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.     

Impact of Covid-19 partial lockdown on PM2.5, SO2, NO2, O3, and trace elements in PM2.5 in Hanoi,Vietnam

Covid-19 lockdowns have improved the ambient air quality across the world via reduced air pollutant levels. This article aims to investigate the effect of the partial lockdown on the main ambient air pollutants and their elemental concentrations bound to PM_2.5 in Hanoi. In addition to the PM_2.5 samples collected at three urban sites in Hanoi, the daily PM_2.5, NO₂, O₃, and SO₂ levels were collected from the automatic ambient air quality monitoring station at Nguyen Van Cu street to analyze the pollution level before (March 10th–March 31st) and during the partial lockdown (April 1st–April 22nd) with “current” data obtained in 2020 and “historical” data obtained in 2014, 2016, and 2017. The results showed that NO₂, PM_2.5, O₃, and SO₂ concentrations obtained from the automatic ambient air quality monitoring station were reduced by 75.8, 55.9, 21.4, and 60.7%, respectively, compared with historical data. Besides, the concentration of PM_2.5 at sampling sites declined by 41.8% during the partial lockdown. Furthermore, there was a drastic negative relationship between the boundary layer height (BLH) and the daily mean PM_2.5 in Hanoi. The concentrations of Cd, Se, As, Sr, Ba, Cu, Mn, Pb, K, Zn, Ca, Al, and Mg during the partial lockdown were lower than those before the partial lockdown. The results of enrichment factor (EF) values and principal component analysis (PCA) concluded that trace elements in PM_2.5 before the partial lockdown were more affected by industrial activities than those during the partial lockdown.

     

合流制管网溢流污染过程中溶解性有机污染物演替特征分析

合流制管网溢流（Combined Sewer Overflows,CSOs）是我国城镇地表水环境日益突出的瞬时污染源,明确其重要污染物溶解性有机质（Dissolved Organic Matter,DOM）的组分和来源对CSOs污染控制具有导向性意义.本研究以北运河上游沙河水库流域为对象,连续采集CSOs过程的样品,通过峰值法、特征参数法和平行因子法等解析CSOs中DOM的三维荧光光谱特征,发现CSOs中DOM主要有类色氨酸（S、T）、类富里酸（A）和类酪氨酸（D）,代表内源输入的类色氨酸（S、T）和类酪氨酸（D）占比超过4/5.特征参数法和平行因子法的结果均表明DOM的腐殖化程度较低,生物活性较强,主要为微生物降解生成的和沉积物自身在冲刷和水力输运作用下释放的内源污染,建议CSOs污染控制主要应从内源输入的角度进行,着重控制管道沉积物中污染物的释放.     

改进组件树在隧道裂缝识别中的应用*

为提高衬砌裂缝病害事故隐患识别率,解决隧道表面普遍存在的对比度低、噪声污染严重、光照不均匀等问题,采用Retinex方法对图像进行噪声抑制和细节增强,结合组件树算法快速建立组件树并剪枝,建立1种新的隧道衬砌裂缝识别算法。研究结果表明:改进后的算法可有效平衡图像光照,保护图像中裂缝边缘信息,识别精度大于95%。研究结果可为识别隧道裂缝引起的安全隐患提供新的方法。     

Characteristics and Bioactivities of Carrageenan/Chitosan Microparticles Loading α-Mangostin

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - This study attempted to develop carrageenan/chitosan based microparticles loading α-mangostin which was extracted from Vietnamese mangosteen skin. The...     

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...     

微塑料对鲫鱼生长、肝脏损伤和肠道微生物组成的影响

广泛存在于自然环境中的微塑料可能会危害水生生物的生长和健康,目前该方面的研究较少.以淡水杂食性鱼类鲫鱼作为研究对象,喂食不同微塑料浓度的鱼食进行为期30 d的食源暴露试验,分析微塑料对鲫鱼生长、肝脏损伤和肠道微生物组成的影响.结果表明,与对照组相比,各试验组中鲫鱼的身长没有明显变化,但低浓度组的鲫鱼体重显著增加,中浓度组和高浓度组的体重明显下降.低浓度组的鲫鱼肝脏组织基本正常,中浓度组和高浓度组的均出现了不同程度的肝组织异常现象,其中高浓度组的肝脏损伤最为严重.鲫鱼肠道中,变形菌门、梭杆菌门、厚壁菌门和拟杆菌门是门水平上的优势菌种,葡萄球菌属和劳尔氏菌属等致病菌在各试验组鲫鱼肠道中均有出现;α多样性结果表明高浓度组的鲫鱼肠道微生物菌群最为丰富;PCoA结果显示对照组和试验组的鲫鱼肠道微生物存在明显的聚类特征.     

某废酸偷排污染事件的环境污染损害鉴定评估研究

突发性环境事故不同于普通环境污染事故,它具有迅速扩散、危害严重和污染物不明等特点,在瞬时或者短时间内向环境排放大量污染物质,造成巨大人身和财产损失.研究以株洲市“5·6废酸倾倒环境污染案”为例,就环境污染损害评估鉴定工作展开了分析.在损害评估鉴定工作中,从污染物性质、事件发生时间和污染路径进行了分析认定;就倾倒强酸废水量进行了事故反演分析,并对时间损失进行了定量分析.污染损害鉴定结论科学可靠,提出了环境污染事件损害鉴定评估工作中相关建议.     

不同水深条件下狐尾藻生长对沉积物氮磷的影响

采用巢湖原位试验研究了80、160和240 cm 3个水深条件下生长的沉水植物狐尾藻(Myriophyllum spicatum L.)对沉积物和间隙水中氮磷的影响。结果表明,狐尾藻的株高和生物量随着水深的增加总体呈下降趋势,并且其差异随着生长期的延长而加大,水深为240 cm的条件下狐尾藻具有最小的株高和生物量,即240 cm的大水深条件不利于狐尾藻的个体形态构建;而相对浅的水深条件(80和160 cm)则是其生长的较佳生境。狐尾藻的生长过程中能够通过根系吸收和根际环境的改变使沉积物和间隙水中的氮磷含量明显下降,一定程度上降低了沉积物氮磷向上覆水体释放的风险,并且其抑制能力随着不同水深条件下植株的长势不同而有所差异,即在植株生长良好的浅水条件下其对沉积物和间隙水中氮磷的抑制效果更佳。因此,较浅的水环境有利于沉水植物的生长,同时还能充分发挥植物对沉积物氮磷的控释作用。     

2009-2019年温榆河指示微生物时空演变特征研究

温榆河是北京市城区主要的防洪和排水河道,具有以非常规水源补给为主的特点.选取FC、EC、ENT和SC等指示微生物指标和COD、氨氮等水质指标,系统分析2009-2019年温榆河流域指示微生物浓度时空变化与汛期对指示微生物浓度的影响及其影响因素.研究结果表明10年间温榆河流域在经过一系列治理措施后水环境质量明显改善,CO...