All Sustainable Microbiology articles
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NewsEnzyme produced by fungus may replace chemicals in the paper industry
Fungal xylanase can be obtained by cultivating the microorganism in sugarcane bagasse or wheat bran. The solution is a non-polluting alternative for bleaching cellulose pulp, which currently uses a toxic chemical.
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NewsEngineered bacteria unlock seaweed potential: dual enzyme system enables complete alginate depolymerization
A research team has heterologously expressed alyB and alyD genes from the marine bacterium Vibrio algivorus in C. glutamicum, an industrial workhorse traditionally used for amino acid production.
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NewsScientists reveal the potential of a tiny soil bacterium to beat the Haber-Bosch process
A new review finds that biological ammonia production offers strong potential as a cleaner, greener alternative to the costly Haber-Bosch process. Microbes such as Azotobacter can produce ammonia under ambient conditions and atmospheric pressure.
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NewsDegraded soils can regain microbial diversity with soil microbiome transplants
Scientists have discovered that degraded soils can regain their microbial diversity by combining soil microbiome transplants with artificial humic acid amendments.
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NewsLong-term field study shows biochar delivers dual benefits for soil health and climate mitigation
A 14-year field study has provided compelling evidence that biochar can simultaneously reduce heavy metal risks in agricultural soils while enhancing carbon storage, offering a powerful strategy for sustainable farming and climate mitigation.
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NewsUnlocking the phosphorus puzzle: How microplastics and hydrochar change the way rice paddies feed
A fresh look at the soil microbiome reveals that the key to freeing up phosphorus locked away in the ground relies heavily on the type of carbon we add, whether that is treated animal waste or, surprisingly, synthetic plastic pollution.
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NewsWebinar: How to communicate your science to UK policymakers
Sign up for our free webinar - part of the Sustainable Microbiology Policy Spotlight journal webinar series - that will explore how microbiologists can most effectively influence policy in the UK, with insights that apply to the international policymaking context.
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News Natural dye produced by Amazonian fungus can be used in cosmetics
A red extract made from Talaromyces amestolkiae was tested in the bases of potential products, including face cream, shampoo, and gel sticks, for its antioxidant and antibacterial properties.
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NewsLower tillage boosts the soil’s natural phosphorus cycle - cutting the need for costly fertilizer inputs
Long-term tillage reduction helps to restore the soil’s natural phosphorus cycle, supporting more sustainable nutrient management with less reliance on costly and finite fertilizer inputs, according to a new study published in Sustainable Microbiology.
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NewsWebinar: What does it mean when environmental microbiomes are described as resilient?
Environmental microbiomes are often described as ‘resilient’ - but what does that even mean? A free upcoming webinar and coffee hour delivered by Dr Ashley Shade, as part of the Microbes and Social Equity 2026 Speaker Series, aims to find out.
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NewsLiving material makes harmful UV light visible – Functional coating made from proteins and bacteria
Researchers have developed a T-shirt coating - using proteins and bacteria - that reliably detects contact with UV-A radiation, is bio‑based, and could open the door to a wide range of new materials that draw on the biological functions of cells.
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NewsPlants influence the composition and function of their surrounding microbiome to suit their needs
An investigation into plant–microbe interactions at the genetic, metabolic and physiological levels revealed that 203 bacterial gene sequences were strongly shaped by the host plant, for example through their metabolic products. One bacterial genus was found to enhance root development even in nitrogen-limited soils.
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NewsPesticides significantly affect soil life and biodiversity
Seventy per cent of soils in Europe are contaminated with pesticides. A Europe-wide study shows that their effects on soil life are substantial, as pesticides suppress various beneficial soil organisms. To protect soil biodiversity, the findings should be taken into account in current pesticide regulations.
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NewsMethane eating microbes turn a powerful greenhouse gas into green plastics, feed, and fuel
Methane eating microbes could help turn a powerful greenhouse gas into everyday products like animal feed, green plastics, and cleaner fuels, according to a new scientific review of fast moving research on these unusual bacteria.
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News£3.7 million project aims to provide unprecedented analysis of mesophotic coral reefs
Scientists are to carry out an unprecedented assessment of the response and resilience of mesophotic coral ecosystems – coral reef communities found at depths of between 30m and 150m in tropical regions – to the temperature shifts predicted under future climate change.
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NewsScientists reprogramme E. coli to transform sugars into eco-friendly surfactant
A new study demonstrates a sustainable microbial strategy for producing lauryl glucoside by engineering a non-natural biosynthetic pathway in Escherichia coli, revealing precursor availability as a key bottleneck and moving towards greener biomanufacturing.
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NewsBrewing a rare medicine: yeast engineered to produce a valuable astragalus isoflavonoid
By reconstructing the complete biosynthetic pathway inside Saccharomyces cerevisiae and systematically removing metabolic bottlenecks, researchers created the first yeast platform capable of producing calycosin-7-glucoside from simple carbon sources.
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NewsReconstructing nature’s oxindole factory: yeast-based biosynthesis of medicinal indole alkaloids
By identifying four key enzymes from a North American plant and reconstituting them in yeast, scientists have achieved complete de novo biosynthesis of complex oxindole molecules that are difficult to obtain from plants or chemical synthesis.
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NewsEngineering yeast to make rare anticancer saponins: reconstructing the complete biosynthesis of polyphyllin II
By combining plant transcriptomics, enzyme engineering, and synthetic biology, a new study demonstrates, for the first time, the full heterologous production of polyphyllin II in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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NewsScientists develop new biosynthetic route to optically pure S-2-Hydroxyisovalerate
By uncovering an unexpected enzyme activity and combining it with precise metabolic engineering, scientists has transformed Escherichia coli into a microbial factory capable of producing gram-per-liter levels of optically pure S-HIV from renewable carbon sources.