Construction of a cosmid library of Spirulina platensis as an approach to DNA physical mapping

Abstract A Spirulina platensis gene library has been constructed using cosmid vector pMMB34. The cosmid bank was controlled for its random gene distribution by colony hybridization. Genes were identified using either homologous or heterologous probes of genes involved in photosynthesis (large and small subunit of d -ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, 32 kDa thylakoid protein, α, β subunits of C-phycocyanin) and protein synthesis (elongation factors EF-Tu, EF-G).     

钝顶螺旋藻形态、生长及光合作用对不同波段太阳辐射的响应

为探讨中不同波段的光合有效辐射对钝顶螺旋藻(Arthrospira platensis)形态、生长及光合作用的影响,实验将钝顶螺旋藻D-0083藻液转入带塞的石英管中, 石英管水平置于阳光下并在其上覆盖不同的截止型和带通型滤光片, 以使藻丝接受不同波段的太阳辐射; 并检测其生长、形态与光合活动的变化。结果发现: 所有波段 (320500、395700、510700和610700 nm) 光合有效辐射下的藻丝均螺旋变紧且生物量增加。其中以包含少量紫外辐射A (Ultraviolet-A)的蓝光波段 (320500 nm)和红光波段(600700 nm) 对藻丝形态变化、生长及光合速率的诱发效率较高。在320500、395700、510700和 610700 nm波段上的单位能量光照引起钝顶螺旋藻螺距变化的效率分别为0.070、0.015、0.021、0.045 m/(Wm2)。 波段320500 nm虽然会轻微抑制钝顶螺旋藻D-0083的有效光化学效率(Fv'/Fm')、电子传递速率(ETR)和藻蓝蛋白的荧光发射, 但是却能够有效诱导其藻丝变紧促进生长。此外, 钝顶螺旋藻D-0083的藻丝变紧程度、比生长速率变化与不同波段太阳辐射下藻丝体的光合性能相一致。该研究表明任何波段的光合有效辐射都能使螺旋藻藻丝螺旋变紧并引发生长和光合作用, 其中以蓝光和红光的效率最高。     

Modeling of biomass production by Spirulinaplatensis as function of phosphate concentrations and pH regimes

Batch cultivations were performed to evaluate the influence of phosphate concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g L⁻¹) for pH regimes (9.5, 10.0, and 10.5) on the biomass production by Spirulina platensis. The best condition for cell growth (3.099 g L⁻¹) was found at 0.5 g L⁻¹ phosphate and pH value of 10.0. Cultivation time, phosphate, and pH caused to increase significantly (p < 0.01) in biomass production by S. platensis. Lag time was observed up to 4 h. After then, biomass production increased sharply (p < 0.01) from 0.020 g L⁻¹ to 2.063, 2.213, 1.532, and 0.797 g L⁻¹ at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g L⁻¹ phosphate values, respectively. Modified Gompertz model could be regarded as sufficient to describe the biomass production by S. platensis with high determination coefficients and low sum of square value indicated that. Biological parameters for biomass production were successfully predicted by modified Gompertz model.     

低温对螺旋藻可溶性蛋白和游离氨基酸外渗的影响

以鄂尔多斯高原碱湖特有的钝顶螺旋藻S1、引进的钝顶螺旋藻S2和极大螺旋藻S3为材料,采用Folin法和茚三酮法分别测定低温下细胞外渗液中可溶性蛋白和游离氮基酸含量。结果表明：处理温度越低,时间越长,螺旋藻细胞外渗液中可溶性蛋白和游离氨基酸的含量越高。S1膜损伤程度最轻,比引进种S2、S3有较强的抗寒能力。判断低温对螺旋藻膜损伤的程度,用可溶性蛋白较游离氨基酸更接近于实际。     

Exploring the Therapeutic Properties of Alga-Based Silver Nanoparticles: Anticancer,Antibacterial, and Free Radical Scavenging Capabilities

The current study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant, anticancer and antimicrobial activities of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) biosynthesized by Spirulina platensis extract. The biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The antioxidant activity of the biosynthesized AgNPs were determined via DPPH radical scavenging assay while its anticancer activity was determined using the MTT assay. The antimicrobial activity of the biosynthesized AgNPs were analyzed by disc diffusion method. Spirulina platensis acts as a reducing and capping agent. The efficacy of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in inhibiting the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, specifically Acetobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus vulgaris, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was assessed by the utilisation of the diffusion method. The study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) against many strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. The findings of the study revealed that when administered in doses of 50 μl, 75 μl, and 100 μl, the largest observed zone of inhibition corresponded to measurements of 10.5 mm, 14 mm, and 16 mm, respectively. A zone of inhibition with dimensions of 8 mm, 10.5 mm, and 12 mm was detected during testing against Acetobacter at concentrations of 50 μl, 75 μl, and 100 μl, respectively. The findings also indicate that there is a positive correlation between the concentration of AgNP and the DPPH scavenging ability of silver nanoparticles. The percentage of inhibition observed at concentrations of 500 μg/ml, 400 μg/ml, 300 μg/ml, 200 μg/ml, and 100 μg/ml were recorded as 80±1.98, 61±1.98, 52±1.5, 42±1.99, and 36±1.97, respectively. In addition, it was observed that the silver nanoparticles exhibited the greatest antioxidant activity at a concentration of 500 g/ml, with a measured value of 80.89±1.99. The IC-50 values, representing the inhibitory concentration required to achieve 50 % inhibition, were found to be 8.16, 19.15, 30.14, 41.13, and 63.11 at inhibition levels of 36±1.97, 42±1.99, 52±1.5, 61±1.98, and 80±1.98, respectively.     

Spectral kinetic modeling and long‐term behavior assessment of Arthrospira platensis growth in photobioreactor under red (620 nm) light illumination

The ability to cultivate the cyanobacterium Arhtrospira platensis in artificially lightened photobioreactors using high energetic efficiency (quasi‐monochromatic) red LED was investigated. To reach the same maximal productivities as with the polychromatic lightening control conditions (red + blue, P/2e^? = 1.275), the need to work with an optimal range of wavelength around 620 nm was first established on batch and continuous cultures. The long‐term physiological and kinetic behavior was then verified in a continuous photobioreactor illuminated only with red (620 nm) LED, showing that the maximum productivities can be maintained over 30 residence times with only minor changes in the pigment content of the cells corresponding to a well‐known adaptation mechanism of the photosystems, but without any effect on growth and stoichiometry. For both poly and monochromatic incident light inputs, a predictive spectral knowledge model was proposed and validated for the first time, allowing the calculation of the kinetics and stoichiometry observed in any photobioreactor cultivating A. platensis, or other cyanobacteria if the parameters were updated. It is shown that the photon flux (with a specified wavelength) must be used instead of light energy flux as a relevant control variable for the growth. The experimental and theoretical results obtained in this study demonstrate that it is possible to save the energy consumed by the lightening device of photobioreactors using red LED, the spectral range of which is defined according to the action spectrum of photosynthesis. This appears to be crucial information for applications in which the energy must be rationalized, as it is the case for life support systems in closed environments like a permanent spatial base or a submarine. © 2009 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2009     

钝顶螺旋藻(Spirulina platensis)光系统Ⅰ的分离表征及稳定性

采用蔗糖密度梯度离心法对钝顶螺旋藻光合膜蛋白(PSI)进行分离纯化,并对其光谱学性质、热稳定性及光合放氧活性进行分析表征。结果发现,采用蔗糖密度精度离心法,可以成功分离出4条色素蛋白质复合体条带,其中最下层条带为完整的PSI三聚体,其每毫克叶绿素a光合放氧活性达到420μmol/h。当温度达到50℃左右时,分离得到的PSI在溶液开始变性失活。     

The ontogeny of Pseudis platensis (Anura,Hylidae): Heterochrony and the effects of larval development on postmetamorphic life

Recent studies have described the giant tadpole, delayed metamorphic transformations, and absence of postmetamorphic growth of the skeleton of Pseudis Platensis. These features address questions about derived patterns of life cycles and the role of the heterochrony during the metamorphosis in anurans. Using anatomical methods, we provide new data on the development of reproductive, digestive and integument systems, and age inference obtained from ontogenetic series of Pseudis platensis. Our results indicate that at the end of metamorphosis, the adult skin is completely differentiated, including the calcified dermal layer; the testis has seminiferous tubules with spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids; ovarian sacs present previtellogenic ova; and the adult digestive tract is fully formed. The froglets differ from adults only in being unable to reproduce. The entire life cycle of P. platensis can occur in 4 years. In the first year, larval development, growth to adult size, and gonad differentiation are completed. Long larval development rather than size of the tadpoles seems to be involved in the absence of juvenile stages. J. Morphol., 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Aquatic biodiversity and saline lakes: Lake Bogoria National Reserve,Kenya

Lake Bogoria, in the Rift Valley of Kenya is an extreme saline lake (conductivity 40–80 mS cm^–1, alkalinity 1500 m equ l^–1). It is hydrologically more stable than the other, endorheic lakes in Kenya, because it is deep – maximum depth at present just over 10 m in an area of 3000 ha – and so does not have periods when it is dry. It is ecologically simple, with only one species dominating the phytoplankton – the cyanobacterium `spirulina', Arthrospira fusiformis. Its biomass and productivity were very high – biomass between 38 and 365 g l<sup>–1</sup> chlorophyll `a' and 3.4–21 × 10³ coils ml^–1 and net production between 0.24 and 1 gm C m³ h, the latter in a narrow zone of less than a metre. There were no macro-zooplankton in the plankton and the only grazer of A. fusiformis was the lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor,which occurred irregularly in very high concentrations (in excess of 1 × 10⁶). Detritivory in the benthos was effected by a single chironomid species, Paratendipes sp., at a maximum density of 4 × 10⁴ m^–2. The mean daily emergence of adult chironomids was estimated to be 1 × 10³ m^–2, the maximum 3. There was no littoral plant community within the lake but 44 dicotyledonous and 31 monocotyledonous plant species in the drawn-down zone and adjacent to it. A diverse draw-down terrestrial invertebrate fauna, only superficially described here, processed the flamingo feathers and carcasses, with other detritus such as chironomid pupal exuviae and decaying A. fusiformis scum. About 50 bird species depended upon the chironomids, either as they emerged through the water column as flying adults or later on the shoreline as floating pupal exuvia and dead adults. The lake has high conservation value because of three bird species in particular – lesser flamingo, Cape teal and black-necked grebe. The former provides real economic value in a region otherwise impoverished, because of the spectacle of tens of thousands of flamingos set against the landscape of hot springs and fumaroles at the lake edge, which draws 15000 visitors per annum. P. minor has experienced three periods during the past ten years when major mortalities have occurred, the last of which killed 700 birds day^–1. This could have involved as many as 200000 birds (about 1/5th of the maximum population at this lake) if mortality was at a constant rate for the nine months it was observed. Causes of mortality have been suggested as avian tuberculosis, poisoning from cyanobacterial toxins or from heavy metal contamination at Lake Nakuru, but it is still not yet clear what contribution each makes to the problem.     

Effects of increased atmospheric CO2 and N supply on photosynthesis, growth and cell composition of the cyanobacterium Spirulina platensis (Arthrospira)

The consequences of the addition of CO2 (1%) in cultures of S. platensis are examined in terms of biomass yield, cell composition and external medium composition. CO2 enrichment was tested under nitrogen saturating and nitrogen limiting conditions. Increasing CO2 levels did not cause any change in maximum growth rate while it decreased maximum biomass yield. Protein and pigments were decreased and carbohydrate increased by high CO2, but the capability to store carbohydrates was saturated. C:N ratio remained unchanged while organic carbon released to the external medium was enhanced, suggesting that organic carbon release in S. platensis is an efficient mechanism for the maintenance of the metabolic integrity, balancing the cell C:N ratio in response to environmental CO2 changes. CO2 affected the pigment content: Phycocyanin, chlorophyll and carotenoids were reduced in around 50%, but the photosynthetic parameters were slightly changed. We propose that in S. platensis CO2 could act promoting degradation of pigments synthetised in excess in normal CO2 conditions, that are not necessary for light harvesting. Nitrogen assimilation was significantly not affected by CO2, and it is proposed that the inability to stimulate N assimilation by CO2 enrichment determined the lack of response in maximum growth rate. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.