Biomimetics is a field of science that studies biological processes for effectively using them in the development of innovative engineering materials and systems. It is a new field of emergence in materials science and engineering in which lessons learned from biology form the basis for evolution of novel technological materials. Biomimetics is finding application in diverse areas ranging from ...

The differentiation of vegetative cells of Bacillus subtilis into spores involves asymmetric cell division, which precedes complete chromosome partitioning. The DNA translocase SpoIIIE is required to translocate the origin distal 70% of the chromosome from the larger mother cell into the smaller prespore, the two cells that result from the division. We have tested the effect of altering the tim...

The early age microcracking is a significant problem in concrete structures resulting increased permeability and decreased durability. previous work showed that Sporasarcina pasteurii cells immobilized on natural minerals such as bentonite, diatomaceous earth, sepiolite, pumice effectively remediated early-age microcracks the cementitious systems by triggering microbial-induced calcite precipit...

A case of pneumonia due to Pasturella ureae was encountered in a 57-year-old man who developed bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and respiratory insufficiency while convalescing in the hospital from a hip fracture and multiple rib fractures. Cultures of his sputum grew an essentially pure growth of Pasturella ureae. This organism, a small gram-negative rod, could be differentiated from the other ...

The culturable bacterial diversity from Iron Curtain Cave, Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada was examined. Sixty five bacterial isolates were successfully cultivated, purified, and identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Four distinguishable phyla, i.e., Actinobacteria (44.61%), Proteobacteria (27.69%), Firmicutes (20%) and Bacteroidetes (7.69%) were identified. Arthrobacter (21.53%) w...

We present the outcomes of studies into the behaviour of biologically induced mineralisation (BIM) of calcium carbonate for the purposes of contaminant sequestration and soil stabilisation. The implementation of BIM requires treatment of soil/aquifer material in situ through introduction of chemical precursors and potentially bacteria. However, natural subsurface heterogeneity causes preferenti...

Cleanrooms have been considered microbially-reduced environments and are used to protect human health and industrial product assembly. However, recent analyses have deciphered a rather broad diversity of microbes in cleanrooms, whose origin as well as physiological status has not been fully understood. Here, we examined the input of intact microbial cells from a surrounding built environment in...