Abstract. Framboidal pyrite has been a matter of interest of many studies due to its abundance in a wide range of environments and being a marker of redox conditions. However, the clear origin of framboidal pyrite remains unresolved. Our studies are preliminary laboratory investigations on the influence of the shape and physicochemical properties of bacteriophages on the synthesis of framboid-like structures. This paper discusses the possible role of bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) in the precipitation of sulfide minerals (FeS and CuS) and their impact on the formation of framboid-like structures. Here, two bacteriophages (Escherichia phage P1 and Pseudomonas phage Φ6), which differ significantly in shape and physicochemical properties, were used. Our observations suggest that viruses may bind ions from the solution. Moreover, we showed that bacteriophages P1 can lead to the formation of finer mineral particles of FeS and CuS, whereas the framboid-like structures were found only in experiments with precipitation of FeS. However, the lipid-enveloped Pseudomonas phage Φ6 did not cause the formation of similar structures. It is assumed that Escherichia phage P1 can promote the formation of FeS-based framboid-like or spherical structures. The proposed four-step conceptualized mechanism facilitating the framboid-like structure synthesis via viruses is as follows: (i) binding of ions by capsids, (ii) bacteriophages behaving like a crystallization surface, (iii) destabilization of the colloid (ζ potential ± 0), and (iv) formation of fine agglomerates and subsequent formation of small crystallites. Further studies are required to find all factors that may be affected by bacteriophages during sulfide precipitation. In addition, it is important to consider viruses present in sedimentation environments, despite possible difficulties in laboratory culturing. The consideration of such viruses may make laboratory testing more valid in terms of sedimentation environments.
Grasses are cosmopolitan yet an important component in ecology. The current human population readily relies on grasses as many Poaceae species provide staple carbohydrate sources and staple feed to livestock. Ecologically grass plays a vital role as a pioneer inhabitant as well as sustaining immense biodiversity within the community. Fungi play a pivotal role in maintaining and shaping the grass communities. Fungi occur on grasses as commensals, saprobes, and pathogens. Each fungal community associated with grasses is responsible for the specific ecological property of the grass community, either in silviculture or polyculture. Hence, grass fungi drawn much attention from researchers. The taxonomy of grass fungi dates back to 1800s. However, up-to-date collective worldwide account for grass fungi is still lacking. In thi study, we compiled all the taxonomically valid data of Ascomycetous grass fungi in a checklist. The section Ascomycota comprises 3,165 fungal species among 207 families, 70 orders, and 11 classes. The majority of the species are represented by Dothideomycetes (1,367) and Sordariomycetes (944). This study is the first worldwide checklist of Ascomycetous grass fungi.
Travertines, which precipitate from high temperature water saturated with calcium carbonate, are generally considered to be dominated by physico-chemical and microbial precipitates. Here, as an additional influence on organomineral formation, metagenomic data and microscopic analyses clearly demonstrate that highly diverse viral, bacterial and archaeal communities occur in the biofilms associated with several modern classic travertine sites in Europe and Asia, along with virus-like particles. Metagenomic analysis reveals that bacteriophages (bacterial viruses) containing icosahedral capsids and belonging to the Siphoviridae, Myoviridae and Podoviridae families are the most abundant of all viral strains, although the bacteriophage distribution does vary across the sampling sites. Icosahedral shapes of capsids are also the most frequently observed under the microscope, occurring as non-mineralized through to mineralized viruses and virus-like particles. Viruses are initially mineralized by Ca-Si amorphous precipitates with subordinate Mg and Al contents; these then alter to nanospheroids composed of Ca carbonate with minor silicate 80–300 nm in diameter. Understanding the roles of bacteriophages in modern carbonate-saturated settings and related organomineralization processes is critical for their broader inclusion in the geological record and ecosystem models.
Magnetic nanoparticles can be modified with bacteriophages and quaternary ammonium salt (QAS), and can reveal different antibacterial properties.
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