Reaction of the soil microflora after contamination with chlorinated aromatic compounds and HCH

Abstract The effect of the pollution of an industrial land site with chlorinated benzenes, chlorinated phenols, hexachlorocyclohexane-isomers (HCH) on the soil microflora was investigated. Cell counts (microscopic and by plate count) as well as respiration rated did not correlate negatively with the concentration of the contaminants. Soil microorganisms grew in the presence of up to 750 μmol 1⁻¹ pf chlorinated compounds in liquid culture. Only 150 μmol l⁻¹ 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) inhibited growth totally. In enrichment cultures, bacteria used α- and γ-HCH, 3-chlorophenol (3-CP), 2,3-dichlorophenol (2,3-DCP), 2,6-DCP, 2,4,5-TCP, and 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene (1,2,4,5-TeCB) as a sole source of carbon and energy under aerobic conditions. No growth was observed with β-HCH. Under anaerobic conditions no growth was observed with any of the substances tested     

Microbiological methods for the cleanup of soil and ground water contaminated with halogenated organic compounds

Abstract There is growing interest in the enhancement of microbial degradative activities as a means of bringing about the in situ cleanup of contaminated soils and ground water. The halogenated organic compounds are likely to be prime targets for such biotechnological processes because of their widespread utilisation and the biodegradability of many of the most commonly used compounds. The aim of this review is to consider the potential for microbiological cleanup of haloorganic-contaminated sites. The technologies available involve the provision of suitable environmental conditions to facilitate maximum biodegradation rates either in the subsurface or in on-site bioreactors. Methodologies include the supply of inorganic nutrients, the supply of oxygen gas, the addition of degradative microbial inocula and the introduction of co-metabolic substrates. The potential efficiencies and limitations of the methods are critically discussed from a microbiological viewpoint with respect to substrate degradability and population responses to supplementation.     

Microbiological characterization of a coke oven contaminated site and evaluation of its potential for bioremediation

The soil microbial population of a coke oven site was investigated in order to evaluate its potential for bioremediation. The study was carried out in soil samples with distinct polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination levels, comparing the population profiles constituted by total heterotrophic and PAH-utilizing strains. Isolation of degrading strains was performed with phenanthrene or pyrene as sole carbon sources. The ability to degrade other PAHs, such as anthracene, fluorene and fluoranthene was also investigated. The results showed a reduction of 30% in species diversity and microbial density drops one order of magnitude in contaminated samples. Furthermore, the number of PAH-utilizing colonies was higher in the contaminated area and about 20% of the isolates were able to degrade phenanthrene and pyrene, while this value decreased to 0.15% in uncontaminated samples. Three PAH-degrader strains were identified as: CDC gr. IV C-2, Aeromonas sp. and Pseudomonas vesicularis. The ability of these strains to degrade other PAHs was also investigated.     

Design,synthesis, and in vitro evaluation of BP-1-102 analogs with modified hydrophobic fragments for STAT3 inhibition

Twelve novel analogs of STAT3 inhibitor BP-1-102 were designed and synthesised with the aim to modify hydrophobic fragments of the molecules that are important for interaction with the STAT3 SH2 domain. The cytotoxic activity of the reference and novel compounds was evaluated using several human and two mouse cancer cell lines. BP-1-102 and its two analogs emerged as effective cytotoxic agents and were further tested in additional six human and two murine cancer cell lines, in all of which they manifested the cytotoxic effect in a micromolar range. Reference compound S3I-201.1066 was found ineffective in all tested cell lines, in contrast to formerly published data. The ability of selected BP-1-102 analogs to induce apoptosis and inhibition of STAT3 receptor-mediated phosphorylation was confirmed. The structure–activity relationship confirmed a demand for two hydrophobic substituents, i.e. the pentafluorophenyl moiety and another spatially bulky moiety, for effective cytotoxic activity and STAT3 inhibition.     

De novo origin of multiple small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) in a child with intellectual disability and dysmorphic features

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes (sSMCs) are a heterogeneous group with regards to their clinical effects as well as their chromosomal origin and their shape. The sSMCs are associated with mental retardation and dysmorphic features. Multiple sSMCs are rarely reported. We report four sSMCs in a case of dysmorphic features and intellectual disabilities. Among the four sSMCs, one sSMC confirmed to be chromosome 5 derived sSMC using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and spectral karyotyping (SKY). The sSMCs were de novo originated as parental chromosomal analysis revealed normal karyotypes. The sSMC derived from chromosome 5 might be associated with mental retardation and dysmorphic features in the present case. However the remaining three sSMCs might have originated from repetitive sequences of chromosomes.     

A parallel study of different array-CGH platforms in a set of Spanish patients with developmental delay and intellectual disability

Developmental delay and intellectual disability, which occur in 1–3% of the population, account for a large number of the cases regularly seen in genetic units. Chromosomal microarray analysis has been shown to be a valuable clinical diagnostic assay and it should be the first-tier clinical diagnostic test for individuals with these conditions. However and due to several difficulties such as the platform resolution, the cost, and the inexperience with genomic data bases, the implementation of this test in many cytogenetic laboratories has been delayed. In an attempt to provide more insights of the benefits derived by using the chromosomal microarray analysis, this study presents the experience of two clinical centers using three different microarray platforms. The results obtained using a custom microarray (KaryoArray®) and two different commercial medium- and high-resolution whole-genome oligonucleotide microarrays have been compared. An overall diagnostic yield of around 15% has been obtained. However, the custom microarray platform has been shown to be more convenient for a clinical setting, since it allows the detection of more pathogenic copy number variants and less common variants.     

An idic(15) associated with POF (premature ovarian failure): molecular cytogenetic definition of a case and review of the literature

We report on a 36-year-old infertile woman, presenting a premature ovarian failure with an otherwise normal female phenotype. Cytogenetic analyses showed the presence of a supernumerary marker chromosome, that was characterized by FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) and array CGH (comparative genomic hybridization). This marker chromosome was derived from chromosome 15, and contained only heterochromatic material. The Prader Willi/Angelman region was not present. No duplications of the 15q regions were detected by array CGH. Supernumerary markers of chromosome 15 have been reported in cases of infertility and amenorrhea, that is also described in cases with marker derived by other acrocentric chromosomes. The case here presented constitutes a further example that etiology of POF is not always associated with a defective gene, but in some cases oocytes atresia can be the consequence of the abnormal meiotic pairing of chromosomes.     

Array-CGH characterization of a de novo t(X;Y)(p22;q11) in a female with short stature and mental retardation

We report the clinical and molecular investigations in a girl with 46,X,-X,+der(X)t(X;Y)(p22;q11) de novo karyotype who presented an intricate phenotype characterized by mental retardation and facial dysmorphisms in combination with short stature. The structure of the derivative X chromosome was studied using BAC array-CGH which disclosed the Xp22 breakpoint between the STS and the VCX3A gene and the presence of the Yq11.1qter chromosome. It is common that females with Xp;Yq translocations present only short stature and are normal in every other aspect. Thus, this would be the first case in which a girl with Xp;Yq translocation presents an unusual phenotype with intermediate male clinical features with Xp;Yq translocations. The risk of developing gonadoblastoma in females with Y chromosome material is also discussed and, to this effect, different explanations related to this apparent variation are also presented.     

Novel chromosomal translocation t(11;9)(p15;p23) involving deletion and duplication of 9p in a girl associated with autism and mental retardation

We describe a 5-year-old girl presented with autism and mental retardation features. Conventional karyotyping revealed a novel unidirectional translocation t(11;9)(p15;p23). HumanCytoSNP-12 Chip analysis identified a 13 Mb deletion from 9p24.3 to 9p23 and a 12.5Mb duplication from 9p23 to 9p21.2. The karyotype was described as 45,XX,psu dic(11; 9)(p15;p23), which was reported for the first time here. The deleted region, extending from 9p24.3 to 9p23, overlaps with the candidate region for monosomy 9p syndrome and contains a potential autism spectrum disorders (ASD) locus. The duplication region extending from 9p23 to 9p21.2 was previously identified as a critical region for the 9p duplication syndrome. These results suggested that the apparently balanced de novo translocations could produce cryptic deletions or duplications, and the precise mapping of the abnormal area may improve clinical management.