Degradation of crude oil by a mixed population of bacteria isolated from sea-surface foams

A mixed bacteria population (EM₄) was isolated from foams formed on the surface of a zone chromically polluted by hydrocarbons (Gulf of Fos, French Mediterranean coast, October 1981). The population was able to degrade crude oil very effectively in the presence of sea water supplemented with nitrogen, phosphorus and iron. The percentage of hydrocarbon degradation was 81% at 30°C, pH 8, and partial oxygen pressure of 100%. After 12 d incubation, 92 and 83% of satured and aromatic compounds (mono-, di- and triaromatics) were degraded, respectively, as well as 63% of polar products and 48.5% of asphaltenes. Maximum degradation was attained at a sodium chloride concentration of between 400 and 800 mM with Population EM₄, which is constituted of 8 strains, four of which are weak halophiles. Bacterial growth on hydrocarbons induces the production in the culture medium of surface-active agents which are able to emulsify the substrate. There is high specificity between the nature of the growth substrate and such emulsifying activity, particularly as far as petroleum is concerned: only the culture medium from Population EM₄ is able to emulsify petroleum. These surface-active agents contain sugars and lipids (fatty acids, mono- and diglycerides). The foams, which always contain a high concentration of both hydrocarbons (100 to 180 mgl^-1) and bacteria that are able to grow on these types of substrates, have a strong emulsifying activity. Our results would seem to demonstrate the importance of biosurfactants in the elimination of hydrocarbons from polluted biotopes.     

Influence of cadmium on the growth of Agrocybe perfecta and two Pleurotus spp and translocation from polluted substrate and soil to fruitbodies

The presence of Cd in substrate (wheat straw) strongly depressed the growth and mineralization of substrate by Agrocybe perfecta. Pleurolus ostreatoroseus was only slightly depressed and Pleurotus sp. CCB 068 increased degradation by the two highest Cd concentration. Mineralization rate of fungal substrate were increased by indigenous soil flora. However increase in Cd concentrations added to the soil depressed mineralisation of organic matter. Cadmium also affected the fruitbody yield and only Pleurotus sp. was able to fructify in high Cd concentrations. Translocation and accumulation of Cd in fruitbodies increased with the increase of Cd concentrations in substrate.     

Size exclusion chromatography for the removal of pigments from extracellular ligninolytic enzyme extracts from decayed wheat straw

Solid-state fermentation of wheat straw was carried out by a native white rot basidiomycete Daedaleopsis flavida strain 5A. Extract prepared from the 12-day decayed wheat straw contained extracellular ligninolytic enzymes like manganese peroxidase (MnP), manganese-independent peroxidase (MIP), lignin peroxidase (LiP) and laccase along with straw-degraded products and pigments. Sephacryl S-200 size exclusion chromatography in 16/100 column was used for the separation of these ligninolytic enzymes and straw-degraded products and pigments. Recovery of pigment-free ligninolytic enzyme activities as protein was 40% of the total proteins loaded and specific LiP activity increased 34 fold after size exclusion chromatography. Thus accurate estimation of LiP by veratryl alcohol oxidation assay was possible only after the removal of interfering pigments. The reproducibility of size exclusion chromatography is adjudged satisfactory from the consistent results obtained after seven repetitive uses of matrices.     

Studies on antimicrobial activities of solvent extracts of different spices

The antimicrobial activities of the ethyl acetate, acetone and methanol extract of 12 plant species were studied. The extract of Capsicum annuum (red pepper) (fruit) Zingiber officinale (ginger) (root), Cuminum cyminum (cumin), Alpinia ficinarum (galingale), Coriandrum sativum (coriander), Cinnamomun zeylanicum Nees (cinnamomun), Origanum onites L. (thyme), Folium sennae (senna), Eugenia caryophyllata (cloves), Flos tiliae (lime), Folium menthae crispae (peppermint) and Piper nigrum (blackpepper) were tested in vitro against 2 fungi and 8 bacterial species by the disc diffusion method. Klebsiella pneumonia 13883, Bacillus megaterium NRS, Pseudomonas aeroginosa ATCC 27859, Staphylococcus aureus 6538 P, Escherichia coil ATCC 8739, Enterobacter cloaca ATCC 13047, Corynebacterium xerosis UC 9165, Streptococcus faecalis DC 74, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Rhodotorula rubra were used in this investigation. The results indicated that extracts of different spices has shown antibacterial activity in the range of 7-24 mm 30 microl(-1) inhibition zone Eugenia caryophyllata (clove), 7-20 mm 30microl(-1) inhibition zone Capsicum annum (red pepper) and Cinnamomun zeylanicum (cinnamon) bark, 7-18 mm 30microl(-1) inhibition zone Folium sennae (senna) leaves, 7-16 mm 30 microl(-1) inhibition zone Zingiber officinale (ginger) root, 7-15 mm 30microl(-1) inhibition zone Cuminum cyminum (cumin) seed, 7-14 mm 30 microl(-1) inhibition zone Folium menthae crispae (peppermint), Origanum onites (thyme) leaves and Alpinia ficinarum (galingale) root, 7-12 mm 30 microl(-1) inhibiton zone Piper nigrum (blackpepper), 7-11 mm 30microl(-1) inhibition zone Flos tiliae (lime) leaves, 7-8 mm 30microl(-1) inhibition zone Coriandrum sativum (coriander) to the microorganisms tested.     

Decrease of net carbon flux in two species of mussels caused by extracts of crude oil

Effects of crude oil and salinity stress on the metabolism of two common filter-feeding animals (Mytilus edulis and Modiolus demissus) have been investigated. Carbon budgets have been calculated for each species under a variety of combinations of oil content and salinity. Both reduced salinity and the presence of crude oil tend to decrease the net carbon flux for each species; stresses from each source interacted in their effects on experimental animals. Although similar responses to oil were shown by each species, Mytilus edulis appeared to be slightly more resistant to oil than Modiolus demissus.     

In vitro agonistic and antagonistic endocrine disrupting effects of organic extracts from waste water of different treatment processes

Effluents from wastewater treatment plant （WWTP） have been reported to have a broad spectrum of endocrine disrupting compounds （EDCs）. The majority of studies have focused on the occurrence of estrogenic activity, while ignoring nuclear hormone receptors （NRs） pathways. In the present study, a battery of in vitro yeast bioassays and a cell bioassay, including antagonistic and agonistic effects on estrogen receptor （ER）, androgen receptor （AR）, progesterone receptor （PR）, estrogen- related receptor （ERR） and aryl hydrocarbon receptor （AHR）, were conducted to evaluate the removal efficien- cies of EDCs by different treatment processes of a WWTP located in Beijing. Estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, anti- androgenic, anti-progesteronic, anti-ERR and the activa- tion of AHR activities were detected in samples from all treatment processes and the receiving water. The concen- tration of estrogenic contaminants with estradiol （E2） equivalent concentrations ranged from 0.82 x 10-9 to 3.54 x 10 9g Ee_EQ.L-1. The concentration of anti-estrogenic contaminants with 4-hydroxytamoxifen （4-OHT） equiva- lent concentrations ranged from 1.24 × 10-6 to 2.36 x 10-6 g 4-OHT-EQ.L-1. The concentration of anti-androgenic contaminants ranged from 2.21 x 10-s to 3.52 × 10-6g flutamide-EQ. L-1. The concentration of anti-progesteronic contaminants ranged from 3.15 x 10^-5 to 2.71 x 10^-4g RU486-EQ. L-1. The concentration of anti-ERR contami- nants ranged from 7.09 x 10-5 to 6.50 x 104 g 4-OHT-EQ × L^-10. The concentration of AHR activators ranged from 1.7 × 10-10 to 3.4 × 10^-10g TCDD-EQ-L-1. These processes including secondary clarifier, coagulation, as well as coal and sand filtration could eliminated 67.2% of estrogenic contaminants, 47.0% of anti-estrogenic contaminants, 98.3% of anti-androgenic contaminants, 88.4% of anti- progesteronic contaminants, 65.4% of anti-ERR contami- nants and 46.9% of AHR activators. WWTP effluents contain multiple receptor disruptors may have very complex adverse effects on exposed organisms.     

Studies on the water extracts of medicinal plants grown in copper mining areas and their antioxidant effects

High copper (Cu) accumulation in medicinal plants might favor lipid peroxidation and hence affect antioxidant responses. This effect was studied by determining antioxidant activities in the water extracts of medicinal plants from Cu mining impact site and compared with control samples. Antioxidant activities of the extracted medicinal plants were assayed by measuring (1) total phenolic and flavonoid contents, (2) diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)^? free radical scavenging activity, and (3) inhibition capacities of lipid peroxidation. The total phenolic as well as total flavonoid contents of the mining impact samples and control samples are not significantly different. However, inhibition of lipid peroxidation capacities was significantly less (12–60%) for mining impact samples as reflected by the IC₅₀ values. These anomalies were attributed to high concentrations of Cu (2–4-fold higher) in mining impact samples as measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. A positive correlation was observed between Cu levels and IC₅₀ values for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation for mining impact samples.     

四种植物提取物的杀螺效果研究

福寿螺是我国华南地区一种危害十分严重的外来入侵生物。采用分布广泛的四种植物：水蜈蚣（Kyllinga brevifolia Rottb.）、红花酢浆草（Oxalis corymbosa DC）、红叶乌桕（Euphorbia cotinifolia L.）和辣蓼草（Polygonum flaccidum Meissn.）作为原料,在实验室内通过人工研磨方法提取植物体内的有效成分作为药剂,分别对福寿螺幼螺进行室内毒杀及刺激其上爬的效果研究。结果表明：水蜈蚣提取物的杀螺效果不明显,而红花酢浆草、红叶乌桕、辣蓼草等三种植物提取物具有较好的杀螺效果。72h的毒性实验表明,这三种植物提取物在质量浓度为400mg·L-1时,均能全部杀死福寿螺幼螺;其中,红花酢浆草的杀螺效果最强,质量浓度为100mg·L-1时的杀螺率就达到80%,200mg·L-1的质量浓度下已能全部杀死福寿螺,红叶乌桕在200mg·L-1质量浓度时的杀螺率为56.67%,而在此质量浓度下辣蓼草仅为26.67%。另外,提取物刺激福寿螺上爬实验结果表明,红花酢浆草和红叶乌桕均有刺激福寿螺向上爬的作用,且红花酢浆草刺激作用稍强于红叶乌桕。综合杀螺和刺激福寿螺上爬作用的效果,可以得出在控制福寿螺上红花酢浆草和红叶乌桕是比较理想的备选植物。     

渤海相近石油平台原油指纹鉴别规律初探

选择我国渤海相邻两个石油平台,不同油井6种原油,依据重复性限及t检验方法进行油源比对,对渤海相近平台原油指纹鉴别规律进行了初探性研究.结果表明,同一原油开采平台或相近的石油平台,原油指纹信息总体相差不大,仅部分组分表现出显著差异,如n-C17/姥鲛烷、n-C18/植烷在渤海相近石油平台原油中差异最为显著,此外,伽玛蜡烷、升藿烷、莫烷、C29甾烷、C19—C22的正构烷烃、菲与烷基化菲类、二苯并噻吩及烷基化二苯并噻吩类也表现出明显差异.由此加强对原油中该类组分筛查,将有助于石油平台原油油源鉴别.     

Effects of host cell extracts on cultures of endosymbiotic diatoms from larger foraminifera

Log phase endosymbiotic diatom species, Nitzschia valdestriata, N. laevis, N. panduriformis var. continua, N. frustulum var. subsalina and var. symbiotica, Amphora tenerima, Fragilaria shiloi and Navicula hanseniana, were aseptically exposed to an homogenate of freshly crushed foraminiferal host species (Amphistegina). To various degrees, depending upon endosymbiont species, the host homogenate affected the formation of new frustules of growing and dividing cells. F. shiloi was the most affected species. New cells were spheroids and had only vestiges of frustules or none at all. Fewer numbers of the other species tested (40 to 60%) were abnormal. The raphe and keel of affected Nitzschia spp. were usually curved and incomplete. Many cells were spherical. We infer that host substances are probably responsible for the maintenance of the frustule-less state in vivo and that if ingested potential endosymbionts escape digestion, they could become frustule-less after growth and cell division. Host homogenate also increased the levels of photosynthetate released by diatoms to their medium. N. valdestriata was stimulated to release 76% of its photosynthetate while other species tested were stimulated to release between one quarter to one half of their photosynthetate. Host homogenate was also effective in causing the release of 43% of the photosynthetate of a free-living diatom, Amphora sp., which was also tested in the experiment. The concentration of the metabolites released in the experiment was too low for us to identify by TLC.     

铅锌矿冶区土壤酶活性特征研究

分析测试了铅锌矿冶区Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd复合污染条件下的土壤酶活性，分析了土壤重金属污染状况与土壤酶活性的相关关系。结果表明，随着采样点偏离废气排放口主导风向程度增大，Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd综合污染指数PI逐渐降低，土壤蛋白酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶的活性逐渐增高且差异显著，变化程度中大到小的顺序为蛋白酶→脲酶→过氧化氢酶。剖面分布上，综合污染指数PI〉5的样地，基本呈现随土壤深度增加而土壤酶活性降低的趋势。蛋白酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶的活性间呈极显著正相关，3种土壤酶活性与全磷呈极显著正相关，与有机质相关性较低。蛋白酶、脲酶、过氧化氢酶等土壤酶活性分布特征对矿冶区污染程度和土壤生态系统特性具有一定的指示作用。     

鼠尾藻和鸭毛藻水提液对三角褐指藻的抑制作用

调查了鼠尾藻Sargassum thunbergii和鸭毛藻Symphyocladia latiuscula水提液对三角褐指藻Phaeodactylum tricornutum 生长的抑制作用.结果表明,海藻水提液明显抑制三角褐指藻生长,并且这种抑制作用来自藻体活性物质(化感物质);鼠尾藻和鸭毛藻的化感物质既溶于水也溶于乙醇,随时间可能被三角褐指藻消耗尽或发生降解,因而抑制作用减弱以至消失,最大抑制发生在接种4 d.鼠尾藻和鸭毛藻水提液抑制三角褐指藻生长的半效应质量浓度(EC_(50,96h))分别为4.37g·L~(-1)和3.59g·L~(-1),暗示三角褐指藻对鸭毛藻水提液抑制的反应更敏感.     

Genotoxic potential of organic extracts from municipal reclaimed water in Tianjin,China

Despite increasing pressure to make more efficient use of water resources, the widespread use of reclaimed water still remains a contentious issue, primarily because of risks to human health arising from water pollution by organic compounds. Therefore, safety evaluation of reclaimed water is an urgent need. The aim of this study was to determine the genotoxic potential of reclaimed water during low and high water periods. Reverse phase C-18 solid-phase extraction (RP-C18SPE) was used for the extraction of organic compounds from water samples. The tests, namely, Ames, micronucleus and chromosome aberrations were used to determine the damage caused by water samples on genetic material. Ames tests showed that both influent and effluent reclaimed water, except influent after metabolism by S9 in high water period, induced mutation of TA98 and TA100 strains of Salmonella typhimurium in a concentration-response manner. There were no significant differences in micronucleus and chromosome aberration tests. Even after treatment, reclaimed water in Tianjin still showed mutational effects and new strategies for reduction of genotoxins need to be considered.     

Leaching of elements from flue dust produced in copper scrap smelting process

To understand the features and leaching characteristics of copper (Cu) scrap smelting dust and its potential risk to environment and humans, three types of smelting dust were sampled and investigated. The dust samples were collected from the dust captured by cyclone collector, panel cooler, and bag house in a typical Cu scrap smelting process of a factory in Guangxi of China. Zinc (Zn), Cu and lead (Pb) were the main elements of the samples of cyclone collector dust (CCD), panel cooler dust (PCD), and bag house dust (BHD). There were less arsenic (As), Pb and Cu in CCD than PCD and BHD, and PCD contained more manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and iron (Fe) than BHD. The particle shapes of BHD appeared more regular than CCD and PCD, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis illustrated the compositions of selected surface areas of three samples. The size of particles ranged from 0.011 to 33.11 μm in CCD, from less than 1 μm to several mm in PCD, and from 0.832 to 363.078 μm in BHD. The main elements in leachate were Zn and Mn from CCD, Zn, cadmium (Cd) and Pb from PCD, Zn, Mn and Cd from BHD. The leaching toxicity risk of Cd, Mn, and Zn of PCD and BHD was higher than CCD.     

生物法-人工湿地组合工艺对小城镇混合污水氮素去除效果研究

在华南热带亚热带地区,利用生物法-人工湿地组合工艺（A/BCO-CW）处理小城镇片区混合污水。全年运行结果表明,A/BCO-人工湿地组合系统对TN和NH4-N具有好的处理效果,年均去除率分别为57.57%、87.73%,平均去除负荷量达到3.85和3.26g·m-2·d-1。A/BCO预处理系统在停留时间为3～6h条件下,对NH4-N去除效率达57.38%,好氧段充分曝气,有利于硝化过程的进行,有效地解决人工湿地因溶解氧不足造成的硝化过程受限制情况,减少了后续湿地所需面积的25%。在0.30～0.59m·d-1水力负荷率下,垂直流-表面流-水平潜流人工湿地组合系统对TN和NH4-N平均去除负荷达到了2.56、0.90g·m-2·d-1;TN、NH4-N去除速率常数为39.8和41.62m·yr-1,这些数值均处于文献中k值范围的高量程内。在进水NH4-N变动范围为6.27～18.8mg·L-1时,出水水质均能稳定达到GB3838—2002《地表水环境质量标准》的IV类水1.5mg·L-1的标准。通过探讨A/BCO-CW组合工艺用于混合污水处理效率,实现了A/BCO和CW二者间在处理氮素过程中的优势互补。     

薇甘菊浸提液对福寿螺主要器官组织损伤的扫描电镜观察

采用薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha H.B.K.）的乙酸乙酯浸提液对福寿螺（Pomacea canaliculata）进行浸杀,通过扫描电镜观察福寿螺头足部、外套膜及肝脏组织的损伤状况,探讨薇甘菊化感物质对福寿螺器官组织结构的影响。经过薇甘菊质量浓度为100mg·L^-1提取液浸杀2d后,福寿螺主要器官出现了明显的组织损伤。头足部肌肉组织出现明显的杂乱丝条状并有断裂,部分有侵蚀剥落,表现为较大的组织缺损;外套膜有大量的细胞被浸润,呈疏松不整齐的结构;肝脏表面粗糙,凹凸相间的皱褶形成起伏不平的组织,其间有深浅不一的裂痕,并有侵蚀孔状损伤。扫描电镜的观察结果可为探讨薇甘菊浸提液对福寿螺的毒杀机理提供一定的依据。     

Studies on underwater sounds III. On the mechanism of sound production and the underwater sounds produced by Linuparus trigonus

Linuparus trigonus V. Siebold were placed in a tank, with a hydrophone suspended in one corner, in order to investigate the mechanism of sound production and the under-water sounds released. Sounds were recorded by tape recorder and analyzed by means of sound spectrograph. L. trigonus emits creaky sounds by rubbing the protuberance of the antennal coxa against the white tubercle in front of its optic stalk. The protuberance of the coxa molds a hollow, with the opening covered by a thin membrane; this facilitates the production of under-water sounds. However, these sounds are produced only when the antenna is lifted. It is also possible to produce these sounds artificially using dead lobsters. When disturbed by external stimulus, L. trigonus flaps back and accelerates the repitition rate. The under-water sounds produced are a series of pulses, which can be divided into 2 groups: (1) The A type sound; this has a relatively slow repetition rate (10 to 80 times/sec) and is weak at the low frequency range below 3 kHz; the sounds, therefore, are manifested on the sonagram in a pattern consisting of some layers of frequencies which are almost constant. (2) The B type sound; this comprises a series of pulses which are powerful even at low frequency. The repetition rate is very high, and not recognizable on the sonagram.     

Impact of biochar produced from post-harvest residue on the adsorption behavior of diesel oil on loess soil

The primary objective of this study was to investigate the effect of biochar, produced from wheat residue at different temperatures, on the adsorption of diesel oil by loess soil. Kinetic and equilibrium data were processed to understand the adsorption mechanism of diesel by biochar-affected loess soil; dynamic and thermodynamic adsorption experiments were conducted to characterize this adsorption. The surface features and chemical structure of biochar, modified at varying pyrolytic temperatures, were investigated using surface scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared analysis. The kinetic data showed that the adsorption of diesel oil onto loess soil could be described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with the rate-controlling step being intraparticle diffusion. However, in the presence of biochar, boundary layer control and intraparticle diffusion were both involved in the adsorption. Besides, the adsorption equilibrium data were well described by the Freundlich isothermal model. The saturated adsorption capacity weakened as temperature increased, suggesting a spontaneous exothermic process. Thermodynamic parameter analysis showed that adsorption was mainly a physical process and was enhanced by chemical adsorption. The adsorption capacity of loess soil for diesel oil was weakened with increasing pH. The biochar produced by pyrolytic wheat residue increased the adsorption behavior of petroleum pollutants in loess soil.

     

Comparison of in vitro characteristics of and experimental lesions produced by a clinical and an environmental isolate of Aspergillus flavus

In the present study, two strains of Aspergillus flavus (one from a human corneal ulcer and one from the environment) were found to be strikingly similar in vitro in terms of thermotolerance, inability to grow in an anaerobic environment and in secreting proteinases; however, one obvious difference was that the clinical isolate produced 120 ppb of aflatoxin B1 in glucose salt medium while the environmental isolate did not produce this toxic metabolite. Alterations in the activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and glutathione-S-transferase were observed in the liver, kidney and serum in an experimental rat model, irrespective of whether the animal had been challenged with the clinical isolate or the environmental isolate of A. flavus. In rats that had been challenged with the clinical isolate, a significant decrease in the activity of kidney ALP was noted, whereas in rats that had been challenged with the environmental isolate, the reverse was observed. While these differential alterations may have occurred due to differences in the toxin-producing ability of the two isolates, further investigation is warranted to clarify whether other phenotypic, or genotypic, differences are also involved.     

Colonization of Bacillus spp. on seeds and in plant rhizoplane

Seed coating, dipping and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) were employed to study bacterial and fungal colonization of the seeds and rhizoplane of maize (Zea mays L.) during the early stages of growth. Isolation of Bacillus spp. entailed screening soil bacteria with potential growth stimulation and plant pathogen suppressive abilities isolated from the rhizospheres and rhizoplanes of vegetable crops. The bacterial colonization of the spermosphere was 90%. When the coated seeds were fully germinated, bacteria moved to the emerging radicle. Virtually no bacteria occurred on the root tip both for the treated and untreated. However, colonization was 20% in the basal portion of the roots close to the seed-root junction. SEM observations showed that the bacterial cells were arranged linearly and laterally on the growing root axis. This phenomenon was more noticeable in the seedlings dipped in the bacterial culture on the 3rd day after germination. The results indicate that attachment to the seed coat and the rhizoplane by the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) is an important factor in the successful colonization of the rhizoplane. The significance of the work is to ascertain that the inoculated Bacillus spp. adhered to and established in the rhizoplane of maize. It can therefore be used as a PGPR and as a biocontrol agent.