CONTENTS Volume 13 2002

Volume Contents

CONTENTS Volume 13 2002     

In vitro studies on calcium absorption from the gastrointestinal tract in␣small ruminants

Unidirectional flux rates of Ca²⁺ across gastrointestinal tissues from sheep and goats were measured in vitro by applying the Ussing-chamber technique. Except for the sheep duodenum, mucosal to serosal Ca²⁺ flux rates (J _ms) exceeded respective flux rates in the opposite direction (J _sm) in both species and in all segments of the intestinal tract. This resulted in net Ca²⁺ flux rates␣(J _net = J _ms − J _sm) ranging between −2 and 9 nmol · cm⁻² · h⁻¹ in sheep and between 10 and 15 nmol cm⁻² · h⁻¹ in goats. In sheep, only J _net in jejunum, and in goats, J _netin duodenum and jejunum were significantly different from zero. Using sheep rumen wall epithelia, significant J _net of Ca²⁺ of around 5 nmol · cm⁻² · h⁻¹ could be detected. Since the experiments were carried out in the absence of an electrochemical gradient, significant net Ca²⁺ absorption clearly indicates the presence of active mechanisms for Ca²⁺ transport. Dietary Ca depletion caused increased calcitriol plasma concentrations and induced significant stimulations of net Ca²⁺ absorption in goat rumen. J _net of Ca²⁺ across goat rumen epithelia was significantly reduced by 1 mmol · l ⁻¹ verapamil in the mucosal buffer solution. In conclusion, there is clear evidence for the rumen as a main site for active Ca²⁺ absorption in small ruminants. Stimulation of active Ca²⁺ absorption by increased plasma calcitriol levels and inhibition by mucosal verapamil suggest mechanistic and regulatory similarities to active Ca²⁺ transport as described for the upper small intestines of monogastric species. Accepted: 31 July 1996     

The role of exogenous electron donors for accelerating 2,4,6-trichlorophenol biotransformation and mineralization

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (TCP) is a biologically recalcitrant compound, but its biodegradation via reductive dechlorination can be accelerated by adding an exogenous electron donor. In this work, acetate and formate were evaluated for their ability to accelerate TCP reductive dechlorination, as well to accelerate mono-oxygenation of TCP’s reduction product, phenol. Acetate and formate accelerated TCP reductive dechlorination, and the impact was proportional to the number of electron equivalents released by oxidation of the donor: 8 e^? equivalents per mol for acetate, compared to 2 e^? eq per mol for formate. The acceleration phenomenon was similar for phenol mono-oxygenation, and this increased the rate of TCP mineralization. Compared to endogenous electron equivalents generated by phenol mineralization, the impact of exogenous electron donor was stronger on a per-equivalent basis.     

A new method to solve a non-steady-state multispecies biofilm model

A transient multispecies model for quantifying microbial space competition in biofilm is derived from existing models, introducing a new approach to biomass detachment modelling. This model includes inert biomass, substrate diffusion and utilization rate within the biofilm and diffusional layers. It predicts the evolution of biofilm thickness, bulk substrate concentration, species distribution and substrate concentration within the biofilm. A zero-dimensional transient model is described. Its steady-state solution is used to set up initial conditions of the one-dimensional model and case computation towards steady-state solution. Some numerical tools have been developed, enabling fast computation on microcomputers. Simulations show the validity of a zero-dimensional model and perturbated systems are also simulated. Simulations with experimental data give acceptable results.     

The specific growth rate of Pseudomonas putida PAW1 influences the conjugal transfer rate of the TOL plasmid.

The kinetics of the conjugal transfer of a TOL plasmid were investigated by using Pseudomonas putida PAW1 as the donor strain and P. aeruginosa PAO 1162 as the recipient strain. Short-term batch mating experiments were performed in a nonselective medium, while the evolution of the different cell types was determined by selective plating techniques. The experimental data were analyzed by using a mass action model that describes plasmid transfer kinetics. This method allowed analysis of the mating experiments by a single intrinsic kinetic parameter for conjugal plasmid transfer. Further results indicated that the specific growth rate of the donor strain antecedent to the mating experiment had a strong impact on the measured intrinsic plasmid transfer rate coefficient, which ranged from 1 x 10(-14) to 5 x 10(-13) ml per cell per min. Preliminary analysis suggested that the transfer rates of the TOL plasmid are large enough to maintain the TOL plasmid in a dense microbial community without selective pressures.     

Dog GM1 gangliosidosis: characterization of the residual liver acid beta-galactosidase.

The residual liver acid beta-galactosidase activity from the first documented case of GM1 gangliosidosis in dogs was partially purified and characterized with respect to kinetic properties, thermostability, isoelectric point, molecular weight, and antigenicity. The GM1 dog liver beta-galactosidase appears to be identical with the normal dog liver enzyme in all properties examined. The canine disease is strikingly different from the human disease in the amount of enzyme that is present in the tissue. Unlike the human disease, in which normal amounts of catalytically defective beta-galactosidase are present, in dog GM1 gangliosidosis, only 1% of normal beta-galactosidase protein is detectable.     

Biofilm detachment mechanisms in a liquid-fluidized bed

Bed fluidization offers the possibility of gaining the advantages of fixed-film biological processes without the disadvantage of pore clogging. However, the biofilm detachment rate, due to hydrodynamics and particle-to-particle attrition, is very poorly understood for fluidized-bed biofilm processes. In this work, a two-phase fluidized-bed biofilm was operated under a constant surface loading (0.09 mg total organic carbon/cm(2) day) and with a range of bed height (H), fluid velocities (U), and support-particle concentrations (C(p)). Direct measurements were made for the specific biofilm loss rate coefficient (b(s))and the total biofilm accumulation (X(f)L(f)). A hydrodynamic model allowed independent determination of the biofilm density (X(f)), biofilm thickness (L(f)), liquid shear stress (tau), and Reynolds number (Re). Multiple regression analysis of the results showed that increased particle-to-particle attrition, proportional to C(p) and increased turbulence, described by Re, caused the biofilms to be denser and thinner. The specific detachment rate coefficient (b(s)) increased as C(p) and Re increased. Almost all of the 6, values were larger than predicted by a previous model derived for smooth biofilms on a nonfluidized surface. Therefore, the turbulence and attrition of bed fluidization appear to be dominant detachment mechanisms.     

Development and experimental evaluation of a steady-state, multispecies biofilm model

A steady-state model for quantifying the space competition in multispecies biofilms is developed. The model includes multiple active species, inert biomass, substrate utilization and diffusion within the biofilm, external mass transport, and detachment phenomena. It predicts the steady-state values of biofilm thickness, species distribution, and substrate fluxes. An experimental evaluation is carried out in completely mixed biofilm reactors in which slow-growing nitrifying bacteria compete with acetate-utilizing heterotrophs. The experimental results show that the model successfully describes the space competition. In particular, increasing acetate concentrations causes NH(4) (+)-N fluxes to decrease, because nitrifiers are forced deeper into the biofilm, where they experience greater mass-transport resistance.