Some recent scientific papers and popular science articles that I already included on my daily MicrobiomeDigest blog, but that I would like to share here as well.
Feasibility study involving the search for natural strains of microorganisms capable of degrading graffiti from heritage materials – Patricia SanmartÃn – International Biodeterioration & Biodegradation
A total of 54 different strains were obtained from various sources, recent and old graffiti, the bodywork of a car in a scrapyard and the soil beneath it, an acrylic wall painting and the interior of spray paint cans
Characterization of the relative importance of human- and infrastructure-associated bacteria in grey water: a case study – S.P. Keely – Journal of Applied Microbiology
The aim of this study was to characterize the bacterial composition from (i) various points throughout a grey water recycling system that collects shower and sink handwash water into an equalization tank prior to treatment and (ii) laundry water effluent of a commercial-scale washer.
Distribution and population structure characteristics of microorganisms in urban sewage system – Yanchen Liu – Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
The study aims to investigate the microbial communities spatial distribution inside manholes and sewage pipes by using the massive parallel 454 pyrosequencing combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of V1—V3 regions of 16S rRNA.
Effects of Source- versus Household Contamination of Tubewell Water on Child Diarrhea in Rural Bangladesh: A Randomized Controlled Trial – Ayse Ercumen – PLOS ONE
We randomly assigned 1800 households with a child aged 6-18 months (index child) into one of three arms: chlorine plus safe storage, safe storage and control. We followed households with monthly visits for one year to promote the interventions, track their uptake, test participants’ source and stored water for fecal contamination, and record caregiver-reported child diarrhea prevalence (primary outcome).
Self-healing bio-concrete uses bacteria to repair itself – Anthony Cuthbertson – International Business Times
Microbiologists at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands embedded calcite-precipitating bacteria into a concrete mixture to give it self-healing properties under the right conditions.
How Germs Might Shape the Future of Architecture – Vicky Gan – City Lab
The study of indoor microbiology isn’t new, says UC Davis biologist Jonathan Eisen, but it is moving faster than ever thanks to recent advances in DNA sequencing technology.