Microbial community dynamics in the mesophilic and thermophilic phases of textile waste composting identified through next-generation sequencing

Composting is a promising source of mesophilic and thermophilic microorganisms directly involved in the decay of organic matter. However, there is a paucity of information related to bacterial and fungal diversity in compost and their enzymatic activities during the composting process. In this work, bacterial and fungal diversity during the mesophilic and thermophilic phases of textile waste composting was investigated as a way to explain the physical–chemical results obtained during the composting process. This was accomplished using a next-generation sequencing approach that targets either the 16S rRNA or ITS genomic regions of bacteria and fungi, respectively. It was observed that Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacterial phyla present at the mesophilic phase but not at the thermophilic one. Composting textile waste exhibits a sustained thermophilic profile (above 55 °C) that usually precludes fungal activity. Nonetheless, the presence of fungi at the thermophilic phase was observed. Rozellomycota, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota were the most dominant phyla during both composting phases. Such thermophilic fungi with great ability to decay organic matter could be isolated as pure cultures and used for the bioaugmentation of textile waste composting to achieve an advanced maturity level of textile waste compost.

A new record of psychrotrophic Paecilomyces formosus (Eurotiales: Ascomycota) from India: morphological and molecular characterization

A filamentous fungus Paecilomyces formosus (Eurotiales, Ascomycota) was detected for the first time from the region while surveying fungal diversity of a cold arid high-altitude pass (4,000 msl) located in Kargil district (Ladakh), India. The fungal isolate was characterized morphologically with camera lucida drawings and microphotographs, and identified using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) ribosomal DNA sequences. P. formosus has not been reported from India, or from arid/semi-arid/cold regions before, thus this represents a new record of Indian hot/cold desert mycoflora that is psychrotrophic in contrast to the more common thermophilic fungi.

PRODUCTION OF ENZYMES IN PREDOMINANT THERMOPHILIC FUNGI AVAILABLE FROM ORGANIC SUBSTRATES

Present investigation describes that the study site comes under Aurangabad Division Maharashtra and it falls in Deccan Plateau Zone of India. It was collected different types of organic substrates viz. vermiompost, poultary manure, baggase, farm yard manure (FYM), soil, Ash etc. Isolated thermophilic predominant fungi thermophilic fungi viz.Aspergillus niger, Mucor mucedo,Humicola insolens,Trichoderma harzianum,T. viride,Penicillium duponti,Fusarium oxysporun and Chaetomium thermophilum were carried out for the production of enzymes. Isolated predominant thermophilic fungi were evaluated on different types of enzymes. Among tested thermophilic fungi, the highest ativity was observed in C. thermophilium (20mm) followed by T. harzianum (19.50mm) In lipase, M. mucedo (15.40mm) was found maximum followed by F. oxysporun. Cellulase activity was found highest in A. nige (25mm) followed by others. In case of xylanase, catalase, peroxidase and esterase activities were found maximum, minimum and medium even negative in some fungi. Maximum pectinase activity was detected from H. insolens (52.26 @ 0 min) and (74.25 @ 10 min) and in case of M. mucedo, F. oxysporun and C. thermophilium was found most extreme while least in A. niger (30.12) and P. duponti (33.47) @ 0 minute. Key words: Organic Substrates, Thermophilic Fungi, Enzymes

Identification and Characterization of Thermostable Y-Family DNA Polymerases η, ι, κ and Rev1 From a Lower Eukaryote, Thermomyces lanuginosus

Y-family DNA polymerases (pols) consist of six phylogenetically separate subfamilies; two UmuC (polV) branches, DinB (pol IV, Dpo4, polκ), Rad30A/POLH (polη), and Rad30B/POLI (polι) and Rev1. Of these subfamilies, DinB orthologs are found in all three domains of life; eubacteria, archaea, and eukarya. UmuC orthologs are identified only in bacteria, whilst Rev1 and Rad30A/B orthologs are only detected in eukaryotes. Within eukaryotes, a wide array of evolutionary diversity exists. Humans possess all four Y-family pols (pols η, ι, κ, and Rev1), Schizosaccharomyces pombe has three Y-family pols (pols η, κ, and Rev1), and Saccharomyces cerevisiae only has polη and Rev1. Here, we report the cloning, expression, and biochemical characterization of the four Y-family pols from the lower eukaryotic thermophilic fungi, Thermomyces lanuginosus. Apart from the expected increased thermostability of the T. lanuginosus Y-family pols, their major biochemical properties are very similar to properties of their human counterparts. In particular, both Rad30B homologs (T. lanuginosus and human polɩ) exhibit remarkably low fidelity during DNA synthesis that is template sequence dependent. It was previously hypothesized that higher organisms had acquired this property during eukaryotic evolution, but these observations imply that polι originated earlier than previously known, suggesting a critical cellular function in both lower and higher eukaryotes.

Production of Phytase by three thermophilic fungi

Production of phytase by three thermophilic fungi, Thermomyces lanuginosus, Talaromyces luteus and Rhizomucor pusillus under different cultural conditions was assessed. Temperature of 45°C, pH-6.0 were optimum for phytase production by the all three fungi under investigation . Carbon and nitrogen sources for production of phytases by the three thermophilic fungi varied with the fungus. When T. lanuginosus opted for D-glucose followed by D-fructose, T. luteus preferred D-glucose, D-mannose and mannitol for production a phytase. On the other hand, R. pusillus produced maximum phytase during its growth on mannitol and maltose as carbon source. L- asparagine, L- arginine and L-asparatic acid were preferred nitrogen sources for production of phytase by T. lanuginosus. On the other hand T. luteus, opted for L- asparagine, L-glutamic acid and L- glycine for the activity of phytase. R. pusillus produced maximum phytase in medium containing L-argine, L-asparagine and L- asparatic acid.

Characterization of Thermophilic Lignocellulolytic Microorganisms in Composting

Composting involves the selection of a microbiota capable of resisting the high temperatures generated during the process and degrading the lignocellulose. A deep understanding of the thermophilic microbial community involved in such biotransformation is valuable to improve composting efficiency and to provide thermostable biomass-degrading enzymes for biorefinery. This study investigated the lignocellulose-degrading thermophilic microbial culturome at all the stages of plant waste composting, focusing on the dynamics, enzymes, and thermotolerance of each member of such a community. The results revealed that 58% of holocellulose (cellulose plus hemicellulose) and 7% of lignin were degraded at the end of composting. The whole fungal thermophilic population exhibited lignocellulose-degrading activity, whereas roughly 8–10% of thermophilic bacteria had this trait, although exclusively for hemicellulose degradation (xylan-degrading). Because of the prevalence of both groups, their enzymatic activity, and the wide spectrum of thermotolerance, they play a key role in the breakdown of hemicellulose during the entire process, whereas the degradation of cellulose and lignin is restricted to the activity of a few thermophilic fungi that persists at the end of the process. The xylanolytic bacterial isolates (159 strains) included mostly members of Firmicutes (96%) as well as a few representatives of Actinobacteria (2%) and Proteobacteria (2%). The most prevalent species were Bacillus licheniformis and Aeribacillus pallidus. Thermophilic fungi (27 strains) comprised only four species, namely Thermomyces lanuginosus, Talaromyces thermophilus, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Gibellulopsis nigrescens, of whom A. fumigatus and T. lanuginosus dominated. Several strains of the same species evolved distinctly at the stages of composting showing phenotypes with different thermotolerance and new enzyme expression, even not previously described for the species, as a response to the changing composting environment. Strains of Bacillus thermoamylovorans, Geobacillus thermodenitrificans, T. lanuginosus, and A. fumigatus exhibiting considerable enzyme activities were selected as potential candidates for the production of thermozymes. This study lays a foundation to further investigate the mechanisms of adaptation and acquisition of new traits among thermophilic lignocellulolytic microorganisms during composting as well as their potential utility in biotechnological processing.

Thermophilic Fungi with Glucosidase and Proteolytic Activities

The directed search for extremophilic producers in order to obtain hydrolytic enzymes with increased thermal stability has an unconditional practical potential for use in the food and feed industry to improve the quality of the final product. The aim of the work was to study the ability of collection strains of thermophilic fungi to show α-L-rhamnosidase, α-galactosidase, cellulase, β-mannanase, keratinase and caseinolytic activity. Methods. Micromycetes were grown under submerged conditions in test tubes at 42°C for 8–14 days. Enzymatic activities were studied in the culture liquid supernatant. p-Nitrophenyl-α-D-galactopyranoside, naringin, guar gum galactomannan and Na-carboxymethylcellulose were used as substrates to determine α-galactosidase, α-L-rhamnosidase, β-mannanase and cellulase activities, respectively. Casein and crushed defatted feathers were served as substrates for the determination of proteolytic activity. Results. The enzymatic activity of 50 strains of micromycetes belonging to 17 species was investigated. The studied group showed high activity: 94% of the strains had at least one, 34% – two, 26% – from three to five enzyme activities. The most active keratinase producers were Thielavia terrestris 1920 and 62, Rhizomucor tauricus 1909, Chrysosporium thermophilum 2050, Thermoascus thermophilus 92 and Thermoascus aurantiаcus 2052 (10–26 U/mL). The highest α-L-rhamnosidase activity was observed in T. terrestris 62 (0.35 U/mL), and carboxymethylcellulase activity −in Thermomyces lanuginosus 2046. Six strains showed α-galactosidase (0.05–0.2 U/mL) and four strains − β-mannanase (5–130 U/mL) activity. Conclusions. As a result new strains producing proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes were isolated among thermophilic micromycetes. Soil thermophilic micromycetes can be used as producers of proteolytic and glycolytic enzymes. Of particular interest are the cultures of Acremonium thermophilum 1963, Corynascus thermophilum 2050, C. sepedonium 1899 and 65068, T. thermophilus 1946, which are capable of producing complexes of proteases and glycosidases in the culture liquid. This indicates that these strains are promising for use as destructors in various technologies processing of complex raw materials.

Novel Proteome and N-Glycoproteome of the Thermophilic Fungus Chaetomium thermophilum in Response to High Temperature

Thermophilic fungi are eukaryotic species that grow at high temperatures, but little is known about the underlying basis of thermophily at cell and molecular levels. Here the proteome and N-glycoproteome of Chaetomium thermophilum at varying culture temperatures (30, 50, and 55°C) were studied using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography enrichment and high-resolution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy analysis. With respect to the proteome, the numbers of differentially expressed proteins were 1,274, 1,374, and 1,063 in T50/T30, T55/T30, and T55/T50, respectively. The upregulated proteins were involved in biological processes, such as protein folding and carbohydrate metabolism. Most downregulated proteins were involved in molecular functions, including structural constituents of the ribosome and other protein complexes. For the N-glycoproteome, the numbers of differentially expressed N-glycoproteins were 160, 176, and 128 in T50/T30, T55/T30, and T55/T50, respectively. The differential glycoproteins were mainly involved in various types of N-glycan biosynthesis, mRNA surveillance pathway, and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum. These results indicated that an efficient protein homeostasis pathway plays an essential role in the thermophily of C. thermophilum, and N-glycosylation is involved by affecting related proteins. This is the novel study to reveal thermophilic fungi’s physiological response to high-temperature adaptation using omics analysis, facilitating the exploration of the thermophily mechanism of thermophilic fungi.