Pathway of 17��-estradiol degradation by Nitrosomonas europaea and reduction in 17��-estradiol-derived estrogenic activity

In recent years, natural and synthetic estrogens have been recognized as endocrine disruptors in aquatic organisms. Although natural and synthetic estrogens are known to be degraded by microbes, only limited information about their degradation pathways is available. Here, we studied the degradation pathways of a natural estrogen, 17β-estradiol, by the nitrifying microorganism Nitrosomonas europaea, and we determined whether the degradation products of 17β-estradiol had estrogenic activity. To identify the degradation products, we subjected the culture solution to solid-phase extraction, and the extract was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The potential estrogenic activity of the degradation products was investigated by means of a yeast two-hybrid assay. 1,3,5(10),16-Estratetraen-3-ol (estratetraenol) was newly identified as a degradation intermediate produced by dehydration of 17β-estradiol. Estratetraenol was also degraded by N. europaea, and its degradation rate was faster than that of 17β-estradiol. The two-hybrid assay confirmed that estratetraenol acted as a ligand for the estrogen receptor; estratetraenol thus has potential estrogenic activity. N. europaea eliminated the estrogenic activity derived from 17β-estradiol. This paper is the first to report dehydration as a mechanism of microbial estrogen degradation.     

Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Composite Membrane with Polyamidoamine Dendrimers for Efficient Separation of CO2/H2 and CO2/N2

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Although polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) membranes are commonly used for CO2 separation, there is still large development space in mechanical properties and high...     

水环境中微塑料表面细菌群落特征研究进展

微塑料因其比表面积大、难降解等特点,在水环境中长期存在,可作为水环境中微生物的独特栖息地。以细菌群落为主的微生物可定殖在微塑料表面,对生态系统和人类健康产生潜在风险。本文综述了国内外海水、淡水环境中微塑料表面细菌群落特征的研究进展,阐述了微塑料表面细菌群落的研究方法和结构多样性,分析了暴露时间、地点及塑料理化性质对微塑料表面细菌群落多样性的影响,探讨了水环境中微塑料表面细菌群落的生态效应和健康风险。后续研究应采用宏基因组学全面地探究水环境中的“微塑料圈”,并关注远洋、入海口和内陆地表水微塑料表面微生物群落,从全球尺度上探索水环境中微塑料表面微生物群落的定殖规律及其生态效应。此外,鉴于微塑料表面存在降解菌,需进一步明确定殖在微塑料表面的微生物参与微塑料降解的效率及其机制,可为了解微塑料在水环境中的归宿问题提供科学依据。     

Adsorption of herring sperm DNA onto pine sawdust biochar: Thermodynamics and site energy distribution

● Adsorption of environmental deoxyribonucleic acid on biochar was studied. ● π−π interaction and electrostatic repulsion worked in the adsorption. ● Thermodynamics indicated the adsorption was spontaneous and endothermic. Environmental deoxyribonucleic acid (eDNA), which includes antibiotic resistance genes, is ubiquitous in the environment. The interactions between eDNA and biochar, a promising material widely used in soil amendment and water treatment, greatly affect the environmental behavior of eDNA. Hitherto few experimental evidences are available yet, especially on the information of thermodynamics and energy distribution to explains the interactions between biochar and eDNA. This study investigated the adsorption of herring sperm DNA (hsDNA) on pine sawdust biochar, with a specific emphasis on the adsorption thermodynamics and site energy distribution. The adsorption of hsDNA on biochar was enhanced by an increase in the pyrolysis and adsorption temperatures. The higher surface area, stronger π−π interaction, and weaker electrostatic repulsion between hsDNA and biochars prepared at high pyrolysis temperatures facilitated the adsorption of hsDNA. The thermodynamics indicated that the adsorption of hsDNA on biochar was spontaneous and endothermic. Therefore, higher temperature was beneficial for the adsorption of hsDNA on biochar; this was well explained by the increase in E^* and F(E^*) with the adsorption temperature. These results are useful for evaluating the migration and transformation of eDNA in the presence of biochar.     

The inactivation of bacteriophages MS2 and PhiX174 by nanoscale zero-valent iron: Resistance difference and mechanisms

• The resistance of phage PhiX174 to nZVI was much stronger than that of MS2. • The nZVI damaged the surface proteins of both bacteriophages. • The nZVI could destroy the nucleic acid of MS2, but not that of PhiX174. •The phage inactivation was mainly attributed to the damage of the nucleic acid. Pathogenic enteric viruses pose a significant risk to human health. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI), a novel material for environmental remediation, has been shown to be a promising tool for disinfection. However, the existing research has typically utilized MS2 or f2 bacteriophages to investigate the antimicrobial properties of nZVI, and the resistance difference between bacteriophages, which is important for the application of disinfection technologies, is not yet understood. Here, MS2 and PhiX174 containing RNA and DNA, respectively, were used as model viruses to investigate the resistances to nZVI. The bacteriophage inactivation mechanisms were also discussed using TEM images, protein, and nucleic acid analysis. The results showed that an initial concentration of 10⁶ PFU/mL of MS2 could be completely inactivated within 240 min by 40 mg/L nZVI at pH 7, whereas the complete inactivation of PhiX174 could not be achieved by extending the reaction time, increasing the nZVI dosage, or changing the dosing means. This indicates that the resistance of phage PhiX174 to nZVI was much stronger than that of MS2. TEM images indicated that the viral particle shape was distorted, and the capsid shell was ruptured by nZVI. The damage to viral surface proteins in both phages was examined by three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). However, the nucleic acid analysis demonstrated that the nucleic acid of MS2, but not PhiX174, was destroyed. It indicated that bacteriophage inactivation was mainly attributed to the damage of nucleic acids.     

Ultrasonic-assisted synthesis of highly stable RuPd bimetallic catalysts supported on MgAl-layered double hydroxide for N-ethylcarbazole hydrogenation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - N-Ethylcarbazole (NEC), as a promising liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHC), can store and release hydrogen through a reversible catalytic...     

Preparing porous Cu/Pd electrode on nickel foam using hydrogen bubbles dynamic template for high-efficiency and high-stability removal of nitrate from water

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Electrochemical reduction is a promising technology to remove nitrate from water. The metallic composition and geometry of electrodes usually dominate...     

Urinary concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and phthalate metabolite mixtures in relation to semen quality among men attending an infertility clinic

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Previous studies have reported that exposure to phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is individually associated with altered semen...     

Interactions between tannins allelochemicals and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of Microcystis aeruginosa

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The protective mechanism of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secreted by a harmful cyanobacteria against tannins allelochemicals was explored...