Electropositively charged filters for the recovery of yeasts and bacteria from beverages

The ability of electropositively charged filters to recover yeasts and lactic acid bacteria from a variety of beverages was evaluated. Filtration through 'Zeta plus', grade OSS, filters recovered nearly all of the yeast contaminants from table wines, sherry and port. Recovery of yeasts from cream liqueurs and egg-based beverages was also good but it was not possible to filter drinks containing orange juice, even through filters with nominal pore sizes of 2 to 10 μm. Lactic acid bacteria proved more difficult to recover than yeasts, even though smaller pore-sized filters (1 to 4 μm) were employed. However, a sufficiently high percentage of bacteria were recovered to justify use of these filters for quality assurance. The advantage of concentrating contaminants by using charged filters, and the influence of product composition on the efficiency of microbial adsorption are discussed. The growth of wine-spoiling yeasts and lactic acid bacteria were not inhibited by water- or ethanol-soluble extracts of the filter material.     

Electropositively charged filters for the recovery of yeasts and bacteria from beverages

The ability of electropositively charged filters to recover yeasts and lactic acid bacteria from a variety of beverages was evaluated. Filtration through 'Zeta plus', grade O5S, filters recovered nearly all of the yeast contaminants from table wines, sherry and port. Recovery of yeasts from cream liqueurs and egg-based beverages was also good but it was not possible to filter drinks containing orange juice, even through filters with nominal pore sizes of 2 to 10 micron. Lactic acid bacteria proved more difficult to recover than yeasts, even though smaller pore-sized filters (1 to 4 micron) were employed. However, a sufficiently high percentage of bacteria were recovered to justify use of these filters for quality assurance. The advantage of concentrating contaminants by using charged filters, and the influence of product composition on the efficiency of microbial adsorption are discussed. The growth of wine-spoiling yeasts and lactic acid bacteria were not inhibited by water- or ethanol-soluble extracts of the filter material.     

Wound fiberglass depth filters as a less expensive approach for the concentration of viruses from water

Wound fiberglass depth cartridge filters (25.4 cm) with a nominal porosity of 1 micron were used to concentrate viruses from large volumes of surface water. They were found to be an excellent, less expensive alternative to the 0.2-micron pleated cartridge filters normally used for the concentration of enteric viruses from water. More than 99% of experimentally seeded poliovirus was adsorbed to these filters when the pH of the water was adjusted to pH 3.5 and aluminium chloride was added to a final concentration of 0.001 M, as recommended for electronegative filters. In comparative recovery of indigenous viruses from river water, similar results were obtained with two 1-micron or a 3-microns + 0.2-micron filter combination. The cost of the two 1-micron filters is about Can. $26, while it is about Can. $58 for the other combination.     

What is the role of Phragmites australis in experimental constructed wetland filters treating urban runoff?

The aim of this research was to assess the role of the macrophyte Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. in experimental temporarily flooded vertical-flow wetland filters treating urban runoff. For 2 years, hydrated nickel and copper nitrate were added to sieved road runoff to simulate contaminated primary treated urban runoff. During the first year, 5-day biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal efficiencies were lower in planted filters than in unplanted filters. However, the BOD removal performances of all filters were virtually similar irrespective of the planting regime during the second year. The nutrient removal performance of planted filters was more efficient and stable throughout the season particularly after the filters matured compared to that of unplanted filters. A substantial amount of nitrogen was also removed by harvesting P. australis, though metals were not, when compared to those retained in the filters. Furthermore, higher concentrations of nickel in the effluent were recorded in the planted filters, despite their ability to take up the heavy metals. P. australis provided undesirable conditions for precipitation of Ni by lowering the pH in the processes. Finally, after applying shock loadings of Cu, higher Cu outflow concentrations were recorded for planted in comparison to unplanted filters.     

Evaluation of cellulose acetate/nitrate filters for measuring the motility of dog spermatozoa

A modified chemotaxis chamber was used to evaluate cellulose acetate/nitrate filters for the measurement of dog sperm motility. The distance travelled into the filters was affected by filter pore size, incubation time and sperm concentration. After storage of spermatozoa at 37 degrees C the distance penetrated into the filters reflected the deterioration of the sample, but was not as sensitive a measure as the mean sperm velocity or the percentage of motile spermatozoa.     

A Comparison of Seitz and Millipore Membrane Filters for the Enumeration of Fecal Coliforms

In a comparison of two commonly used membrane filters for enumerating fecal coliform bacteria it was demonstrated that Seitz type M filters recovered statistically more colonies of bacteria than did Millipore HAWG 047S1 filters from pure cultures of Escherichia coli incubated at 44 °C. The membranes were grown on 0.4 % Teepol agar. On incubation at 37°C no significant discrepancy was found. As a reference method was used pour plating in plate count agar (Difco). It was demonstrated that incubation at 44°C did not per se inhibit propagation of fecal coliforms. Both types of filters examined were sterilized by the manufacturers with ethylene oxide. The discrepancy found can therefore not be due to sterilization procedures.     

Simple method for the concentration of influenza virus from allantoic fluid on microporous filters.

Membrane filter adsorption-elution is an efficient method for concentration and partial purification of several types of viruses from various aqueous solutions. For efficient virus adsorption to negatively charged filters, the sample is adjusted to pH 3.5 and trivalent salts are added before filtration. Since influenza virus is sensitive to extremes in pH, it cannot be concentrated by ordinary filters. Zeta Plus filters, which have a net positive charge of up to 5 or 6, were evaluated for the concentration of influenza virus from infectious allantoic fluids. Influenza virus efficiently adsorbed to Zeta Plus filters at pH 6, and addition of salts was not necessary. Adsorbed virus was eluted in a small volume of 2% bovine serum albumin plus 1 M NaCl at pH 10. By this procedure, viruses in 100 ml of allantoic fluid were concentrated to a final volume of 8 ml, with an average recovery efficiency of 71.0%.     

Survey of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli O157 and drug-resistant coliform bacteria from in-line milk filters on dairy farms in the Czech Republic

Aims: To determine the occurrence of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and coliform bacteria isolates resistant to antimicrobial agents in dairy herds by examining milk filters and to analyse the influence of management factors and antibiotic use on antimicrobial resistance. Methods and Results: A total of 192 in‐line milk filters were sampled on 192 dairy farms in the Czech Republic. Information on feeding, husbandry, production, and antibiotic therapy were obtained by questionnaire. The milk filters were cultured for STEC O157 and coliform bacteria. All recovered isolates were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility and presence of antimicrobial‐resistance genes. STEC O157 was detected in four (2%) of the filters. Resistant nonpathogenic E. coli and coliform bacteria isolates with specific genes were detected in 44 (23%) of the filters. Conclusions: The study demonstrated a high prevalence of resistant coliform bacteria in milk filters obtained on Czech dairy farms. Significance and Impact of the Study: The occurrence of resistant coliform bacteria in milk filters was significantly higher among isolates from farms where antibiotic therapy against mastitis was employed during the dry period (P < 0·05).     

Survival of microorganisms on antimicrobial filters and the removal efficiency of bioaerosols in an environmental chamber

Exposure to bioaerosols causes various adverse health effects including infectious and respiratory diseases, and hypersensitivity. Controlling exposure to bioaerosols is important for disease control and prevention. In this study, we evaluated the efficacies of various functional filters coated with antimicrobial chemicals in deactivating representative microorganisms on filters or as bioaerosols. Tested functional filters were coated with different chemicals that included (i) Ginkgo and sumac, (ii) Ag-apatite and guanidine phosphate, (iii) SiO2, ZnO, and Al2O3, and (iv) zeolite. To evaluate the filters, we used a model ventilation system (1) to evaluate the removal efficiency of bacteria (Escherichia coli and Legionella pneumophila), bacterial spores (Bacillus subtilis spore), and viruses (MS2 bacteriophage) on various functional filters, and (2) to characterize the removal efficiency of these bioaerosols. All experiments were performed at a constant temperature of 25 degrees C and humidity of 50%. Most bacteria (excluding B. subtilis) rapidly decreased on the functional filter. Therefore, we confirmed that functional filters have antimicrobial effects. Additionally, we evaluated the removal efficiency of various bioaerosols by these filters. We used a six-jet collision nebulizer to generate microbial aerosols and introduced it into the environmental chamber. We then measured the removal efficiency of functional filters with and without a medium-efficiency filter. Most bioaerosol concentrations did not significantly decrease by the functional filter only but decreased by a combination of functional and medium-efficiency filter. In conclusion, functional filters could facilitate biological removal of various bioaerosols, but physical removal of these by functional was minimal. Proper use of chemical-coated filter materials could reduce exposure to these agents.     

Polaromonas and Hydrogenophaga species are the predominant bacteria cultured from granular activated carbon filters in water treatment

Aim:  Identification of the predominating cultivable bacteria in granular activated carbon (GAC) filters used in a variety of water treatment plants for selecting representative strains to study the role of bacteria in the removal of dissolved organic matter.
Methods and Results:  Bacterial isolates were collected from 21 GAC filters in nine water treatment plants treating either ground water or surface water with or without oxidative pretreatment. Enrichment of samples in dilute liquid medium improved culturability of the bacteria by approximately log unit, to 9% up to 70% of the total cell counts. Genomic fingerprinting and 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed that most (68%) of the isolates belonged to the Betaproteobacteria and 25% were identified as Alphaproteobacteria . The number of different genera within the Betaproteobacteria was higher in the GAC filters treating ozonated water than in the filters treating nonozonated water. Polaromonas was observed in nearly all of the GAC filters (86%), and the genera Hydrogenophaga , Sphingomonas and Afipia were observed in 43%, 33% and 29% of the filter beds, respectively. AFLP analysis revealed that the predominating genus Polaromonas included a total of 23 different genotypes.
Conclusions:  This study is the first to demonstrate that Polaromonas , which has mainly been observed in ultraoligotrophic freshwater environments, is a common component of the microbial community in GAC filters used in water treatment.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  The predominance of ultraoligotrophic bacteria in the GAC filters indicates that very low concentrations of substrates are available for microbial growth. Polaromonas species are suited for further studies on the nutritional versatility and growth kinetics enabling the modelling of biodegradation processes in GAC filters.     

The effects of alignment error and alignment filtering on the sitewise detection of positive selection

When detecting positive selection in proteins, the prevalence of errors resulting from misalignment and the ability of alignment filters to mitigate such errors are not well understood, but filters are commonly applied to try to avoid false positive results. Focusing on the sitewise detection of positive selection across a wide range of divergence levels and indel rates, we performed simulation experiments to quantify the false positives and false negatives introduced by alignment error and the ability of alignment filters to improve performance. We found that some aligners led to many false positives, whereas others resulted in very few. False negatives were a problem for all aligners, increasing with sequence divergence. Of the aligners tested, PRANK's codon-based alignments consistently performed the best and ClustalW performed the worst. Of the filters tested, GUIDANCE performed the best and Gblocks performed the worst. Although some filters showed good ability to reduce the error rates from ClustalW and MAFFT alignments, none were found to substantially improve the performance of PRANK alignments under most conditions. Our results revealed distinct trends in error rates and power levels for aligners and filters within a biologically plausible parameter space. With the best aligner, a low false positive rate was maintained even with extremely divergent indel-prone sequences. Controls using the true alignment and an optimal filtering method suggested that performance improvements could be gained by improving aligners or filters to reduce the prevalence of false negatives, especially at higher divergence levels and indel rates.     

New insights into the performance characteristics of the Planova-series hollow-fiber parvovirus filters using confocal and electron microscopy

Virus filtration remains a critical step in the downstream process for the production of monoclonal antibodies and other mammalian cell-derived biotherapeutics. Recent studies have shown large differences in virus capture behavior of different virus filters, although the origin of these differences is still unclear. The objective of this study was to use confocal and scanning electron microscopy to directly evaluate the capture of virus-size nanoparticles in Planova 20N and BioEX hollow-fiber virus filters. Confocal images of fluorescent nanoparticles were quantified using ImageJ image processing software based on the measured fluorescence intensity of the labeled nanoparticles. Nanoparticle capture by the Planova BioEX was independent of transmembrane pressure from 10 to 45 psi. In contrast, the Planova 20N showed significant differences in nanoparticle capture profile at low pressure, consistent with literature data showing virus breakthrough under these conditions. Images obtained after a process interruption show significant migration of previously captured nanoparticles in the Planova 20N filters but not in the BioEX. These results provide important insights into the nature of virus capture in different virus filters and its dependence on the underlying structure of the virus filtration membranes.     

Dispersal and establishment filters influence the assembly of restored prairie plant communities

Community assembly filters, which in theory determine the suite of species that arrive at and establish in a community, have tremendous conceptual relevance to restoration. However, the concept has remained largely theoretical, with a paucity of empirical tests. As such, the applicability of assembly filters theory to ecological restoration remains incompletely known. We tested the relative strengths of dispersal and establishment filters by comparing the plant species composition, measured by species' presence/absence, in 29 restored prairies with the seed mixes used to restore each prairie. We found that both establishment and dispersal filters limited prairie similarity to the seed mix. Sown species responded differentially to filters, with a few species limited only by dispersal (seed density), many others limited only by establishment conditions (i.e. organic matter and sand content of soils, land use history, and fire frequency), and others limited by both dispersal and establishment filters. A few species, typically those sown most often, were not restricted by dispersal or establishment filters, likely because they were sown in high enough densities and all sites had suitable environmental conditions. Finally, one group of species established poorly, but we could not attribute this to either dispersal or establishment filters. This information can help land managers select species likely to establish in restorations when sown at sufficient densities. These results illustrate that dispersal and establishment filters limit the establishment of species in restored communities and these filters are species‐dependent. Identifying the most limiting filter(s) for species will inform strategies to increase their establishment success.     

Concentration of Marine Birnavirus from Seawater with a Glass Fiber Filter Precoated with Bovine Serum Albumin

In the present study an efficient method for sampling the marine birnavirus (MABV) gene from seawater was developed. MABV gene was monitored by a specific polymerase chain reaction. When Millipore filters were used, MABV was efficiently collected on a filter with 0.05-µm pore size. When both millipore and glass fiber filters were used, MABV was recovered from both filters. Use of plain glass fiber filters resulted in poor recovering efficiency. However, coating the glass fiber filters with 1% bovine serum albumin trapped MABV efficiently. Combining concentration on glass fiber filters with polymerase chain reaction is quantitative, economic and fast, suggesting that this method can be used to detect genetically identified fish disease viruses, algal viruses, and phages.     

The effect of filtration method on the efficiency of environmental DNA capture and quantification via metabarcoding

Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a promising tool for rapid and noninvasive biodiversity monitoring. eDNA density is low in environmental samples, and a capture method, such as filtration, is often required to concentrate eDNA for downstream analyses. In this study, six treatments, with differing filter types and pore sizes for eDNA capture, were compared for their efficiency and accuracy to assess fish community structure with known fish abundance and biomass via eDNA metabarcoding. Our results showed that different filters (with the exception of 20‐μm large‐pore filters) were broadly consistent in their DNA capture ability. The 0.45‐μm filters performed the best in terms of total DNA yield, probability of species detection, repeatability within pond and consistency between ponds. However performance of 0.45‐μm filters was only marginally better than for 0.8‐μm filters, while filtration time was significantly longer. Given this trade‐off, the 0.8‐μm filter is the optimal pore size of membrane filter for turbid, eutrophic and high fish density ponds analysed here. The 0.45‐μm Sterivex enclosed filters performed reasonably well and are suitable in situations where on‐site filtration is required. Finally, prefilters are applied only if absolutely essential for reducing the filtration time or increasing the throughput volume of the capture filters. In summary, we found encouraging similarity in the results obtained from different filtration methods, but the optimal pore size of filter or filter type might strongly depend on the water type under study.     

Comparison of microporous filters for concentration of viruses from wastewater.

The 1-MDS Virosorb filter and the 50S and 30S Zeta-plus filters, all with a net positive charge, were compared with the negatively charged Filterite filter for concentration of naturally occurring coliphages and animal viruses from sewage effluent. When Filterite filters were used, the effluent was adjusted to pH 3.5 and AlCl3 was added before filtration to facilitate virus adsorption. No adjustment was required with the positively charged filters. Sets of each filter type were eluted with 3% beef extract (pH 9.5) or eluted with 0.05 M glycine (pH 11.5). A maximum volume of 19 liters could be passed through 142-mm diameter Filterite filters before clogging, whereas only 11, 11, and 15 liters could be passed through the 1-MDS, 50S, and 30S filters, respectively. For equal volumes passed through the filters, coliphage recoveries were 14, 15, 18, and 37% in primary effluent and 40, 97, 50, and 46% in secondary effluent for the Filterite , 1-MDS, 50S, and 30S filters, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the recovery of animal viruses among the filters from secondary effluent, whereas in the Filterite and 50S filters, higher numbers of viruses from primary effluent were recovered than in the 1-MDS and 30S filters in two of three collections. Glycine was found to be a less-efficient eluent than beef extract in the recovery of naturally occurring viruses.     

Comparison of microporous filters for concentration of viruses from wastewater

The 1-MDS Virosorb filter and the 50S and 30S Zeta-plus filters, all with a net positive charge, were compared with the negatively charged Filterite filter for concentration of naturally occurring coliphages and animal viruses from sewage effluent. When Filterite filters were used, the effluent was adjusted to pH 3.5 and AlCl3 was added before filtration to facilitate virus adsorption. No adjustment was required with the positively charged filters. Sets of each filter type were eluted with 3% beef extract (pH 9.5) or eluted with 0.05 M glycine (pH 11.5). A maximum volume of 19 liters could be passed through 142-mm diameter Filterite filters before clogging, whereas only 11, 11, and 15 liters could be passed through the 1-MDS, 50S, and 30S filters, respectively. For equal volumes passed through the filters, coliphage recoveries were 14, 15, 18, and 37% in primary effluent and 40, 97, 50, and 46% in secondary effluent for the Filterite , 1-MDS, 50S, and 30S filters, respectively. No statistically significant difference was observed in the recovery of animal viruses among the filters from secondary effluent, whereas in the Filterite and 50S filters, higher numbers of viruses from primary effluent were recovered than in the 1-MDS and 30S filters in two of three collections. Glycine was found to be a less-efficient eluent than beef extract in the recovery of naturally occurring viruses.     

Diversity of Bacterial Communities that Colonize the Filter Units Used for Controlling Plant Pathogens in Soilless Cultures

In recent years, increasing the level of suppressiveness by the addition of antagonistic bacteria in slow filters has become a promising strategy to control plant pathogens in the recycled solutions used in soilless cultures. However, knowledge about the microflora that colonize the filtering columns is still limited. In order to get information on this issue, the present study was carried out over a 4-year period and includes filters inoculated or not with suppressive bacteria at the start of the filtering process (two or three filters were used each year). After 9 months of filtration, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–single strand conformation polymorphism analyses point out that, for the same year of experiment, the bacterial communities from control filters were relatively similar but that they were significantly different between the bacteria-amended and control filters. To characterize the changes in bacterial communities within the filters, this microflora was studied by quantitative PCR, community-level physiological profiles, and sequencing 16SrRNA clone libraries (filters used in year 1). Quantitative PCR evidenced a denser bacterial colonization of the P-filter (amended with Pseudomonas putida strains) than control and B-filter (amended with Bacillus cereus strains). Functional analysis focused on the cultivable bacterial communities pointed out that bacteria from the control filter metabolized more carbohydrates than those from the amended filters whose trophic behaviors were more targeted towards carboxylic acids and amino acids. The bacterial communities in P- and B-filters both exhibited significantly more phylotype diversity and markedly distinct phylogenetic compositions than those in the C-filter. Although there were far fewer Proteobacteria in B- and P-filters than in the C-filter (22% and 22% rather than 69% of sequences, respectively), the percentages of Firmicutes was much higher (44% and 55% against 9%, respectively). Many Pseudomonas species were also found in the bacterial communities of the control filter. The persistence of the amended suppressive-bacteria in the filters is discussed with regards to the management of suppressive microflora in soilless culture.     

Use of DIL-type cava filters for the prevention of thromboembolism of the pulmonary artery]

New type cava filters were employed to prevent pulmonary artery thromboembolism in 12 cases. DIL cava filter was used, that represents a string made of a special alloy that can 'memorize' its shape. The design of this filter is in principle different from all the known filters, for it functions as an intraluminal filter and at the same time stretches the vena cava inferior, enlarging its diameter in the frontal plane. The DIL cava filter proved to be effective in the majority of cases, but if the walls of vena cava inferior were too rigid, for example, if a tumor grew into them, it was difficult to place the filter properly. On the whole this filter is characterized by a number of advantages: it can be easily implanted via 7 F catheter without injuring the vena cava inferior walls. No cases of dislocation of cava filters in relation to bone markers were noted in 9 patients over 60 +/- 17 days.     

Fungal colonization of air filters for use in heating,ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems

Summary New and used cellulosic air filters for HVAC systems including those treated with antimicrobials were suspended in vessels with a range of relative humidities (55–99%) and containing non-sterile potting soil which stimulates fungal growth. Most filters yielded fungi prior to suspension in the chambers but only two of 14 nontreated filters demonstrated fungal colonization following use in HVAC systems. Filters treated with antimicrobials, particularly a phosphated amine complex, demonstrated markedly less fungal colonization than nontreated filters. In comparison with nontreated cellulosic filters, fungal colonization of antimicrobial-treated cellulosic filters was selective and delayed.