Molecular approaches to microbiological monitoring: fecal source detection

Molecular methods are useful both to monitor natural communities of bacteria, and to track specific bacterial markers in complex environments. Length-heterogeneity polymerase chain reaction (LH-PCR) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) of 16S rDNAs discriminate among 16S rRNA genes based on length polymorphisms of their PCR products. With these methods, we developed an alternative indicator that distinguishes the source of fecal pollution in water. We amplify 16S rRNA gene fragments from the fecal anaerobic genus Bacteroides with specific primers. Because Bacteroides normally resides in gut habitats, its presence in water indicates fecal pollution. Molecular detection circumvents the complexities of growing anaerobic bacteria. We identified Bacteroides LH-PCR and T-RFLP ribosomal DNA markers unique to either ruminant or human feces. The same unique fecal markers were recovered from polluted natural waters. We cloned and sequenced the unique markers; marker sequences were used to design specific PCR primers that reliably distinguish human from ruminant sources of fecal contamination. Primers for more species are under development. This approach is more sensitive than fecal coliform assays, is comparable in complexity to standard food safety and public health diagnostic tests, and lends itself to automation and high-throughput. Thus molecular genetic markers for fecal anaerobic bacteria hold promise for monitoring bacterial pollution and water quality.     

Effect of Common Pesticides Used in the Niger Delta Basin of Southern Nigeria on Soil Microbial Populations

The effects of eleven pesticides on the populations of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and protozoa was investigated by treating a garden soil with their recommended rates. The microbial populations were estimated using the standard plate-count technique. Of the ll pesticides investigated, phenylmercuric acetate (agrosan) at 50 g g^-1 inhibited bacterial density the most, i.e. from 4,600,000 to 220 cells g^-1. The pesticides were Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB), tetramethylmethylthiuram disulphide (thiram),1- naphthylmethylcarbamate (Vetox 85), 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexachlorocyclohexane (Gammalin 20), phenylmercuric acetate (Agrosan), tetrachloroterephthalic acid (Dacthal), 4-nitrophenyl –2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylphenyl ether (Preforan), 2-ethyl-6-methyl –N-2-methoxy –1-methyl ethyl-chloroacetanide (Dual), Benlate, Brestan and Gramoxone. Pentachloronitrobenzene (PCNB) at 240,000 g g^-1 reduced bacterial population from 4,600,000 to 2,100 cells g^-1, whereas tetramethylthiuram disulphide (thiram) at 100 g g^-1 suppressed it by 2 log orders of magnitude. Soil application of 1-naphthylmethylcarbamate (Vetox 85) at 100 g g^-1 and 1,2,3,4,5,6,-hexachlorocyclohexane (Gamalin 20) at 1,300 g g^-1 repressed the bacterial numbers by 2 log orders of magnitude each. Pentachloronitrobenzene reduced the actinomycetes density from 340,000 to 320 cells g^-1 and completely eliminated all fungal and protozoan propagules from the soil. The Gammalin 20 completely wiped out all the fungi, whereas phenylmercuric acetate totally eliminated all the protozoa and reduced the fungal population from 34,000 to 60 cells g^-1. In general, protozoa and fungi were more susceptible to fungicides than bacteria and actinomycetes. Pentachloronitrobenzene, 1,2,3,4,5,6,-hexachlorocyclohexane and phenylmercuric acetate were toxic particularly to soil microorganisms, whereas the herbicides dacthal, Preforan and Dual were quite harmless in soil at application rates of 0.1, 0.06 and 0.02 g g^-1 respectively.     

双层管用于发光细菌检测水样毒性时的色度修正

阐述了应用发光细菌检测有色水样毒性时,水样色度会引起附加发光抑制的原因,提出应用同心双层检测玻管,可以对有色水样色度引起的附加发光抑制加以修正.通过比较单层管和双层管测定标准曲线间的差异、设置阴性对照和阳性对照评价该方法的可靠性,以及用该方法检测有色水样活性黑KN-B溶液的急性毒性实验,结果表明,用同心双层检测玻管可以有效修正由水样色度引起的附加发光抑制.     

复杂岩溶矿床延深水平涌水量的预测

随着岩溶矿床的延深开采,矿坑涌水量的计算成为防治水害首先要解决的难题。文章创造性地采用国外广泛采用的岩溶水衰减动态分析法,选择了我国南方复杂岩溶含水层中有代表性的重庆市红岩煤矿,将丛林采区茅口组岩溶水动力单元和该单元南大巷(标高+370 m)的茅口灰岩岩溶含水层的主要排水点-1号突水点作为研究对象,建立了该单元岩溶含水层的计算模型-衰减动态(流量和水位)方程,求出了岩溶水动力单元水均衡、地下水储量计算和矿坑涌水量预测的水文地质参数:a、T、K、S、μ、Ie,建立了该单元岩溶裂隙-管道水的水均衡方程, 根据连续观察一个水文年以上的丰富地下水动态资料,预测了红岩煤矿370 m标高以下的延伸开采水平(295- 370 m)矿坑涌水量。     

Allelochemicals and allelopathy from microorganisms in wheat rhizosphers

Allelochemicals from fungi and bacteria in wheat rhizosphere,as well as their allelopathic effects on wheat and maize have been conducted.Fungi and bacteria were incubated at temperature 28-30℃.The extracts were tested for bioassay.Some samples identified to be responsible for allelopathy have been determined by GC-MS.Some chemicals identified were selected to test again their bioactivity.The results showed that acidic extracts were more toxic to germination of wheat and maize seeds(statistic significant difference P<0.01 or P<0.05)and basic extracts were less toxic and stimulated effects on germination in some cases.A good relationship has been observed between the data of chemical analysis and bioassay. A wide variety of chemicals such as phenolic acids,organic acids,aldehydes,alcohol,ketones,nitrogen-containing chemicals,were identified by GC-MS.Some phenols and organic acids were identified to be inhibit and nitrogens-containing compounds were to be stimulate to germination of seeds and extension of root and shoot of wheat and maize.     

Long- and short-chain AHLs affect AOA and AOB microbial community composition and ammonia oxidation rate in activated sludge

Quorum sensing (QS) regulation of the composition of ammonia-oxidising archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidising bacteria (AOB) communities and functions in wastewater treatment was investigated. Specifically, we explored the role of N-acyl-l-homoserine lactones (AHLs) in microbial community dynamics in activated sludge. On average, the specific ammonia-oxidising-rate increased from 1.6 to 2.8?mg?NH₄⁺-N/g?MLSS/hr after treatment with long-chain AHLs for 16?days, and the addition of AHLs to sludge resulted in an increased number of AOA/AOB amoA genes. Significant differences were observed in the AOA communities of control and AHL-treated cultures, but not the AOB community. Furthermore, the dominant functional AOA strains of the Crenarchaeota altered their ecological niche in response to AHL addition. These results provide evidence that AHLs play an important role in mediating AOA/AOB microbial community parameters and demonstrate the potential for application of QS to the regulation of nitrogen compound metabolism in wastewater treatment.     

Influence of carbon source and temperature on the denitrifying phosphorus removal process

To supply the valuable operating parameters for the popular usage of the new denitrifying phosphors removal process, it is essential to study the dominant biochemical reactions and the characteristics of denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria (DPB). Thus, parallel batch experiments using DPB sludge were carried out to assess the effect of substrates (sewage, HAc, and endogenous carbon source) on denitrifying dephosphorus removal efficiency in this study. The results showed that the initial specific phosphorus release rate increased with the high concentration of the short-chain volatile fatty acids ratio in the influent, and sufficient phosphorus was released by DPB. This improved the subsequent denitrification and phosphorus uptake efficiency. The specific endogenous denitrification mainly relies on the internal carbon source (PHB) stored by poly-P bacteria. Denitrifying phosphorus removing bacteria were very hungry when the internal PHB was consumed. Consequently, the specific endogenous denitrification rate was low and the phosphorus uptake did not happen. On the other hand, in the experiment, the denitrifying phosphorus removal performance under two temperature conditions (8–10°C and 25–26°C) was also investigated and analyzed. It was found that the lower temperature decreased the specific phosphorus release and uptake rate, but did not inhibit the denitrifying phosphorus removal completely. Therefore, the negative influence of the low temperature on the overall phosphorus removal was not significant. Translated from Acta Scientiae Circumstantiae, 2006, 26 (2): 186–192 [译自: 环境科学学报]     

滇池湖泊富营养化动力学模拟研究

针对滇池富营养化情况 ,利用实测资料 ,建立了叶绿素a、透明度、藻量与总氮、总磷之间的相关关系式 ,利用水动力学原理建立垂向平均化的水动力学模型 ,并对总氮、总磷及叶绿素a、透明度和藻量分布进行了模拟计算。对滇池湖泊富营养化的控制提供科学依据。     

共基质条件下TNT降解菌的选育及其处理效果

选取SBR弹药销毁废水处理系统中的活性污泥作为菌源,在共基质条件下,经过驯化和筛选,分离出11株可降解TNT的单菌,从中选出生长速度较快的3株菌JT1,JT2,JT3进行了单菌及混菌降解能力测试,结果表明:混合菌JTH降解能力最强,其适宜环境条件为25℃～30℃,pH7.5～9.0,基质中添加2g/L葡萄糖可显著增强混菌JTH生长并可使24h内的TNT降解率达到96 1%;模拟废水的处理实验表明:混菌JTH对COD的去除率>80%,TNT降解率80%～90%;生物强化实验表明:以0.1的菌量污泥比在SBR系统中投加混合菌可使系统的出水COD稳定在100mg/L左右,出水TNT浓度<5mg/L。     

ENSO与云南蒋家沟泥石流灾害发生的关系

通过分析近40年来出现的ENSO事件对云南东川蒋家沟泥石流活动的影响可知,El Ni(~n)o与LaNi(~n)a对其的影响正好相反,且El Ni(~n)o的影响大于La Ni(~n)a的影响.El Ni(~n)o年,泥石流年发生频次、径流量和输沙量偏少的概率均较大,泥石流活动减弱的倾向明显;La Ni(~n)a年,虽有一定的对应关系,但不如El Ni(~n)o年明显,且影响更复杂一些,总的来说,泥石流年发生频次、径流量和输沙量偏多或持平的概率较大.