Repeated batch and continuous degradation of chlorpyrifos by Pseudomonas putida

The present study was undertaken with the objective of studying repeated batch and continuous degradation of chlorpyrifos (O,O-diethyl O-3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphorothioate) using Ca-alginate immobilized cells of Pseudomonas putida isolated from an agricultural soil, and to study the genes and enzymes involved in degradation. The study was carried out to reduce the toxicity of chlorpyrifos by degrading it to less toxic metabolites. Long-term stability of pesticide degradation was studied during repeated batch degradation of chlorpyrifos, which was carried out over a period of 50 days. Immobilized cells were able to show 65% degradation of chlorpyrifos at the end of the 50th cycle with a cell leakage of 112 × 10³ cfu mL^?1. During continuous treatment, 100% degradation was observed at 100 mL h^?1 flow rate with 2% chlorpyrifos, and with 10% concentration of chlorpyrifos 98% and 80% degradation was recorded at 20 mL h^?1 and 100 mL h^?1 flow rate respectively. The products of degradation detected by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis were 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol and chlorpyrifos oxon. Plasmid curing experiments with ethidium bromide indicated that genes responsible for the degradation of chlorpyrifos are present on the chromosome and not on the plasmid. The results of Polymerase chain reaction indicate that a ~890-bp product expected for mpd gene was present in Ps. putida. Enzymatic degradation studies indicated that the enzymes involved in the degradation of chlorpyrifos are membrane-bound. The study indicates that immobilized cells of Ps. putida have the potential to be used in bioremediation of water contaminated with chlorpyrifos.     

The effects of benomyl and its breakdown products carbendazim and butyl isocyanate on the structure and function of tracheal ciliated cells

Abstract

The effects of the fungicide benomyl and its breakdown products, carbendazim and butyl isocyanate, were examined on canine tracheal epithelial tissue in primary culture. Changes in ciliary frequencies were monitored with an optical spectrum analysis system. Serial dilutions of the test compounds were prepared in 100% corn oil and applied to the cell cultures for intervals up to 6 hours and frequencies measured at intervals of 15 minutes to 1 hour. Benomyl and butyl isocyanate caused concentration‐dependent decreases in ciliary beat frequency. Benomyl at 300 μg/ml (3 mM) caused ciliostasis within 75 minutes of exposure. Butyl isocyanate at a molar concentration three times lower than benomyl (1 mM) caused a similar response, although within 30 minutes. The IBC₅₀ for benomyl was 0.75 mM, while for butyl isocyanate it was 0.52 mM. Carbendazim caused a moderate decrease in frequency over a 6 hour exposure period. Benomyl caused moderate to severe swelling of the mitochondria of ciliated epithelial cells with other cell organelles appearing normal. Butyl isocyanate did not cause any noticeable effect on cell ultrastructure and the apparently low rate of penetration of carbendazim into cells made it impossible to obtain an effect which justified ultrastructural analysis. It appears, at least for benomyl and butyl isocyanate, that while the physiological effect of these two compounds (inhibition of ciliary beat) is the same, the sites of action in the cell may be different.     

Assessing the strength of climate and land-use influences on montane epiphyte communities

Epiphytes, air plants that are structurally dependent on trees, are a keystone group in tropical forests; they support the food and habitat needs of animals and influence water and nutrient cycles. They reach peak diversity in humid montane forests. Climate predictions for Central American mountains include increased temperatures, altered precipitation seasonality, and increased cloud base heights, all of which may challenge epiphytes. Although remaining montane forests are highly fragmented, many tropical agricultural systems include trees that host epiphytes, allowing epiphyte communities to persist even in landscapes with lower forest connectivity. I used structural equations models to test the relative effects of climate, land use, tree characteristics, and biotic interactions on vascular epiphyte diversity with data from 31 shade coffee farms and 2 protected forests in northern Nicaragua. I also tested substrate preferences of common species with randomization tests. Tree size, tree diversity, and climate all affected epiphyte richness, but the effect of climate was almost entirely mediated by bryophyte cover. Bryophytes showed strong sensitivity to mean annual temperature and insolation. Many ferns and some orchids were positively associated with bryophyte mats, whereas bromeliads tended to establish among lichen or on bare bark. The tight relationships between bryophytes and climate and between bryophytes and vascular epiphytes indicated that relatively small climate changes could result in rapid, cascading losses of montane epiphyte communities. Currently, shade coffee farms can support high bryophyte cover and diverse vascular epiphyte assemblages when larger, older trees are present. Agroforests serve as valuable reservoirs for epiphyte biodiversity and may be important early-warning systems as the climate changes.     

Effects of UV-A LED light irradiation on growth of cultured RAW 264.7 cells

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of ultraviolet A (UV-A) irradiation-induced damage on cultured macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and determine which components produced these manifestations. RAW 264.7 cells were irradiated with 365 nm UV-A using a light-emitting diode (LED). Cell viability and damage were determined using a calcein-AM and propidium iodide dual-staining assay and lactate dehydrogenase leakage, respectively. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by H₂DCF-DA. The components of ROS in each medium were measured using an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometer in the presence of 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and 2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-3-pyrroline-3-carboxamide (TPC). While UV-A irradiation for 2 min significantly suppressed cell growth, LDH leakage did not occur. Addition of N-acetyl cysteine restored inhibition of cell proliferation, and reduced intracellular ROS levels. The EPR signal in the presence of TPC increased with time but was decreased by sodium azide. In addition, a typical EPR spectrum was obtained in the presence of DMPO, indicating the presence of a hydroxyradical. The spectrum was diminished by L-histidine. Data suggest that ROS generated in cells or culture medium by UV-A irradiation is predominantly singlet oxygen, and this singlet oxygen suppressed cell proliferation.     

Nanosilica exerts cytotoxicity and apoptotic response via oxidative stress in mouse embryonic fibroblasts

Nanoscale silica is an important industrial material and extensively used in medicines. The objective of this study was to determine potential cytotoxicity and genotoxic effects attributed to nanosilica exposure in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (L929) cells. Nanosilica produced mild cytotoxicity in L929 cells. Results showed that nanosilica increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels and enhanced superoxide dismutase activity but decreased levels of glutathione. This was accompanied by a concomitant generation of reactive oxygen species, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and activation of caspase-3 activity. In addition, in the single-cell gel test, nanosilica (50–300 μg/ml) at two treatment times 24 and 48 hr produced concentration- and time-dependent increase of DNA damage. Therefore, the obtained results indicate that nanosilica may induce genotoxic effects in cultured L929 cells associated with induction of oxidative stress.     

微米级空间碎片撞击太阳电池研究

目的评估航天器太阳电池阵遭遇微米级空间碎片撞击后性能的下降程度。方法利用激光驱动飞片发射系统针对硅太阳电池开展系统的试验工作,对太阳电池机械损伤特性及伏安特性进行测试。利用ORDEM2000软件计算航天器所在轨道的碎片通量和速度。结合试验结果,计算航天器太阳电池阵因微米级空间碎片撞击引起的最大输出功率衰减率。结果太阳电池最大输出功率衰减率与溅射区直径呈二次函数关系,与表面污染率近似相等。未来5年天宫一号所在轨道航天器太阳电池因微米级空间碎片撞击引起的最大输出功率衰减率为0.45%。结论利用该研究结果可以预计航天器太阳电池因微米级空间碎片撞击引起的最大输出功率衰减率,为航天器总体设计提供技术支持。     

Studying developmental neurotoxic effects of bisphenol A (BPA) using embryonic stem cells

There is little to no toxicity information regarding thousands of chemicals to which people are exposed daily. In fact, of the 84,000 chemicals listed in the United States Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory, there is limited information available on their effects on neural development (Betts, 2010 and US EPA, 2015). The number of chemicals tested remains low due to the high cost of conducting multi-generational animal studies and the lack of alternative testing methods.     

Assessment of Bisphenol A (BPA) neurotoxicity in vitro with mouse embryonic stem cells

The adverse effects of environmental pollution on our well-being have been intensively studied with many in vitro and in vivo systems. In our group, we focus on stem cell toxicology due to the multitude of embryonic stem cell (ESC) properties which can be exerted in toxicity assays. In fact, ESCs can differentiate in culture to mimic embryonic development in vivo, or specifically to virtually any kind of somatic cells. Here, we used the toxicant Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known as a hazard to infants and children, and showed that our stem cell toxicology system was able to efficiently recapitulate most of the toxic effects of BPA previously detected by in vitro system or animal tests. More precisely, we demonstrated that BPA affected the proper specification of germ layers during our in vitro mimicking of the embryonic development, as well as the establishment of neural ectoderm and neural progenitor cells.     

微生物燃料电池的研究综述

微生物燃料电池是一种利用微生物的催化作用,将燃料中的化学能转化为电能,同时又可以处理废水的新型技术,具有显著的环境效益和经济效益。本文对微生物燃料电池的基本原理进行了详细的叙述,对一些影响微生物燃料电池在处理污水时发电的基本因素做了较全面的比较,同时也探讨了一些现阶段微生物燃料电池的瓶颈问题。展望了微生物燃料电池(MFCs)这一绿色技术的良好的发展前景。