"Wee Beasties" and other "Critters" in TP

[Michaelangelica]

Protein That Makes Phosphate Chains In Yeast Revealed; Implications On Crops, Human Diseases

ScienceDaily (Apr. 29, 2009) — It can be found in all life forms, and serves a multitude of purposes, from energy storage to stress response to bone calcification.
This molecular jack-of-all trades is polyphosphate, a long chain of phosphate molecules.
Researchers at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Heidelberg, Germany, are now the first to uncover how this chain is assembled in eukaryotes (organisms whose cells have a nucleus).
. . .
Since polyphosphate is a ubiquitous, multi-tasking molecule with many different functions, discovering how it is produced could have implications for many different fields.
Although Vtc4p is not present in plants, the discovery could have implications for agriculture, for instance in the production of fertilizers and high-yield crops.

Polyphosphate is important for plant growth, and the scientists suspect Vtc4p could play an important role in making it available to plants that have fungi living in their roots.
Because the VTC can move from the membrane of the vacuole to that of the cell, it could assemble phosphate chains and transfer them to outside the fungus cell, where they would be available to the plant.

Protein That Makes Phosphate Chains In Yeast Revealed; Implications On Crops, Human Diseases

Under certain conditions, such as nutrient limitation, during stationary phase or osmotic stress some microorganisms have been shown to accumulate relatively large amounts of polyP (Tzeng & Kornberg, 1998).
In Acinetobacter johnsonii polyP may account for up to 30% of the dry biomass (Deinema et al., 1985).
Such levels of polyP are well in excess of the normal metabolic requirements for phosphate and indicate an important role of polyP in response to changes in nutritional status or environmental conditions (Kornberg et al., 1999).

Phosphate transport systems in prokaryotes

Polyphosphate in Microorganisms

Soil Nitrogen Test Measures Microbial Nitrogen

ScienceDaily (May 15, 2009) — Contrary to the prevailing view, cereal crops derive the majority of their nitrogen from the soil, not fertilizer. Soils differ considerably in microbial activities that determine nitrogen-supplying power, and these differences must be taken into account if nitrogen fertilizers are to be used efficiently.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0511122416.htm

[erich]

We may be a more Phosphate based life form than a carbon based one


Origin of life: building an RNA world from simple chemicals - Ars Technica

[Michaelangelica]

Healthy humans are covered in bacteria, study says
Skin has about 1,000 species, research finds.

By Karen Kaplan
LOS ANGELES TIMES
Tuesday, June 02, 2009

This will make your skin crawl: A healthy human epidermis is colonised by about 1,000 species of bacteria.

Furthermore, the microorganisms have evolved to exploit the unique attributes of the body parts they call home, according to a study published in the journal Science.

Some thrive in the desert of the forearm; others are happiest in the tropical rain forest of the armpit.

The study, by a team of researchers from the National Institutes of Health, reflects a growing realization that bacteria have colonised us inside and out, and that their presence is not only harmless but also probably essential to the functioning of the body.

One example of that fact: Mice bred to be germ-free have smaller hearts and are unable to digest food properly.

"We live in a microbial world, and these things are not all out to get us," said Noah Fierer, a microbial ecologist at the University of Colorado. Fierer, who has analyzed bacteria that live on hands, wasn't involved with the new report.

The results of the study, reported last week, will lay some groundwork for a $115 million NIH venture dubbed the Human Microbiome Project, which is aimed at cataloging the bacteria and other organisms that inhabit the skin, gut, nose, mouth and vagina.

Healthy humans are covered in bacteria, study says

It dosn't make my skin crawl. I'd just like to know more about the "free loaders".

We know so little don't we?

[Michaelangelica]

Army of Tiny Fungi Keeps Forests Healthy, Study Suggests
Army of Tiny Fungi Keeps Forests Healthy, Study Suggests

[Michaelangelica]

Cutting carbon by farming microbes

By Rose Grant from Ross , TAS
Wednesday, 01/04/2009
A group of progressive farmers in the midlands of Tasmania are restoring the soil food web to 900 hectares of pasture in Tasmania.

They've been successful in getting a Federal Government $104,000 Caring for Our Country grant to put the biology back into the soils on the broadacre.

Cutting carbon by farming microbes. 01 Apr 2009. Rural Online. (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Audio
Brewing compost tea for the broad acre
Listen: MP3

[Essay]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

Healthy humans are covered in bacteria, study says

It dosn't make my skin crawl. I'd just like to know more about the "free loaders".

We know so little don't we?

...Even if apparently our skin is crawling....

These "free loaders" IMHO are important to our health. We have evolved to live in harmony with them. In fact it can help (occasionally) to adopt the perspective that we evolved solely to be the perfect, self-feeding, environmental niche for these little beasties.... They evolved us--for their own purposes--and we do their bidding (notice how we are ruled by the gut!).

...but whatever....
They protect us from invaders who want to colonize and eat our flesh.

i.e. If you sterilize your skin, invading bacteria colonize the virgin territory within minutes.
If you just wash your skin, the normal bacteria take hours to repopulate (and prevent any rapid blooms of invading bacteria). -google: "surgical scrub-in" "bacterial count".
Your personal bacterial compliment protects you from MRSA. Don't mistreat your own colonies.
We aren't much different from soil in our need for healthy supporting ecosystems (microbes), water, nutrients, etc., eh?

[erich]

Hi All,
This is Great News, I've been trying to contact Stamets for years about Char:

Erich


PAUL E. STAMETS
Fungi Perfecti®: the finest mushroom products for home and garden, farm and forest, people and planet, Fungi.Net—The International Mycological Network
email: paulstamets@gmail.com PHONE: (360) 951-1500 FAX: (360) 427-5861

The Stametsian Vision
for Sustaining Biospheres and Mitigating Global Warming

Dear Concerned Earthling, July, 2009
Please take a look at my ideas for saving the ecologies of Earth. Time is short. Now is
the time for action.
I have synergistic mycotechnologies that can jumpstart this process.
Background
Fungi, I believe, are the foundation of the food web. Fungi erect the humus platform for
re-greening our imperiled planet. Humus is the organic material in soils coming from decomposed flora and fauna that makes the Earth fertile.
Fungi were the first organisms on land ~1.3 billion years ago. Plants came to land ~600
million years later. Fungi secrete enzymes that break up calcium-bearing rocks and decompose organic matter. Carbon is sequestered into the polysaccharide rich exoskeleton of the fungal cells, called mycelium, and within the abundant calcium oxalate crystals (two CO2 molecules joined together) that form externally. As these thread-like “mycelial” cellular networks grow, soil is created in their path. Most organisms became co-dependent upon fungi after catastrophic degreenings of the planet. Two asteroid impacts 250 (putatively) and 65 million years ago created airborne debris fields that darkened the Earth and caused mass extinctions. Plants and animals that paired with fungi survived. Thanks to soils enhanced by fungal networks, the Earth regreened in a sudden proliferation of flora.

It’s time for another re-greening as Earth recoils from the on-going catastrophe inflicted by our species.
Fungi are keystone organisms for building humus in emerging habitats. Enhancing fungigenerated soil is one way we can offset global warming by sequestering carbon into humus. Fungi retain ~50% of the carbon they absorb into their cell walls from enzymatic breakdown of plants and animals. Thicker carbon-rich humus layers support more diverse food chains and life cycles, especially in the descendant plants that subsequently absorb carbon dioxide and respire oxygen. The carrying capacity of habitats is fortified, increasing carbon sequestration. Investing in the humus bank earns dividends in the natural currency of carbon credits. Moreover, fungi liberate and retain moisture while increasing the tenacity of soil structure, and making soils less prone to erosion. Several mycofiltraton test sites have proved these mycotechnologies work.
A Natural Solution: Mycorestoration Teacher Training Centers (Fungi.Net—The International Mycological Network)
A Mycorestoration(SM) Initiative will establish hubs on mycopermaculture,
mycoremediation, production centers on ethanol from mycelium and reforestation – all mobilizing
the power of fungi. Here are methods and co-products I have invented and tested:

Mycorestoration (SM) encompasses mycofiltration, mycoremediation, plant-fungal pairings for building soil, and strengthening food webs. As soils are enhanced, carrying capacity increases,and ecosystems re-green. Fungi create soils. Soils grow plants. Biodiversity blooms. Resilience in face of catastrophia is reinforced. More details can be found in my 2005 book Mycelium Running:
How Mushrooms Can Help Save the World (2005, Ten Speed Press, Berkeley.) In my workshops since 1980, I have taught thousands of students. Now I wish to serve as a teacher of teachers.

The Life Box™ I insert seeds and spores within the corrugations of recycled cardboard boxes used for shipping. Add water, and the box springs to life. By pairing seeds with beneficial fungi, plants uptake nutrients more efficiently, resist drought, and are better protected from disease.
Manufacturers and vendors could qualify for carbon credits for each package shipped. 1% market share in the U.S. would re-green 15,000 acres per week. Business patents are pending for carbon credits. Delivery systems are already in place: USPS, UPS, FED EX, and DHL. Boxes can be customized by zip code destination. I first presented this idea at a Department of Defense Advanced Research Agency (D.A.R.P.A.) charrette near Santa Barbara in February 2002 to aid
refugee communities in growing gardens and for maintaining traditional agrarian skills. This recycling technique can apply to other paper-based and biodegradable packaging materials.
Interactive websites can track growth of trees, confirming carbon sequestration, via Google
Earth™. USPTO Patent Applications: # 20080046277, 20080005046. Welcome to the Life Box Company

Mycopesticides preserve insect biodiversity by replacing toxic insecticides with natural mycological solutions. My most recently awarded U.S. patent # 7122176 covers ~ 200,000 species of insects. Australian patent # 20011296679 issued on August 21, 2008. These mycelially-based mycopesticides, attractants, phagostimulants and treatments may control insect plagues and the viral epidemics they vector. Mycopesticidal fungi can also attract/ protect beneficial insects. This suite of eco-friendly patents could replace most toxic chemical insecticides and revamp the petro-chemically centered pesticide industry, and as such my patents create ‘disruptive technologies’. One termite field trial completed successfully and published in a peer-reviewed social biology journal. Coordinating with the USDA/ARS within a CRADA research agreement. More field studies needed, and assistance for guidance through EPA registration needed. Exemption for use in New Orleans approved for spring 2009 trials. More divisional patents issuing in Australia and in the United States, for use of all entomopathogenic fungi, prior to sporulation, against all insects. On Jan. 7, 2009 6th District of Appeals cancels exemption of pesticides from Clean Water Act (http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2009/2009-
01-07-093.asp), meaning that termiticides can not be used around buildings pre-emptively.
Fungal Anti-Infectives for disease prevention. I have applied for several antiviral patents for methods and compositions of fungal strains for helping stave off flu viruses, including bird flu (H5N1), pox and SARS viruses. The U.S. Defense Dept BioShield BioDefense Program conducted in vitro tests. I have working cooperative research agreements with NCNPR (National Center for Natural Products Research) at the University of Mississippi, on poxviruses. (A vetted D0D press release is available at: yet2.com - Press Releases, Technology Transfer, R&D Spending Markets, yet2.com.

NPR interview: Smallpox Defense May Be Found in Mushrooms : NPR.) “Strong Angel,” a recent BioDefense DOD study authored by Dr. Eric Rasmussen, reported on the potential usefulness of medicinal mushrooms to protect against pandemics. Nearly 300 of my fungal samples have been tested and with hundreds of more samples are being tested this year. These fungal extracts supplement existing therapies, increasing our defenses for mitigating viral epidemics and bacterial infections. Furthermore, antibacterial tests confirm activity against TB, E. coli, and staph. Mammal studies begin October-November 2009 at U. of Illinois TB Research Center. At least 5 active Ingredients (AI’s), non-toxic to humans, for treating pox (Vaccinia) and TB (tuberculosis) will soon be identified by the Univ. of Illinois TB Research Center and the National Center for Natural Products Research. Discovery of gene sequences for AI’s planned.

Endorsements of my research from NCNPR and UIC available for review upon request.
Myconol™ & Mycohol™: This mycotechnology innovation (patent pending) centers on creating ethanol and enzymes from mycelium-on-cellulose. Currently we estimate fungi offer nearly 200 uniquely different enzymes, which can be used synergistically for creating sugars, detoxifying pollutants, enhancing benefits from other feedstocks. Species with unusually high activity identified. Myconol is cost effective when combined with the value added benefits seen from the mycotechnologies described herein.

Mycochar™: Mycochar is a uniquely designed form of Biochar, aka “Terra Preta”, infused with a plurality of fungi. Mycochar is structured from low temperature charcoalized wood whose microstructure is cavity rich – and within these cavities we have inserted mycorrhizal, endophytic, saprophytic, and mycopestical fungi. This synergistic community of fungi benefits plants growth, fortifying the plants with natural systems for nutrient uptake, minimizing the need for fertilizers and sequestering carbon.





Here is a post from Richard Hard commenting on a post I made about Paul Stamets new "Mycochar" product on the Biochar List;


"Larry Williams will also have something to say about this too. We both
have very strong opinion of natural recruitment of beneficial fungi,
namely basidiomycetes that are common cellulose and lignin decomposing
organisms. Many of these fungi are also indeed beneficial to plants
and form mycorrhizial connections, sometime weakly. Just like compost
tea , which is a selective cultural enrichment for bacteria and other
organisms in a highly aerobic rapid fermentation so is Larry's
technique of preparing wood chips , allowing colonization with
indigenous beneficial fungi.

If you want to go to Stamets, or Amaranthus, or Walmart for your
cultures fine do it. It will be an interesting study. what is
worthwhile to note is what I reported at the Richland conference -
Larry indeed has had positive results with biochar and colonized wood
chips. The challenge now for us is to repeat this formula with more
controlled conditions. A topic that may take us a year or two.

I think using innoculum from Stamets would be very interesting. I
think there are issues about the age, type and condition of the chips
themselves because of substrate nature and conditioning of the wood.
If you live on the other hand in the midwest or in the eastern coast
of the us why not make your culture from species that are native to
your area thereby adapted to the conditions of your environment. Also
you do not want to introduce exotic species to your biome.

Why not allow a longer period of time and condition your wood chips
with local, indigenuous species.

To do this I would do the following - - - - - - -

Set up a pile of wood chips with a source that are fresh and not yet
rotting or fermenting.
Go out and collect in a natural forest rotting wood, rotting leaf
litter, and the organic layer that resides on the surface of the soil
under the rotten organic matter.
Mix these materials into the wood chips and set up the pile so that it
does not heat up. - - - -this is not a compost pile - - - - this is a
selective cultural enrichment.
Work this pile now and then and wait until the chips are fully
involved with a coarse white mycelium.

I would suggest urea or urine at this point will enhance this process

Once the wood is involved incorporate the biochar and enrich further
with urine or urea and after some length of time depending on the
season add to your soil or test plots.

Larry want to add to this???

Rich

[Michaelangelica]

I think PAUL E. STAMETS has a useful-mushroom spore selling business.
i just read his catalogue and drooled.
Not a legal import into Oz.

It has belatedly dawned on me that the water holding propertied of char are due to the build up in the soil of microrganisms; not the char itself. IOW it is a catalyst for enabling soil microbiology and therefore water retention in the soil.
I guess Australia's problem is that we need some water first, otherwise nothing lives.
While one can't sell charcoal as a replacement for the dangerous, useless and toxic "water holding crystals" charcoal will eventually do a better job over time (12 months? + organic matter, compost tea, or sugar?)

[maikeru]

Originally Posted by Michaelangelica

I think PAUL E. STAMETS has a useful-mushroom spore selling business.
i just read his catalogue and drooled.
Not a legal import into Oz.

It has belatedly dawned on me that the water holding propertied of char are due to the build up in the soil of microrganisms; not the char itself. IOW it is a catalyst for enabling soil microbiology and therefore water retention in the soil.
I guess Australia's problem is that we need some water first, otherwise nothing lives.
While one can't sell charcoal as a replacement for the dangerous, useless and toxic "water holding crystals" charcoal will eventually do a better job over time (12 months? + organic matter, compost tea, or sugar?)

I believe it's both the char and the microbes in it. Remember biochar isn't quite the same as activated charcoal, in that it still has complex chemical residues in it, perhaps comprised of oils, acidic and tannin-type compounds which are hydrophilic and will attract and hold water, and the fact that some portion of the charcoal may oxidize and age, becoming more water and nutrient friendly. And charcoal simply has surprising surface area. Something like 400 sq meters or more worth of surface area per gram. Of course, microbes are made up to a greater or lesser extent by water, and when you combine charcoal's great affinity for water + its ability to hold and promote living things that contain water, you have one of nature's best sponges bar none, IMO.

[Michaelangelica]

Originally Posted by erich

We may be a more Phosphate based life form than a carbon based one


Origin of life: building an RNA world from simple chemicals - Ars Technica

I'm not sure I get it

So they made a soup that helped RNA form more complex RNA?
Or did they make RNA from scratch in the soup?
This was helped by saturating the soup with phosphate that kept the pH on the level
(How did it do that? Does it do that in other places like soil?)

Well maybe not a soup; more like a receipie? (Creationists should love this--from the Supreme Chef?)

The big stumbling block seems to be the fact that the authors kept one of the chemicals out of the reaction mix until the third step of the synthesis.
I'm curious to see what kind of yields they might get if they put all the reactants together at once