演講摘要

Keynote speech

趙維良 微生物學教學的創新與挑戰：微生物系課程設計實務分享

張怡塘 Enhance biodegradation of ultraviolet filter by reusable magnetic immobilized bacterial beads in the SBR system

   應用具磁性之生物固定化顆粒加速分解污水中之紫外線防曬劑 (UV filters)

摘要:

Bacterial immobilization is a technique by which bacteria are embedded into or adsorbed onto a carrier material thereby increasing bacterial tolerance to harsh environments. Immobilized bacterial beads that contain magnetic particles allow bead recycling and reuse. This technique can be used to enhance bacterial activity and to increase the biodegradation of organic pollutants. Benzophenone-n compounds (BPs) are applied in different commercial products, one of which is an ultraviolet (UV) filter of sunscreen. BPs are frequently detected in a variety of environmental matrices worldwide, especially surface water bodies. BPs are defined as emerging endocrine-disrupting contaminants (EDCs) that are toxic to microorganisms, coral, and animals. Thus, it has become necessary to develop aggressive and green treatments to remove BPs, especially in the biological treatment system. This study aims to produce reusable magnetic beads (RMBs) for the biodegradation of BPs. We successfully used immobilized BP-biodegrading bacteria (Pseudomonas spp., Gordonia sp., and Rhodococcus sp.) linked to RMBs. The RABs were added to a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) system to enhance the removal of 2,4-dihydroxybenzophenone (BP-1) and oxybenzone (BP-3) from sewage. Our findings provide a novel strategy for treating BPs via the use of reusable and recyclable RMBs that are cheap, easy and fast to synthesize.

Regular speech

醫學微生物領域

邱亦涵 From Adenoma-Carcinoma Sequence to Cancer Cachexia Amelioration: Through Long-Term Immune Regulation to Develop Novel     Postbiotic with Prevention and Treatment Effect for Colon Cancer

   從腺瘤-癌序列到癌症惡病質的改善: 經由長期免疫調節開發具有預防與治療大腸癌的新型後生元

摘要：

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has been the most common cancer among Taiwanese people for the past decade, according to the latest cancer incidence report by the Department of Health. Probiotics are considered bioactive candidates for CRC protection, potentially regulating multiple steps in tumor development. The efficacy of probiotics depends on factors like strain, dosage, and probiotic-derived metabolites (postbiotics). Our previous study showed that L. casei rhamnosus (Lcr) produces heat-stable soluble molecules that promote immune cell apoptosis without affecting intestinal epithelial cells and inhibit LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines by immune cells. Additionally, Lcr supernatant significantly reduces Tregs differentiation in tumor-bearing mice and attenuates intestinal epithelial barrier injury and inflammatory responses in DSS-induced acute colitis in mice. Therefore, we investigated how Lcr bacteria (LcrB) and Lcr poatbiotic (LcrP) affect colonic precancerous conditions, malignant transformation, and cancer cachexia from preventive, therapeutic, and prognostic perspectives. Our results enhanced the understanding of LcrB and LcrP roles in CRC formation and serve as a screening tool for developing future alternative therapeutic strategies.

蕭尊先 Disruption of Progesterone Bioavailability: The Hidden Role of Gut Microbiota in Reproductive Disorders

孕酮消失事件：巡緝隱匿在腸道中的兇手

摘要：

Progesterone is a vital steroidal hormone and a precursor to several other hormones, including mineralocorticoids, androgens, and estrogens. In women, progesterone is primarily produced by the corpus luteum in the ovaries after ovulation. During the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, progesterone levels increase to thicken the endometrial lining and support pregnancy. Insufficient progesterone can increase the risk of miscarriage and contribute to endometrial pathologies, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In this study, we isolated an anaerobic bacterium, Clostridium innocuum, from the fecal sample of an infertile patient. In vitro assays demonstrated that C. innocuum majorly metabolizes progesterone into epipregnanolone, a metabolite with minimal progestogenic activity. Administration of C. innocuum to C57BL/6 mice for 21 days significantly reduced plasma progesterone levels compared to the vehicle-treated group. Notably, the reduction in progesterone levels was reversed when metronidazole, an anaerobe-specific antibiotic, was co-administered. Additionally, C. innocuum administration disrupted the estrous cycle and impaired follicular development in mice treated with the bacterium for 12 weeks via oral gavage. Furthermore, genes associated with progesterone metabolism in C. innocuum showed higher abundance in fecal samples from patients exhibiting progesterone-metabolizing activity. In conclusion, our findings suggest that C. innocuum is a causal factor in modulating host progesterone metabolism via enterohepatic circulation.

陳柔安 腸道微生物健康金三角：從實驗室到市場的實踐旅程

摘要：

腸道菌叢在宿主健康中扮演關鍵角色，其代謝活性將食物分子轉化為代謝物，進而影響人體功能。研究腸道菌的代謝機制不僅有助於揭示食物與人體的交互作用，亦為透過飲食調節腸道菌群提供精準的策略。本研究從動物實驗出發，發現荔枝多酚可減少高脂飲食誘發的肥胖及高血糖，並促進 Bifidobacterium longum 的生長。進一步將 B. longum 餵食小鼠後，觀察到其能顯著降低高脂飲食導致的肥胖與血糖異常。為探究 B. longum 產生的減重功效代謝物，研究團隊採用高解析液相層析串聯質譜儀，對菌液進行分離與功效驗證，最終鑑定出關鍵代謝物 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA)。動物實驗結果顯示，MTA 具有減重、改善胰島素阻抗，以及調節肝臟脂肪與醣類代謝的顯著功效。該研究揭示了益生質、益生菌及後生元之間的協同作用機制及其對宿主健康的影響。為將研究成果商品化，雷文虎克自國立臺灣大學技轉出此配方技術，並開展深入的產品開發與人體臨床研究。研究結果顯示終端產品於受試者有顯著的代謝改善效果，包括降低體重、體脂率及內臟脂肪，同時改善胰島素與血脂等代謝指標，並提升短鏈脂肪酸 (Short-chain fatty acids, SCFAs) 的生成。本研究成功開發出結合益生質、益生菌與後生元的配方技術，不僅揭示其對宿主代謝健康的顯著影響，更展現了在腸胃道保健品市場應用潛力。

應用微生物領域

莊蕙萍 應用海綿單體系統馴養氮系微生物來處理環境中關注氮系污染物

摘要:

環境中現階段的兩大關注氮系污染物為氨氮(NH4+-N)和氧化亞氮(N2O)，前者為工 業廢水和畜牧廢水中常見的排放氮源，而後者則為誘發氣候變遷的溫室氣體。海綿介質 是一種易於馴養生長緩慢自營性微生物的單體，且單體上均勻分布的立體孔隙有助於不 同需氧性氮系微生物共存於一個系統內。本研究以氨氧化菌群和厭氧氨氧化菌群兩大家 族在低碳低耗能下將氨氮(NH4+-N)還原至氮氣(N2)，發現在污染水體為低碳氮比時具有 明顯的效果，但若是在高有機物含量的水體，則易優先生長脫硝菌群來取代厭氧氨氧化 菌群。另一方面，在溫室氣體氧化亞氮的減量方面，本研究以自營性氨氧化菌群為主角 將氧化亞氮(N2O)轉化至硝酸氮(NO3--N)，於實驗過程中觀察到四個氮系產物，包括羥胺 (NH2OH)、亞硝酸氮(NO2--N)、硝酸氮(NO3--N)和氨氮(NH4+-N)，推測在氧化亞氮(N2O) 轉化過程中，首先氧化至羥胺(NH2OH)和亞硝酸氮(NO2--N)，再氧化至硝酸氮(NO3--N)， 而後異化還原成銨(NH4+-N)。在此階段，氨氧化菌、亞硝酸氧化菌、完全氨氧化菌 (comammox)和硝酸鹽異化還原成銨細菌為主要貢獻者。綜合上述，參與氮循環的各階段 功能性微生物將共同合作轉化環境中氨氮(NH4+-N)和氧化亞氮(N2O)至無毒氮氣和可再 利用的綠色資源。

蔡欣亞 From Bacterial Defense to Bioactive Innovation: Unraveling Polyphenol Phosphorylation in Bacillus subtilis

摘要：

Despite the versatile health benefits, many phenolic phytochemicals have limited bioavailability due to poor water solubility. We revealed that the natural detoxification mechanism of Bacillus subtilis BCRC 80517 can convert these compounds into highly water-soluble phosphorylated derivatives with enhanced bioavailability. Through our investigation, we identified and characterized a novel dikinase, B. subtilis polyphenol phosphate synthetase (BsPPS), which catalyzes the phosphorylation of various phenolic compounds with broad substrate specificity. While the production of these phosphate derivatives was achieved in a 5-L bioreactor system by B. subtilis BCRC 80517, this microbial conversion system presents challenges, including the bacterial toxicity of certain phenolics, poor cellular permeability of high-molecular-weight compounds, and the diversion of substrates into alternative detoxification pathways, such as the QdoI-mediated ring cleavage of flavonols. To overcome these constraints, we developed a cell-free enzymatic conversion system for these substrates and constructed ΔqdoI deletion mutants using CRISPR/Cas9. This approach facilitated the bioproduction of diverse polyphenol phosphate derivatives with improved oral bioavailability and offered insights into the complex metabolic routes for flavonols.

鍾毓國 仿生奈米粒子作為抗菌藥物載體及疫苗的應用

摘要：

抗甲苯青黴素金黃色葡萄球菌 (MRSA) 是一種對多種抗菌藥物產生了抗藥性的致病菌，且擁有極高的死亡率，相較於無抗藥性金黃色葡萄球菌 (MSSA) 感染更難被治癒。抗生素是對抗耐藥性細菌的主要的治療策略，然而，新抗生素的開發速度逐漸趨緩，導致新藥的引進減少，因此疫苗的開發和改變給藥模式變得更加重要。細菌的胞外囊泡被認為具有多種功能，包括細胞間通訊、毒素蛋白分泌以及輔助生物膜形成，此外，有研究顯示它們能夠引發免疫系統對細菌病原體的免疫反應，是一種免疫新興技術。因此本研究希望透過 MRSA 胞外囊泡膜修飾之聚乳酸甘醇酸刺激免疫系統，引發後天免疫來預防 MRSA 感染，同時能夠負載抗生素遞送藥物，不僅可以作為疫苗達到預防效果，還可以作為藥物遞送平台以增加藥物和細菌之間的親和力。在初步數據中，MRSA 胞外囊泡膜修飾的奈米顆粒能夠刺激免疫系統，證實有作為細菌疫苗的能力，於藥物遞送平台也效增強了殺菌效果，故得知 MRSA 胞外囊泡修飾之仿生奈米粒子在預防和治療方面皆具有潛力，應能夠有效對抗耐藥性細菌感染。

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a pathogen resistant to multiple antibiotics, with a high mortality rate, making it more challenging to treat than methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). Antibiotics are the main strategy to combat resistant bacteria. However, the slowdown in new antibiotic development has resulted in fewer new drugs, making the development of vaccines and novel drug delivery methods increasingly important. Extracellular vesicles (Evs) are believed to have various functions, including cell-to-cell communication, toxin protein secretion, and aiding in biofilm formation. Research has shown that Evs can also trigger immune responses against bacterial pathogens, making them a promising emerging technology for immunity. This study aims to stimulate the immune system and induce adaptive immunity to prevent MRSA infections using MRSA Ev-coated nanoparticles. Additionally, These nanoparticles can carry antibiotics, functioning as both a vaccine and a drug delivery platform. Preliminary data suggest that MRSA Ev-coated nanoparticles are promising bacterial vaccines, effectively stimulating the immune system. Moreover, the drug delivery platform enhances the bactericidal effect. Suggesting that MRSA Ev-coated nanoparticles hold promise for both the prevention and treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, offering an innovative solution to combating these challenging pathogens.

環境微生物領域

葉怡君 Differential effects of marine heat waves on community assembly and functions of marine phytoplankton and bacterioplankton

摘要：

Phytoplankton and bacterioplankton play vital roles in marine microbial food webs, with their growth limited by many factors, including temperature and resource availability. As marine environments face disturbances from climate change, such as warming and oligotrophication, it becomes crucial to understand how microbial food webs respond. Here, we investigate how warming and resource availability alter community composition and functions of phytoplankton and bacterioplankton using a monthly sampling time series, San Pedro Ocean Time-series (SPOT), during 2001-2018. Structural equal modeling shows that warming had a greater effect on community composition than functions, shifting the phytoplankton community from eukaryotic phytoplankton to cyanobacteria and reducing primary production. These changes further affected bacterioplankton community composition and reduced bacterial production. Our results suggest that warming has a broad impact on the entire microbial food web, altering phytoplankton assembly and functioning directly while affecting bacterioplankton indirectly through trophic interactions.

江漢威 Revealing the unique phycobilisome and photosystem I from a thylakoid-free cyanobacterium, Anthocerotibacter panamensis

摘要：

Anthocerotibacter panamensis is a recently isolated thylakoid-free cyanobacterium that diverged from Gloeobacter spp. approximately 1.4 billion years ago. While Gloeobacter violaceus PCC 7421 (Gv7421) has served as the model strain for studying thylakoid-free cyanobacteria since the 1970s, it remains unclear whether A. panamensis retains more ancestral traits or represents an evolutionary intermediate between Gv7421 and thylakoid-containing cyanobacteria. To address this, we characterized the phycobilisome (PBS) and photosystem I (PSI) of A. panamensis through biochemical, spectroscopic, cryo-electron microscopy, and phylogenetic analyses. Our results reveal that the PBS of A. panamensis is paddle-shaped, lacking hexamer stacking rods, ApcD, and ApcF subunits, which optimize energy delivery in other cyanobacteria. This PBS likely represents an ancestral state, but it also possesses unique adaptations, including a heptacylindrical core and two chains of five phycocyanin hexamers, which enhance light absorption in the absence of thylakoids. Interestingly, the PSI of A. panamensis exhibits distinct features, such as a specialized carotenoid composition and a conserved low-energy chlorophyll site, which were lost in Gv7421. These adaptations likely confer an enhanced ability to grow under high light intensity. By revealing the unique adaptations of PBS and PSI in A. panamensis, we provide new insights into how early cyanobacteria optimized their photosynthetic systems to survive in varying environmental conditions.

王豐錡 Surface modifications conferring phage resistance impose fitness costs in interbacterial competition.

摘要：

Bacteria are found in every environment, occupying their niche by competing with other bacteria and facing selection pressure from phages. During long-term interactions with phages, bacteria can modify their surface phage receptors like outer membrane proteins or O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to prevent phage adsorption. However, how the fitness cost of phage-induced surface modification impacts interbacterial competition remains unclear. Here, we identified Salmonella Typhimurium phage-resistant mutants with LPS modification and exhibited low competitiveness against competing bacteria. Additionally, competition assays and atomic force microscopy (AFM) demonstrated that LPS acted as a physical barrier to defend against contact-dependent killing. Finally, we also found that phages possess endoramnosidase activity in their tail spike protein (TSP), which cleaves the O-antigen of LPS, resulting in low competitiveness of S. Typhimurium. Overall, our research elucidates how phages impact interbacterial competition through phage-induced surface modification and O-antigen cleavage activity.

微生物基因體領域

皮宏偉 Decoding Earth's Biological Nitrogen Fixation Evolution: Unearthing Ancient Secrets Through Genome Database

解碼地球生物固氮演化：透過基因組資料庫挖掘古代秘密

摘要：

Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), which is catalyzed by the microbial nitrogenase enzyme complex, is an important component in earth’s nitrogen cycle. The origin of BNF is an important issue in evolutionary biology. While nitrogen is required by all living organisms, only a small fraction of bacteria and archaea can fix nitrogen. Previous studies suggested that BNF evolved first in archaea and was later transferred to bacteria (the archaea-first hypothesis). However, nitrogen-fixing bacteria are far larger in number and far more diverse in ecological niches than nitrogen-fixing archaea. Moreover, on today's Earth, nitrogen-fixing species can be found in all living environments and which can be free living or symbiotic with other organisms. We analyzed >3,000 nitrogen-fixing genome information from 85,205 prokaryotic genomes. We finally answered the following questions through comprehensive and in-depth analysis, Who were the earliest nitrogen-fixing organisms? What causes the evolutionary diversity of nitrogen-fixing species? How do nitrogen-fixing species adapt to diverse environments and spread around the world?

We propose the bacteria-first hypothesis via multiple phylogenies results, which postulates that nitrogen fixation first evolved in bacteria and was later transferred to archaea. Moreover, we found that nitrogen-fixing archaea evolved <~2300 MYA or more likely <1200 MYA. Fascinatingly, the divergence between BNF Groups III and II/I (~2280 MYA) occurred after the Kenorland supercontinent breakup (~2500-2100 MYA) and the Great Oxidation Event (~2400-2100 MYA), and that between Groups II and I (~1920 MYA) after the Yarrabubba impact (~2229 MYA). Interestingly, the bacteria-first hypothesis is further supported by the observation that the majority of nitrogen-fixing archaea carry the major bacterial Mo (molybdenum) transporter (ModABC) rather than the archaeal Mo transporter (WtpABC). Additionally, BNF is a complex and high energy-cost process, so we found that nitrogen-fixing species would tend gain genes. Therefore, we found that regardless of the comparison of taxonomy classifications, physiological and biochemical characteristics, and living environments, nitrogen-fixing species have significantly larger genomes than non-nitrogen-fixing species. We further found that the differences of genomes may be caused by adaptation to different living environments. Analyzing the co-evolution of neighboring non-nif genes, increasing of gene copy number, and unique genes of nitrogen-fixing genome, we found that genes related to carbon and nitrogen metabolism, protein synthesis, and membrane transporter of nitrogen-fixing genomes are the main reason for the increase in genome size. This study helps us better understand how nitrogen-fixing species evolved from ancient times to their current distribution on Earth.

林心仁 Unveiling the Microbiome of Coral Tissues: A Focus on Fimbriaphyllia

(Euphyllia) ancora

摘要：

Coral microbiomes are known to vary across the mucus, soft tissue, and skeleton of a colony, but their differences within individual polyp tissues are less understood. In the stony coral Fimbriaphyllia ancora, we identified 8,994 amplicon sequencing variants (ASVs) using 16S rRNA sequencing across six polyp tissues: tentacles, body wall, mouth, pharynx, mesenterial filaments, and gonads. Most ASVs were shared among tissues in terms of relative abundance, with no tissue-specific ASVs except in testes (limited to two samples). Notably, Endozoicomonas was less abundant in the body wall and enriched in ovaries, while bacterial taxa were more abundant in the mouth. Gonads displayed unique bacterial patterns, though not statistically significant, with reduced ASV richness and high relative abundances of Endozoicomonas and Pseudomonas. These findings highlight microbiome heterogeneity within coral polyps and suggest new avenues for studying coral-bacteria interactions.

陳薇羽 從基因體特徵解析 Dehalococcoides 亞種的耐鹽機制 

           Decoding Salt Tolerance through Genomic Features of Dehalococcoides Subspecies

摘要：

本研究首次發現 Dehalococcoides 在高鹽環境 (31.3 g/L)下完全還原脫氯三氯乙烯的能力。通過比較基因體發現，Cornell亞群具有顯著的低等電點蛋白特徵，並保留核糖體蛋白L33p基因，而Victoria和Pinellas亞群則缺乏這些特徵。Cornell亞群還表現出獨特的密碼子使用偏好。這些基因特徵揭露 Dehalococcoides 在高鹽環境中的適應機制，為理解微生物耐鹽性提供新見解。

This study unveils the unprecedented ability of Dehalococcoides to completely dechlorinate trichloroethene under high-salinity conditions (up to 31.3 g/L). Comparative genomic analysis revealed that the Cornell subgroup exhibits significantly low protein isoelectric points and retains the ribosomal protein L33p gene, features absent in Victoria and Pinellas subgroups. The Cornell subgroup also displays distinct codon usage bias. These genomic features illuminate the salt adaptation mechanisms of Dehalococcoides, providing new insights into microbial salt tolerance.

謝善棋 Telomeric transposons are pervasive in linear bacterial genomes

摘要：

Eukaryotes have linear DNA and their telomeres are hotspots for transposons, which in some cases took over telomere maintenance. While many bacteria also have linear chromosomes and plasmids, no transposons were known to target bacterial telomeres. Here we show several families of independently evolved telomeric transposons in cyanobacteria and Streptomyces. While these elements have one specific transposon end sequence with the second boundary being the telomere, we can show they move using two transposon ends. Telomeres are transiently bridged by the telomere maintenance systems, providing a duplex substrate for mobilization of the element and the associated telomere. We identify multiple instances where telomeric transposons have replaced native telomeres, making the host cell dependent on the new telomere system for genome maintenance. This work indicates how telomeric transposons can promote gene transfer both between and within genomes, significantly influencing the evolutionary dynamics of linear genomes.

農業微生物基因體領域

楊玉良 香蕉根圈土壤微生物及代謝物的研究

摘要：

Fusarium wilt, caused by the soil-borne pathogen Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc), poses a severe threat to global banana production, especially with the emergence of the highly virulent tropical race 4 (Foc TR4) strain, which affects Cavendish and other banana cultivars. The Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center is advancing sustainable strategies to manage this disease by unraveling the intricate interactions between the pathogen, banana plants, and disease-suppressive soils (DSS). Leveraging genomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, natural products chemistry, and plant biotechnology, we aim to overcome barriers in understanding and controlling Fusarium wilt. Our assessment of 24 organic banana orchards in southern Taiwan revealed significant variability in DSS efficacy against Foc TR4, with biological factors offering superior protection over abiotic factors. Metabolomic and microbiome analyses identified distinct antifungal biomarkers and beneficial microbes, including Streptomyces, Bacillus, and Burkholderia, which are critical in mitigating Foc TR4. Over 60 microbial isolates with antagonistic activity against Foc TR4 have been identified, along with their potential antifungal metabolites. Notably, the α-pyrone compound 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one and its synthetic analog A5 effectively inhibit fusaric acid production, a key virulence factor of Foc TR4, and demonstrate protective effects in greenhouse trials. These findings hold significant potential for commercial applications and emphasize the importance of sustainable agricultural innovations.

李淑君 光合菌在農業上之應用及其對土壤微生物族群之影響

摘要：

過度使用化肥及農藥來提高農產食物的產量，使得土壤酸化、地力退化及土壤流失。為讓農業永續經營，學者紛紛藉由植物根際促生菌（PGPR）的功能與機制提升作物生長與健康。其中沼澤紅假單胞菌菌株PS3為從水稻田篩選出來之植物根際促生菌，過去發現其能夠透過附著於根部並產生植物生長激素來促進葉菜類的生長。然而，PS3在田間的效果及其對具高經濟價值的番茄生長與健康的影響尚待進一步探討。因此，本研究將PS3接種於有機田區觀察其對番茄生長及土壤菌群的影響。研究結果顯示，接種PS3後的番茄與對照組相比，果實重量、產量與品質均顯著提升。除此之外，添加PS3後的土壤肥力提升及養分循環相關菌群（Dyella、Novosphingobium、Luteimonas、Haliangium 和 Thermomonas）亦增加。為驗證上述實驗結果，我們採集田間土壤並以不同栽培番茄品系進行盆栽實驗。實驗結果顯示，PS3的接種效果與田間實驗結果一致且不受品系影響，依然能夠提升番茄農藝性狀與品質。我們還發現Haliangium屬的微生物在兩種番茄品系中均呈現增加的趨勢 （分別為 1.5% 和34.2%）。因此，我們推測該屬微生物可能與PS3之間存在協同作用。綜合上述結果，我們認為PS3促進有機田區番茄生長與品質的效果，主要來自於其能夠調節土壤理化性質及影響土壤微生物群落的組成。

森林微生物資源領域

林威翰 Plants in Microbial Electrochemical Systems for Net Zero Emission: Examples for Natural Wetlands in Woodlands and Heavy Metal in Contaminated Sites

摘要：

Climate change and environmental pollution are serious challenges facing humanity. Green technologies offer promising solutions to achieve net-zero emissions and pollution treatment. Plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) are an emerging green technology capable of producing clean energy without generating secondary pollution. With their diverse structures and multiple functions, PMFCs serve as versatile tools for sustainable energy production and environmental remediation. In PMFCs, plants utilize photosynthesis to capture and store carbon while simultaneously producing green energy, which contributes to net-zero emissions. Furthermore, the multiple mechanisms within PMFCs enable the efficient remediation of contaminated water and soil. Research has shown that PMFCs can integrate ecological engineering principles with elements of natural wetlands in woodlands, enhancing their environmental benefits. Studies have demonstrated that PMFCs can generate electricity and restore acidic soils to near-neutral conditions, improving pH values from 5.94 to 6.39. Additionally, they are effective in treating pollutants in contaminated soil. After 120 days of operation, PMFCs successfully degraded more than 50% of chromium and copper contaminants in the soil, as well as over 35% of zinc contaminants in groundwater. In conclusion, PMFCs represent a sustainable green technology that not only supports net-zero emissions but also provides effective solutions for environmental protection and pollution remediation.

張瓊之 The ecological role and diversity of plant-associated Mycena species in tropical and subtropical areas

摘要：

Mycena is a large fungal genus known as decomposers and inhabits various substrates and climate zones. Recent evidence revealed their interactions with living woody plants in temperate regions, yet their associations with other living plants in various geographic areas remain unexplored. This study investigates the diversity and ecological role of Mycenaspecies in tropical and subtropical regions, focusing on three aspects: (1) systematic analyses of published fungal community datasets from plant tissues to identify potential hosts of Mycena species, and investigates the abundance of Mycena in root tissue of plants in Taiwan, (2) inoculation experiments to examine the relationships between the chosen fungal-plant pairs, and (3) investigation of the substrate utilization and diversity of Mycena in Taiwan, where 88 Mycenacollections from various substrates and habitats have been collected in this study. Our findings reveal that (1) Mycenaspecies are associated with various plant families. They are commonly detected within Bryophyta tissues and the roots of Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, and Ericaceae. (2) Mycena exhibited various impacts on the inoculated peat moss Sphagnum junghuhnianum, ranging from significantly detrimental to neutral. This study sheds light on the plant taxa of Mycena and provides insights into their interactions in tropical and subtropical areas.