Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in Japan

Abstract The present study investigated the ureolytic airborne bacteria for microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) applications, seeking resilient strains in order to address the problems of bacterial survivability and adaptability in biocementation treatment and to contribute a robust app...

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Main Authors: Meiqi Chen, Chikara Takano, Kazunori Nakashima, Sivakumar Gowthaman, Satoru Kawasaki
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92208-0
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author Meiqi Chen
Chikara Takano
Kazunori Nakashima
Sivakumar Gowthaman
Satoru Kawasaki
author_facet Meiqi Chen
Chikara Takano
Kazunori Nakashima
Sivakumar Gowthaman
Satoru Kawasaki
author_sort Meiqi Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The present study investigated the ureolytic airborne bacteria for microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) applications, seeking resilient strains in order to address the problems of bacterial survivability and adaptability in biocementation treatment and to contribute a robust approach that can effectively stabilize diverse soils. Since the airborne bacteria tend to survive in dynamic environments, they are believed to possess remarkable adaptability in harsh conditions, thus holding great potential for engineering applications. Samplings across diverse climatic zones revealed that approximately 10–20% of the isolates were ureolytic bacteria in each sampling site. A series of characterization tests were conducted on selected strains to study the temperature dependency of urease activity. The results revealed that many of these isolates are unique in many aspects. For instance, some trains of Glutamicibacter sp. were found to precipitate extra-large calcium carbonate crystals that could be beneficial in the cementation of coarse soils. This study stands out from previous research on standard ureolytic bacteria by focusing on the exploration of airborne bacteria. The findings demonstrate that a significant number of ureolytic airborne bacteria have great potential, suggesting that the air can serve as a bacterial isolation source for MICP applications.
format Article
id doaj-art-7dc89c69bf03428c9169340dae5dab9c
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issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-7dc89c69bf03428c9169340dae5dab9c2025-08-20T01:57:51ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-92208-0Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in JapanMeiqi Chen0Chikara Takano1Kazunori Nakashima2Sivakumar Gowthaman3Satoru Kawasaki4Laboratory of Biotechnology for Resources Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido UniversityLaboratory of Biotechnology for Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido UniversityLaboratory of Biotechnology for Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido UniversityDepartment of Engineering Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of JaffnaLaboratory of Biotechnology for Resources Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido UniversityAbstract The present study investigated the ureolytic airborne bacteria for microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) applications, seeking resilient strains in order to address the problems of bacterial survivability and adaptability in biocementation treatment and to contribute a robust approach that can effectively stabilize diverse soils. Since the airborne bacteria tend to survive in dynamic environments, they are believed to possess remarkable adaptability in harsh conditions, thus holding great potential for engineering applications. Samplings across diverse climatic zones revealed that approximately 10–20% of the isolates were ureolytic bacteria in each sampling site. A series of characterization tests were conducted on selected strains to study the temperature dependency of urease activity. The results revealed that many of these isolates are unique in many aspects. For instance, some trains of Glutamicibacter sp. were found to precipitate extra-large calcium carbonate crystals that could be beneficial in the cementation of coarse soils. This study stands out from previous research on standard ureolytic bacteria by focusing on the exploration of airborne bacteria. The findings demonstrate that a significant number of ureolytic airborne bacteria have great potential, suggesting that the air can serve as a bacterial isolation source for MICP applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92208-0Airborne bacteriaMicrobial induced carbonate precipitationUrease activityBacterial identificationCarbonate precipitation test
spellingShingle Meiqi Chen
Chikara Takano
Kazunori Nakashima
Sivakumar Gowthaman
Satoru Kawasaki
Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in Japan
Scientific Reports
Airborne bacteria
Microbial induced carbonate precipitation
Urease activity
Bacterial identification
Carbonate precipitation test
title Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in Japan
title_full Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in Japan
title_fullStr Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in Japan
title_full_unstemmed Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in Japan
title_short Exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in Japan
title_sort exploration of ureolytic airborne bacteria for biocementation applications from different climate zones in japan
topic Airborne bacteria
Microbial induced carbonate precipitation
Urease activity
Bacterial identification
Carbonate precipitation test
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-92208-0
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AT chikaratakano explorationofureolyticairbornebacteriaforbiocementationapplicationsfromdifferentclimatezonesinjapan
AT kazunorinakashima explorationofureolyticairbornebacteriaforbiocementationapplicationsfromdifferentclimatezonesinjapan
AT sivakumargowthaman explorationofureolyticairbornebacteriaforbiocementationapplicationsfromdifferentclimatezonesinjapan
AT satorukawasaki explorationofureolyticairbornebacteriaforbiocementationapplicationsfromdifferentclimatezonesinjapan