Low‐concentration hydrogen peroxide decontamination for Bacillus spore contamination in buildings

Remediation and recovery efforts after a release of Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) spores may be difficult and costly. In addition, response and recovery technologies may be focused on critical resources, leaving the small business or homeowner without remediation options. This study evaluates the efficacy of relatively low levels of hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) delivered from off‐the‐shelf equipment for the inactivation of Bacillus spores within an indoor environment. Decontamination evaluations were conducted in a house using both Bacillus atrophaeus var. globigii (Bg; as surrogates for B. anthracis) inoculated on the carpet and galvanized metal as coupons and Geobacillus stearothermophilus (Gs) as biological indicators on steel. The total decontamination time ranged from 4 to 7 days. Using the longer exposure times, low concentrations of HPV (average levels below 20 parts per million) effectively inactivated Bg and Gs spores on the materials tested. The HPV was generated with commercial humidifiers and household‐strength hydrogen peroxide solutions. The presence of home furnishings did not have a significant impact on HPV efficacy. This simple, inexpensive, and effective decontamination method could have significant utility for remediation following a B. anthracis spore release, such as following a terrorist attack.     

Biosorption mechanisms involved in immobilization of soil Pb by Bacillus subtilis DBM in a multimetal-contaminated soil

Mechanisms of soil Pb immobilization by Bacillus subtilis DBM, a bacterial strain isolated from a heavy-metal-contaminated soil, were investigated. Adsorption and desorption experiments with living bacterial cells as well as dead cells revealed that both extracellular adsorption and intracellular accumulation were involved in the Pb2＋removal from the liquid phase. Of the sequestered Pb（II）, 8.5% was held by physical entrapment within the cell wall, 43.3% was held by ion-exchange, 9.7% was complexed with cell surface functional groups or precipitated on the cell surface, and 38.5% was intracellularly accumulated.Complexation of Pb2＋with carboxyl, hydroxyl, carbonyl, amido, and phosphate groups was demonstrated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic analysis. Precipitates of Pb5（PO4）3OH, Pb5（PO4）3Cl and Pb10（PO4）6（OH）2that formed on the cell surface during the biosorption process were identified by X-ray diffraction analysis. Transmission electron microscopy–energy dispersive spectroscopic analysis confirmed the presence of the Pb（II）precipitates and that Pb（II） could be sequestered both extracellularly and intracellularly.Incubation with B. subtilis DBM significantly decreased the amount of the weak-acid-soluble Pb fraction in a heavy-metal-contaminated soil, resulting in a reduction in Pb bioavailability, but increased the amount of its organic-matter-bound fraction by 71%. The ability of B.subtilis DBM to reduce the bioavailability of soil Pb makes it potentially useful for bacteria-assisted phytostabilization of multi-heavy-metal-contaminated soil.     

Inhibitory effects of nisin-coated multi-walled carbon nanotube sheet on biofilm formation from Bacillus anthracis spores

Multi-walled carbon nanotube（MWCNT） sheet was fabricated from a drawable MWCNT forest and then deposited on poly（methyl methacrylate） film. The film was further coated with a natural antimicrobial peptide nisin. We studied the effects of nisin coating on the attachment of Bacillus anthracis spores, the germination of attached spores, and the subsequent biofilm formation from attached spores. It was found that the strong adsorptivity and the super hydrophobicity of MWCNTs provided an ideal platform for nisin coating. Nisin coating on MWCNT sheets decreased surface hydrophobicity, reduced spore attachment, and reduced the germination of attached spores by 3.5 fold, and further inhibited the subsequent biofilm formation by 94.6% compared to that on uncoated MWCNT sheet. Nisin also changed the morphology of vegetative cells in the formed biofilm.The results of this study demonstrated that the anti-adhesion and antimicrobial effect of nisin in combination with the physical properties of carbon nanotubes had the potential in producing effective anti-biofilm formation surfaces.     

聚合物驱采出水中聚丙烯酰胺的微生物联合降解作用研究

通过对2株细菌的培养降解实验研究聚丙烯酰胺(hydrolyzed polyacrylamide,HPAM)降解菌对水环境下聚丙烯酰胺的降解作用,讨论协同降解机理。2株降解聚丙烯酰胺的菌株假单胞菌CJ419、枯草芽孢杆菌FA16在初始30℃废水样品上培养,定期测量细菌生物量和HPAM降解率。培养30 d后CJ419和FA16对聚合物的降解率最大值分别达到30.4%和25%,而以1∶1比例的混合菌降解率最大值达到80.3%。对2株菌胞外各组分研究表明:混合菌降解HPAM的机理主要由胞外降解酶系水解聚合物侧链基团导致HPAM降解为小分子物质,同时生长过程中降解菌还会释放非蛋白还原性物质引发氧化反应共同参与HPAM降解。     

群体感应淬灭菌的分离及其膜污染控制性能

通过淬灭细菌的群体感应系统来抑制生物膜形成、防止膜生物污染的方法近年来受到广泛关注.本实验从实际运行污水处理厂活性污泥中分离出5株具有群体感应淬灭功能的菌株,其中菌株HG10对信号分子N-乙酰高丝氨酸环内酯(C6-HSL)分解能力最强.经16S rRNA基因序列比对,初步鉴定为蜡样芽孢杆菌(Bacillus cereus).用海藻酸钠将菌株HG10进行包埋固定,以探究其在膜过滤系统中对膜污染防治的效果.结果表明,经过8 d培养,添加细菌包埋珠(SA-HG10)的实验组B中膜通量为181.29 L·(m~2·h)~(-1),未投加包埋珠的对照组A膜通量为110.64 L·(m~2·h)~(-1),B组膜通量比A组高出63.86%;对微滤膜片上生物膜中EPS含量测定表明,实验组B中EPS多糖和蛋白质含量较对照组A分别减少了29%和48%,疏水性蛋白质含量的大量减少是造成膜污染减弱的主要原因;膜表面胞外聚合物(EPS)总含量减少了43%,表明投放SA-HG10细菌包埋珠对过滤膜片上生物膜形成具有明显抑制作用,改善了膜过滤性能.     

对硝基苯胺耐盐降解菌S8的筛选及特性研究

从江苏农药厂活性污泥中筛选出1株能以对硝基苯胺为唯一碳源和氮源生长代谢的耐盐降解菌S8.通过对其形态特征、生理生化特性以及16S rDNA序列分析,确定为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis).研究表明,该菌株具有较强的对硝基苯胺降解能力.当温度31℃和pH 6.0时,S8在72 h内对60 mg·L-1和120 mg·L-1对硝基苯胺的降解率分别为65.6%和55.8%.在高盐条件下,S8仍有较强的降解能力,当盐含量为7%时,对硝基苯胺降解率为49.5%(72 h);当盐含量为10%时,对硝基苯胺降解率为27.4%(72 h).利用LC-MS法分析降解产物时,共发现6种分子量不同的化合物,其中两种为苯酚及对苯二酚.此为首次关于对硝基苯胺耐盐菌株的研究报道,菌株S8可用于含有对硝基苯胺的高盐工业废水的微生物修复.     

Biodegradation of carbofuran in soils within Nzoia River Basin,Kenya

Carbofuran (2,3-dihydro-2,2-dimethylbenzofuran-7-yl methylcarbamate) has been used within the Nzoia River Basin (NRB), especially in Bunyala Rice Irrigation Schemes, in Kenya for the control of pests. In this study, the capacity of native bacteria to degrade carbofuran in soils from NRB was investigated. A gram positive, rod-shaped bacteria capable of degrading carbofuran was isolated through liquid cultures with carbofuran as the only carbon and nitrogen source. The isolate degraded 98% of 100-μg mL^?1 carbofuran within 10 days with the formation of carbofuran phenol as the only detectable metabolite. The degradation of carbofuran was followed by measuring its residues in liquid cultures using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Physical and morphological characteristics as well as molecular characterization confirmed the bacterial isolate to be a member of Bacillus species. The results indicate that this strain of Bacillus sp. could be considered as Bacillus cereus or Bacillus thuringiensis with a bootstrap value of 100% similar to the 16S rRNA gene sequences. The biodegradation capability of the native strains in this study indicates that they have great potential for application in bioremediation of carbofuran-contaminated soil sites.     

Persistence of Bacillus thuringiensis deposits in a hardwood forest,after aerial application of a commercial formulation at two dosage rates

Abstract

A commercial formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner var. kurstaki (BTK), Foray® 48B, was sprayed aerially over four blocks B13, B14, B15A and B15B in an oak forest in Wayne County, Pennsylvania during May 1990. B13 and B14 were sprayed at 75 billion international units (BIU) in 5.91 litres/ha and the other two at 50 BIU in 3.94 litres/ha. Oak foliage was collected at different intervals of time after treatment. Three types of bioassays were conducted against fourth instar gypsy moth larvae, viz., direct feeding of sprayed foliage, feeding on diet containing homogenized foliage, and force‐feeding of foliar extracts. Larval mortalities were converted into international units of BTK activity per unit area (IU/cm²) of foliage. Foliar extracts were also subjected to enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the concentration of delta‐endotoxin protein. Regardless of the type of bioassay used, bioactivity of BTK persisted in foliage for about a week in all the blocks. The half‐life of inactivation, DT₅₀, ranged from ca 12 to 22 h. The immunoassay data indicated a shorter duration of persistence (i.e., about 2 d) of the delta‐endotoxin protein, with DT₅₀ values ranging from 10 to 15 h. Formulation ingredients present in Foray 48B played a role in the toxicity of BTK to gypsy moth larvae.     

Enrichment and Isolation of a Mixed Bacterial Culture for Complete Mineralization of Endosulfan

In the present study, we isolated three novel bacterial species, namely, Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus circulans–I, and Bacillus circulans–II, from contaminated soil collected from the premises of a pesticide manufacturing industry. Batch experiments were conducted using both mixed and pure cultures to assess their potential for the degradation of aqueous endosulfan in aerobic and facultative anaerobic condition. The influence of supplementary carbon (dextrose) source on endosulfan degradation was also examined. After four weeks of incubation, mixed bacterial culture was able to degrade 71.82 ± 0.2% and 76.04 ± 0.2% of endosulfan in aerobic and facultative anaerobic conditions, respectively, with an initial endosulfan concentration of 50 mg l^?1. Addition of dextrose to the system amplified the endosulfan degradation efficiency by 13.36 ± 0.6% in aerobic system and 12.33 ± 0.6% in facultative anaerobic system. Pure culture studies were carried out to quantify the degradation potential of these individual species. Among the three species, Staphylococcus sp. utilized more beta endosulfan compared to alpha endosulfan in facultative anaerobic system, whereas Bacillus circulans–I and Bacillus circulans–II utilized more alpha endosulfan compared to beta endosulfan in aerobic system. In any of these degradation studies no known intermediate metabolites of endosulfan were observed.     

重金属抗性菌Bacillus cereus HQ-1对银离子的生物吸附-微沉淀成晶作用

发现1株对银离子有强吸附能力的蜡状芽孢杆菌HQ-1,研究了其对银离子的吸附特性及吸附机理.结果表明,菌体对银的吸附量可达91.75 mg/g,吸附过程符合Pseudo-second Order吸附动力学模型,相关系数高达0.999 9;吸附热力学很好地符合Freundlich吸附等温模型,相关系数为0.99;考察菌体浓度和温度对吸附的影响发现,菌体浓度增加有利于对银离子的吸附,温度对吸附影响较小;FTIR、SEM及EDAX实验结果表明吸附存在2种吸附机理,一为菌体表面一些含氮氧的基团对Ag⁺的络合作用,二为菌体分泌的胞外多糖等物质对Ag⁺的微沉淀成晶作用.