The microbial way of life spans at least 3.8 billion years of evolution. Microbial organisms are pervasive, ubiquitous, and essential components of all ecosystems. The geochemical composition of Earth's biosphere has been molded largely by microbial activities. Yet, despite the predominance of microbes during the course of life's history, general principles and theory of microbial evolution and...

AIM The aim of this study was to characterize the microbial community involved in anaerobic degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon under low- and moderate-temperature conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS Sulfate-reducing enrichment cultures growing on crude oil and p-xylene were established at low and moderate temperatures. Bacterial community structures of the cultures were characterized by 16S rRN...

AIM To identify the source of bisphenol A (BPA) [2,2'-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane] in cultures of an antibiotic-producing Bacillus sp. strain grown in polycarbonate flasks. METHODS AND RESULTS Although a culture of an antibiotic-producing Bacillus sp. strain grown in a new, rinsed polycarbonate flask yielded BPA, duplicate cultures grown in thoroughly washed polycarbonate flasks did not. Cel...

One of the most versatile and remunerative techniques for handling biodegradable solid wastes is composting. Composting refers to aerobic degradation of organic material and is one of the main waste treatment methods used for treating separated organic waste. Microbes play a key role as degraders during the composting-process and microbiology of composting has been studied for decades. Microorg...

Phyllosphere microbial communities were evaluated on leaves of field-grown plant species by culture-dependent and -independent methods. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) with 16S rDNA primers generally indicated that microbial community structures were similar on different individuals of the same plant species, but unique on different plant species. Phyllosphere bacteria were ident...

This study is one of the few investigations which analyze albumen prints, perhaps the most important photographic heritage of the late 19(th) and early 20(th) centuries. The chemical composition of photographic samples was assessed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray fluorescence. These two non-invasive techniques revealed the complex nature of albumen prints, which are comp...

A two-stage methanotrophic bioreactor system was developed for remediation of water contaminated with TCE and other chlorinated, volatile, aliphatic hydrocarbons. The first stage of the reactor was a suspended-growth culture vessel using a bubbleless methane-transfer device. The second stage was a plug-flow bioreactor supplied with contaminated groundwater and cell suspension from the culture v...

During Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 301, we obtained a sample of black rust from a circulation obviation retrofit kit (CORK) observatory at a borehole on the eastern flank of Juan de Fuca Ridge. Due to overpressure, the CORK had failed to seal the borehole. Hot fluids from oceanic crust had discharged to the overlying bottom seawater and resulted in the formation of black rust a...

INTRODUCTION Endophthalmitis is the most dreaded complication of ocular trauma and knowledge of the microbial contaminants is essential to start empirical antibiotic therapy. PURPOSE To determine incidence of contamination after open globe injuries (OGI) in our setup and to identify the spectrum of microorganisms contaminating open globe injuries. MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective study in...

BACKGROUND The field of autism research is currently divided based on a fundamental question regarding the nature of autism: Some are convinced that autism is a pandemic of modern culture, with environmental factors at the roots. Others are convinced that the disease is not pandemic in nature, but rather that it has been with humanity for millennia, with its biological and neurological underpin...