Mutagenic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan and Lambda-cyhalothrin - In vitro study describing individual and combined effects of pesticides

Excessive use of pesticides poses increased risks to non target species including humans. In the developing countries, lack of proper awareness about the toxic potential of pesticides makes the farmer more vulnerable to pesticide linked toxicities, which could lead to diverse pathological conditions. The toxic potential of a pesticide could be determined by their ability to induce genetic mutations and cytotoxicity. Hence, determination of genetic mutation and cytotoxicity of each pesticide is unavoidable to legislate health and safety appraisal about pesticides. The objective of current investigation was to determine the genotoxic and cytotoxic potential of Endosulfan（EN） and Lambda-cyhalothrin（LC）; individually and in combination. 3-（4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl）-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide（MTT） assay was utilized to determine cytotoxicity, while two mutant histidine dependent Salmonella strains（TA98, TA100） were used to determine the mutagenicity of EN and LC.Moreover, mutagenicity assay was conducted with and without S9 to evaluate the effects of metabolic activation on mutagenicity. Even though a dose dependent increase in the number of revertant colonies was detected with EN against both bacterial strains, a highly significant（p 〈 0.05） increase in the mutagenicity was detected in TA98 with S9. In comparison, data obtained from LC revealed less mutagenic potential than EN. Surprisingly,the non-mutagenic individual-concentrations of EN and LC showed dose dependent mutagenicity when combined. Combination of EN and LC synergistically induced mutagenicity both in TA98 and TA100. MTT assay spotlighted comparable dose dependent cytotoxicity effects of both pesticides. Interestingly, the combination of EN and LC produced increased reversion and cytotoxicity at lower doses as compared to each pesticide, concluding that pesticide exposure even at sub-lethal doses can produce cytotoxicity and genetic mutations, which could lead to carcinogenicity.     

Characterization of extracellular polymeric substances in the biofilms of typical bacteria by the sulfur K-edge XANES spectroscopy

A combined approach of physicochemical extraction and sulfur K-edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure（XANES） spectroscopy was applied to characterize the extracellular polymeric substances（EPS） of typical bacterial biofilms in this study. Physicochemical analysis showed variation of the contents of DNA,polysaccharide and protein in different fractions of EPS in different mediums. The sulfur K-edge XANES analysis yielded a variety of spectra.Spectral fitting of the XANES spectra utilizing a large set of model compounds showed that there was more reduced sulfur in both LB-EPS（loosely bound EPS） and TB-EPS（tightly bound EPS） of all the biofilms in LB medium than in R2 A medium. More oxidized sulfur was identified in LB-EPS than that in TB-EPS,suggesting different niches and physiological heterogeneity in the biofilms. Our results suggested that the sulfur K-edge XANES can be a useful tool to analyze the sulfur speciation in EPS of biofilms.     

未来10大高风险高回报的新技术

世界经济论坛全球事务理事会发布了一份关于信息技术的新报告,其中提到了10项有可能对全社会造成重大影响的新技术。这10项新技术涵盖了科学、医学、能源、制造、交通和电子等众多领域,理事会的报告简要说明了那些新技术将如何影响和改变我们的生活。     

毒性有机物BPA与普通小球藻的相互影响特性研究

考察了不同浓度双酚A(BPA)对普通小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)生长特性的影响,以及普通小球藻生长过程对BPA的去除效能.研究表明,低浓度BPA(0~20 mg·L-1)对普通小球藻生长具有促进作用,而高浓度BPA(20~50 mg·L-1)对普通小球藻生长具有抑制作用,且抑制效应与BPA浓度呈正相关关系.低剂量BPA(<20 mg·L-1)对叶绿素含量并无明显的影响,高剂量BPA(>20 mg·L-1)造成叶绿素含量降低.在BPA初始浓度2~50 mg·L-1的范围内,普通小球藻对其都有一定的去除效能,单位普通小球藻对BPA去除速率与其初始浓度呈正相关关系.BPA投加量为50 mg·L-1时,BPA去除速率最大,且最大速率出现于延滞期与对数期之间.     

垃圾渗滤液中典型内分泌干扰物质(EDCs)细胞毒性分析

垃圾渗滤液的人类健康风险评估日益受到人们重视,也成为研究热点。本文采用一种新型高级氧化技术UV-Fenton处理渗滤液,并用人体乳腺癌细胞(MCF-7)评估处理过程中渗滤液原液以及渗滤液中典型内分泌干扰物质(EDCs)的细胞毒性,对垃圾渗滤液中EDCs的细胞毒性和变化规律进行了研究。结果表明渗滤液中的邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)、双酚A(BPA)、壬基酚(NP)是产生细胞毒性的主要物质,其毒性大小为DBPBPANP。在同样的氧化降解过程中显示出不同毒性变化规律,通过GC-MS分析,结果显示UV-Fenton过程中产生了大量的中间产物,这也是引起毒性变化的主要原因。实验结果也说明垃圾渗滤液细胞毒性可以通过UV-Fenton过程有效去除。     

葡萄籽提取物有望用来治疗血癌

一项新研究表明：在实验室里，当白血病细胞接触到一种葡萄籽提取物时，不下四分之三的白血病细胞在24小时之间内死掉，这些白血病细胞自取灭亡，非常有效，而其他细胞却安然无恙。     

重金属Cr(VI)、Pb及Cu胁迫对双齿围沙蚕体腔细胞的DNA损伤

为探讨重金属Cr(VI)、Pb以及Cu对沙蚕体腔细胞DNA的毒性效应,以双齿围沙蚕为受试动物,重金属按不同剂量水平,Cr(VI):10、100和200 mg·L~(-1),Pb:5、50和100 mg·L~(-1),Cu:1、10和20 mg·L~(-1),分别胁迫沙蚕24 h,以不加任何重金属离子的海水为对照,采用单细胞凝胶电泳技术,检测其体腔细胞DNA损伤程度。结果表明,与空白对照组相比,3种重金属离子的各浓度组都能引起沙蚕体腔细胞DNA损伤,且3种重金属胁迫浓度与细胞DNA损伤程度之间存在显著的剂量-效应关系。双齿围沙蚕可以作为单细胞凝胶电泳的实验材料用于重金属所致环境污染的生物监测指示生物。     

锌污染对藻细胞膜电位和膜电阻的影响

运用细胞表面技术和电化学方法,构建一种非创伤性藻细胞膜电位传感系统,研究了Zn2+对大型轮藻(Nitella flexi-lis)膜电位和膜电阻的影响.结果表明,膜电位和膜电阻能快速而灵敏反映过量Zn2+对藻细胞的毒性影响,响应时间均控制在30min内,响应最低摩尔浓度为0.05 mmol/L.本实验浓度范围内.低摩尔浓度(0.05 mmol/L)Zn2+引起藻细胞膜电阻增大.膜电位无明显变化;而高摩尔浓度(0.10～1.00 mmol/L)Zn2+则导致藻细胞明显去极化,膜电阻减小.而且,低浓度Zn2+对藻细胞膜电位、膜电阻的影响具有可逆性;而高浓度Zn2+对其的影响不可逆.此外,藻细胞膜电位、膜电阻与时间呈显著的直线线性关系.上述特征不仅为水中Zn2+的快速生物检测提供了理论依据,亦为Zn2+的定量检测提供了新思路.     

超小型收音机

最新科学揭示：一根碳纳米管，就是一台收音机。它不仅可以接收无线电信号、播放音乐，还可以控制纳米机器人、探测爆炸物。科学家甚至想将它嵌入人体细胞，用来实现探测药物定点释放等功能。     

紫外线照射致癌 吃啥最能对抗紫外线

为什么紫外线照射容易致癌?流行病学调查显示,紫外线照射和皮肤鳞状细胞癌之间有联系,但死亡率未见增加。皮肤基底细胞癌也与紫外线照射有关,受紫外线照射后其发生率为正常对照组的1倍。紫外线照射引起的皮肤癌与DNA中形成嘧啶二聚体有关。在正常情况下,细胞内有正常的DNA修复系统可以清楚这种嘧啶二聚体,但在着色性干皮病病人由于缺乏切除嘧啶二聚体的修