Aim: A novel electrospun biocompatible nanofibrous material loaded with commensal bacteria for potential preventive treatment of the diabetic foot was developed. Materials & methods: Two biocompatible polymers (carboxymethylcellulose and polyethylene oxide) were combined with a bacterium isolate from the skin located between the toes of a healthy adult (identified using a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry-based method as a strain of Staphylococcus epidermidis). Higher bacteria loads in the material were assured through their encapsulation in polyethylenimine. The nanofibrous material was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, zeta-potential measurements and through evaluation of cell growth and viability. Results & discussion: nanometer formation was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy, while the zeta-potential measurements revealed successful bacteria encapsulation. Viable and sufficiently growing cells were confirmed prior and after their incorporation. Co...

Biofouling proceeds in successive steps where the primary colonizers affect the phylogenetic and functional structure of a future microbial consortium. Using microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) as a study case, a novel approach for material surface protection is described, which does not prevent biofouling, but rather shapes the process of natural biofilm development to exclude MIC‐related microorganisms. This approach interferes with the early steps of natural biofilm formation affecting how the community is finally developed. It is based on a multilayer artificial biofilm, composed of electrostatically modified bacterial cells, producing antimicrobial compounds, extracellular antimicrobial polyelectrolyte matrix, and a water‐proof rubber elastomer barrier. The artificial biofilm is constructed layer‐by‐layer (LBL) by manipulating the electrostatic interactions between microbial cells and material surfaces. Field testing on standard steel coupons exposed in the sea for more than 30 days followed by laboratory analyses using molecular‐biology tools demonstrate that the preapplied artificial biofilm affects the phylogenetic structure of the developing natural biofilm, reducing phylogenetic diversity and excluding MIC‐related bacteria. This sustainable solution for material protection showcases the usefulness of artificially guiding microbial evolutionary processes via the electrostatic modification and controlled delivery of bacterial cells and extracellular matrix to the exposed material surfaces.

Biofilm-associated diseases such as periodontitis are widespread and challenging to treat which calls for new strategies for their effective management. Probiotics represent a promising approach for targeted treatment of dysbiosis in biofilm and modulation of host immune response. In this interdisciplinary study, nanofibers with two autochthonous Bacillus strains 27.3.Z and 25.2.M were developed. The strains were isolated from the oral microbiota of healthy individuals, and their genomes were sequenced and screened for genes associated with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities, virulence factors, and transferability of resistance to antibiotics. Spores of two Bacillus strains were incorporated individually or in combination into hydrophilic poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and composite PEO/alginate nanofibers. The nanofiber mats were characterised by a high loading of viable spores (> 7 log CFU/mg) and they maintained viability during electrospinning and 6 months of storage at room temperature. Spores were rapidly released from PEO nanofibers, while presence of alginate in the nanofibers prolonged their release. All formulations exhibited swelling, followed by transformation of the nanofiber mat into a hydrogel and polymer erosion mediating spore release kinetics. The investigated Bacillus strains released metabolites, which were not cytotoxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro. Moreover, their metabolites exhibited antibacterial activity against two periodontopathogens, an antiproliferative effect on PBMCs, and inhibition of PBMC expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In summary, the developed nanofiber-based delivery system represents a promising therapeutic approach to combat biofilm-associated disease on two fronts, namely via modulation of the local microbiota with probiotic bacteria and host immune response with their metabolites.

Whole-cell biosensors are still the method of choice when measuring bioavailable mercury, though their implementation in environmental monitoring is limited by low sensitivity, lack of portability and use of environmentally irrelevant bacteria. To address these issues, we have engineered a new luminescence-based whole-cell mercury biosensor, as part of a standalone fully automated portable device. Our method allows the incorporation of any environmentally relevant bacterial cell, which has been modified to translate the concentration of biologically available mercury into a dose-dependent luminescent signal. The use of environmentally relevant bacteria, Pseudomonas putida for fresh waters and Aliivibrio fischeri for salt waters, demonstrated that environmental samples will not exhibit toxic effects, when appropriate microorganisms are implemented. Additionally, by assuring efficient aeration of the medium and thus sufficient oxygenation of sensor cells during generation of the luminescence signal, we obtained a clear dose-dependent response and observed an increased sensitivity of the method up to 100 times (the limit of detection [LOD] was determined to be as low as ∼10 ng L⁻¹). Finally, using our automated device, we demonstrated that in the environment the biologically available fraction of mercury can (1) represent an important part of the total mercury content (40–70%) and (2) it can correspond to the changes of total mercury content, which results in higher bioavailability of mercury closer to the source of mercury contamination.

Olive pomace (OP) contains phytotoxic compounds that can impair plant growth and soil quality. Composting provides an effective method for detoxifying olive pomace (OP) and improving its suitability for agricultural use. Therefore, this study investigated the phytotoxic effects of raw olive pomace filtrate (OPF) on seed germination in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) and barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), as well as the impact of composted olive pomace (COP) on their growth. Seeds were exposed to OPF at concentrations of 0% (control), 1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 20%, and 100%. Additionally, three composting treatments were evaluated: R1 (control: OP + barley straw), R2 (OP + barley straw + urea), and R3 (OP + barley straw + sheep litter). Results showed that OPF at concentrations of 10%, 20%, and 100% significantly reduced seed germination, with complete inhibition at concentrations > 10%. The COP treatments showed different physicochemical properties, such as R2 exhibiting better nutrient availability (C/N = 19, oil content = 0.04%). R3 had the highest concentrations of K (40,430.2 mg/kg) and P (6022.68 mg/kg). Results also indicated that R1 significantly reduced radish dry biomass production compared to barley, although R2 performed slightly better than R1 and R3. The findings highlight the need for proper compost stabilization to minimize the phytotoxicity and improve the agricultural potential of COP for improving soil health.