Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution

Author(s):  
Giovanni Gallo ◽  
Martina Aulitto ◽  
Patrizia Contursi ◽  
Danila Limauro ◽  
Simonetta Bartolucci ◽  
...  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Gallo ◽  
Rosanna Puopolo ◽  
Miriam Carbonaro ◽  
Emanuela Maresca ◽  
Gabriella Fiorentino

Extremophiles are microorganisms that populate habitats considered inhospitable from an anthropocentric point of view and are able to tolerate harsh conditions such as high temperatures, extreme pHs, high concentrations of salts, toxic organic substances, and/or heavy metals. These microorganisms have been broadly studied in the last 30 years and represent precious sources of biomolecules and bioprocesses for many biotechnological applications; in this context, scientific efforts have been focused on the employment of extremophilic microbes and their metabolic pathways to develop biomonitoring and bioremediation strategies to face environmental pollution, as well as to improve biorefineries for the conversion of biomasses into various chemical compounds. This review gives an overview on the peculiar metabolic features of certain extremophilic microorganisms, with a main focus on thermophiles, which make them attractive for biotechnological applications in the field of environmental remediation; moreover, it sheds light on updated genetic systems (also those based on the CRISPR-Cas tool), which expand the potentialities of these microorganisms to be genetically manipulated for various biotechnological purposes.


Author(s):  
S. K. Peng ◽  
M.A. Egy ◽  
J. K. Singh ◽  
M.B. Bishop

Electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis (EDXA) are found to be very useful tools for identification of etiologic agents in pneumoconiosis or interstitial pulmonary disorders. Pulmonary interstitial fibrosis and granulomatosis are frequently associated with occupational and environmental pollution. Numerous reports of pneumoconiosis in various occupations such as coal and gold miners are presented in the literature. However, there is no known documented case of pulmonary changes in workers in the sandpaper industry. This study reports a rare case of pulmonary granulomatosis containing deposits from abrasives of sandpaper diagnosed by using EDXA.


1974 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 568-568
Author(s):  
GEORGE W. ALBEE

Author(s):  
Y.N. Rybakov ◽  
◽  
V.E. Danilov ◽  
I.V. Danilov ◽  
◽  
...  

The problem of losses of oil products from leaks during their storage and transportation at oil supply facilities is considered. The influence of oil product leaks on the environmental situation around oil depots and gas stations is shown. A detailed overview of existing methods and tools for detecting leaks of petroleum products from storage facilities is presented. The evaluation of their effectiveness. Two methods for detecting oil leaks and devices based on them are proposed. The first device monitors the movement of liquid in the tank, the second-detects petroleum products in wastewater. The problem of recovery of petroleum vapors and environmental pollution from the release of vapors of light fractions into the atmosphere is also considered. An overview of existing methods and means of recovery of petroleum vapors is presented. Two methods and devices for capturing oil vapors and returning them to the reservoir are proposed, based on different principles: vapor absorption in the cooled oil product and vapor recovery on the principle of the Carnot cycle. It is shown that these devices can provide effective detection of oil leaks and recovery of their vapors, as well as improve the effectiveness of environmental protection at modern gas stations and tank farms.


2012 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
M. Jolánkai ◽  
Á. Tarnawa ◽  
K. Kassai ◽  
H. Nyárai ◽  
Zs. Szentpétery

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