Limitations to Natural Bioremediation of Perchlorate in a Contaminated Site

Perchlorate (ClO₄^-) has been detected in many drinking water supplies in the United States, including the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead, Nevada. These locations are highly contaminated and contribute perchlorate to Lake Mead and the Colorado River system. Essential elements for perchlorate bioremediation at these locations were examined, including the presence of perchlorate-reducing bacteria (PRB), sufficient electron donors, occurrence of competing electron acceptors, and ability of PRB to utilize a variety of electron donors. Enumeration of PRB was performed anoxically using most probable number (MPN). Values ranged from ≤20 to 230 PRB/100 ml or ≤20 to ≥ 1.6× 10⁵ PRB/g for Lake Mead water samples and Las Vegas Wash sediments, respectively. 16S rRNA sequences revealed that isolates were γ -proteobacteria, Aeromonas, Dechlorosoma, Rahnella and Shewanella. A screening of potential electron donors using BIOLOG^TM demonstrated that all isolates were capable of metabolic versatility. Measurements of total organic carbon (TOC), nitrate and dissolved oxygen (DO) indicated limited presence of electron donor at all sites, whereas the electron acceptors varied throughout the Wash and Lake Mead. The persistence of perchlorate in the sites is attributed to lack of available electron donor and/or the presence of competing electron acceptors. A location has been identified where perchlorate biodegradation could be implemented thereby halting the transport of perchlorate to Lake Mead and the Colorado River.     

Development of a Microbial Consortium from a Contaminated Soil That Degrades Pentachlorophenol and Wood-Preserving Oil

An indigenous microbial consortium capable of degrading pentachlorophenol (PCP) and petroleum hydrocarbons (C₁₀-C₅₀) was produced from a soil contaminated with wood-preserving oil. Two 10-L stainless steel soil slurry (10% w/v) bioreactors were operated in fed-batch mode. To verify the growth and efficiency of PCP degraders in the presence of other contaminants, one bioreactor was fed with a PCP-based wood-preserving mixture (WPM) and a second reactor was fed with technical-grade NaPCP. During the 90-day period of activation, PCP, C₁₀-C₅₀, Cl^-, pH, and dissolved oxygen levels were monitored. The microbial community was monitored using specific most probably number (MPN) bacterial counts and mineralization tests. PCP degradation rates increased similarly in both reactors, from 19 to 132 mg/L-d in the NaPCP reactor, and from 41 to 112 mg/L-d in the WPM reactor. Contaminant loss calculations showed that 99.5% of PCP and 92.5% of C₁₀-C₅₀ added to the WPM reactor were biodegraded. It also revealed that 83% of polychlorinated dioxins and furans were removed. PCP-degrading bacteria increased from 7×10² to 1.6×10⁶ bacteria/mL in both reactors, and petroleum hydrocarbon degraders increased from 1.7×102 to 3.4×108 bacteria/mL in the WPM reactor, indicating that the activity of PCP degraders was not inhibited by the presence of microorganisms growing on petroleum hydrocarbons.     

Determination of bacterial cell number and cell volume by means of flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, and epifluorescence microscopy

Comparative measurements of bacterial total counts and volumes of flow cytometry (FCM), transmission electron (TEM), and epifluorescence microscopy (EFM), were undertaken during a four week mesocosm experiment. Total counts of bacteria measured by TEM, EFM, and FCM were in the range of 1 · 10⁶−6 cells ml⁻¹, 1 · 10⁶−3 · 10¹⁶ cells ml⁻¹, and 5 · 10⁵ cells ml⁻¹ respectively. The mean volume of the bacterial community, measured by means of EFM and TEM, increased from 0.12–0.15 μm³ at the start of the experiment to 0.39–0.53 μm³ at the end. Generally, there was good agreement between the two methods and regression analyses gave r = 0.87 (p < < 0.01) for cell volume and r = 0.97 (p < < 0.01) for cell number. DAPI stained bacteria with volumes less than 0.2 μm³ were not detected by flow cytometry and these were generally an order of magnitude lower than counts made by TEM and EFM. For samples where the mean bacterial cell volume was longer than 0.3 μm³, all three methods were in agreement both with respect to counts and volume estimates.     

Incorporation of Petroleum Carbon Into Soil Organic Matter During Biodegradation

A procedure, based on measurement of the stable carbon isotope ¹³C, has been developed for determining the extent to which petroleum carbon is incorporated into soil organic matter (SOM) by humification of biomass produced during biodegradation of the petroleum in soil. We have shown that a crude oil having a δ¹³C of-27.4%, when biodegraded in a soil containing SOM with a δ¹³C of-15.7%, resulted in a change of the δ¹³C of the bound SOM reflecting that of petroleum carbon. Comparison of five soil biodegradation tests using different amounts and types of fertilizer to stimulate biodegradation of the oil in this soil showed that the extent of the δ¹³C change in the bound SOM varied with the extent of oil biodegradation observed. To obtain ¹³C data on the SOM, the residual petroleum was first removed by rigorous extraction with dichloromethane using a Soxhlet apparatus. The extracted soil was then combusted to release bound carbon as CO₂, which was analyzed for ¹³C. Where the SOM has a δ¹³C similar to that of petroleum, ¹⁴C measurements of SOM would give similar results. This type of data, referred to as the petroleum “footprint” in the SOM, could be useful in identifying or confirming intrinsic biodegradation of petroleum in contaminated soil.     

Cairo-East Bank effluent re-use study 3 — Effect of field crop irrigation with secondary treated wastewater on biological and chemical properties of soil and groundwater

Large scale field trials were conducted in fertile soil and desert (virgin) soil to evaluate the effect of irrigation with secondary treated wastewater from two wastewater treatment plants in Cairo on biological and chemical properties of soil and groundwater. Soil samples were taken for physical and chemical analysis after crop harvest. Groundwater monitoring wells were installed in and around the experimental soil sites. Considerable amounts of macronutrients (NPK) were applied to the grown crops through the treated wastewater irrigation: N (19–79%), P (23–181%) and K (85–357%) of the recommended fertilizer rates according to the crop and the experimental site. Soil physical and chemical analysis showed that both soils are widely variable in water holding capacity, organic matter, pH value, CaCO₃, salinity, cation exchange capacity, and soil bulk density in the topsoil (0–30 cm). Groundwater samples which were examined for the presence of pathogenic bacteria (salmonella), faecal coliform bacteria and helminth ova. At the virgin soil site, 10–57% of the samples from each well contained salmonella, whereas at the fertile soil, salmonella was not detected in five wells, and the occurrence in the other four wells was 10–20% of the samples. The numbers of faecal coliforms were similar at both sites, in the range 10²–10³ MPN per 100 mL. Small numbers of parasite ova were also found in the majority of wells, with a greater number occurring at the virgin soil. The groundwater in both sites was similar and of poor quality, and would be unsuitable for potable or irrigation purposes.     

Inhibitory effects of carrier-immobilized synthetic histo-blood group A-, B-, H-, and SiaLe-oligosaccharides on H2O2 generation by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes

Carbohydrate-bearing polymers of biologically inert design are versatile tools to delineate functional aspects of oligosaccharides. Binding of synthetic N-substituted polyacrylamide (PAA) conjugates of histo-blood group (A_di, A_tri, B_di, B_tri, H_di, SiaLe^a, and SiaLe^x) to human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs), and effects on H₂O₂ generation elicited by different agonists such as digitonin, N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP) and the galactoside-specific lectin from Viscum album L. (VAA) were assessed. PMNs expressed binding sites for blood group-related neoglycoconjugates in the range of N10⁶–10⁷/cell with K_D-values in the μM range. Treatment of PMNs (2×10⁶ cells/ml) with PAA-probes (50 μg/ml) for 5 min did not activate the “respiratory burst”. However, it led to suppression (range 20–70%) of H₂O₂ generation of cells in the presence of elicitors. In detail, the FMLP-induced response was significantly decreased by A_di, A_tri, B_tri, H_di, SiaLe^a, and SiaLe^x conjugates, whereas for digitonin one only by A_di, A_tri, B_tri. All the seven tested PAA-probes were found to inhibit significantly VAA-mediated release of H₂O₂ from PMNs. In this case, interference can take place already, at the stage of initial binding, especially for B- and H-epitopes, but less prominently for A- and SiaLe-epitopes. These results support the notion that PAA-immobilized histo-blood group oligosaccharides can serve as effector molecules with the ability to reduce the H₂O₂-generation of PMNs, warranting further studies on the involved reaction pathway.     

Interaction of the nicotinic agonist (R,S)-3-pyridyl-1-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)-azetidine (MPA) with nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes expressed in cell lines and rat cortex

The interaction of the nicotinic agonist (R,S)-3-pyridyl-1-methyl-2-(3-pyridyl)-azetidine (MPA) with different nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes was studied in cell lines and rat cortex. MPA showed an affinity (Ki = 1.21 nM) which was higher than anatoxin-a > (−)-nicotine > (+)-[R]nornicotine > (−)-[S]nornicotine > and (+)-nicotine, but lower than cytisine (Ki = 0.46 nM) in competing for (−)-[³H]nicotine binding in M10 cells, which stably express the recombinant ₄β₂ nAChR subtype. A one-binding site model was observed in all competing experiments between (−)-[³H]nicotine binding and each of the agonists studied in M10 cells. MPA showed a 13-fold higher affinity for (−)-[³H]nicotine binding sites compared to the [³H]epibatidine binding sites in rat cortical membranes. In human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, which predominantly express the ₃ nAChR subunit mRNA, MPA displaced [³H]epibatidine binding from a single population of the binding sites with an affinity in the same nM range as that observed MPA in displacing [³H]epibatidine binding in rat cortical membranes. Chronic treatment of M10 cells with MPA significantly up-regulated the number of (−)-[³H]nicotine binding sites in a concentration dependent manner. Thus MPA appears to have higher affinity to 4-subunit containing receptor subtype than ₃-subunit containing receptor subtype of nAChRs. Furthermore MPA binds to ₄β₂ receptor subtype with higher affinity than (−)-nicotine and behaves, opposite to cytisine, as a full agonist in up-regulating the number of nAChRs. © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.     

On the Specificity of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol as Inhibitors of Xanthine Oxidase. A Pulse Radiolysis Determination of Rate Constants for Reaction of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol with Hydroxyl Radicals

Allopurinol has been employed as a “specific” inhihitor of xanthine oxidase in studies of hypoxic/ reoxygenation injury. Pulse radiolysis was used to establish rate constants for the reactions of allopurinol and its major metabolite oxypurinol with hydroxyl radicals: values were (1.45 ± 0.241 × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1 for allopurinol and (4.95 ± 0.84) × 10⁹ M^-1 s^-1 for oxypurinol. These rate constants show that, in view of the amounts of allopurinol that have been used in animal studies. hydroxyl radical scavenging by this molecule could contribute to its biological actions. especially if animals are pre-treated with allopurinol. so allowing oxypurinol to form. The ability of allopurinol to protect tissues not containing xanthine oxidase against reoxygenation injury may be related to radical scavenging by allopurinol and oxypurinol.     

Culturable populations of Sporomusa spp. and Desulfovibrio spp. in the anoxic bulk soil of flooded rice microcosms.

Most-probable-number (MPN) counts were made of homoacetogenic and other bacteria present in the anoxic flooded bulk soil of laboratory microcosms containing 90- to 95-day-old rice plants. MPN counts with substrates known to be useful for the selective enrichment or the cultivation of homoacetogenic bacteria (betaine, ethylene glycol, 2, 3-butanediol, and 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate) gave counts of 2.3 x 10(3) to 2.8 x 10(5) cells per g of dry soil. Homoacetogens isolated from the terminal positive steps of these dilution cultures belonged to the genus Sporomusa. Counts with succinate, ethanol, and lactate gave much higher MPNs of 5.9 x 10(5) to 3.4 x 10(7) cells per g of dry soil and led to the isolation of Desulfovibrio spp. Counting experiments on lactate and ethanol which included Methanospirillum hungatei in the medium gave MPNs of 2.3 x 10(6) to 7.5 x 10(8) cells per g of dry soil and led to the isolation of Sporomusa spp. The latter strains could grow with betaine, ethylene glycol, 2, 3-butanediol, and/or 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate, but apparently most cells of Sporomusa spp. did not initiate growth in counting experiments with those substrates. Spores apparently accounted for 2. 2% or less of the culturable bacteria. It appears that culturable Desulfovibrio spp. and Sporomusa spp. were present in approximately equal numbers in the bulk soil. Multiple, phylogenetically-distinct, phenotypically-different, strains of each genus were found in the same soil system.     

Characteristics of microbial fermentation and potential digestibility of fiber in the hindgut of dugongs (Dugong dugon)

The number of microorganisms in the hindgut of dugongs (Dugong dugon) were estimated and their in vitro volatile fatty acid (VFA) production and degradation of eelgrass measured. Scanning electron microscopy showed that some rod bacteria attached to the surface of plant tissue degraded and eroded the cell walls. Number of starch-, lactate-, cellobiose-, pectin-, xylan- and cellulose-utilizing bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria and methane-producing bacteria were estimated at 10⁹ ∼ 10¹⁰ colony forming units g^-1. Microorganisms degraded the cellulose and noncellulolytic components of the eelgrass, and about 47.3% of dry matter was degraded after 36 h in vitro incubation. The total VFA concentration was 10.5 mmol dL^-1 at 36 h incubation, which included 55.7 mol% acetate, 18.0 mol% n-butyrate and 15.1 mol% propionate. The gas composition of in vitro fermentation was 68.4% carbon dioxide, 22.2% methane and 9.4% hydrogen.     

Reactions of captopril and epicaptopril with transition metal ions and hydroxyl radicals: An EPR spectroscopy study

In the present study, using the technique of EPR spin trapping with DMPO a spin trap, we demonstrated formation of thiyl radicals from thiol-containing angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor captopril (CAP) and from its stereoisomer epicaptopril (EPICAP), a non-ACE inhibitor, in the process of ^.OH radical scavenging. Splitting constants of DMPO/thiyl radical adducts were identical for both thiols and were a_N = 15.3 G, and a_H = 16.2 G. Bimolecular rate constants for the reaction of CAP and EPICAP with ^.OH radicals were close to a diffusion-controlled rate (≈ 2 × 10¹⁰ M⁻¹s⁻¹). Our data also show that both CAP and EPICAP reduce Fe(III) ions and that their respective thiyl radicals are formed in this reaction. In the presence of Fe(III), H₂O₂, and CAP, or EPICAP, ^.OH radicals were produced by a thiol-driven Fenton mechanism. Copper(II) ions were also reduced by these thiols, but no thiyl radicals could be detected in these reactions, and no ^.OH or other Fenton oxidants were observed in the presence of H₂O₂. Our data show direct evidence that thiol groups of CAP and EPICAP are involved in scavenging of ^.OH radicals. The direct ^.OH radical scavenging, together with the reductive “repair” of other sites of ^.OH radical attack, may contribute to the known protective effect of CAP against ischemia/reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. The formation of reactive thiyl radicals in the reactions of the studied compounds with ^.OH radicals and with Fe(III) ions may play a role in some of the known adverse effects of CAP.     

S1P-receptors in PC12 and transfected HEK293 cells: molecular targets of hypotensive imidazoline I(1) receptor ligands

The present study aimed at elucidating the molecular identity of the proposed “I₁-imidazoline receptors”, i.e. non-adrenoceptor recognition sites via which the centrally acting imidazolines clonidine and moxonidine mediate a major part of their effects. In radioligand binding experiments with [³H]clonidine and [³H]lysophosphatidic acid on intact, ₂-adrenoceptor-deficient PC12 cells, moxonidine, clonidine, lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) competed for the specific binding sites of both radioligands with similar affinities. RNA interference with the rat S1P₁-, S1P₂- or S1P₃-receptor abolished specific [³H]lysophosphatidic acid binding. [³H]Clonidine binding was markedly decreased by siRNA targeting S1P₁- and S1P₃-receptors but not by siRNA against S1P₂-receptors. Finally, in HEK293 cells transiently expressing human S1P₃-receptors, sphingosine-1-phosphate, clonidine and moxonidine induced increases in intracellular calcium concentration, moxonidine being more potent than clonidine; this is in agreement with the known properties of the “I₁-imidazoline receptors”.

The present results indicate that the “I₁-imidazoline receptors” mediating effects of clonidine and moxonidine in PC12 and the transfected HEK293 cells belong to the S1P-receptor family; in particular, the data obtained in PC12 cells suggest that the I₁ imidazoline receptors represent a mixture of S1P₁- and S1P₃-receptors and/or hetero-dimers of both.     

Studies on the reactivity of organometallic Ru-, Rh- and Os-pta complexes with DNA model compounds

The reactions of arene–metal complexes (arene = p-cymene, benzene or pentamethylcyclopentadienyl, metal = Ru, Rh or Os), including 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphatricyclo-[3.3.1.1]decanephosphine (pta) and chloro co-ligands, with 9-methylguanine, adenine, and a series of nucleosides were studied in water to ascertain the binding modes. The products were characterized by NMR spectroscopy and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Tandem mass spectrometry was found to provide excellent information on preferential binding sites. In general, the N7 position on guanine (the most basic site) was found to be the preferred donor atom for coordination to the metal complexes. The X-ray structures of the precursor complexes, [(η⁵-C₁₀H₁₅)RhCl(pta-Me)₂]Cl₂, [(η⁶-C₁₀H₁₄)OsCl(pta)₂]Cl, and [(η⁶-C₆H₆)OsCl₂(CH₃CN)], are also reported.     

Cultivation and preservation of vinegar bacteria

Ten strains of acetic acid bacteria were investigated for their characteristics of growth and metabolism. The strains were identified as those presently in use for industrial vinegar production in southern Germany. At the time of isolation from industrial acetators the total concentrations, i.e. acetic acid (w/v) plus ethanol (v/v), of the fermenting vinegars were 6.1–14.9%. The applicability of a previously described method for starter preparation was examined for the various isolates as well as for the type strains of species of the genera Gluconobacter and Acetobacter. Isolates from cider or wine vinegar fermentations grew readily in RAE-medium to total counts of >1×10⁹ cells ml⁻¹. For the cultivation of strains isolated from spirit vinegar fermentations AE-medium proved most suitable. Cultures of these strains exhibited lag phases of 2–5 days and grew up to total counts of <1×10⁹ cells ml⁻¹. All type strains could be grown on RAE-agar. The use of 20% malt extract as cryo-protectant was effective for the preservation of all strains. Upon revitalization the cultures were suitable as inoculum for starting fermentations in pilot acetators. 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes were constructed which were species specific for Gluconobacter oxydans or Acetobacter aceti or group specific for Acetobacter europaeus/Acetobacter xylinum. The probes hybridized with the DNA of the respective type strains. Four isolates were allotted to A. europaeus/A. xylinum applying the group specific probe. The DNA of six of the Acetobacter sp. hybridized with none of the probes.     

Dopamine receptors in human foetal brains: Characterization, regulation and ontogeny of [H]spiperone binding sites in striatum

Eighteen corpora striata from normal human foetal brains ranging in gestational age from 16 to 40 weeks and five from post natal brains ranging from 23 days to 42 years were analysed for the ontogeny of dopamine receptors using [³H]spiperone as the ligand and 10 mM dopamine hydrochloride was used in blanks. Spiperone binding sites were characterized in a 40-week-old foetal brain to be dopamine receptors by the following criteria: (1) It was localized in a crude mitochondrial pellet that included synaptosomes; (2) binding was saturable at 0.8 nM concentration; (3) dopaminergic antagonists spiperone, haloperidol, pimozide, trifluperazine and chlorpromazine competed for the binding with IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.3–14 nM while agonists—apomorphine and dopamine gave IC₅₀ values of 2.5 and 10 μM, respectively suggesting a D₂ type receptor.

Epinephrine and norepinephrine inhibited the binding much less efficiently while mianserin at 10 μM and serotonin at 1 mM concentration did not inhibit the binding. Bimolecular association and dissociation rate constants for the reversible binding were 5.7 × 10⁸ M⁻¹ min⁻¹ and 5.0 × 10⁻² min⁻¹, respectively. Equilibrium dissociation constant was 87 pM and the K_D obtained by saturation binding was 73 pM.

During the foetal age 16 to 40 weeks, the receptor concentration remained in the range of 38–60 fmol/mg protein or 570–1080 fmol/g striatum but it increased two-fold postnatally reaching a maximum at 5 years Significantly, at lower foetal ages (16–24 weeks) the [³H]spiperone binding sites exhibited a heterogeneity with a high (K_D, 13–85 pM) and a low (K_D, 1.2–4.6 nM) affinity component, the former accounting for 13–24% of the total binding sites. This heterogeneity persisted even when sulpiride was used as a displacer. The number of high affinity sites increased from 16 weeks to 24 weeks and after 28 weeks of gestation, all the binding sites showed only a single high affinity.

GTP decreased the agonist affinity as observed by dopamine competition of [³H]spiperone binding in 20-week-old foetal striata and at all subsequent ages. GTP increased IC₅₀ values of dopamine 2 to 4.5 fold and Hill coefficients were also increased becoming closer to one suggesting that the dopamine receptor was susceptible to regulation from foetal life onwards.     

PAH-DNA adducts in environmentally exposed population in relation to metabolic and DNA repair gene polymorphisms

Epidemiologic studies indicate that prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution may be associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer in general population. These effects may be attributable to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) adsorbed to respirable air particles. It is expected that metabolic and DNA repair gene polymorphisms may modulate individual susceptibility to PAH exposure. This study investigates relationships between exposure to PAHs, polymorphisms of these genes and DNA adducts in group of occupationally exposed policemen (EXP, N = 53, males, aged 22–50 years) working outdoors in the downtown area of Prague and in matched “unexposed” controls (CON, N = 52). Personal exposure to eight carcinogenic PAHs (c-PAHs) was evaluated by personal samplers during working shift prior to collection of biological samples. Bulky-aromatic DNA adducts were analyzed in lymphocytes by ³²P-postlabeling assay. Polymorphisms of metabolizing (GSTM1, GSTP1, GSTT1, EPHX1, CYP1A1-MspI) and DNA repair (XRCC1, XPD) genes were determined by PCR-based RFLP assays. As potential modifiers and/or cofounders, urinary cotinine levels were analyzed by radioimmunoassay, plasma levels of vitamins A, C, E and folates by HPLC, cholesterol and triglycerides using commercial kits. During the sampling period ambient particulate air pollution was as follows: PM10 32–55 μg/m³, PM2.5 27–38 μg/m³, c-PAHs 18–22 ng/m³; personal exposure to c-PAHs: 9.7 ng/m³ versus 5.8 ng/m³ (P < 0.01) for EXP and CON groups, respectively. The total DNA adduct levels did not significantly differ between EXP and CON groups (0.92 ± 0.28 adducts/10⁸ nucleotides versus 0.82 ± 0.23 adducts/10⁸ nucleotides, P = 0.065), whereas the level of the B[a]P-“like” adduct was significantly higher in exposed group (0.122 ± 0.036 adducts/10⁸ nucleotides versus 0.099 ± 0.035 adducts/10⁸ nucleotides, P = 0.003). A significant difference in both the total (P < 0.05) and the B[a]P-“like” DNA adducts (P < 0.01) between smokers and nonsmokers within both groups was observed. A significant positive association between DNA adduct and cotinine levels (r = 0.368, P < 0.001) and negative association between DNA adduct and vitamin C levels (r = −0.290, P = 0.004) was found. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed smoking, vitamin C, polymorphisms of XPD repair gene in exon 23 and GSTM1 gene as significant predictors for total DNA adduct levels. Exposure to ambient air pollution, smoking, and polymorphisms of XPD repair gene in exon 6 were significant predictors for B[a]P-“like” DNA adduct. To sum up, this study suggests that polymorphisms of DNA repair genes involved in nucleotide excision repair may modify aromatic DNA adduct levels and may be useful biomarkers to identify individuals susceptible to DNA damage resulting from c-PAHs exposure.     

植物-固定化菌剂联合修复多环芳烃污染土壤

以火凤凰根际土壤中发现的3种优势菌[分枝杆菌(Ⅰ)、产黄纤维单胞菌(Ⅱ)、少动鞘氨醇单胞菌(Ⅲ)]构建的多菌剂体系为供试菌剂,针对大港油田原油污染土壤,将固定化供试菌剂接种于修复植物火凤凰根际,探讨供试菌剂强化火凤凰修复多环芳烃(PAHs)污染土壤的效果。结果表明: 处理ⅠⅢ(有效活菌数为10⁹ cfu·mL^-1)和ⅠⅡⅢ(有效活菌数为10⁷ cfu·mL^-1)对PAHs的降解有促进作用,PAHs降解率分别为32.2%和41.4%,均显著高于相应对照处理。此外,处理ⅠⅡⅢ对火凤凰的地下生物量有明显促进作用,比对照处理增加了31.2%。表明由3种优势菌构建的多菌剂ⅠⅡⅢ可以作为火凤凰修复PAHs污染土壤的强化手段,为微生物强化植物修复技术提供了新的修复思路及方法。     

Zooplankton feeding ecology: bacterivory by metazoan microzooplankton

Bacterivory by the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis Müller, nauplii and copepodites of the copepods Centropages Krøyer sp. and Acartia tonsa Dana, and the tintinnid Favella panamensis Kofoid & Campbell was examined using fluorescently labelled bacteria (FLB) and epifluorescence microscopy. FLB were < 1 μm in diameter, and were offered at environmental concentrations (1.47−9.08 × 10⁶ cells·ml⁻¹). FLB were visible within rotifers, nauplii, copepodites, and tintinnids, confirming ingestion. Rotifer clearance rates (32–418 μl·animal⁻¹·h⁻¹) exhibited no relation with FLB concentration. In some cases rates of clearance of FLB by rotifers were different with alternative phytoplankton food (Nanochloris Naumann sp.) than in replicates with FLB alone, whereas in other cases presence of alternative food exhibited no clear effects on rates of ingestion of FLB. Clearance rates for all six naupliar stages of A. tonsa nauplii (0–320 μl·animal⁻¹·h⁻¹) were stage-related, with higher rates by NIII-VI nauplii than NI-II nauplii. Nauplii had higher rates of clearance of FLB in the absence of alternative phytoplankton food (Isochrysis Parke sp.). Clearance rates of FLB by a single stage of Centropages sp. nauplii, A. tonsa CI copepodites and F. panamensis (each obtained at only a single food concentration of either 1.5 or 5.0 × 10⁶ cells·ml⁻¹) were within the range of 85–142 μl·animal⁻¹·h⁻¹. These ranges were similar to those of rotifers and A. tonsa nauplii. This is the first report of FLB ingestion by metazoan marine microzooplankton. Although rotifers and ciliates might be expected to ingest small particles such as FLB using ciliary induced feeding currents, the means by which nauplii and copepodites eat FLB is less clear. We propose that they may “eat” bacteria as they “drink” to osmoregulate.     

Trapping, loss and annihilation of excitations in a photosynthetic system: II. Experiments with the purple bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas capsulata

In this paper a number of experiments with the purple bacteria Rhodospirillum rubrum and Rhodopseudomonas capsulata is described in which the total fluorescence yield and/or the total fraction of reaction centers closed after a picosecond laser pulse were measured as a function of the pulse intensity. The conditions were such that the reaction centers were either all in the open or all in the closed state before the pulse arrived. These experiments are analysed using the theoretical formalism discussed in the preceding paper (Den Hollander, W.T.F., Bakker J.G.C., and Van Grondelle, R., Biochim. Biophys. Acta 725, 492–507). From the experimental results the number of connected photosynthetic units, λ, the rate of energy transfer between neighboring antenna molecules, k_h, and the rate of trapping by an open reaction center, k^o_t, can be estimated. For R. rubrum it is found that λ = 14−17, k_h = (1−2)·10¹² s⁻¹ and k^o_t = (4−6)·10¹¹ s⁻¹, for Rps. capsulata λ ≈ 30, k_h ≈ 4·10¹¹ s⁻¹ and k^o_t ≈ 3·10¹¹ s⁻¹. The findings are discussed in terms of current models for the structure of the antenna and the kinetic properties of the decay processes occurring in these purple bacteria.