCP contaminated wastewater was also tested for 30 days of incubation time. The wastewater samples were collected from the Charguia I industrial (WWTPs) namely "E. WW" the pre-treated wastewater, "P. WW" the primary treated wastewater, "S. WW" secondary or biologically treated wastewater, "AC. WW" the clarified wastewater. The bioremediation process with fungal isolate showed PCP removal of around 144 mg L−1 in the MSM after 7 days of incubation. In addition, the combined process of bioaugmentation–phytoremediation showed an increase of the PCP removal with an average removal rate of 158 mg L−1 in AC. WW sample. An increase in chloride rates, fungi number, and a decrease of bacteria number and diversity in wastewater after 1 month was also observed. In the macrophyte analysis, a reduction of leaf dry biomass and an increase of root dry biomass, organic carbon, chlorophyll a and b, were observed during the PCP removal or biotransformation. This combined process could prove to be a great prospect for chlorophenols bioremediation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotics are the major pharmaceutical wastes that are being exposed to the environment from the pharmaceutical industries and for the anthropogenic activities. The use of antibiotics for disease prevention and treatment in humans has been surpassed by the amount used in agriculture, particularly on livestock. It is stipulated that the overuse of antibiotics is the single largest reason behind the rise of bacterial anti-microbial resistance (AMR). The development of alternative therapy, like gene therapy, immunotherapy, use of natural products, and various nanoparticles, to control bacterial pathogens might be an alternative of antibiotics for mankind but the remediation of already exposed antibiotics from the lithosphere and hydrosphere needs to be envisioned with priority. The ever-increasing release of antibiotics in the environment makes it one of the major emerging contaminants (ECs). Decomposition of such antibiotic contaminants is a great challenge to get a cleaner environment. There are reports describing the degradation of antibiotics by photolysis, hydrolysis, using cathode and metal salts, or by degradation via microbes. Antimicrobials like sulfonamides are recalcitrant to natural biodegradation, exhibiting high thermal stability. There are recent reports on microbial degradation of a few common antibiotics and their derivatives but their applications in waste management are scanty. It could however be a major concern to the scientists whether to use the antibiotic degradation traits of a microbe for the removal of antibiotic wastes. The complexity of the genetic clusters of a microbe that are responsible for degradation is crucial, as a small genetic cluster might have higher chance of horizontal transfer into sensitive species of the normal microbial flora that in turn triggers the rise of antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of environmental friendly treatment of industrial effluent is a severe global problem. Microbial treatment may serve as potential technique to overcome the problem of environmental friendly management of industrial effluents. The present research was undertaken to find out potential indigenous fungal isolates/species from relevant industrial wastewaters and to explore their efficacy in mycoremediation of industrial effluent. Fungal species were isolated from textile, washing, dyeing, tannery and composite wastewaters, and efficient isolates were selected through screening against biobleaching of the effluent. Subsequently the selected fungal isolates were evaluated in mycoremediation of industrial effluent. Eleven fungal isolates were identified as species of Trichoderma, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Finally, two species (M206 (Aspergillus sp.) and B102 (Penicillium sp.)) were used for mycoremediation. Significant improvement of biobleaching/bioremediation of treated effluent was noticed. After 5 days of treatment maximum 94 and 93% of turbidity, 48.45 and 38.14% of total solids (TS), 96.67 and 95.56% of total suspended solids (TSS), 36.98 and 36.12% of total dissolved solids (TDS) removal were recorded in treated effluent with prior grown fungal species of M206 and B102, respectively compared to control. Moreover, 72.93% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was also monitored by both species. Conversely, 93% turbidity and 89% TSS removal were recorded in fresh fungal spores suspension of M206, which were closer to the values obtained at 3 days prior grown treatment. Majority of the studied parameters suggested that the fresh fungal spores suspension exhibited superior performance in mycoremediation of effluent. Definitely fresh fungal spores suspension of M206 played superior roles in mycoremediation of the treated industrial effluent. Mycoremediation by fresh fungal spores suspension might be opened as a potential technique of industrial effluents treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dairy industry is the fastest growing industry in the world. Discharged water is more easily contaminated with high levels of organic substances, pollutants and microbes. Consuming raw milk effluents can cause disease transmission to living beings and can be harmful to the environment. The present investigation was carried out for the characterization and its biodegradation process of dairy effluents using locally selected isolated fungi. For the biodegradation process, three species of fungi such as ASP, ALT, FUS were isolated and identified from dairy wastewater using the CFU method. During the monsoon, the dairy farm (CMP) collected the seasonal milk effluent. Aeration followed by filtration for degradation was performed. During the research some physicochemical parameters such as pH, BOD, COD, TDS, TSS, TKN, etc., were analyzed. Effluents from milk processing and ASP fungal isolate have been found to have a high capacity to break down organic matter. The BOD5 and COD value of the crude effluent improved by 87.75 and 81.02%, respectively, after 5 days. Biodegradation with fungal isolates can be a perfect method for treating dairy wastewater. This treatment technique can be used for industrial purposes, starting from selected fungal isolates, Aspergillus was more vital than Alternaria and Fusarium species for the biodegradation of organic content in dairy effluents. After studying all the aspects considered, aeration followed by filtration was extremely effective in reaching the most notable level of contamination present in wastewater. The possible reason could be related to the high adsorption capacity of activated carbon and assimilation by sawdust. Activated coal and sawdust can remove an assortment of organic matter from contaminated water. At long last, biodegradation of dairy wastewater by chosen fungal isolates is viable treatment technology, particularly on account of using locally isolated fungal strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoremediation is an important process that targets the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons by fungi. Fungi have advantages with their extensive enzymatic systems, rapid adaptation to toxic organic pollutants, and to adverse environmental conditions. In this study, the colorimetric method was used for the preliminary investigation of petroleum degradation with ten fungal strains. Petroleum degradation ability of spore suspension, live biomass (fungal pellet and disc) and cell-free culture supernatant of the potent A. ochraceus strain were investigated by gravimetric analysis. It was found that the fungal disc (94%) was more successful than the spore suspension (87%) in petroleum degradation under physiological conditions determined as pH:5.0, 1% of petroleum concentration, 5% (v/v) of inoculum concentration (with spore suspension) and 1 g/100 mL of inoculum amount (with fungal disc) and 7 days of the incubation period. The degradation rate constant and half-life period of spore suspension were calculated as 0.291 day−1 and t1/2 = 0.340 and of the fungal disc were 0.401 day−1 and t1/2 = 0.247. Although, 7.5% and 10% (v/v) concentration of cell-free culture supernatant achieved more than 80% petroleum removal, it was not as effective as a fungal disc. According to gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis, the fungal disc of A. ochraceus strain degraded long-chain n-alkanes such as C35 and C36 more effectively than n-alkanes in the range of C22–C34. The fact that the A. ochraceus NRRL 3174 strain has a high petroleum degradation capacity as well as being a potent biosurfactant producer will provide a different perspective to advanced mycoremediation studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This manuscript deals with the bioremediation of aqueous media containing Cd2+ and Pb2+ by using dead biomass of the fungus Phialomyces macrosporus. This filamentous fungus with 19.1 m2 g−1 of surface area showed promising adsorption results, since more than 80 % of Cd2+ and Pb2+ were removed from synthetic aqueous media. Adsorption isotherms from this fungal biomass were satisfactorily linearized (R2 > 0.95) by the mathematical Langmuir model and maximum adsorption capacities (MAC) were 1.03 × 10−4 and 6.48 × 10−5 mol g−1 for Cd2+ and Pb2+, respectively. In turn, Gibbs free energy variations were about –25 kJ mol−1, thus highlighting predominantly physical adsorptions. Concomitant cations decreased Cd2+ and Pb2+ MAC values by up to 72.6 % and 70.4 %, respectively, although this limitation has been largely circumvented after increasing the amounts of fungal biomass. As an environmental application of the biosorption of Cd2+ and Pb2+ on Phialomyces macrosporus, real chemical laboratory wastewaters were successfully treated with this filamentous fungus, thus meeting the Brazilian legal standards for cadmium (≤ 1.8 × 10−6 mol L−1) and lead (≤ 2.4 × 10−6 mol L−1). Based on these results and considering that the use of Phialomyces macrosporus to adsorb cadmium and lead is being evaluated for the first time, the original contribution of this study was to broaden the understanding of bioremediation mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, textile industries are one of the major sectors releasing dye pollutants. This is the first report on the positive correlation between toxicity and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of textile effluent along with the proposed pathway for enzymatic degradation of acid orange 10 using Geotrichum candidum within a very short stretch of time (18 h). Removal efficiency of this mycoremedial approach after 18 h in terms of chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, total suspended solids, salinity, color and dye concentration in the treated effluent reached to 98.5%, 56.3%,73.2%, 64%, 89% and 87% respectively. Also there was a decrease in pH of the treated effluent. FTIR analysis of the treated effluent confirmed biodegradation. The LCMS analysis showed the degradation of acid orange 10, which was confirmed by the formation of two biodegradation products, 7-oxo-8-iminonapthalene-1,3-disulfonate and nitrosobenzene, which subsequently undergoes stepwise hydrogenation and dehydration to form aniline via phenyl hydroxyl amine as intermediate. The X-ray diffraction studies showed that heavy metal content in the treated effluent has reduced along with decrease in % crystallinity, indicating biodegradation. The connection between toxicity and COD was also inveterated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Further the toxicological studies indicated the toxicity of raw textile effluent and relatively lower toxic nature of metabolites generated after biodegradation by G. candidum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCB) have severe impacts on marine and freshwater systems worldwide. They cause oxygen depletion and produce potent cyanotoxins that have detrimental effects on human and environmental health and deteriorate the water quality. Biological treatment of the water for control of cyanobacterial blooms and removal of cyanotoxins can be a more economical and environment-friendly way, as they do not result in production of undesirable by-products. Most biological treatments of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins have concentrated largely on bacteria, with little attention paid to algicidal fungi. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the current status and the main progresses achieved in fungal biodegradation of HCB and cyanotoxin research. The available data revealed that 15 fungal species had high lytic activity against cyanobacteria, and 6 species were capable of degrading microcystins (MCs). Some fungal species (e.g., Aurobasidium pullulans and Trichoderma citrinoviride) have been identified to selectively inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria rather than beneficial species of other algal groups. Interestingly, some fungal strains (Trichaptum abietinum, Trichoderma citrinoviride) exhibited di-functional trait, being efficient in lysing cyanobacteria and degrading MCs released from the cells after decay. Beyond a comprehensive review of algicidal and toxin-degrading activities of fungi, this paper also identifies and prioritizes research gaps in algicidal fungi. The review also gives insights to the potential applications of algicidal fungi for removal of cyanobacterial blooms and their cyanotoxins from the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fungi-based technology, wild-Serbian Ganoderma lucidum (WSGL) as myco-alternative to existing conventional microbial-based wastewater treatment is introduced in this study as a potential alternative treatment. The mycoremediation is highly persistent for its capability to oxidatively breakdown pollutant substrates and widely researched for its medicinal properties. Utilizing the nonhazardous properties and high degradation performance of WSGL, this research aims to optimize mycoremediation treatment design for chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (AN) removal in domestic wastewater based on proposed Model 1 (temperature and treatment time) and Model 2 (volume of pellet and treatment time) via response surface methodology (RSM). Combined process variables were temperature (0C) (Model 1) and the volume of mycelial pellets (%) (Model 2) against treatment time (hour). Response variables for these two sets of central composite design (CCD) were the removal efficiencies of COD (%) and AN (%). The regression line fitted well with the data with R2 values of 0.9840 (Model 1-COD), 0.9477 (Model 1-AN), 0.9988 (Model 2-COD), and 0.9990 (Model 2-AN). The lack of fit test gives the highest value of sum of squares equal to 9494.91 (Model 1-COD), 9701.68 (Model 1-AN), 23786.55 (Model 2-COD), and 13357.02 (Model 2-AN), with probability F values less than 0.05 showing significant models. The optimized temperature for Model 1 was at 25 °C within 24 h of treatment time with 95.1% COD and 96.3% AN removals. The optimized condition (temperature) in Model 1 was further studied in Model 2. The optimized volume of pellet for Model 2 was 0.25% in 24-h treatment time with 76.0% COD and 78.4% AN removals. Overall, the ascended sequence of high volume of pellet considered in Model 2 will slow down the degradation process. The best fit volume of pellet with maximum degradation of COD and AN is equivalent to 0.1% at 25 °C in 24 h. The high performance achieved demonstrates that the mycoremediation of G. lucidum is highly potential as part of the wastewater treatment system in treating domestic wastewater of high organic loadings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A deep-sea fungus Aspergillus sydowii BOBA1 isolated from marine sediment at a depth of 3000 m was capable of degrading spent engine (SE) oil. The response of immobilized fungi towards degradation at elevated pressure was studied in customized high pressure reactors without any deviation in simulating in situ deep-sea conditions. The growth rate of A. sydowii BOBA1 in 0.1 MPa was significantly different from the growth at 10 MPa pressure. The degradation percentage reached 71.2 and 82.5% at atmospheric and high pressure conditions, respectively, within a retention period of 21 days. The complete genome sequence of BOBA1 consists of 38,795,664 bp in size, comprises 2582 scaffolds with predicted total coding genes of 18,932. A total of 16,247 genes were assigned with known functions and many families found to have a potential role in PAHs and xenobiotic compound metabolism. Functional genes controlling the pathways of hydrocarbon and xenobiotics compound degrading enzymes such as dioxygenase, decarboxylase, hydrolase, reductase and peroxidase were identified. The spectroscopic and genomic analysis revealed the presence of combined catechol, gentisate and phthalic acid degradation pathway. These results of degradation and genomic studies evidenced that this deep-sea fungus could be employed to develop an eco-friendly mycoremediation technology to combat the oil polluted marine environment. This study expands our knowledge on piezophilic fungi and offer insight into possibilities about the fate of SE oil in deep-sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methods of the root-mean-square normalization and the coefficient of variation weighting were employed to normalize and weight the biodegradation effect values of aerobic bacteria and fungi of FQs molecules, and then the comprehensive biodegradation effect 3D-QSAR model of FQs was constructed using the comprehensive biodegradation effect value as target function. It was obtained from the three-dimensional equipotential map of the constructed 3D-QSAR model, the substitution sites and substitution groups that affect the comprehensive biodegradability of FQs were screened, and the widely used levofloxacin (named FQ-16) as target molecule was selected and modified with total of 67 FQ-16 derivatives designed. It was also found that there were 5 kinds of FQ-16 derivatives' aerobic bacteria and fungi biodegradability ratio, which were predicted using FQs' aerobic bacteria and fungi biodegradability 3D QSARs, approaching to the weight ratio set by the coefficient of variation method (55.47:44.53), indicating the comprehensive biodegradation effect 3D-QSAR model of FQs effectively covering both aerobic bacteria and fungi biodegradation information, and three of above FQ-16 derivatives also passed through the functionality and photodegradability assessment with significantly improvement. Change rate in energy barrier of FQ-16 biodegradation before and after modification agreed well with the increase in their comprehensive biodegradation effect values, meaning that the designed FQ-16 derivatives' biodegradation was confirmed by biodegradation pathway simulation. This article aims to provide a theoretical method for constructing FQs molecular multi-effect 3D-QSAR model and its environment-friendly molecular modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial processes and mining of coal and metal ores are generating a number of threats by polluting natural water bodies. Contamination of heavy metals (HMs) in water and soil is the most serious problem caused by industrial and mining processes and other anthropogenic activities. The available literature suggests that existing conventional technologies are costly and generated hazardous waste that necessitates disposal. So, there is a need for cheap and green approaches for the treatment of such contaminated wastewater. Bioremediation is considered a sustainable way where fungi seem to be good bioremediation agents to treat HM-polluted wastewater. Fungi have high adsorption and accumulation capacity of HMs and can be potentially utilized. The most important biomechanisms which are involved in HM tolerance and removal by fungi are bioaccumulation, bioadsorption, biosynthesis, biomineralisation, bioreduction, bio-oxidation, extracellular precipitation, intracellular precipitation, surface sorption, etc. which vary from species to species. However, the time, pH, temperature, concentration of HMs, the dose of fungal biomass, and shaking rate are the most influencing factors that affect the bioremediation of HMs and vary with characteristics of the fungi and nature of the HMs. In this review, we have discussed the application of fungi, involved tolerance and removal strategies in fungi, and factors affecting the removal of HMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has been carried out on the bacterial bioremediation of soil contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic metals but much less is known about the potential of fungi in sites that are co-contaminated with both classes of pollutants. This article documents the roles of fungi in soil polluted with both petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic metals as well as the mechanisms involved in the biotransformation of such substances. Soil characteristics (e.g., structural components, pH, and temperature) and intracellular or excreted extracellular enzymes and metabolites are crucial factors which affect the efficiency of combined pollutant transformations. At present, bioremediation of soil co-contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons and toxic metals is mostly focused on the removal, detoxification, or degradation efficiency of single or composite pollutants of each type. Little research has been carried out on the metabolism of fungi in response to complex pollutant stress. To overcome current bottlenecks in understanding fungal bioremediation, the potential of new approaches, e.g., gradient diffusion film technology (DGT) and metabolomics, is also discussed. Key points: • Fungi play important roles in soil co-contaminated with TPH and toxic metals. • Soil characteristics, enzymes, and metabolites are major factors in bioremediation. • DGT and metabolomics can be applied to overcome current bottlenecks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycoremediation holds great potential in remedying toxic environments contaminated with polyaromatic organic pollutants. To harness the natural process for practical applications, understanding the genetic and molecular basis of the remediation process is prerequisite. Compared to known bacterial degradation pathways of aromatic pollutants, however, the fungal degradation system is less studied and understanding of the genetic basis for biochemical activity is still incomplete. In this review, we surveyed recent findings from genomic and transcriptomic approaches to mycoremediation of aromatic pollutants, in company with the genomic basis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation by basidiomycete fungi, Dentipellis sp. KUC8613. Unique features in the fungal degradation of PAHs were outlined by multiple cellular processes: (i) the initial oxidation of recalcitrant contaminants by various oxidoreductases including mono- and dioxygenases, (ii) the following detoxification, and (iii) the mineralization of activated pollutants that are common metabolism in many fungi. Along with the genomic data, the transcriptomic analysis not only posits a full repertoire of inducible genes that are common or specific to metabolize different PAHs but also leads to the discovery of uncharacterized genes with potential functions for bioremediation processes. In addition, the metagenomic study accesses community level of mycoremediation process to seek for the potential species or a microbial consortium in the natural environments. The comprehensive understanding of fungal degradation in multiple levels will accelerate practical application of mycoremediation. Key points • Mycoremediation of polyaromatic pollutants exploits a potent fungal degrader. • Fungal genomics provides a full repository of potential genes and enzymes. • Mycoremediation is a concerted cellular process involved with many novel genes. • Multi-omics approach enables the genome-scale reconstruction of remedying pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil contaminated with heavy metals in general and radionuclides in particular represents an escalating problem for all living organisms. Since, Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident in 1986 in Ukraine, an exclusion zone of 30 km around the former power plant is uninhabitable land due to severe contamination. Two most notable beta emitters contributing to dose hazards for decades is radioactive 137Cs/90Sr. However, large parts of the zone are also highly contaminated with uranium particles (hot particles) bearing trace amounts of highly alpha-emitting radionuclides. We established an experiment at exclusion zone with the aim to investigate the influence of two macro fungi (Schizophyllum commune (S.C.) and Leucoagaricus naucinus (L.N.)) on oxidative status and antioxidative responses in winter rye plants; from this, we wanted to test the radionuclide/heavy metals retention capacity of both fungi, and probe their further potential for mycoremediation. Result shows some differences in the concentrations of radionuclides/heavy metals and micro/macronutrients uptake in plants. As a biomarker of oxidative status, lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and other antioxidative parameters were determined, i.e., superoxide-dismutase (SOD) isoenzymes, cysteine (CYS), and ascorbic acid (AA) concentrations as well as catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities in winter rye shoots. LPO showed no significant differences between controls and plants cultivated with macro fungi. However, CAT activities were elevated in the presence of S.C/L.N compared with control, while GR activity was significantly higher only in presence of S.C. In contrast, isozyme of SOD (Cu,Zn-SOD) was the most prominent in control. Likewise, CYS content was lower in plants grown with both fungi, while AA concentration was only lower in the presence of L.N. The results showed that presence of fungi in radionuclide contaminated soil caused induction of antioxidative response in shoots of winter rye and that the response depended on the type of fungi used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Port-dredging activities produce large volumes of contaminated sediments. Dredged sediments are considered a waste by national laws, but recently the desire to consider them a resource has become widespread and remedies for their contamination are being searched to allow their reuse. In this work, we studied, developed, and tested a method for remediate marine-dredged sediments contaminated by heavy metals using native fungi and a microporous membrane, in order to achieve the sediment quality and allow their reuse. Materials and methods: Activity was carried out on port sediments from Genoa, Leghorn, Pisa, and Cagliari (Italy). Autochthonous fungi were isolated from each sediment and employed in mycoremediation tests. Two plastic boxes were prepared (for each Port) with 5 kg of sediment in each box, employed for metal bioaccumulation using a sterile polyester membrane inoculated with fungi. Membranes were analyzed at 15, 30, and 60 days after inoculums, and sediments were analyzed after 60 days at the end of the experiment to verify metal contamination degree. Recovery efficiency (RE%) and difference recovery efficiency (DRE%) were calculated for each experiment: the first shows the absorption capability of the membrane-fungi consortium; the second evidences only the fungal contribution to the metal absorption. To assess sediment contamination before and after the mycoremediation treatment, we considered chemical levels of reference L1 (the lowest chemical level of reference) and L2 (the highest chemical level of reference), and the evaluation of chemical hazard (HQ) for the chemical contaminants defined by the Italian Ministerial Decree 173/2016. Results and discussion: Fungi from Genoa sediments increase the membrane absorption of Cu and Zn. Regarding Leghorn results, RE (%) increases and reaches the maximum value after 60 days of treatment for each considered metal. Cr tot, Ni, and Mn appear to be hyper-bioaccumulated. DRE values of Pisa sediments show that Mn is excluded by fungi and it does not bioaccumulate, while other metals and in particular Cd, Cr tot, Zn, and Sb are bioaccumulated. Cagliari DREs show that fungi are not able to bioaccumulate Cr tot, Ni, and Mn and their accumulation is due to the membrane, while As and Cd are bioaccumulated. Conclusions: Our work evidenced that selected fungi are able to grow on a microporous support and actively reduce metal concentrations in the sediments, achieving their quality. This biomembrane system may represent an important instrument for the remediation of the residual metal contamination of port sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal bioremediation is a promising approach to remove heavy-metal from contaminated water. Present study examined the ability of an earthworm gut fungus Trichoderma brevicompactum QYCD-6 to tolerate and remove both individual and multi-metals. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of heavy metals [Cu(II), Cr(VI), Cd(II) and Zn(II)] against the fungus was ranged 150–200 mg L−1 on composite medium, and MIC of Pb(II) was the highest with 1600 mg L−1 on potato dextrose (PD) medium. The Pb(II) presented the highest metal removal rate (97.5%) which mostly dependent on bioaccumulation with 80.0%, and synchronized with max biomass (6.13 g L−1) in PD medium. However, on the composite medium, the highest removal rate was observed for Cu(II) (64.5%). Cellular changes in fungus were reflected by TEM analysis. FTIR and solid-state NMR analyses indicated the involvement of different functional groups (amino, carbonyl, hydroxyl, et al.) in metallic biosorption. These results established that the earthworm-associated T. brevicompactum QYCD-6 was a promising fungus for the remediation of heavy-metal wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed understanding of the fate of xenobiotics introduced into the environment and the mechanisms involved in their biotransformation, biodegradation, and biosorption is essential to improve the efficiency of remediation techniques. Mycoremediation is a form of bioremediation technique that has become increasingly popular in recent years as fungi are known to produce various effective extracellular enzymes that have the potential to neutralize a wide variety of xenobiotics released into the environment. Hence, mycoremediation appears to be a promising technique for the removal of a wide array of toxins and pharmaceutical residues from a damaged environment and wastewater. This study primarily aimed to investigate whether white-rot fungus (Lentinula edodes) can be utilized for the bioremediation of common antifungal agent terbinafine, which is mainly available in the market as powder or cream. The cultures of L. edodes were cultivated in the medium containing terbinafine powder or terbinafine 1% cream, each at a final concentration of 0.1 mg mL−1. The addition of terbinafine in powder form have a negative effect on biomass growth (p < 0.05). The total amount of terbinafine in the dry weight of mycelium after culture was estimated to be 7.63 ± 0.45 mg and 12.52 ± 2.46 mg for powder and cream samples, respectively. In addition, there were no traces of terbinafine in any of the samples of medium used for culturing L. edodes after the experimental duration period. The biodegradation products of terbinafine were identified for the first time using UPLC/MS/MS. The biodegradation of terbinafine resulted in the loss of 1-naphthylmethanol, which occurred via oxidative deamination, N-demethylation, or tert-butyl group hydroxylation. The results of the study demonstrate that L. edodes mycelium can be effectively used for the remediation of terbinafine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater pollution results in detrimental effects on ecosystems and poses human health hazards. As the human population and urbanization rates increase, so do abiotic and biotic contaminants such as Escherichia coli within natural waterways. For example, the Chicago River has been degraded by contaminants and untreated sewage from city occupants since the late 1700s. Surprisingly, water treatment of the Chicago River has not met EPA freshwater river standards for some time, creating a need for remediation alternatives. Such an alternative is mycoremediation, where fungi are used to degrade and remove water contaminants. To explore this alternative for bioremediation of contaminated waterways, this two-part study focused on the feasibility and time efficiency of mycoremediation of polluted waters through mycofiltration. In the lab-based experiment, known amounts of E. coli–inoculated water were processed through organic wheat straw with mycelia of Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushroom) to assess if these fungi were capable of E. coli removal and at what rates. The second part of the study replicated the lab-based experiment with water samples from the Chicago River. Results showed that mycelia treatments were able to remove significant amounts of E. coli in lab- and field-sampling-based settings (99.25% and 99.74% over 96 h respectively), and did so at higher rates within the initial 48 h. With a substantial E. coli reduction by fungal mycelia from initial colony counts over 96 h, our study demonstrated that mycoremediation may be a feasible and possible option for natural contaminant remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated sediments represent an important management problem that also concerns their remediation. Indeed, port dredging activities produce huge volumes of contaminated sediments that, in turn, require proper handling because of their quantity of inorganic and organic substances. Conventional management-remediation strategies of polluted sediment involve sediment washing, electron-chemical separation, and thermal treatment. Recently, bioremediation strategies have also been proposed as a promising answer to the problem of contaminated sediments. In this context, fungi are pioneer microorganisms known to bioconcentrate, bioaccumulate, and biostabilize heavy metals. These capabilities suggest the potential to employ indigenous fungal strains to remediate polluted port sediments. In the framework of the European Project SEDITERRA (Guidelines for the sustainable treatment of dredged sediments in the Marittimo area), the aim of this paper is to characterize the fungal communities of port sediments of Genoa and present an innovative mycoremediation protocol to evaluate the capability of indigenous fungal strains in the heavy metal remediation. In this study, Penicillium expansum Link and Paecilomyces formosus (Sakag., May. Inoue & Tada) Houbraken & Samson have been selected as fungal species for the mycoremediation treatments. The protocol requires a fungal membrane system and the results highlight efficient bioremoval of Cu and Zn from sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate warming in the Arctic and the thawing of frozen carbon stocks are leading to uncertainty as to how bacterial communities will respond, including pollutant degrading bacteria. This study investigated the effects of carbon stimulation and temperature on soil microbial community diversity and explosive biodegradation in two sub-Arctic soils. Chitin as a labile carbon source stimulated overall microbial activities as reflected by increases in basal respiration (three to tenfold) and potential nitrification activity (two to fourfold) compared to unamended soil. This stimulation extended to 2,4-dinitroluene- (DNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)-degrading microorganisms either directly or via co-metabolic reaction mechanisms. A stimulatory effect of the incubation temperature (2, 12, or 22 °C) on these microbial activities was also observed, but the chitin stimulation caused greater shifts in the structure of the bacterial and fungal communities. The first reported occurrence of an associated role of chitinolytic bacteria belonging to Cellulomonadaceae and chitinolytic fungi belonging to Mortierellaceae in explosive biodegradation is described. This study found that sub-Arctic soil microbial communities were adapted to respond quickly to an increase in labile carbon sources over the range of temperatures used in this study. The warming climate in the Arctic could benefit explosive contaminated soil clean-up by providing non-recalcitrant carbon sources that stimulate overall microbial activity and correspondingly explosive biodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental accumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is of great concern due to potential carcinogenic and mutagenic risks, as well as their resistance to remediation. While many fungi have been reported to break down PAHs in environments, the details of gene-based metabolic pathways are not yet comprehensively understood. Specifically, the genome-scale transcriptional responses of fungal PAH degradation have rarely been reported. In this study, we report the genomic and transcriptomic basis of PAH bioremediation by a potent fungal degrader, Dentipellis sp. KUC8613. The genome size of this fungus was 36.71 Mbp long encoding 14,320 putative protein-coding genes. The strain efficiently removed more than 90% of 100 mg/l concentration of PAHs within 10 days. The genomic and transcriptomic analysis of this white rot fungus highlights that the strain primarily utilized non-ligninolytic enzymes to remove various PAHs, rather than typical ligninolytic enzymes known for playing important roles in PAH degradation. PAH removal by non-ligninolytic enzymes was initiated by both different PAH-specific and common upregulation of P450s, followed by downstream PAH-transforming enzymes such as epoxide hydrolases, dehydrogenases, FAD-dependent monooxygenases, dioxygenases, and glycosyl- or glutathione transferases. Among the various PAHs, phenanthrene induced a more dynamic transcriptomic response possibly due to its greater cytotoxicity, leading to highly upregulated genes involved in the translocation of PAHs, a defense system against reactive oxygen species, and ATP synthesis. Our genomic and transcriptomic data provide a foundation of understanding regarding the mycoremediation of PAHs and the application of this strain for polluted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioleaching of heavy metals from industrial contaminated soil using metallotolerant fungi is the most efficient, cost-effective, and eco-friendly technique. In the current study, the contaminated soil samples from Hattar Industrial Estate revealed a total lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) concentration of 170.90 mg L−1 and 26.66 mg L−1, respectively. Indigenous metallotolerant fungal strains including Aspergillus niger M1, Aspergillus fumigatus M3, Aspergillus terreus M6, and Aspergillus flavus M7 were isolated and identified by pheno- and genotyping. A. fumigatus and A. flavus of soil sample S1 showed higher efficiency for Pb removal (99.20% and 99.30%, respectively), in SDB medium. Likewise, A. niger and A. terreus of soil sample S2 showed higher efficiency for Hg removal (96% and 95.50%, respectively), in YPG medium. Furthermore, the maximum uptake efficiency for Pb removal (8.52 mg g−1) from soil sample S1 was noticed for A. fumigatus in YPG medium, while the highest uptake efficiency (4.23 mg g−1) of A. flavus M2 strain was observed with CYE medium. Similarly, the maximum uptake efficiency of 0.41 mg g−1 and 0.44 mg g−1 for Hg removal from soil sample S2 was found for A. niger and A. terreus strains, respectively, in CYE medium. Thus, in order to address the major issue of industrial waste pollution, indigenous fungal strains A. fumigatus (M1) and A. terreus (M7), isolated in this study, could be used (ex situ or in situ) to remediate soils contaminated with Pb and Hg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although ecological flexibility has been well documented in fungi, it remains unclear how this flexibility can be exploited for pollutant degradation, especially in the Ascomycota phylum. In this work, we assess three mycostimulation amendments for their ability to induce degradation in Trichoderma harzanium, a model fungus previously isolated from a Superfund site contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The amendments used in the present study were selected based on the documented ecological roles of ascomycetes. Chitin was selected to simulate the parasitic ecological role while cellulose and wood were selected to mimic bulk soil and wood saprobic conditions, respectively. Each amendment was tested in liquid basal medium in 0.1 and 1% (w/v) suspensions. Both chitin and cellulose amendments were shown to promote anthracene degradation in T. harzanium with the 0.1% chitin amendment resulting in over 90% removal of anthracene. None of the targets monitored for gene expression were found to be upregulated suggesting alternate pathways may be used in T. harzanium. Overall, our data suggest that mycostimulation amendments can be improved by understanding the ecological roles of indigenous fungi. However, further research is needed to better estimate specific amendment requirements for a broader group of target fungi and follow up studies are needed to determine whether the trends observed herein translate to more realistic soil systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium (Cr) released from industrial units such as tanneries, textile and electroplating industries is detrimental to the surrounding ecosystems and human health. The focus of the present study was to check the Cr(VI) removal efficiency by marine-derived fungi from liquid broth. Amongst the three Cr(VI) tolerant isolates, #NIOSN-SK56-S19 (Aspergillus sydowii) showed Cr-removal efficiency of 0.01 mg Cr mg−1 biomass resulting in 26% abatement of total Cr with just 2.8 mg of biomass produced during the growth in 300 ppm Cr(VI). Scanning Electron Microscopy revealed aggregation of mycelial biomass with exopolysaccharide, while Electron Dispersive Spectroscopy showed the presence of Cr2O3 inside the biomass indicating presence of active Cr(VI) removal mechanisms. This was further supported when the Cr(VI) removal was monitored using DPC (1,5-diphenylcarbazide) method. The results of this study point to the potential of marine-derived fungal isolates for Cr(VI) removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chromium and tannic acid resistance fungal strain was isolated from tannery effluent, and identified as Aspergillus niveus MCC 1318 based on its rDNA gene sequence. The MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) of the isolate against chromium and tannic acid was found to be 200 ppm and 5% respectively. Optimization of physiochemical parameters for biosorption of chromium and tannic acid degradation was carried out by Plackett-Burman design followed by response surface methodology (RSM). The maximum chromium removal and tannic acid degradation was found to be 92 and 68% respectively by A. niveus. Chromium removal and tannic acid degradation was increased up to 11 and 6% respectively after optimization. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to investigate biosorption phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fifty-four macromycetes, isolated from southeastern Mexico, were used in order to evaluate their capacity for degradation and tolerance to the herbicide paraquat. Ten of these strains were capable of growing in a solid culture medium in the presence of 200 ppm paraquat. Subsequently, assays to evaluate the degradation of the xenobiotic in a liquid medium were carried out. Of the ten strains evaluated, three presented the highest levels of degradation of the compound, which were Trametes pavonia (54.2%), Trametes versicolor (54.1%) and Hypholoma dispersum. They presented the highest overall degradation percentage (70.7%) after 12 days culture. The presence of ligninolytic enzymes in these strains was evaluated. H. dispersum only presented aryl alcohol oxidase activity; however, with the data obtained, it was not possible to conclude whether this specific enzyme is responsible for paraquat degradation. The level of degradation obtained is above the one reported for Pseudomonas putida, one of the few reports on paraquat degradation. This is the first report on the contaminant degradation capacity of H. dispersum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the remediation efficiency of Mucor hiemalis by comparing media elimination, uptake, and biotransformation of microcystin-LR with exposure to pure toxin versus a crude bloom extract. Results: With exposure to the extract, the elimination rate of microcystin-LR from the media, which was 0.28 ng MC-LR l h, was significantly higher compared to that achieved with exposure to the pure toxin (0.16 ng MC-LR l h) after 24 h. However, intracellular breakdown of microcystin-LR was significantly lower in the extract exposed pellets compared to the pure toxin treated fungal pellets over time. This coincided with reduced intracellular glutathione S-transferase activity with crude extract exposure which could be responsible for the detection of only the glutathione conjugate of microcystin-LR. Conclusion: This paper signifies the importance of using laboratory exposure scenarios which resemble conditions in nature to fully understand and evaluate remediation efficiency. There is merit in using M. hiemalis for mycoremediation of cyanotoxins in surface waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]