4 Material und Umwelt
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- 4 Material und Umwelt (24)
- 4.1 Biologische Materialschädigung und Referenzorganismen (10)
- 4.0 Abteilungsleitung und andere (9)
- 4.3 Schadstofftransfer und Umwelttechnologien (4)
- 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien (2)
- 4.4 Thermochemische Reststoffbehandlung und Wertstoffrückgewinnung (2)
- 6 Materialchemie (2)
- 6.2 Material- und Oberflächentechnologien (2)
- 1.4 Prozessanalytik (1)
- 1.9 Chemische und optische Sensorik (1)
Surfaces of metallic copper and copper alloys effectively inactivate microorganisms and viruses. However, the exact inactivation mode is still under debate. Main factors are assumed to include direct contact with the metallic surface, influx of Cu(I)/Cu(II) ions and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are frequently reported to act antibacterial, mainly by prevention of bacterial adhesion due to a limited number of possible adhesion points or by increasing the overall surface of intrinsically antibacterial materials. In time-kill experiments with E. coli and S. aureus we analyzed the impact of LIPSS on the toxicity of metallic copper and brass. We also conducted ROS accumulation assays and conclude that the application of LIPSS is not generally straight forward to obtain or improve antibacterial surfaces. Thus, the antibacterial effects of LIPPS.
Cryomyces antarcticus – a cryptoendolithic black fungus endemic to Antarctica – is taxonomically classified in phylum Ascomycota, class Dothideomycetes incertae sedis. C. antarcticus has shown high capability to survive extreme environmental conditions like those found in space (ionizing radiation, vacuum, microgravity), thus fueling fundamental astrobiological questions like “searching for life beyond Earth” (Onofri et al. 2020, Extremophiles Astrobiol Model). Its extraordinary resilience has been attributed to the presence of thick, highly melanized cell walls, which may contain both DHN and DOPA melanins (Pacelli et al. 2020, Appl Microbiol Biotechnol). To better understand the contribution of DHN melanin to the overall resilience of C. antarcticus, we initially adopted chemicals e.g., tricyclazole to inhibit the DHN melanin synthetic pathway; however, these studies gave inconclusive results. Eventually, we decided to generate melanin-deficient mutants by genetic engineering. Using the genetic toolkit developed for the black fungus Knufia petricola (Voigt et al. 2020, Sci Rep; Erdmann et al. 2022, Front Fungal Biol), we designed a strategy for mutating the key enzyme (polyketide synthase)-encoding gene capks1 by transient delivery of Cas9 and capks1-specific sgRNA from AMA-containing plasmids and PCR-generated donor DNA i.e., resistance cassettes flanked by ~75-bp-long sequences homologous to capks1. For this, the melanin-PKS encoding ortholog was identified in the C. antarcticus CBS 116301 genome (mycocosm.jgi.doe.gov) and used to design primers for re-sequencing of the capks1 locus in the strain CCFEE 515. Transformation of C. antarcticus is challenging because of its very slow growth; we expect that 4-6 months are needed from obtaining enough biomass for cell wall lysis until transferring putatively resistant transformants for genotyping. Important parameters were evaluated: protoplasts can be generated, and they survive the transformation procedure, and suitable concentrations of selective agents have been identified. Nowadays, we are waiting for the first C. antarcticus mutants considered to be deficient in DHN melanogenesis.
Algal biofilm façades are an alternative to traditional green façades which can help to improve biodiversity and air quality within cities. They present a low maintenance approach in which subaerial algae are grown directly on concrete substrates. The intrinsic bioreceptivity of the substrate is a critical factor in successful facade colonisation. Existing research has identified several environmental and material properties which influence concrete bioreceptivity, however a consensus has yet to be made on which properties are most influential and how the interaction between properties may promote algal biofilm growth under specific conditions.
Fungal biofilms on materials: describing and modelling growth of the black fungus Knufia petricola
(2023)
Fungi that grow as biofilms are associated with clinical settings as well as various cases of material fouling and material damage. Black fungi as biofilm formers have been rarely studied so far. Their conspicuous dark pigmentation, EPS production, adhesion capabilities and adaptations to stresses allow black fungi to develop biofilms on materials under harsh conditions. For example, rock-inhabiting black fungi withstand sun irradiation and dehydration and are therefore ubiquitous on arid surfaces like solar panels and marble monuments.
To understand and control their ability to colonise and deteriorate materials, one should assess and model black fungi’s growth patterns. But so far, no mathematical model has been developed to describe their growth. Knufia petricola A95, representing rock-inhabiting fungi from Chaetothyriales, is genetically amenable and can serve as a model for biofilm studies in black fungi. The primary objective of this project is to develop a growth model for K. petricola A95 which will enable to define and predict material colonisation of black fungi.
Dedicated experimental work with K. petricola will allow the quantitative assessment of the impact of environmental conditions (e.g. pH, nutrients, etc.) on the growth behaviour at the biofilm and single cells level. Data which will be used to validate and develop an individual-based model (based on the iDynoMICS modelling platform) that explains how fungal biofilms form, colonise materials, and cause deterioration.
Thus far, research has been conducted on the impact of different concentrations and sources of major elements (e.g. C, N, …), as well as trace elements (e.g. Cu, Mg, …), on the colony shape and biomass of Knufia petricola A95 biofilms. To study the behaviour of single cells, the length of the cell cycle in different growth media has been determined via the combined use of microfluidic devices and confocal microscopy.
Microcolonial black fungi ubiquitously inhabit sun-exposed natural and man-made surfaces of our planet. To promote genetic studies, which are hindered by slow growth, lack of sexual cycles and transformation difficulties, CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic tools were implemented (Erdmann et al. 2022, Front Fungal Biol). Now efficient targeted mutagenesis of the rock inhabitant Knufia petricola (Eurotiomycetes/Chaetothyriales) - as a representative of the polyphyletic group of black fungi - enables the elucidation of extremotolerance, oligotrophism, unusual types of cell division, mineral weathering and symbiotic interactions. Still more progress on assigning functions to yet unknown genes can be expected if a forward genetics approach is available. We chose the two-component Activator/ Dissociation (Ac/Ds) transposon system from maize for generating a collection of insertional mutants by in-vivo mutagenesis of K. petricola. For the optimal use of this genetic tool, an inducible promoter for the expression of the Ac transposase (AcTPase) and by this the regulatable transposition of the resistance cassette-containing Ds transposon is desired. However, endogenous promoters for nitrate assimilation and galactose catabolism - often used in fungi for regulatable gene expression - are not inducible by their substrates in K. petricola suggesting that the regulatory networks for nutrient acquisition differ significantly in oligotrophic fungi. Therefore, the metabolism-independent Tet-on system was combined with the AcTPase coding sequence and subsequently transformed into Ds-carrying K. petricola strains. In total, four auxotrophic Ac|Ds starter strains containing the Ds transposon at different position of ade2 or ura3 were generated. The cultivation of these strains with doxycycline for induction of TET::Ac and subsequent selection of cells on ADE/URA-lacking media resulted in prototrophic colonies (revertants) for some but not all Ac|Ds strains. Currently, the transposition events in the obtained revertants are studied to validate the procedure. First amplicon sequencing of excision sites revealed footprint patterns, proving the transposon jumped.
Iron is arguably the most essential metal in living organisms. For rock-inhabiting fungi its acquisition might be unconventional as they (1) tend to inhabit iron-deficient, oxygen-rich surfaces like marble monuments and solar panels and (2) produce the black, iron-adsorbing pigment melanin. We used a range of analytical methods, ongoing mineral dissolution experiments and gene deletion mutants of the model rock-inhabiting fungus Knufia petricola to figure out the mechanisms and substrate deteriorating effects of iron uptake by these organisms. To study both siderophore-mediated and reductive iron assimilation (RIA), genes like sidC, encoding a putative siderophore synthetase and ftr1 and fet3 encoding the subunits of an iron permease-oxidase were deleted.
At iron deficient conditions, growth of the wild type (WT) and ΔsidC mutant was similar, whereas growth of the Δftr1-fet3 mutant and the double mutant ΔsidC/Δftr1-fet3 was diminished and absent, respectively. We were not able to detect the siderophore of K. petricola and the WT and mutants were not able to grow at low concentrations of strong iron chelators. However, in a cross-feeding experiment, an overexpression strain of sidC allowed more growth of ΔsidC/Δftr1-fet3 on iron deficient medium than the WT, whereas the ΔsidC mutant could not do so at all. Compared to the WT, the sidC overexpression strain also withstood oxidative stress better and had a shorter lag time and higher growth rate. Combined, these results indicate that K. petricola relies more on RIA than siderophore-mediated uptake as it likely excretes low quantities of a primarily intracellular siderophore. Interestingly, Δftr1-fet3 had a higher iron content than the WT at iron deficient conditions. This difference disappeared upon deletion of melanin synthesis (Δpks1 vs. Δpks1/Δftr1-fet3): melanin-bound iron can likely not be used without RIA. K. petricola’s chelation incapacity implies a habitat free of competition for iron while offering us a mitigation strategy.
Im Verbundprojekt R-Rhenania wird eine industrielle Demonstrationsanlage am Standort der Monoverbrennungsanlage Altenstadt der Firma Emter errichtet und im Jahr 2024 den Betrieb aufnehmen. Die vorhandene Rostfeuerung-Monoverbrennung wird so umgebaut, dass ein neues thermochemisches Verfahren integriert werden kann, welches hochwirksame und schadstoffarme Dünger produziert (bis zu 17.000 t/a). Die thermochemischen Produkte werden in Gefäß- und Feldversuchen im ökologischen Landbau auf ihre Düngewirkung getestet. Die Umweltverträglichkeit der Demonstrationsanlage wird untersucht, wie auch die Übertragbarkeit des Verfahrens auf weitere Regionen.
Emission testing of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from materials and products is commonly based on emission test chamber measurements. To ensure the comparability of results from different testing laboratories their measurement performance must be verified. For this purpose, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM) organizes an international proficiency test every two years using well-characterised test materials (one sealant, one furniture board and four times a lacquer) with defined VOC emissions. The materials fulfilled the requirements of homogeneity, reproducibility, and stability. Altogether, 41 VOCs were included of which 37 gave test chamber air concentrations between 10 and 98 µg/m³. This is the typical concentration range to be expected and to be quantified when performing chamber tests. Four compounds had higher concentrations between 250 and 1105 µg/m³. The relative standard deviations (RSD) of BAM proficiency tests since 2008 are compared and the improvement of the comparability of the emission chamber testing is shown by the decrease of the mean RSD down to 23% in 2021. In contrast, the first large European interlaboratory comparison in 1999 showed a mean RSD of 51%.
This study details a thorough analysis of leaky and waveguide modes in biperiodic diffractive nanostructures. By tuning diffraction orders and subsequently confining local density of optical states at two distinct resonance wavelengths, we present a highly sensitive refractive index biosensing platform that can resolve 35.5 to 41.3 nm/RIU of spectral shift for two separate biological analytes.