Microbiology, Biotechnology and Genetics: Principles and Interconnections Vol. 1

A Review of Microbial Mitigation to Climate Change: Mechanisms, Greenhouse Gas Regulation, and Biotechnological Applications

B. Jeberlin Prabina — 2026-10-28

Climate change poses substantial risks to agricultural productivity, food security and environmental stability, creating a need for sustainable approaches that can reduce greenhouse-gas emissions while supporting crop performance. This review examines the role of microorganisms in mitigating carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) emissions and in strengthening plant responses to climate-related stresses. Microbial contributions to CO₂ mitigation include photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic carbon fixation, biomass formation, soil organic carbon stabilisation and the conversion of captured carbon into useful biomaterials. Methanotrophic bacteria and related microbial processes can limit CH₄ release through aerobic and anaerobic methane oxidation, while microbial biofertilisers and Azolla-associated systems can influence methane dynamics in flooded rice environments. N₂O mitigation is associated with denitrifying microorganisms, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, rhizobia and other microbes possessing functional genes involved in the reduction of N₂O to N₂. Beneficial microbial associations also support nutrient cycling and plant performance under drought, salinity and nutrient imbalance. Collectively, the evidence reviewed indicates that microbial processes have potential to contribute to climate-resilient agriculture through complementary greenhouse-gas mitigation and plant-support functions. Their practical application, however, should be evaluated under relevant soil, crop and environmental conditions to establish consistent mitigation performance, agronomic benefits and suitability for wider agricultural use.

Fish-Waste-Derived Fertilisers and the Phytostimulatory Performance of Crop Plants

Vijendra Kumar Mishra — 2026-10-28

Fish-processing and aquaculture residues contain nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, amino acids, peptides, minerals and organic carbon that can be recovered as fertilisers rather than discarded. Interest has expanded from simple nutrient recycling towards the possibility that fish-waste-derived inputs also act as plant biostimulants by altering root development, nutrient acquisition, photosynthesis, stress responses and rhizosphere processes. This critical narrative review evaluates evidence for such phytostimulatory effects across fish protein hydrolysates, fermented liquid fertilisers, fish emulsions and silages, fish-waste composts, and aquaculture effluents or sludge. Literature published from 2000 to 4 August 2026 was identified through agricultural, biomedical and multidisciplinary scholarly sources and critically appraised for product characterisation, controls, crop context, mechanism, scale and external validity. The strongest direct evidence concerns fish protein hydrolysates, for which controlled studies repeatedly report changes in root or shoot growth, chlorophyll status, gas exchange and stress tolerance. Field and greenhouse studies of fish-derived liquid manures and composts also demonstrate agronomic value, but these responses frequently reflect nutrient replacement and mineralisation rather than a separable biostimulant effect. Hydroponic studies provide an important counterpoint: fish-derived nutrient solutions can increase selected quality or physiological traits yet may underperform balanced inorganic nutrition when ammonium accumulation, nitrate limitation or incomplete mineralisation constrains growth. Across the literature, nutrient-matched controls, compositional standardisation, dose normalisation and multi-site field validation remain uncommon. Consequently, the central unresolved question is not whether fish waste can support crop production, but when and to what extent effects exceed those expected from its nutrient content alone. Progress requires experimentally separating nutritional and signalling mechanisms, defining peptide- and amino-acid-active fractions, resolving microbial mediation, and integrating agronomic efficacy with contaminant, salinity, pathogen and economic assessments. Fish-waste-derived fertilisers are therefore best viewed as a heterogeneous platform whose phytostimulatory potential is promising but formulation- and context-dependent.

Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Urinary Pathogens Isolated from Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Patients Attending Eleme General Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria

Hanson, Asikiya Huldah — 2026-10-28

Urinary tract infections and antimicrobial resistance present ongoing clinical concerns among individuals with and without diabetes. This study assessed the antimicrobial resistance patterns of bacterial isolates from subjects attending Eleme General Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria. A case–control study included diabetic and non-diabetic participants irrespective of urinary tract infection symptoms. In total, 300 early-morning midstream urine specimens were collected and examined using culture, biochemical identification and antimicrobial disc diffusion methods. Eleven antimicrobial agents were assessed, and selected multidrug-resistant isolates were investigated for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes. The study reported 95 bacterial isolates, corresponding to an overall bacteriuria occurrence of 31.7%. Of these, 51 (53.7%) were associated with symptomatic bacteriuria and 44 (46.3%) with asymptomatic bacteriuria. The isolates comprised 71 Gram-negative and 24 Gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently recovered species overall, while Klebsiella aerogenes occurred most frequently among diabetic subjects in the reported species distribution. Imipenem and ofloxacin showed relatively high susceptibility across several isolate groups, although susceptibility varied by organism and antibiotic. Of 20 isolates examined for ESBL genes, 17 (85%) carried the investigated genes, including TEM, SHV and CTX-M. These findings describe organism-specific resistance patterns in the hospital population and underscore the relevance of microbiological identification and susceptibility testing when evaluating bacterial urinary tract infections.

A Comprehensive Review of Emerging and Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases: Global Patterns and Local Impacts

Daniel M. Mami — 2026-10-28

Emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (EIDs and REIDs) constitute a continuing and evolving threat to global health security. Over the past few decades, the world has experienced novel and increasingly frequent waves of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Characterised by outbreaks of novel infections and the reappearance of previously controlled diseases, their occurrence is influenced by a complex interplay of biological, environmental and sociopolitical factors. Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and parts of Latin America, are disproportionately affected by infectious disease outbreaks because of fragile healthcare systems, limited access to diagnostics and treatment, and underlying social and economic vulnerabilities. This review synthesises global trends and regional effects of EIDs and REIDs, emphasising microbial evolution, zoonotic spillover, climate change, urbanisation and deteriorating healthcare infrastructure. Particular attention is given to the disproportionate burden borne by LMICs, where inadequate surveillance systems, conflict and poverty increase vulnerability. The study examines case studies of major epidemics, explores regional disparities and emphasises the need for integrated One Health approaches that recognise the connections between human, animal and environmental health. It also examines surveillance technologies, early warning systems and public health interventions, highlighting equitable access to vaccines, community engagement and capacity building. Ethical and legal issues, including health equity and data privacy, are also considered. By integrating these dimensions, the review presents a comprehensive framework for strengthening preparedness and resilience in an increasingly interconnected world that is vulnerable to pandemics. The findings emphasise that international solidarity, transparent governance and inclusive policies must accompany efforts to strengthen local health systems, particularly in LMICs. Developing resilient health systems requires a multidisciplinary and forward-looking approach that combines classical epidemiology with emerging tools such as genomic surveillance, artificial intelligence and mobile health technologies.