Isolation,identification, culture conditions,and laccase production of white rot fungus北大核心CSCD

The white rot fungi are members of Basidiomycota, which can degrade lignin and form white rot. They are high producers of extracellular laccases. In the present study, pure culture strain of high-temperature and high-laccase production types (numbered as BUA-01) was isolated from the fruiting bodies of a white rot fungus collected in the campus of Beijing University of Agriculture. The taxonomic characteristic was determined based on morphological and ITS sequence analysis. Furthermore, the optimal culture conditions for the mycelia were determined, including carbon source, nitrogen source, C/N ratio, growth factors, temperature, and pH. Extracellular laccase production was investigated in liquid fermentation with different concentrations of Cu (CuSO4) as inducer. Decolorizing activity of the fermentation broth was assayed using three azo dyes: Evans blue, methyl orange, and eriochrome black T. The results showed that the strain possessed the highest homology toward Trametes hirsuta, with the homology ratio of 100% and the genetic distance of 0, suggesting that the strain BUA-01 belonged to the genus Trametes. The culture condition investigated revealed that the optimal condition for mycelia growth included the following: carbon source, starch; nitrogen source, soybean powder and yeast extract; C/N ratio, 40/1 and 10/1; temperature, 37 °C; and pH, 6.0-7.0. The assayed growth factors had no significant effect on mycelial growth. It demonstrated high laccase activity in liquid fermentation. The highest extracellular laccase activity of 1 081.33 ± 6.3 U/mL was observed in the broth with a Cu adjunction concentration of 0.25 mmol/L after a 96-h culture period. It was about 26-fold higher than that of the control group. The isolated strain exhibited significant decolorizing activity toward the azo dyes Evans blue, methyl orange, and eriochrome black T, with the decolorization rate at 12 h of 93.31% ± 0.16%, 92.37% ± 0.42%, 79.25% ± 0.64%, respectively. This suggests that the strain possesses potential applications in laccase production and dye degradation. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Isolation,identification, and biological characteristics of a wild Chaga mushroom北大核心CSCD

In this study, a pure culture strain (numbered as F1501) was obtained using tissue separation and purification methods from the sclerotia of Chaga mushroom from Russia. Further researches included studies on classification, optimum growth conditions of mycelia, extracellular polysaccharides from fermentation broth and their antioxidant activity, and artificial acclimation. According to the identification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, it was confirmed that F1501 was a species of the genus Inonotus and family Hymenochaetaceae, which had 99% similarity with Inonotus obliquus. F1501 was further classified as I. obliquus based on the morphological characteristics of its mycelia and sclerotia. The optimal carbon source, nitrogen source, C/N ratio, growth factor, temperature, and pH value for the growth of the F1501 strain mycelia were maltose, beef extracts, 10/1, B2, 28 °C, and 8.0, respectively. Liquid fermentation of F1501 was performed using PD media and a 10% inoculation amount at 28 °C and 150 r/min for 7 d. The content of polysaccharides in the fermentation broth was 476.32 mg/L, with a total antioxidant activity of 0.19 mmol/L (Trolox) and hydroxyl free radical-scavenging activity of 72.7%. Artificial acclimation study revealed that the fruiting body-like structure was obtained using cottonseed hulls as the main substrate. In the present study, a new strain of I. obliquus and its biological characteristics were explored, which could provide a theoretical basis for the artificial acclimation and development of wild mushrooms. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Characteristics of N2O emission from Medicago sativa stands and its response to nitrogen fertilizers in the Longdong dryland Plateau北大核心CSCD

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is one of the potent greenhouse gases (GHG) that depletes the stratospheric ozone. Nitrogen fertilizers are considered to be a major source of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from arable soils. To investigate the characteristics of N2O emission, its influencing factors, and its response to nitrogen application in dry grassland in the Loess Plateau, one of the most intensively used agricultural regions in China, we conducted a field trial with two treatments including N0 (0 kg hm-2) and N150 (150 kg hm-2) at the Qingyang Loess Plateau grassland agricultural research station of Lanzhou University. An LGR-N2O/CO gas analyzer was used to monitor the emissions. The results showed that the N2O fluxes of the N0 and N150 treatments during the monitoring period were -0.0036 and 0.0118 mg m-2 h-1, respectively; the flux in case of the N150 treatment was significantly higher than that for the N0 treatment. The N2O emission flux has a distinct diurnal variation characteristic, which first showed the trend of decreasing and then increasing. Regression analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between the N2O flux and the surface soil water content at a depth of 10 cm. The N2O emission flux increased by 131.3%, compared with that during the non-precipitation days. At the same time, the N2O emission flux showed a trend of decreasing with the increase of the surface soil temperature at a depth of 10 cm. The daily emission characteristics indicated that there may be a significant underestimation of the N2O flux at the daily or longer time-scale, based on the N2O flux value measured at 9:00-11:00. In summary, the N2O emissions from the sown alfalfa grassland of the eastern Gansu are strongly affected by precipitation and nitrogen application and have obvious daily dynamic characteristics. It is recommended that the accuracy and representativeness of N2O emission flux data be enhanced by continuous dynamic measurement using the instrument. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Screening of the marine actinomycetes with anti-complement activity and isolation of the active fractions北大核心CSCD

Studies on anti-complement agents are essential for the development of drugs to treat various diseases caused by excessive or abnormal activation of the complement system. However, studies on microbial-derived anti-complement agents are still very limited. The anti-complement activities of 42 marine-derived actinomycete strains isolated from the sediment samples collected from Xinghai Bay in Dalian were studied using the hemolysis method. In addition, the active fractions of the strain Streptomyces sp. DUT11 were separated by C18 and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, and the active compounds with anti-complement activity were identified. Streptomyces strains S187, M5, S088, M8, S063, DUT11 and MD16 showed good anti-complement activities upon being cultured in TSB medium, with the strain DUT11 showing the best anti-complement activity among these strains. When different fermentation media were tested, the highest anti-complement activity of DUT11 was observed in M33 fermentation medium. The anti-complement activity was 56.5% for the extract of supernatant and 60.8% for the extract of mycelia, respectively. Furthermore, three compounds with anti-complement activity were obtained from the active components, which were identified as 3-indolecarboxylic acid (1), p-hydroxy benzoic acid (2) and 2-pyrrolecarboxylic acid (3). These results demonstrated that marine-derived streptomycetes can be employed to produce active compounds with anti-complement activity. This study presents a new alternative for the utilization of marine actinomycetes and provides a basis for the exploration of new anti-complement agents. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Chemical constituents of one endophytic fungus isolated from Cordyceps sinensis北大核心CSCD

The study focused on the analysis of the chemical constituents of ethyl acetate extracts of Penicillium herquei, an endophyte of Cordyceps sinensis. The compounds were isolated and purified by chromatographic procedures and identified on the basis of spectral methods. Eleven compounds were identified: 2′,4′-dihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethylacetophenone (1), vanillin (2), 3-oxo-α-ionone (3), 3,3,5-trimethyl-4-(3-oxo-1-butenyl)cyclohexan-1-one (4), p-hydroxybenzaldehyde (5), p-hydroxyacetophenone (6), methyl p-hydroxyphenylacetate (7), cyclo-(Pro-Ile) (8), cyclo-(Pro-Val) (9), 4-methoxyphenylacetic acid (10), and cyclo-(4-methyl-Pro-Val) (11). Benzaldehydes, ionones, and cyclodipeptides are the major metabolites of the P. herquei from C. sinensis. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Hydrogen production from food wastes and gas post-treatment by CO2 adsorption

The production of H₂ by biological means, although still far from being a commercially viable proposition, offers great promise for the future. Purification of the biogas obtained may lead to the production of highly concentrated H₂ streams appropriate for industrial application. This research work evaluates the dark fermentation of food wastes and assesses the possibility of adsorbing CO₂ from the gas stream by means of a low cost biomass-based adsorbent. The reactor used was a completely stirred tank reactor run at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) while the concentration of solids of the feeding stream was kept constant. The results obtained demonstrate that the H₂ yields from the fermentation of food wastes were affected by modifications in the hydraulic retention time (HRT) due to incomplete hydrolysis. The decrease in the duration of fermentation had a negative effect on the conversion of the substrate into soluble products. This resulted in a lower amount of soluble substrate being available for metabolisation by H₂ producing microflora leading to a reduction in specific H₂ production.Adsorption of CO₂ from a gas stream generated from the dark fermentation process was successfully carried out. The data obtained demonstrate that the column filled with biomass-derived activated carbon resulted in a high degree of hydrogen purification. Co-adsorption of H₂S onto the activated carbon also took place, there being no evidence of H₂S present in the bio-H₂ exiting the column. Nevertheless, the concentration of H₂S was very low, and this co-adsorption did not affect the CO₂ capture capacity of the activated carbon.     

Assessment of lead contamination of the general environment through blood lead levels

More than 2000 blood samples were collected at random from full-time middle school teachers in 9 cities of China and analyzed for lead concentration with strict quality assurance procedures. Questionnaries about the smoking habits, alcohol consumption, residence condition, and fuel used at home were filled out by each person, and information about traffic, and lead concentration in different areas of the environment was also collected as far as possible. The result showed that the geometric mean of blood lead levels of teachers in different cities was ranging between 59–82 g l^–1 among them the lowest levels were found in Nanjing and the highest in Shanghai. The difference between the lowest and the highest value was only 23 g l^–1. Comparing with the results of WHO/UNEP and CEC projects. The overall geometric average blood level in China is lower than in all the other countries except Japan. It indicates that the lead pollution in the general environment of China was not as severe as in the participating countries of WHO/UNEP and CEC projects. This may be attributed by the following factors: The less automobile triffic, the larger proportion of non-leaded gasoline used and the less canned food consumption. Factors influencing the lead levels in blood were also analyzed and the normal value (95% upper limit) of blood lead was assessed to be 160 g l^–1.     

Specific association of 36Cl with low molecular weight humic substances in soils

Soils initially contaminated with ³⁶Cl in the chloride form were subjected to solid–liquid extractions using a variety of reagents including deionised water and 1 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH). 1 M NaOH was found to result in the greatest recovery of ³⁶Cl from the soils, a result which provided initial evidence that radioactive chlorine became attached to humic substances present naturally within the soils. Deionised water and 1 M NaOH extracts were subjected to analysis involving separation by gel filtration chromatography (GFC). It was found that ³⁶Cl in 1 M NaOH extracts associated preferentially with low molecular weight (LMW) fractions of humic substances whereas, in deionised water extracts, ³⁶Cl appeared to be present exclusively in the chloride form. Previous literature evidence, mainly from highly organic forest soils, suggests that conversion of stable chlorine from chloride to organic forms can occur as a result of biological action. The present paper also presents good evidence for the specific attachment of stable chlorine (³⁷Cl) to a LMW humic fraction, again demonstrated using GFC separation. Current risk assessments of the deep geological disposal of solid radioactive wastes containing ³⁶Cl typically assume a very low degree of sorption based on the notion that the predominant environmental species of radiochlorine is chloride. This paper concludes with a brief discussion on the implications of organochlorine formation in the biosphere for assessment of the radiological impact of deep geological disposal of solid radioactive wastes.     

Controlling the Behaviors of Biodegradable/Bioabsorbable Polymers with Cyclodextrins

The cyclic six, seven, and eight-membered oligosaccharides -, -, and -cyclodextrins (CDs) can serve as hosts for a variety of polymer guests to form crystalline inclusion compounds (ICs), wherein the guest polymers are included in the continuous narrow channels (0.5–1.0 nm in diameter) formed by the host CD stacks. Polymers included as guests in CD-ICs are highly extended and segregated from neighboring chains by the walls of the host CD bracelets. As a consequence, when polymer-CD-ICs are treated with solvents for CDs that are non-solvents for the included polymers or with amylase enzymes, the CDs are removed and the guest polymers are coalesced into bulk samples whose structures, morphologies, and even chain conformations are different from those achieved by consolidation from their randomly coiling, entangled solutions and melts. Often these CD-IC coalesced and consequently reorganized polymer samples exhibit properties that are distinct from their normally processed bulk samples. Here we describe the CD-IC processing of several biodegradable/bioabsorbable homopolymers, copolymers, and blends made from poly (L-lactic acid), poly (-caprolactone), and poly (-hydroxybutyrate)s, with special emphasis placed on their improved and controllable properties. For example, the phase segregation and consequent crystallinities of their normally incompatible homopolymer blends and their block copolymers may be controlled and thus improved. In addition, co-inclusion of small molecule guests, such as drugs or anti-bacterials, in their common CD-ICs, and subsequent coalescence, yields well-mixed blends of these biodegradable/bioabsorbable polymers and the small molecule co-guests, which may lead, for example, to the improved delivery of drugs.