Desarrollo de un bioadsorbente laminar con Phanerochaete chrysosporium hipertolerante al cadmio,al níquel y al plomo para el tratamiento de aguas

BackgroundThe use of basidiomycetes for metal removal is an alternative to traditional methods. In this, the biomass acts as a natural ionic exchanger removing metals from solution.ObjectiveTo develop a laminar biosorbent using a basidiomycete fungus resistant to high Cd, Ni and Pb concentrations.MethodsThe tolerance of Trametes versicolor, Pleurotus ostreatus and Phanerochaete chrysosporium was evaluated using increasing concentrations of the heavy metal salts, cadmium sulphate, lead acetate and nickel chloride. A biosorbent system was developed based on polyethylene sheets with a fungal biomass. It was evaluated in bubble columns using synthetic wastewater with the 3 metal salts at a rate of 300 mg/l. Finally, in a complementary experiment using shake flasks, the effect of a higher amount of biomass related to the metal removal efficiency was evaluated.ResultsP. chrysosporium strain was more tolerant to C₄H₆O₄Pb (10,000 mg/l), Cl₂Ni (300 mg/l) and CdSO₄·8H₂O (1,500 mg/l). In a reactor, under non-ligninolytic conditions, the fungus removed 69% of the chemical oxygen demand and produced enzymes such as LiP (0.01 U/l) and MnP (0.6 U/l.). An accumulation of metals in the wall was observed. By increasing the biomass to 1.6 (w/v), the metal biosorption was favored in the mixture (57% Pb, 74% Cd, and 98% Ni) and separately (95% Pb, 60% Cd, and 56% Ni). Competition between Ni and Pb by ligands of the wall was observed.ConclusionA novel laminar system based on P. chrysosporium viable biomass was developed. It has a large surface area and tolerance to high concentrations of Cd, Ni and Pb. It seems to be an alternative for the removal of metals from water.     

Bovidae (Mammalia) du Pliocène final d’Ahl al Oughlam, Casablanca, Maroc

Only seven bovid species are present at Ahl al Oughlam: aTragelaphus (rare), a Bovine close toPelorovis ? praeafricanus but mostly known by teeth, a new species of kob (perhaps of an endemic lineage), aParmularius slightly more primitive than at Olduvai,Beatragus (mentioned for the first time in North Africa),Gazella thomasi, and a new species of gazelle noticeable by its nasal region. The Ahl al Oughlam bovids are in good agreement with an age of 2.5 Ma. They point towards an open and probably rather unfavourable, perhaps cold, environment.     

Isolation of dermatophytes,Candida species and systemic fungi from dermatologic specimens in Montréal, 1963 to 1973.

Of 10 057 specimens of scrapings from skin, nails and scalp examined for dermatophytes, yeasts, pityriasis versicolor and systemic mycoses between 1963 and 1973, 30.4 percent were positive for fungi. Skin produced the highest proportion (68.6 percent) of positive scrapings, scalp the lowest (4.2 percent). Trichophyton rubrum was the predominant species (23.6 percent); of lesser prevalence were Microsporum canis (9.3 percent), T. mentagrophytes (8.4 percent) and Epidermophyton floccosum (4.8 percent). Double infections were encountered on 102 occasions; T. rubrum and Candida parapsilosis were the most frequent cohabiting species. The introduction in 1966 of periodic acid-Schiff staining for routine examination of scrapings resulted in better diagnostic results, particularly in the case of culturally nonproductive specimens and cases of pityriasis versicolor. Blastomyces dermatitidis and Cryptococcus neoformans were isolated from two patients in the course of routine investigation for dermatophytes.     

Métabolisme des indolamines dans l'organe pinéal de Lacerta (Reptiles,Lacertiliens)

Résumé Les sites d'incorporation du 5-HTP-³H (5-hydroxytryptophane-³H) et de rétention de ses dérivés ont été recherchés dans l'organe pinéal de Lacerta vivipara (J.).Les animaux reçoivent au cours de l'après-midi (aux environs de 15h, le 5/VII, T°=21 à 28°C) une injection intrapéritonéale de 5-HTP-³H. Ils sont sacrifiés après 2, 10, 15, 21, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 heures et 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, jours.De l'étude qualitative et quantitative, il ressort que des réactions radioautographiques spécifiques apparaissent dans les photorécepteurs rudimentaires sécrétoires (=PRS) entre 2 et 10 minutes. La concentration de radioactivité atteint un maximum au niveau des PRS, après 5 heures. Puis l'intensité du marquage diminue pour disparaître entre 2 et 3 jours. La radioactivité des PRS est toujours concentrée dans les régions de grains denses de sécrétion protéique (500 à 3400 Å) d'origine golgienne. Les autres compartiments cellulaires sont nettement moins radioactifs.Les autres cellules (interstitielles de type épendymaire; nerveuses sensorielles et probablement noradrénergiques) de l'organe pinéal et les régions voisines du cerveau ne retiennent pas significativement les composés radioactifs.Ces résultats et ceux antérieurs, cytophysiologiques et biochimiques, montrent le rôle important des PRS dans la biosynthèse et le stockage de la sérotonine. D'autres conclusions concernant la biosynthèse et le métabolisme des indolamines ne seront exposées que dans une étude ultérieure où l'incorporation du 5-HTP-³H est envisagée dans les conditions expérimentales. Le turnover des indolamines semble plus lent chez Lacerta que chez les Mammifères.

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Biosynthesis and metabolism of indolamines in the pineal organ of Lacerta (Reptiles, Lacertilians)I. Selective incorporation of ³H-5-HTP and retention of its derivatives in the secretory rudimentary photoreceptor cells

Summary The sequence of incorporation and utilization of ³H-5-hydroxytryptophan (³H-5-HTP) has been examined in the pineal organ of adult lizard (Lacerta vivipara J.).Each animal was given ³H-5-HTP in the afternoon (about 15.00 h in July, T°=21–28°C). The lizards were sacrificed 2, 10, 15, 21, 30 minutes, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 15 hours and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 days after administration.The cellular distribution of radioactivity was studied by qualitative and quantitative radioautography. The radioautographs show selective labelling, appearing in the SRP (secretory rudimentary photoreceptors) after 2–10 minutes. The labelling reaches a maximum over the SRP within 5 hours and subsequently disappears between 2 and 3 days. These radioautographic reactions are always most concentrated in the regions of proteinaceous secretory granules (500–3400 Å) originating from the Golgi complex. The other components of the SRP account only for a minor fraction of the labelling. Supporting and nervous (sensory and probably noradrenergic) cells of the pineal organ, as well as neighbouring brain structures do not retain significantly the radioactive compounds.These results, correlated with previous cytophysiological and biochemical studies, are consistant with an important role of SRP in the biosynthesis and storage of serotonin. Conclusions concerning the biosynthesis and metabolism of indolamines are presented in a subsequent paper where the incorporation of ³H-5-HTP is studied under experimental conditions. The turnover of indolamines seems to be slower in Lacerta than in mammals.

Les auteurs remercient vivement M. Robert Meiniel pour sa collaboration efficace dans la collecte des Lézards, ce qui nous a permis de travailler sur des lots homogènes.     

Salmonellose chez les enfants: Etude de 95 cas à l'H?pital Ste-Justine,Montréal,en 1963-1964

A retrospective study was done in children in whom salmonellosis was confirmed by laboratory findings with the aim of reviewing etiology, epidemiology, clinical manifestations and therapy. The 15 serotypes most frequently isolated from stool, and in exceptional cases from urine, are discussed. If patients with typhoid fever are excluded, only one patient (who subsequently died) had a blood culture positive for Salmonella, specifically S. enteritidis.No seasonal or other peaks of incidence were noted. Age appeared to be important; of 81 patients with gastroenteritis, 30 were less than 6 months old.Two children in the older age group developed complications; one with appendicitis required surgery.Ten strains of Salmonella out of 23 tested by the disc method showed in vitro resistance to ampicillin on primary isolation.Acquired in vitro resistance to one or more antibiotics appeared to develop with six Salmonella strains reisolated from patients after or during antibiotic treatment.In several children the stool cultures remained positive after clinical signs had disappeared. These findings strongly suggest that, even though antibiotic therapy may improve the symptoms of Salmonella infection, it does not decrease the number of carriers during the convalescent period.