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Research Publications (Applied Sciences)

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    The potential of fungi in the bioremediation of pharmaceutically active compounds : a comprehensive review
    (Frontiers Media SA, 2023-07-12) Amobonye, Ayodeji; Aruwa, Christiana E.; Aransiola, Sesan; Omame, John; Alabi, Toyin D.; Lalung, Japareng
    The ability of fungal species to produce a wide range of enzymes and metabolites, which act synergistically, makes them valuable tools in bioremediation, especially in the removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from contaminated environments. PhACs are compounds that have been specifically designed to treat or alter animal physiological conditions and they include antibiotics, analgesics, hormones, and steroids. Their detrimental effects on all life forms have become a source of public outcry due their persistent nature and their uncontrolled discharge into various wastewater effluents, hospital effluents, and surface waters. Studies have however shown that fungi have the necessary metabolic machinery to degrade PhACs in complex environments, such as soil and water, in addition they can be utilized in bioreactor systems to remove PhACs. In this regard, this review highlights fungal species with immense potential in the biodegradation of PhACs, their enzymatic arsenal as well as the probable mechanism of biodegradation. The challenges encumbering the real-time application of this promising bioremediative approach are also highlighted, as well as the areas of improvement and future perspective. In all, this paper points researchers to the fact that fungal bioremediation is a promising strategy for addressing the growing issue of pharmaceutical contamination in the environment and can help to mitigate the negative impacts on ecosystems and human health.
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    Bioaugmentation efficiency of diesel degradation by Bacillus pumilus JLB and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LT1 in contaminated soils
    (2010-10-11) Pillay, Charlene; Lin, Johnson
    The abilities of diesel-degrading Bacillus pumilus JLB and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus LT1 were tested in contaminated soils. The effect of nutrient supplementation on bioaugmented samples was also examined. The results show that bio-augmentation and biostimulation accelerated significantly (p < 0.05) the diesel degradation in the contaminated loam soil and sea sand. Supplementing fertilizers to the augmented loam samples did not result in a significantly higher degradation rate. Furthermore, A. calcoaceticus LT1 alone failed to stimulate higher degradation rates in sea sand unless further supplementation of fertilizer. The results from environmental scanning electron microscopy demonstrate the population increases, then decreases in augmented samples corresponding to the level of diesel degradation. Fungi-like microorganisms became dominant in contaminated loam soil at the end of the study but not in sea sand. The study shows that it is critical not only to understand the physiology of the inoculum but also how it affects microbial community structure and function before the microorganism being introduced in the contaminated soil.