Significance: Permafrost degradation may induce soil carbon (C) loss, critical for global C cycling, and be mediated by microbes. Despite larger C stored within the active layer of permafrost regions, which are more affected by warming, and the critical roles of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in global C cycling, most previous studies focused on the permafrost layer and in high-latitude areas. Here, we demonstrate in situ that permafrost degradation alters the diversity and potentially decreases the stability of active layer microbial communities. Additionally, these changes are associated with soil C loss and potentially a positive C feedback. This study provides insights into microbial-mediated mechanisms responsible for C loss within the active layer in degraded permafrost, aiding in the modeling of C emission under future scenarios.

Nocardioides, a genus belonging to Actinomycetes, can endure various low-nutrient conditions. It can degrade pollutants using multiple organic materials such as carbon and nitrogen sources. The characteristics and applications of Nocardioides are described in detail in this review, with emphasis on the degradation of several hard-to-degrade pollutants by using Nocardioides, including aromatic compounds, hydrocarbons, haloalkanes, nitrogen heterocycles, and polymeric polyesters. Nocardioides has unique advantages when it comes to hard-to-degrade pollutants. Compared to other strains, Nocardioides has a significantly higher degradation rate and requires less time to break down substances. This review can be a theoretical basis for developing Nocardioides as a microbial agent with significant commercial and application potential.

Molecular characterization of phototrophic microorganisms in the forefield of a receding glacier in the Swiss Alps Beat Frey, Lukas Bühler, Stefan Schmutz et al. Geographical variations in Sr and Nd isotopic ratios of cryoconite on Asian glaciers Naoko Nagatsuka, Nozomu Takeuchi, Takanori Nakano et al. Large cryoconite aggregates on a Svalbard glacier support a diverse microbial community including ammonia-oxidizing archaea Jakub D Zarsky, Marek Stibal, Andy Hodson et al.