Quantitation of metallothionein and cadmium in metallothionein in mink livers by anion-exchange HPLC-GFAAS method

Metallothionein (MT) has a great capacity of binding heavy metals showing an interesting connection with metal toxicology, as a biochemical marker for environmental metal pollution. Anino-exchange high per formance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to isolate and quantitate MT in livers of minks which were contaminated with heavy metals. MT isoforms (MT-I and MT-II) were eluted at approximately 11.3 and 14.3 min respectively from a DEAE-5 PW anion-exchange column with a Tris-HCl buffer (0.01 -0.25 mol/L, pH 8.6) and detected by UV absorbance at 254 nm. The cadmium concentrations in mink liver MT elutkms were determined by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) . Obvious increase in liver MT-I concentration rather than liver MT-II was found when the minks were contaminated by feeding contaminated fish captured from the heavy metal-polluted river. The cadmium concentration in mink liver MT-I also increased to some extent as the contaminated level increased.     

Methylopila sp.SD-1与大豆联合修复苯磺隆污染土壤

分离得到1株苯磺隆降解菌株SD-1,根据表型、生理生化特征及16S rRNA基因序列分析,将其鉴定为Methylopila sp.SD-1,为首次报道能够降解苯磺隆的Methylopila属菌株,其在4d内完全降解50mg/L苯磺隆,最适降解温度、pH值分别为30℃和7.0,降解中间产物对大豆的毒性显著降低.大豆根系分泌物能促进菌株SD-1的生长,培养5d,菌株SD-1的数量由1.0×10⁷CFU/mL增至6.7×10⁷CFU/mL.分泌物中含有16种氨基酸,菌株SD-1对其中的Asp、Glu和Phe表现出明显的趋化性.接种菌悬液至苯磺隆污染土壤（3mg/kg）并种植大豆幼苗,培养4d,菌株SD-1依赖趋化性向大豆根系运动并定殖,存活率提高,根际土壤中苯磺隆的降解率相较于未种植大豆的处理提高36.0%.     

Methylopila sp.SD-1与大豆联合修复苯磺隆污染土壤

分离得到1株苯磺隆降解菌株SD-1,根据表型、生理生化特征及16S rRNA基因序列分析,将其鉴定为Methylopila sp.SD-1,为首次报道能够降解苯磺隆的Methylopila属菌株,其在4d内完全降解50mg/L苯磺隆,最适降解温度、pH值分别为30℃和7.0,降解中间产物对大豆的毒性显著降低.大豆根系分泌物能促进菌株SD-1的生长,培养5d,菌株SD-1的数量由1.0×10⁷CFU/mL增至6.7×10⁷CFU/mL.分泌物中含有16种氨基酸,菌株SD-1对其中的Asp、Glu和Phe表现出明显的趋化性.接种菌悬液至苯磺隆污染土壤（3mg/kg）并种植大豆幼苗,培养4d,菌株SD-1依赖趋化性向大豆根系运动并定殖,存活率提高,根际土壤中苯磺隆的降解率相较于未种植大豆的处理提高36.0%.     

城市污水中人类星状病毒的检测及变化规律

人类星状病毒是典型的水媒病毒,可引起腹泻等疾病. 为了明确污水中人类星状病毒的分布及去除规律,利用常规PCR和定量PCR方法对西安市3个污水处理厂的进水和出水进行了为期1 a的监测;采用特异性引物,确立了人类星状病毒在环境水体中的定性PCR和荧光定量PCR的检测方法. 结果表明,人类星状病毒在进水和未消毒二级出水中呈较高的阳性率,分别为91.5%和36.6%. 经过核苷酸测序鉴定,人类星状病毒的主要血清型为HAst V-1和HAst V-4. 人类星状病毒在进水和未消毒二级出水中的平均浓度分别为1.47×104和1.03×103 copies/mL,污水处理厂对人类星状病毒的去除率为93.15%. 污水处理厂进水中人类星状病毒浓度呈季节性变化,春季和冬季较高,夏季和秋季较低,这一分布规律与该地区历年人类星状病毒的流行规律相似.      

The Detection Rate of Enteric Viruses and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium difficile</Emphasis> in a Waste Water Treatment Plant Effluent

Waste water treatment plant (WWTP) is considered as an important source of surface water contamination by enteric pathogens. In this study, we describe the occurrence of enteric viruses (group A rotaviruses, noroviruses, astroviruses, sapoviruses, hepatitis A virus, and hepatitis E virus) and Clostridium difficile in the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant during a 1-year period. Enteric viruses were simultaneously and efficiently concentrated in a single step using methacrylate monolithic chromatographic support. Rotaviruses, noroviruses (genogroup I and II), and sapoviruses were detected in all 12 concentrated samples, whereas astroviruses were not detected in August and September and hepatitis A and E viruses were not detected at all. Clostridium difficile was detected in all samples and altogether 121 strains were isolated and grouped into 32 different ribotypes of which 014/020 and 010 were most prevalent. Pathogens detected in WWTP effluent partially reflect the epidemiological situation of enteric viruses and C. difficile in human population and open the discussion on implementation of possible techniques for virus and bacteria removal from WWTP effluent prior to release into the surface water system.     

中国东南沿海四株亚历山大藻的系统发育研究

通过核糖体基因大亚基(LSU rDNA)D1-D2区以及ITS序列分析,研究了采自于中国东南沿海的4株亚历山大藻(Alexandrium Halim)的系统发育.结果显示,本地的亚历山大藻与来自日本和韩国的藻株亲缘关系很近;而且通过构建系统发育树,发现本地亚历山大藻与东亚藻株聚成一个大族.与东亚藻株在rDNA序列上的高相似性也说明本地株亚历山大藻属于温带亚洲基因型,而从欧美传入的机会较小.结果同时显示,塔玛亚历山大藻(A. tamarense)与链状亚历山大藻(A. catenella)LUS和ITS序列相近,可能在遗传学上是同一种类.     

Community structures and population dynamics of “Candidatus Accumulibacter” in activated sludges of wastewater treatment plants using ppk1 as phylogenetic marker

Candidatus Accumulibacter has been identified as dominant polyphosphate-accumulating organisms(PAOs) in enhanced biological phosphorus(P) removal(EBPR) from wastewater.This study revealed the relevance of community structure, abundance and seasonal population dynamics of Candidatus Accumulibacter to process operation of wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs) in China using ppk1 gene as phylogenetic marker. All sludge samples had properties of denitrifying P removal using nitrate as an electron acceptor.Accumulibacter abundance in the anaerobic-anoxic-oxic(A~2O) process was the highest(26%of total bacteria), and higher in winter than in summer with a better EBPR performance.Type-II was the dominant Accumulibacter in all processes, and type-I accounted for a small proportion of total Accumulibacter. The abundance of Clade-IIC as the most dominant clade reached 2.59 × 10~9 cells/g MLSS and accounted for 87.3% of total Accumulibacter. Clade IIC mainly contributed to denitrifying P removal. Clades IIA, IIC and IID were found in all processes, while clade-IIF was only found in oxidation ditch process through phylogenetic analysis. High proportion of clade IID to total Accumulibacter led to poor performance of aerobic P-uptake in inverted A~2O process. Therefore, Accumulibacter clades in WWTPs were diverse, and EBPR performance was closely related to the clade-level community structures and abundances of Accumulibacter.     

Hepatitis E Virus (Genotype 3) in Slurry Samples from Swine Farming Activities in Italy

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emergent causative agent of acute hepatitis, transmitted by fecal–oral route. Infection with HEV is a global cause for morbidity and mortality throughout the world: it mainly causes large outbreaks in endemic areas and sporadic autochthonous cases in industrialized countries where HEV infections seem to be an emergent zoonotic disease. Infection of porcine livestock and its relationship with the human cases have been demonstrated. The present study describes an investigation on the prevalence and diversity of HEV in pig slurry in Italy. Slurry samples (24) were collected from ten farms located in North Italy during 2015 and analyzed for HEV, using four broad-range nested PCR assays targeting ORF1 (MTase), ORF2 (capsid) genes, and ORF2/3 regions. Overall, 18 samples (75%) were positive for HEV RNA, and characterized as genotype 3. Nine samples could be subtyped by ORF2 sequencing: Eight belonged to subtype 3f, while one sequence could not be characterized by blast analysis and phylogenetic analysis and may actually represent a new subtype. Furthermore, similarity of 99% was found between 3f Italian HEV sequences of human and swine origins. Real-Time PCR assay was also performed, in order to obtain quantitative data on positive samples. Two swine slurry samples were positive, containing 600 and 1000 UI per mL of sewage. The results of this study show that HEV strains belonging to zoonotic genotype 3 are widely present in swine excreta, and have high degree of identity with strains detected in autochthonous HEV cases. Improving swine farming operations safety and increasing operators’ awareness of the zoonotic potential connected with the handling of swine effluents turn out to be key points in order to reduce the environmental and sanitary problem represented by the possible dissemination of HEV to water bodies.     

Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Aichivirus in Environmental Waters in Thailand

Aichivirus 1 (AiV-1) is an enteric virus that has been documented to be the causative agent of diarrhea in humans. It is transmitted by fecal–oral route, through person-to-person contact, consumption of contaminated food or water, or recreation of contaminated water. AiV-1 is highly prevalent in water samples and has been proposed as a potential indicator of fecal contamination in water reservoirs. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and genetic diversity of AiV-1 in environmental water samples in Thailand. A total of 126 samples were collected monthly from November 2016 to July 2018 from various sources of environmental water including irrigation water, reservoir, river, and wastewater. The presence of AiV-1 was detected by RT-nested PCR of the 3CD region and further analyzed by phylogenetic analysis. The AiV-1 was detected in 28 out of 126 (22.2%) of tested samples. A high frequency of AiV-1 detection was in wastewater (52.4%). All 28 AiV-1 strains detected in this study belonged to the genotype B and were closely related to AiV strains detected previously in environmental waters and in humans worldwide. This study demonstrated, for the first time, the contamination of AiV-1 in various sources of water samples in Thailand and provided a better insight into the prevalence of AiV-1 in environmental waters and its potential risk of human health.

     

Norovirus GII.Pe Genotype: Tracking a Foodborne Outbreak on a Cruise Ship Through Molecular Epidemiology,Brazil, 2014

Norovirus (NoV) is recognized as the most common cause of foodborne outbreaks. In 2014, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred on a cruise ship in Brazil, and NoV became the suspected etiology. Here we present the molecular identification of the NoV strains and the use of sequence analysis to determine modes of virus transmission. Food (cream cheese, tuna salad, grilled fish, orange mousse, and vegetables soup) and clinical samples were analyzed by ELISA, conventional RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and sequencing. Genogroup GII NoV was identified by ELISA and conventional RT-PCR in fecal samples from 5 of 12 patients tested (41.7%), and in the orange mousse food sample by conventional RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Two fecal GII NoV samples and the orange mousse GII NoV sample were successfully genotyped as GII.Pe (ORF 1), revealed 98.0–98.8% identities among them, and shared phylogenetically distinct cluster. Establishing the source of a NoV outbreak can be a challenging task. In this report, the molecular analysis of the partial RdRp NoV gene provided a powerful tool for genotyping (GII.Pe) and tracking of outbreak-related samples. In addition, the same fast and simple extraction methods applied to clinical samples could be successfully used for complex food matrices, and have the potential to be introduced in routine laboratories for screening foods for presence of NoV.     

Development and Evaluation of a Multiplexed Real-Time TaqMan RT-PCR Assay with a Sample Process Control for Detection of F-specific RNA Coliphage Genogroups I and IV

There are increasing concerns of zoonotic transmission of some animal enteric viruses, such as calicivirus, hepatitis E virus, and rotavirus, which are closely related to human pathogenic strains. Most enteric viruses are detected by molecular techniques because they cannot be cultured. Surrogates such as F-RNA coliphages are cultivable but few molecular methods exist. Individual real-time TaqMan RT-PCR assays for the replicase gene of F-RNA coliphage genogroups I and IV were developed and multiplexed with a real-time TaqMan RT-PCR assay for feline calicivirus as a sample process control for the simultaneous detection and enumeration of genogroup I and IV F-RNA coliphages. Genogroup IV were successfully detected with the multiplexed assay in 80% of fecal samples that contained F-RNA coliphage levels ≥3.2 log plaque forming units (pfu). F-RNA coliphage were at or below the limit of detection in most fecal samples when levels were ≤4 log pfu/g.     

四种人肠道病毒在大连金石滩浴场中的分布

于2007年5～10月,每月一次采集大连金石滩浴场各站位10 L表层海水,用超滤的方法进行病毒浓缩,采用PCR方法分析了该浴场表层海水中的四种主要肠道病毒-轮状病毒、星状病毒、脊髓灰质炎病毒和腺病毒.调查结果为:在所采集的24个样品中轮状病毒检出率为12.5%、星状病毒0.9%、脊髓灰质炎病毒和腺病毒分别达29.2%;每个月份均有病毒检出,依据病毒的阳性检出率,8月份该浴场受到的污染最严重,10月份和9月份次之.     

两株假单胞菌降解酚类化合物的特性

从焦化废水中分离得到2株可降解对氯酚的假单胞菌(Pseudomonas)CO-1和CO-44.其最适降解温度为35~40℃,最适pH值为6.0~8.0.菌株降解对氯酚的速度与对氯酚初始浓度呈负相关.2株细菌均能较快地降解苯酚和甲酚,其中CO-1还能够降解1-萘酚和萘.在添加对氯酚的焦化废水中,CO-1和CO-44能够在42h内将苯酚、甲酚和对氯酚完全降解.从2株细菌中均检测到了苯酚羟化酶基因,分别从菌株CO-1和CO-44中检测到邻苯二酚1,2-双加氧酶基因和邻苯二酚2,3-双加氧酶基因.     

Levels of synthetic musk fragrances in human milk from three cities in the Yangtze River Delta in Eastern China

Synthetic musks are used as additives in many household products. After absorption into the human body, they accumulate and their concentrations in human milk reflect both the mother and her infant’s exposure level. Concentrations of four synthetic musks, musk xylene (1-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene, MX), musk ketone (4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethyl-3,5-dinitroacetophenone, MK), 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8,8-hexamethylcyclopenta[ ]-2-benzopyran (HHCB) and 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6-hexamethyl-1,2,3,4- tetrahydronaphthalene (AHTN), were determined in human milk samples collected from Shanghai, Wuxi, and Shaoxing in Eastern China. The four synthetic musks were found in most samples analyzed, with HHCB the dominant component followed by MX. The median (mean) values for HHCB, AHTN, MX and MK concentrations were 63 (82), 5 (12), 17 (24) and 4 (9) ng/g lipid weight, respectively. These data suggested the total synthetic musk contamination was low, and the distribution percentage was HHCB > MX > AHTN MK. The relative high ratio of nitro to polycylic musk indicated that nitro musks were still widely used. The musk concentrations in these cities were not significantly different from each other (p > 0.05). Principal components score plots were obtained, which showed similar exposure sources. The amount of total synthetic musks in human milk were not associated with mother’s age, although HHCB was significantly correlated with AHTN (p < 0.05). Daily ingestion of HHCB, AHTN, MX and MK for infants from human milk were estimated as (2526 2926), (370 524), (7391 832), and (277 462) ng/day, respectively. Those doses were 1–2 orders of magnitude below the provisional tolerable daily intakes.     

甘肃、宁夏部分地区根瘤菌资源及其共生固氮特性

对甘肃中西部及宁夏南部不同生态条件下栽培和野生豆科植物根瘤菌资源进行了调查,从36属98种豆科植物根瘤样品中分离得360株根瘤菌,其中44株是从30种未报道过结瘤情况的豆科植物中分离获得。以20属22种寄主植物对大部分菌株进行了回接结瘤实验,回接结瘤率81.2%。它们与豆科寄主植物共生结瘤85%为有效根瘤。不同种根瘤固氮活性差异较大,一般比较低,小于1μmolC2H4?gFWh的占46.6%,大于10μmolC2H4?gFWh的占6.8%,最高者仅37.73μmolC2H4?gFWh。根瘤固氮活性与寄主植物生态及生长发育期有相关性。所有分离菌株均保存在中国科学院新疆生物土壤沙漠研究所微生物研究室及中国农业大学生物学院菌种室。     

城市污水处理厂Candidatus Accumulibacter的菌群结构及定量分析

Candidatus Accumulibacter是污水生物除磷系统中的优势聚磷菌.本研究采用编码聚合磷酸盐激酶的功能基因(polyphosphate kinase 1gene,ppk1)作为遗传标记,对9个污水处理厂共12个活性污泥样品中Accumulibacter的进化枝水平的丰度及其菌群结构进行了研究.实时定量PCR(Quantitative PCR,QPCR)的结果显示,Accumulibacter的6个进化枝(IA、IIA、IIB、IIC、IID、IIF)均存在于12个污泥样品中.A2O及其改良工艺中总Accumulibacter丰度最高,达到总菌的22.77%.所有样品中Accumulibacter均以Type-II为主,其中,IIC、IID的丰度均达到了108cells·g-1(以MLSS计),占Accumulibacter的平均比例分别为75.34%和14.87%,是污水处理厂中的优势聚磷菌.分支IA丰度最低,占总Accumulibacter比例平均只有0.32%.系统发育分析结果显示,每个样品中Accumulibacter分支多样化,均含有IIA、IIC、IID分支.QPCR和系统发育分析都证实了生物除磷效果与Accumulibacter的群落结构密切相关,除磷效果不好可能和IID占总Accumulibacter比例较高有关.     

基于MLST鄱阳湖微囊藻的遗传多样性及其系统发育

为了研究鄱阳湖微囊藻的遗传多样性及其系统发育关系，基于7个管家基因（ftsZ、glnA、gltX、gyrB、pgi、recA和tpi），建立了一个多位点序列分型（MLST）方法.对来自鄱阳湖的20株微囊藻分离株进行MLST研究，并构建本地微囊藻MLST基因库.结果表明：这20株藻株具有20种独特的序列型（STs），揭示了微囊藻高水平的遗传多样性（H=0.986）.基于7个MLST位点串联序列的系统发育分析显示，微囊藻藻株序列型可分为5个不同的组.与之前日本湖泊研究的237个STs共建的系统发育树比对表明，本研究的STs形成了独立的分枝.该结果说明不同地区的微囊藻是相对稳定的，因此可以用MLST进行明确的表征.     

北部湾卡盾藻(Chattonella spp.)种类鉴定

2018年9月在北部湾海域分离得到3株卡盾藻,采用光学显微镜对其进行形态学初步鉴定,并通过核糖体大亚基LSU rDNA和ITS基因进行系统进化分析。结果表明,卡盾藻北部湾株符合海洋卡盾藻形态学典型特征:藻体黄褐色,细胞呈纺锤形,无黏液泡,尾部具尖端,细胞平均长（57.8±9.1）μm。系统发育树上北部湾卡盾藻分别以96%（LSU rDNA）和99%（ITS）的自展支持率与不同来源的海洋卡盾藻、古老卡盾藻、卵圆卡盾藻、小型卡盾藻聚在同一大分支上。通过遗传距离分析发现,北部湾3株卡盾藻与不同来源的海洋卡盾藻、古老卡盾藻、卵圆卡盾藻、小型卡盾藻亲缘关系较近,LSU和ITS遗传距离分别为0.0000~0.0016和0.0000~0.0235;而与盐生卡盾藻亲缘关系较远,遗传距离分别为0.0415~0.0490和0.0733~0.0750。因此,综合形态学和分子生物学结果可以确定北部湾3株卡盾藻为海洋卡盾藻/海洋卡盾藻的变种。研究结果可为我国卡盾藻藻华藻种库的构建和卡盾藻北部湾株生理生态学的研究提供基础数据。     

Bioaugmentation and quorum sensing disruption as solutions to increase nitrate removal in sequencing batch reactors treating nitrate-rich wastewater

Bioaugmentation of denitrifying bacteria can serve as a promising technique to improve nutrient removal during wastewater treatment. While denitrification inhibition by bacterial quorum sensing (QS) in Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been indicated, the application of bacterial QS disruption to improve nitrate removal from wastewater has not been investigated. In this study, the effect of bioaugmentation of P. aeruginosa SD-1 on nitrate removal in sequencing batch reactors that treat nitrate rich wastewater was assessed. Additionally, the potential of a quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) to improve denitrification following bacterial bioaugmentation was evaluated. Curcumin, a natural plant extract, was used as a QSI. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and initial nitrate concentration of the influent were 700±20 mg/L and 200±10 mg/L respectively, and their respective concentrations in the effluent were 56.9±3.2 mg/L and 9.0±3.2 mg/L. Thus, the results revealed that bioaugmentation of P. aeruginosa SD-1 resulted in an increased nitrate removal to 82%±1%. Further, nitrate was almost completely removed following the addition of the QSI, and activities of nitrate reductase and nitrite reductase increased by 88%±2% and 74%±2% respectively. The nitrogen mass balance indicated that aerobic denitrification was employed as the main pathway for nitrogen removal in the reactors. The results imply that bioaugmentation and modulation of QS in denitrifying bacteria, through the use of a QSI, can enhance nitrate removal during wastewater treatment.