Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
4.5
Journals
Microorganisms
Special Issues
Microorganisms and Marine Biodeterioration
share announcement

Microorganisms and Marine Biodeterioration

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2023) | Viewed by 7278

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Christine Gaylarde

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, University of Oklahoma. Norman, OK, USA
Interests: biodeterioration
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Brenda J. Little

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
B.J. Little Corrosion Consulting, LLC, 6528 Alakoko Drive, Diamondhead, MS, USA
Interests: biodeterioration

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Organic and inorganic pollution of our oceans is currently of considerable concern. Microorganisms obviously add to these concerns when they are animal or plant pathogens, but we are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of non-pathogenic microorganisms, i.e., algae, archaea, bacteria and fungi, and their potential to ameliorate pollution by degrading aquatic pollutants, such as microplastics and fuels. The identification of the plastisphere, for example, the microbial biofilm that develops on the surface of immersed microplastics, could lead to the development of a species or set of species that can efficiently break down the polluting microparticles.

Conversely, the well-established deteriorating activities of microorganisms on materials related to maritime activities, including metals, paints, building materials (concrete, stone, wood), oils and plastics, can increase marine pollution, quite apart from having considerable financial implications. Not only submerged structures, such as bridges, barriers, shipwrecks, pilings and drilling equipment, are subject to microbial deterioration, but also mobile elements, such as boats, ships and fishing equipment. Studies on the biodeterioration of these objects can lead to the development of new control strategies.

This Special Issue, covering the microbial activities that lead to the breakdown of materials and the ways in which Humankind can influence them, both positively and negatively, provides an up-to-date view of the importance of microbial biodeterioration in the marine environment.

Dr. Christine Gaylarde
Dr. Brenda J. Little
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biofilms
  • bioremediation
  • biodeterioration
  • control strategies
  • marine pollution

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

19 pages, 3387 KiB  
Article
Substrate Specificity of Biofilms Proximate to Historic Shipwrecks
by Rachel L. Mugge, Rachel D. Moseley and Leila J. Hamdan
Microorganisms 2023, 11(10), 2416; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102416 - 27 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1046
Abstract
The number of built structures on the seabed, such as shipwrecks, energy platforms, and pipelines, is increasing in coastal and offshore regions. These structures, typically composed of steel or wood, are substrates for microbial attachment and biofilm formation. The success of biofilm growth [...] Read more.
The number of built structures on the seabed, such as shipwrecks, energy platforms, and pipelines, is increasing in coastal and offshore regions. These structures, typically composed of steel or wood, are substrates for microbial attachment and biofilm formation. The success of biofilm growth depends on substrate characteristics and local environmental conditions, though it is unclear which feature is dominant in shaping biofilm microbiomes. The goal of this study was to understand the substrate- and site-specific impacts of built structures on short-term biofilm composition and functional potential. Seafloor experiments were conducted wherein steel and wood surfaces were deployed for four months at distances extending up to 115 m away from three historic (>50 years old) shipwrecks in the Gulf of Mexico. DNA from biofilms on the steel and wood was extracted, and metagenomes were sequenced on an Illumina NextSeq. A bioinformatics analysis revealed that the taxonomic composition was significantly different between substrates and sites, with substrate being the primary determining factor. Regardless of site, the steel biofilms had a higher abundance of genes related to biofilm formation, and sulfur, iron, and nitrogen cycling, while the wood biofilms showed a higher abundance of manganese cycling and methanol oxidation genes. This study demonstrates how substrate composition shapes biofilm microbiomes and suggests that marine biofilms may contribute to nutrient cycling at depth. Analyzing the marine biofilm microbiome provides insight into the ecological impact of anthropogenic structures on the seabed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Marine Biodeterioration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 3616 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Highly Weathered Oil from the Most Extensive Oil Spill in Tropical Oceans (Brazil) on the Microbiome of the Coral Mussismilia harttii
by Pedro Henrique F. Pereira, Luanny Fernandes, Hugo E. Jesus, Patricia G. Costa, Carlos H. F. Lacerda, Miguel Mies, Adalto Bianchini and Henrique F. Santos
Microorganisms 2023, 11(8), 1935; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11081935 - 29 Jul 2023
Viewed by 1395
Abstract
In 2019, the largest oil spill ever recorded in tropical oceans in terms of extent occurred in Brazil. The oil from the spill was collected directly from the environment and used in an exposure experiment with the endangered reef-building coral Mussismilia harttii. [...] Read more.
In 2019, the largest oil spill ever recorded in tropical oceans in terms of extent occurred in Brazil. The oil from the spill was collected directly from the environment and used in an exposure experiment with the endangered reef-building coral Mussismilia harttii. The treatments of the experiment were control (without oil), 1% oil, 2.5% oil, and direct contact of coral with oil. The most abundant hydrocarbon in the seawater of the experiment was phenatrene, which is toxic to corals. However, overall, the concentration of PAHs was not very high. The analysis of the maximum photosynthetic capacity of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates showed a small impact of oil on corals, mainly on the contact treatment. However, coral microbiomes were affected in all oil treatments, with the contact treatment showing the most pronounced impact. A greater number and abundance of stress-indicating and potentially pathogenic bacteria were found in all oil treatments. Finally, this highly weathered oil that had lain in the ocean for a long time was carrying potentially coral-pathogenic bacteria within the Vibrionaceae family and was able to transmit some of these bacteria to corals. Bacteria within Vibrionaceae are the main causes of disease in different species of corals and other marine organisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Marine Biodeterioration)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

31 pages, 3328 KiB  
Review
The Role of Metallurgical Features in the Microbially Influenced Corrosion of Carbon Steel: A Critical Review
by Muhammad Awais Javed, Nicolò Ivanovich, Elena Messinese, Ruiliang Liu, Solange E. Astorga, Yee Phan Yeo, Sridhar Idapalapati, Federico M. Lauro and Scott A. Wade
Microorganisms 2024, 12(5), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12050892 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 394
Abstract
Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a potentially critical degradation mechanism for a wide range of materials exposed to environments that contain relevant microorganisms. The likelihood and rate of MIC are affected by microbiological, chemical, and metallurgical factors; hence, the understanding of the mechanisms [...] Read more.
Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a potentially critical degradation mechanism for a wide range of materials exposed to environments that contain relevant microorganisms. The likelihood and rate of MIC are affected by microbiological, chemical, and metallurgical factors; hence, the understanding of the mechanisms involved, verification of the presence of MIC, and the development of mitigation methods require a multidisciplinary approach. Much of the recent focus in MIC research has been on the microbiological and chemical aspects, with less attention given to metallurgical attributes. Here, we address this knowledge gap by providing a critical synthesis of the literature on the metallurgical aspects of MIC of carbon steel, a material frequently associated with MIC failures and widely used in construction and infrastructure globally. The article begins by introducing the process of MIC, then progresses to explore the complexities of various metallurgical factors relevant to MIC in carbon steel. These factors include chemical composition, grain size, grain boundaries, microstructural phases, inclusions, and welds, highlighting their potential influence on MIC processes. This review systematically presents key discoveries, trends, and the limitations of prior research, offering some novel insights into the impact of metallurgical factors on MIC, particularly for the benefit of those already familiar with other aspects of MIC. The article concludes with recommendations for documenting metallurgical data in MIC research. An appreciation of relevant metallurgical attributes is essential for a critical assessment of a material’s vulnerability to MIC to advance research practices and to broaden the collective knowledge in this rapidly evolving area of study. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Marine Biodeterioration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1557 KiB  
Review
Biodeterioration and Chemical Corrosion of Concrete in the Marine Environment: Too Complex for Prediction
by Christine C. Gaylarde and Benjamin Otto Ortega-Morales
Microorganisms 2023, 11(10), 2438; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11102438 - 28 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1261
Abstract
Concrete is the most utilized construction material worldwide. In the marine environment, it is subject to chemical degradation through reactions with chloride (the most important ion), and sulfate and magnesium ions in seawater, and to biodeterioration resulting from biological (initially microbiological) activities, principally [...] Read more.
Concrete is the most utilized construction material worldwide. In the marine environment, it is subject to chemical degradation through reactions with chloride (the most important ion), and sulfate and magnesium ions in seawater, and to biodeterioration resulting from biological (initially microbiological) activities, principally acid production. These two types of corrosions are reviewed and the failure of attempts to predict the degree of deterioration resulting from each is noted. Chemical (abiotic) corrosion is greatest in the splash zone of coastal constructions, while phenomenological evidence suggests that biodeterioration is greatest in tidal zones. There have been no comparative experiments to determine the rates and types of microbial biofilm formation in these zones. Both chemical and microbiological concrete deteriorations are complex and have not been successfully modeled. The interaction between abiotic corrosion and biofilm formation is considered. EPS can maintain surface hydration, potentially reducing abiotic corrosion. The early marine biofilm contains relatively specific bacterial colonizers, including cyanobacteria and proteobacteria; these change over time, producing a generic concrete biofilm, but the adhesion of microorganisms to concrete in the oceans has been little investigated. The colonization of artificial reefs is briefly discussed. Concrete appears to be a relatively prescriptive substrate, with modifications necessary to increase colonization for the required goal of increasing biological diversity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Marine Biodeterioration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2942 KiB  
Review
Microbially Influenced Corrosion of Steel in Marine Environments: A Review from Mechanisms to Prevention
by Pan Liu, Haiting Zhang, Yongqiang Fan and Dake Xu
Microorganisms 2023, 11(9), 2299; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092299 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2654
Abstract
Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a formidable challenge in the marine industry, resulting from intricate interactions among various biochemical reactions and microbial species. Many preventions used to mitigate biocorrosion fail due to ignorance of the MIC mechanisms. This review provides a summary of [...] Read more.
Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a formidable challenge in the marine industry, resulting from intricate interactions among various biochemical reactions and microbial species. Many preventions used to mitigate biocorrosion fail due to ignorance of the MIC mechanisms. This review provides a summary of the current research on microbial corrosion in marine environments, including corrosive microbes and biocorrosion mechanisms. We also summarized current strategies for inhibiting MIC and proposed future research directions for MIC mechanisms and prevention. This review aims to comprehensively understand marine microbial corrosion and contribute to novel strategy developments for biocorrosion control in marine environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microorganisms and Marine Biodeterioration)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop