Continuous cider fermentation with co-immobilized yeast and Leuconostoc oenos cells

Ca-alginate matrix was used to co-immobilize Saccharomyces bayanus and Leuconostoc oenos in one integrated biocatalytic system in order to perform simultaneously alcoholic and malo-lactic fermentation of apple juice to produce cider, in a continuous packed bed bioreactor. The continuous process permitted much faster fermentation compared with the traditional batch process. The flavor formation was also better controlled. By adjusting the flow rate of feeding substrate through the bioreactor, i.e. its residence time, it was possible to obtain either “soft” or “dry” cider. However, the profile of volatile compounds in the final product was modified comparatively to the batch process, especially for higher alcohols, isoamylacetate, and diacetyl. This modification is due to different physiology states of yeast in two processes. Nevertheless, the taste of cider was quite acceptable.     

蚕沙发酵肥在制作过程中的微生物结构变化

目的比较蚕沙发酵肥在发酵前后的微生物结构变化,阐明蚕沙发酵肥的微生物多样性。方法蚕沙发酵肥由基底土和蚕沙按一定比例混合后发酵30d而来,因此实验共分为4个处理组,分别为基底土组、蚕沙组、蚕沙发酵肥30d组和蚕沙发酵肥90d组。分别采集基底土、蚕沙以及发酵30d后的蚕沙发酵肥进行MiSeq高通量测序,比较蚕沙发酵肥与发酵前的基底土、蚕沙之间的细菌多样性变化,并采集发酵90d的蚕沙发酵肥进行测序,比较不同发酵时间对发酵肥细菌多样性的影响。结果蚕沙发酵肥30d组的细菌多样性指数最高,蚕沙最低,说明蚕沙在与基底土混合发酵后细菌多样性水平升高。β多样性结果显示蚕沙发酵肥的稳定性好,且发酵肥与蚕沙的近缘关系较与土壤的更近。比较优势菌属发现,蚕沙发酵肥30d组有10种优势菌属,分别为Sphingobacterium、Parapedobacter、Ochrobactrum、Flavobacterium、Bordetella、Brucella、Rhizobium、Olivibacter、Devosia和Paracoccus;发酵肥90d组中的优势菌属有70%与30d组相同;蚕沙组中仅有5种优势菌属,分别为Parapedobacter、Bacillus、Pseudomonas、Flavobacterium和Sphingobacterium,其中Parapedobacter、Flavobacterium和Sphingobacterium也为发酵肥30d组的优势菌属;基底土的优势菌属大部分为酸杆菌门,分别为Gp1、Gp2、Gp3、Bradyrhizobium、Rhizomicrobium和Rhodoplanes,它们在经发酵后含量大大下降。蚕沙发酵肥中的大部分优势菌属均为具有生防作用的生防菌,其中部分优势菌属也存在于施用了发酵肥的连作白菊根际土中。结论蚕沙与基底土混和发酵制成蚕沙发酵肥后细菌多样性发生显著变化,生防菌种类显著增加,同时蚕沙发酵肥中的这些生防菌来源于蚕沙并非基底土。蚕沙发酵肥缓解连作障碍的机制之一可能是由于蚕沙发酵肥中存在的大量生防菌。     

Introducing Bacillus licheniformis as the causal agent of pistachio dieback in Iran

During 2004 and 2006 growing seasons some pistachio trees in Kerman province of Iran showed dieback symptoms. Initial symptoms were observed at the beginning of the growing season and they developed during two weeks after green tip stage, as shoot tips turned black and dieback occurred. During the growing season, the symptoms developed and vessel destruction was observed. If these stems were not pruned during winter, dieback developed in the spring. During the growing season affected pistachio samples were collected and surface disinfected with 0.01% mercury chloride. Pieces of affected vessels were grown on nutrient agar (NA) and incubated at 25°C for three-to-four days. Bacterial colonies with Bacillus characteristics were isolated and 15 representative strains were selected for further characterisation. The pathogenicity of selected strains was verified on 2–3 year-old pistachio seedlings using injection of bacterial suspension (10⁷ cfu p/ml) and control plants inoculated with distilled water; vessel destruction developed after 20 days, and bacterial causal agent was isolated from seedlings. No symptoms were observed in control plants. The strains were Gram positive, motile, with central spores and caused a hypersensitivity reaction (HR) on tobacco and geranium; they were positive for anaerobic growth, nitrate reduction, utilisation of citrate, VP test, urease, catalase, growth at pH 5.7, 7% NaCl and 45°C, acid production from arabinose, xylose, glucose and mannitol, and anaerobic fermentation of glucose. They could hydrolyze starch, aesculin, Tween 80 and gelatin but indole production was negative. Based on the characteristics of the isolated strains, they were identified as Bacillus licheniformis. This is the first report of Bacillus licheniformis as a causal agent of pistachio dieback.     

Extending the concept of keystone species to communities and ecosystems

Keystone species are defined as having disproportionate importance in their community. This concept has proved useful and is now often used in conservation ecology. Here, we introduce the concept of keystone communities (and ecosystems) within metacommunities (and metaecosystems). We define keystone and burden communities as communities with impacts disproportionately large (positive or negative respectively) relative to their weight in the metacommunity. We show how a simple metric, based on the effects of single‐community removals, can characterise communities along a ‘keystoneness’ axis. We illustrate the usefulness of this approach with examples from two different theoretical models. We further distinguish environmental heterogeneity from species trait heterogeneity as determinants of keystoneness. We suggest that the concept of keystone communities/ecosystems will be highly beneficial, not only as a fundamental step towards understanding species interactions in a spatial context, but also as a tool for the management of disturbed landscapes.     

Ultradian rhythm of trehalose levels coupled to heat resistance in continuous cultures of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Heat resistance appears to cycle in concert with energy metabolism in continuous culture of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. To study the mechanism of this oscillation, the authors first examined if heat shock proteins (Hsps) are involved. Neither the protein levels of major Hsps nor the expression of the β-galactosidase gene as a reporter under the control of the promoter carrying heat-shock element oscillated during the metabolic oscillation. The level of trehalose in yeast cycled with the same periodicity, as did energy metabolism. This oscillation was not found in a GTS1-deleted mutant that also did not show cyclic changes in heat resistance. These results suggest that heat resistance oscillation is induced by fluctuations in trehalose level and not by an oscillatory expression of Hsps. The increase in trehalose began at the start of the respiro-fermentative phase and the decrease began after the elevation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) level. The authors hypothesize that the synthesis of trehalose parallels the activation of the glycolytic pathway and that trehalose is degraded by trehalase activated by cAMP coupled with the metabolic oscillation in the continuous culture of yeast.     

植物篱-农作坡地土壤团聚体组成和稳定性特征

基于植物篱控制水土流失的长期定位试验,研究植物篱-农作坡地土壤团聚体组成和稳定性特征.结果表明： 与常规等高农作模式相比,植物篱-农作复合农业模式下土壤>0.25 mm机械稳定性和水稳性团聚体含量分别显著增加13.3%~16.1%和37.8%~55.6%,明显提高了各坡位粒级>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体含量,改善了粒级>0.25 mm土壤水稳性团聚体在下坡位的相对富集和上坡位相对贫乏的状况.植物篱显著提高了土壤团聚体平均质量直径和几何平均直径,降低了土壤团聚体分形维数和>0.25 mm土壤团聚体破坏率,进而增强了土壤团聚体的稳定性和抗蚀性.坡度与植物篱类型对土壤团聚体组成、稳定性和坡面变化无显著影响.     

新活素联合CRRT治疗急性心力衰竭并发急性肾衰竭的疗效观察

目的:观察新活素联合连续性肾脏替代治疗(continuous renal replacement therapy,CRRT)治疗急性心力衰竭并发急性肾衰竭的临床疗效.方法:选择2011年9月至2012年9月于我院ICU治疗的36例急性心力衰竭并发急性肾衰竭的患者,并将其随机分为3组,分别给予新活素联合CRRT治疗、单独新活素治疗、单独CRRT治疗,比较治疗前后各组患者的Killip分级、左心室射血分数、尿量、BNP、血肌酐及尿素氮、氧合指数、动脉血乳酸值的变化情况.结果:观察组的显效率、有效率及总体有效率均较对照组1和对照组2显著降低,差异均具有显著统计学意义(P＜0.01),对照组1的显效率及总体有效率均明显高于对照组2(P＜0.01),但两组患者的有效率比较无统计学差异(P＞o.05).观察组治疗7天的死亡率明显低于对照组1和对照组2,差异均有显著性(P＜0.01).观察组及对照组2的心肾功能指标均较治疗前明显改善(P＜0.01),且观察组的改善程度明显优于对照组2(P＜0.01),对照组1的心功能指标较治疗前明显改善P＜0.01),但肾功能指标无明显变化(P＞0.05),但尿量显著增加(P＜0.01).结论:新活素联合CRRT治疗组疗效明显优于单独CRRT或新活素治疗组,并可有效降低患者的死亡率.     

Effects of mutual interaction of Laccaria laccata with Trichoderma harzianum and T. virens on the morphology of microtubules and mitochondria

Summary. Organelles are known to respond to challenges caused by many stress factors. The morphology of the microtubular cytoskeleton and mitochondria during mutual interaction in coculture of Laccaria laccata with Trichoderma harzianum and T. virens were examined. Hyphae from the interaction region were sampled between 4 and 12 days of growth. Microtubules were labelled with a specific antibody and mitochondria with 3,3′-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide, and the organelles were examined microscopically. The morphology of microtubules and mitochondria were similar in all three fungi. Microtubules were arranged in long arrays parallel to the hyphal axis and mitochondria formed an interconnected network. In hyphae growing within the interaction zone, microtubules became wavy and eventually fragmented or depolymerised, and mitochondria also became fragmented. The effects were time-dependent. In general, the organelles of all three fungi were affected during the interaction, but L. laccata was affected the least and to the same extent by each of the saprotrophic fungi. The saprotrophic fungi were affected by L. laccata to a similar extent at 4 and 8 days of interaction. Our results suggest that the studied fungi antagonistically affect each other at the cellular level, although the mechanisms involved remain to be elucidated. Correspondence: M. Zadworny, Laboratory of Root Pathology, Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Parkowa 5, 62-035 Kórnik, Poland.     

Local facilitation, bistability and transitions in arid ecosystems

Arid ecosystems are liable to undergo sudden discontinuous transitions from a vegetated to a desert state as a result of human pressure and climate change. A predictive framework about the conditions under which such transitions occur is lacking. Here, we derive and analyze a general model describing the spatial dynamics of vegetation in arid ecosystems considering local facilitation as an essential process. We investigate the conditions under which continuous or discontinuous transitions from a vegetated to a desert state are likely to occur. We focus on arid ecosystems but our approach is sufficiently general to be applied to other ecosystems with severe environmental conditions. The model exhibits bistability and vegetation patchiness. High local facilitation decreases the risk of discontinuous transitions. Moreover, for arid ecosystems where local facilitation is a driving process, vegetation patchiness indicates proximity to a transition point, but does not allow distinguishing between continuous and discontinuous transitions.