The continuing conundrum of the LEA proteins

Research into late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins has been ongoing for more than 20 years but, although there is a strong association of LEA proteins with abiotic stress tolerance particularly dehydration and cold stress, for most of that time, their function has been entirely obscure. After their initial discovery in plant seeds, three major groups (numbered 1, 2 and 3) of LEA proteins have been described in a range of different plants and plant tissues. Homologues of groups 1 and 3 proteins have also been found in bacteria and in certain invertebrates. In this review, we present some new data, survey the biochemistry, biophysics and bioinformatics of the LEA proteins and highlight several possible functions. These include roles as antioxidants and as membrane and protein stabilisers during water stress, either by direct interaction or by acting as molecular shields. Along with other hydrophilic proteins and compatible solutes, LEA proteins might also serve as “space fillers” to prevent cellular collapse at low water activities. This multifunctional capacity of the LEA proteins is probably attributable in part to their structural plasticity, as they are largely lacking in secondary structure in the fully hydrated state, but can become more folded during water stress and/or through association with membrane surfaces. The challenge now facing researchers investigating these enigmatic proteins is to make sense of the various in vitro defined functions in the living cell: Are the LEA proteins truly multi-talented, or are they still just misunderstood?     

Elevated CO2 changes the moderate shade tolerance of yellow birch seedlings

To demonstrate the existence of light thresholds in plant growth and to examine the effects of elevated CO2 on the shade tolerance of a tree species, an experiment consisting of a completely randomized design for a total of 96 yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britton) seedlings was conducted with 3 light levels (2.9%, 7.7%, 26.1% of full sunlight)×2 CO2 levels (350 and 700±10 ppm) with 4 replications in a phytotron. The study proved that thresholds exist and they vary in different plant organs. In ambient CO2, the thresholds were 13.3%, 18.7%, 15.0%, 15.2%, and 15.6% of full sunlight for stem, leaf, root, total plant biomass, and the averaged value, respectively. In 700 ppm CO2, the corresponding thresholds were 16.7%, 21.3%, 18.1%, 21.7% and 19.5% for stem, leaf, root, total plant biomass, and the averaged value, respectively. The lowest threshold in the stem is an indicator of the minimal light intensity for regular growth for seedlings of this species. Below this threshold, light-stressful growth occurs. The result of a paired t-test indicated that the thresholds in elevated CO2 were significantly higher than in ambient CO2. This suggests that yellow birch will lose its moderate shade tolerance, evolutionally becoming a shade-intolerant species, and that it may become more difficult to naturally regenerate in the future.     

城市污泥中温厌氧消化过程中厌氧耐药菌的分布与去除研究

城市污泥中含有大量的耐药菌,具有向环境传播耐药菌与抗性基因的潜在危险,但目前缺乏对城市污泥厌氧消化过程中耐药菌的研究.为此对某城市污水处理厂卵形消化池污泥进行了为期1 a的调查研究,考察了中温厌氧消化过程中四环素类与β-内酰胺类抗生素厌氧耐药菌的污染特征与去除效果,并分析了耐药菌的季节性变化规律.结果表明,厌氧进泥中四环素类耐药菌浓度与耐药率均低于β-内酰胺类.中温厌氧消化过程可以去除1.48~1.64 log单位的耐药菌(P<0.05),但经过厌氧消化后氨苄西林与头孢噻吩耐药率有显著增长(分别增加了12.0%与14.3%,P<0.05).厌氧进泥中耐药菌分布有明显的季节特征,除金霉素耐药菌外,其它耐药菌的浓度均为寒冷季显著高于温暖季(P<0.05).     

污水处理厂中红霉素抗药性基因的污染特征及选择性因子

采用固相萃取-高效液相色谱串联质谱(SPE-HPLC-MS/MS)检测分析了上海某污水处理厂中12种不同药品和个人护理品(pharmaceutical and personal care products,PPCPs)的含量水平和分布特征,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法定量检测分析了7种红霉素抗药性基因(ERY-ARGs)在污水处理厂中的分布和丰度变化.结果表明,在污水处理厂中共检出5种PPCPs(包括磺胺甲唑、红霉素、四环素、卡马西平和三氯生),浓度范围分别为24.5~38.7、47.5~49.2、43.1~85.4、2.5~3.9和423.2~8 973.3ng·L-1.两段A/O生物处理工艺对三氯生具有较好的去除效果,但对其余4种PPCPs的去除效果较差.与此同时,目标ERY-ARGs在污水处理厂中均被检出,在原水中的丰度达9.28×103(erm A)~1.83×108(ere A)copies·L-1,虽然两段A/O工艺能够显著降低污水中的ERY-ARGs(1.19 log~3.97 log),但其在最终处理出水中的浓度仍然较高.通过相关性分析可知,ERY-ARGs与红霉素和三氯生之间均具有显著相关性(P<0.05),表明污水处理厂中红霉素对ERY-ARGs的产生和传播具有重要影响,而三氯生对ERY-ARGs可能存在交叉选择性作用.     

两种喹诺酮类抗生素对亚心形扁藻的毒性效应研究

研究了恩诺沙星和盐酸环丙沙星两种喹诺酮类抗生素对亚心形扁藻的毒理学效应。经多组不同浓度的两种抗生素处理后,分别对扁藻的96EC50、叶绿素和胞外聚合物（EPS）进行分析。结果表明,两种抗生素在低浓度时对扁藻生长具有促进作用,而在高浓度时体现抑制毒性作用。高浓度时,抗生素浓度越高对扁藻的生长、叶绿素和胞外聚合物抑制效果越明显,但当浓度达到一定高度后,抑制会达到其阈值。恩诺沙星和盐酸环丙沙星对扁藻的半生长抑制率分别为19.8 mg/L和28.7 mg/L。     

无锡市污水处理厂抗生素抗性菌分布与去除特性研究

近年来,污水处理厂已成为环境中抗生素抗性菌的重要来源.本研究利用传统的异养菌培养法对无锡市6座污水处理厂进出水中的5种抗生素(氨苄霉素、红霉素、四环素、卡那霉素、环丙沙星)抗性菌进行调查与分析,并对比了在不同工艺和不同季节条件下抗性菌的去除效果.结果表明,5种抗性菌在污水处理厂进出水中均可检出,进水中抗性菌浓度为103~10~5CFU·m L~(-1),出水中抗性菌浓度为10~2~10~4CFU·m L~(-1),其中,氨苄霉素抗性菌最多,占总异养菌的比例超过50%.污水处理工艺没有选择性去除抗性菌的效果,出水中抗性菌占总异养菌的比例相对于进水有增加趋势.相比其它传统工艺(氧化沟、SBR等),MBR工艺对去除氨苄霉素、红霉素抗性菌表现出一定优势;夏季目标污水处理厂对抗性菌的去除量略多于冬季,且只有环丙沙星抗性菌的去除量表现出显著的季节性差异(p0.05).     

养殖鱼塘底泥微生物抗生素耐药基因分布分析

针对水产养殖中抗生素滥用引起微生物耐药基因污染的现象,本实验以杭州市某水产养殖区底泥样品为研究对象,测定了底泥样品中抗生素含量,并从其中分离出74株可培养细菌.采用PCR方法对分离菌株中磺胺类、四环素类、喹诺酮类、氯霉素类抗性基因(antibiotic resistance genes,ARGs)和整合子基因进行了检测.结果表明,除tet A(四环素类)耐药基因未被检出外,其余3种耐药基因及整合子基因均被检出,其中qnr S(喹诺酮类)耐药基因的检出率最高,为50.00%.另外,利用16S r DNA序列分析技术将分离菌株鉴定为12个属、19个种,包括环境中多种常见土著细菌及部分致病菌,其中气单胞菌(Aeromonas spp.)数量最多(29株),占分离菌株的39.19%.掌握水产养殖区中ARGs的污染现状,对控制其传播、保障食品安全和保护微生态环境具有重要指导意义.     

发酵类抗生素废水处理工艺及运行效果

介绍了内蒙古某抗生素废水处理厂的处理工艺流程、处理单元类型及其详细设计参数,通过对该污水处理厂半年内运行效果的调研,分析评价该污水处理系统的处理效果及出水指标;该水厂工艺流程对COD、TOC、氨氮、总氮、总磷、BOD和急性毒性的平均去除率分别为96.52%、95.83%、50.24%、55.20%、62.05%、98.52%和99.14%,COD、氨氮、总氮、总磷出水水质分别为477、438、556.7和7.69 mg/L,达到排放到城区下水道要求,园区内所有废水汇集到园区污水处理厂进行集中深度处理达标后排放水体。通过对该水厂工艺的介绍和水质分析,为我国抗生素生产企业面临的废水处理工艺类型选择及工程改造升级提供一定参考。     

Influence of arsenic stress on synthesis and localization of low-molecular-weight thiols in Pteris vittata

The roles of low-molecular-weight thiols (LMWTs), such as glutathione and phytochelatins, in arsenic (As) tolerance and hyperaccumulation in Pteris vittata an As-hyperaccumulator fern remain to be better understood. This study aimed to thoroughly characterize LMWT synthesis in P. vittata to understand the roles played by LMWTs in As tolerance and hyperaccumulation. LMWT synthesis in P. vittata was induced directly by As, and not by As-mediated oxidative stress. Expression of PvECS2, one of the putative genes of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γECS), increases in P. vittata shoots at 48 h after the onset of As exposure, almost corresponding to the increase in the concentrations of γ-glutamylcysteine and glutathione. Furthermore, localization of As showed similar trends to those of LMWTs in fronds at both whole-frond and cellular levels. This study thus indicates the specific contribution of LMWTs to As tolerance in P. vittata. γECS may be responsible for the As-induced enhancement of LMWT synthesis.