Pathogens,faecal indicators and human-specific microbial source-tracking markers in sewage

The objective of this review is to assess the current state of knowledge of pathogens, general faecal indicators and human-specific microbial source tracking markers in sewage. Most of the microbes present in sewage are from the microbiota of the human gut, including pathogens. Bacteria and viruses are the most abundant groups of microbes in the human gut microbiota. Most reports on this topic show that raw sewage microbiological profiles reflect the human gut microbiota. Human and animal faeces share many commensal microbes as well as pathogens. Faecal-orally transmitted pathogens constitute a serious public health problem that can be minimized through sanitation. Assessing both the sanitation processes and the contribution of sewage to the faecal contamination of water bodies requires knowledge of the content of pathogens in sewage, microbes indicating general faecal contamination and microbes that are only present in human faecal remains, which are known as the human-specific microbial source-tracking (MST) markers. Detection of pathogens would be the ideal option for managing sanitation and determining the microbiological quality of waters contaminated by sewage; but at present, this is neither practical nor feasible in routine testing. Traditionally, faecal indicator bacteria have been used as surrogate indicators of general faecal residues. However, in many water management circumstances, it becomes necessary to detect both the origin of faecal contamination, for which MST is paramount, and live micro-organisms, for which molecular methods are not suitable. The presence and concentrations of pathogens, general faecal indicators and human-specific MST markers most frequently reported in different areas of the world are summarized in this review.     

Algal Remodeling in a Ubiquitous Planktonic Photosymbiosis

1. Download high-res image (311KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Resolving Cell Fate Decisions during Somatic Cell Reprogramming by Single-Cell RNA-Seq

1. Download high-res image (206KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

发展中高校微生物学教学体系建设

微生物学是生物学专业基础核心课程。结合学院发展规划及教学目标,系统地构建了微生物学教学体系,包括教学方法建设,主要以多媒体教学为基础,选择合理的教学方式,结合双语教学和实验教学,夯实学生的专业知识基础;教学资源建设,即以培养人才为目标的基础资源建设,包括教材、实验室及实习基地建设,以及提升教学整体实力的教学团队建设,包括人力资源建设和人才培养模式建设;考核体系建设,旨在构建综合、合理、有效及准确的考核体系,包括实践考核、理论及实验考核、科研成绩考核三个组成部分。通过建设教学体系,提升了微生物学教学质量及水平,为学院教育教学事业的稳步发展奠定了坚实的基础。     

Single-Cell Sequencing of iPSC-Dopamine Neurons Reconstructs Disease Progression and Identifies HDAC4 as a Regulator of Parkinson Cell Phenotypes

1. Download high-res image (270KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Combined Single-Cell Profiling of lncRNAs and Functional Screening Reveals that H19 Is Pivotal for Embryonic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Development

1. Download high-res image (269KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

PyMINEr Finds Gene and Autocrine-Paracrine Networks from Human Islet scRNA-Seq

1. Download high-res image (260KB)
2. Download full-size image

     

Enhanced high copy number plasmid maintenance and heterologous protein production in an Escherichia coli biofilm

Escherichia coli has been widely used for heterologous protein production (HPP). To determine whether a biofilm environment could benefit E. coli HPP using high copy number plasmids, we compared plasmid maintenance and HPP by E. coli ATCC 33456 containing plasmid pEGFP (a pUC family vector) cultivated in biofilms and in suspended culture. Cells were grown with or without antibiotic selective pressure in flow cells or chemostats for up to 6 days. In biofilms, antibiotic selective pressure increased the plasmid copy number (PCN), but by 144 h, biofilms grown in antibiotic-free media had comparable plasmid concentrations. In the chemostat, the PCN declined steadily, although 100 ppm ampicillin in the medium slowed the rate of plasmid loss. Production of green fluorescent protein (GFP), a representative heterologous protein, was quantified by flow cytometry. In biofilms, at ampicillin concentrations >or=33 ppm, strongly fluorescent cells comprised more than half of the population by 48 h. In the chemostat, more than 50% of the population was non-fluorescent by 48 h in media containing 100 ppm ampicillin, and strongly fluorescent cells were <10% of the population. Biofilm structure was determined by confocal microscopy. Maximum biofilm thickness ranged from 30 to 45 microns, with no significant changes in biofilm structure after 48 h. Plasmid multimer percentages were similar to inocula for cells cultivated in either biofilms or the chemostat. The results indicate that the biofilm environment enhanced both plasmid maintenance and cellular GFP concentrations, and that low levels of antibiotic increased the beneficial effect.