Influences and mechanisms of nanofullerene on the horizontal transfer of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance genes between E. coli strains

• Sub-inhibitory levels of nC₆₀ promote conjugative transfer of ARGs. • nC₆₀ can induce ROS generation, oxidative stress and SOS response. • nC₆₀ can increase cell membrane permeability and alter gene expression. • Results provide evidence of nC₆₀ promoting antibiotic resistance dissemination. The spread and development of antibiotic resistance globally have led to severe public health problems. It has been shown that some non-antibiotic substances can also promote the diffusion and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Nanofullerene (nC₆₀) is a type of nanomaterial widely used around the world, and some studies have discovered both the biological toxicity and environmental toxicity of nC₆₀. In this study, cellular and molecular biology techniques were employed to investigate the influences of nC₆₀ at sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) on the conjugation of ARGs between the E. coli strains. Compared with the control group, nC₆₀ significantly increased the conjugation rates of ARGs by 1.32‒10.82 folds within the concentration range of 7.03‒1800 mg/L. This study further explored the mechanism of this phenomenon, finding that sub-MICs of nC₆₀ could induce the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), trigger SOS-response and oxidative stress, affect the expression of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) genes, increase membrane permeability, and thus promote the occurrence of conjugation. This research enriches our understanding of the environmental toxicity of nC₆₀, raises our risk awareness toward nC₆₀, and may promote the more rational employment of nC₆₀ materials.     

Strong ozone production at a rural site in theNorth China Plain: Mixed effects of urban plumesand biogenic emissions

Regional ozone (O₃) pollution has drawn increasing attention in China over the recent decade, but the contributions from urban pollution and biogenic emissions have not been clearly elucidated. To better understand the formation of the regional O₃ problem in the North China Plain (NCP), intensive field measurements of O₃ and related parameters were conducted at a rural site downwind of Ji'nan, the capital city of Shandong province, in the summer of 2013. Markedly severe O₃ pollution was recorded, with the O₃ mixing ratios exceeding the Chinese national ambient air quality standard on 28?days (a frequency of 78%) and with a maximum hourly value of 198 ppbv. Extensive regional transport of well-processed urban plumes to the site was identified. An observation-constrained chemical box model was deployed to evaluate in situ photochemical O₃ production on two episodes. The results show that the in situ formation accounted for approximately 46% of the observed O₃ accumulation, while the remainder (~ 54%) was contributed by regional transport of the O₃-laden urban plumes. The in situ ozone production was in a mixed controlled regime that reducing either NOx or VOCs would lead to a reduction of ozone formation. Biogenic VOCs played an important role in the local ozone formation. This study demonstrates the significant mixed effects of both anthropogenic pollution from urban zones and biogenic emission in rural areas on the regional O₃ pollution in the NCP region, and may have general applicability in facilitating the understanding of the formation of secondary pollution over China.     

Spatio-temporal trends and influencing factors of PM2.5 concentrations in urban agglomerations in China between 2000 and 2016

An urban agglomeration (UA), similar to a megalopolis or a metropolitan area, is a region where cities and people are concentrated, and where air pollution has adversely impacted on sustainable and high quality development. Studies on the spatio-temporal trends and the factors which influence PM_2.5 concentrations may be used as a reference to support air pollution control policy for major UAs throughout the world. Nineteen UAs in China covering the years 2000–2016 were chosen as the research object, the PM_2.5 concentrations being used to reflect air pollution and being estimated from analysis of remote sensing images. The Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis method was used to study the spatio-temporal trends for PM_2.5 concentrations, and the Geodetector method was used to examine the factors influencing the PM_2.5 concentrations. The results revealed that (i) the temporal trend for the average values of the PM_2.5 concentrations in the UAs followed an inverted U-shaped curve and the inflection points of the curve occurred in 2007. (ii) The PM_2.5 concentrations in the UAs exhibited significant global spatial autocorrelation with the high–high type and the low–low type being the main categories. (iii) The rate of land urbanization and the structure of energy consumption were the main factors which influenced the PM_2.5 concentrations in the UAs.

     

西北部主要城市环境空气质量特征与预报影响因素分析

西北部地区经济和工业的快速发展导致各项污染物排放对空气质量影响形势较为严峻,近几年频发的重污染过程严重影响了当地居民的生产生活,因此开展西北部主要城市的空气质量预报工作十分必要。研究选取西北部主要城市展开讨论、分析,并初步总结了主要城市2013—2015年的空气质量分布特征、预报影响因素、预报要点等,为环境监测系统预报工作人员在未来预报业务工作中提供参考。     

一株苯酚降解菌的筛选及降解动力学特性

利用富集驯化的培养方法,从首钢焦化厂废水处理系统中的二沉池出水中,分离筛选出一株能够高效降解苯酚的菌株B3对其16S rDNA序列进行分析,并选择Monod方程和Andrews方程分别研究该菌在不同苯酚浓度条件下的降酚动力学模式。结果表明,B3为蜡状芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus);苯酚浓度较低时,苯酚对菌株的生长基本不产生抑制作用,用Monod模型对B3降酚动力学过程进行拟合,其动力学参数V max=0.03 h-1,K s=25.53 mg/L;苯酚浓度较高时,按照Andrews模型对B3降酚动力学过程进行非线性最小二乘曲线拟合,其动力学参数V max=0.08 h-1,K s=147.52 mg/L,K i=384.96 mg/L。根据动力学方程,推论菌株B3降解对于浓度238.30 mg/L的苯酚具有最佳降解效果。     

猪粪堆肥中一株溶磷菌的筛选鉴定及溶磷能力初步测定

从猪粪堆肥中分离纯化得到一株具有较强溶磷能力的菌株PSM-1,进行了形态学和分子生物学鉴定,研究了其溶磷能力和遗传稳定性.结果表明:通过菌落形态和ITS基因序列分析鉴定,菌株PSM-1为产黄青霉(Penicillium chrysogenum);在3种不同无机磷源液体培养基中其溶磷量依次为Ca3(PO4)2(138.36 mg·L-1)Fe PO4(117.38 mg·L-1)Al PO4(113.76 mg·L-1),且PSM-1的溶磷量均与培养液p H值呈现出显著负相关性;以葡萄糖为碳源、硝酸铵为氮源时,菌株PSM-1的溶磷量最高可达195.67 mg·L-1,比初始有效磷高141.42%;该菌株对碳源和氮源的利用效率分别依次为:葡糖糖蔗糖麦芽糖淀粉,硝酸铵硝酸钾硫酸铵草酸铵;经过20次传代培养后PSM-1的溶磷量保持在(124.54±3.50)mg·L-1,说明其溶磷遗传稳定性良好.研究表明:PSM-1菌株具有良好的溶解无机磷的能力,在土壤微生态改良方面具有重要的应用潜力.     

欧盟针对农药对水生生物的初级风险评价——标准物种不确定因子法

建立适宜的农药环境风险评价体系,有利于评价农药对环境的影响,控制农药带来的环境污染.欧盟具有丰富的农药风险评价经验和完善的评价体系,论文针对欧盟的初级风险评价工作中水生生物风险评价的标准物种不确定因子法进行了综述,阐述了其评价原则与方法,总结了预测环境浓度(predicted environmental concent...     

“最小存活种群”和“种群生存力分析”理论在生物多样性评价中的应用——以黔北20万吨/年竹浆林一体化工程中原料林基地建设工程为例

概述了“最小存活种群”和“种群生存力分析”概念、产生过程、研究内容及在生物多样性保护中的应用步骤,并运用该理论,以敏感种豹为关键种,分析了黔北新建20万吨/年竹浆林一体化工程中原料林基地建设工程对拟建项目区生物多样性的影响。分析结果表明,如原料林基地远离豹的栖息地,则栖息地面积尚可满足对豹短期保护（50代）的要求。因此,原料林基地的建设对绝大多数野生动物的影响不大,项目区的生物多样性是可以维持的。     

区域生态保护分级控制规划——以浙江省安吉县为例

以浙江省安吉县生态保护分级控制规划为例,提出生态保护分级控制规划的"红、蓝、绿三线控制区"方案,其中红线控制区为严格保护区,蓝线控制区为保护性利用区,绿线控制区为建设性开发区.此方法为区域生态环境保护和建设规划提供了一种新的思路.     

旅游景观的形象美与其生态学内涵初探——以三亚旅游景观资源的保护为例

文章从可持续发展的角度,提出旅游景观资源形象美必须以维持生态系统的规律美为内涵,认为自然美的生态价值才是自然的第一价值。并以三亚旅游景观资源的保护为例,对海域、陆域典型旅游景观资源的保护提出了具体建议。