Exploration of the metabolic flexibility of glycogen accumulating organisms through metatranscriptome analysis and metabolic characterization

Glycogen accumulating organisms (GAOs) are closely related to the deterioration of enhanced biological phosphorus removal systems. However, the metabolic mechanisms that drive GAOs remain unclear. Here, the two-thirds supernatant of a reactor were decanted following the anaerobic period to enrich GAOs. Long-term monitoring demonstrated that the system was stable and exhibited typical characteristics of GAOs metabolism. Acetate was completely consumed after 60 min of the anaerobic phase. The level of glycogen decreased from 0.20 to 0.14 g/gSS during the anaerobic phase, whereas the level of glycogen significantly increased to 0.21g/gSS at the end of the aerobic period. Moreover, there was almost no phosphate release and absorption in the complete periods, thus confirming the successful construction of a GAOs enrichment system. Microbial community analysis demonstrated that Ca. Contendobacter was among the core functional genera and showed the highest activity among all of the communities. Furthermore, our study is the first to identify the involvement of the ethyl-malonyl-CoA pathway in the synthesis of polyhydroxyvalerate via croR, ccr, ecm, mcd, mch and mcl genes. The Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway was preferentially used via glgP. Furthermore, the glyoxylate cycle was the main source of ATP under anaerobic conditions, whereas the tricarboxylic acid cycle provided ATP under aerobic conditions. aceA and mdh appeared to be major modulators of the glyoxylate pathway for controlling energy flow. Collectively, our findings not only revealed the crucial metabolic mechanisms in a GAOs enrichment system but also provided insights into the potential application of Ca. Contendobacter for wastewater treatment.     

超高压工程电缆绝缘油对海洋生物的生态毒性效应

随着超高压联网工程建设项目不断增多,取得巨大经济效益的同时,其电缆安全性日益受到关注。采用标准实验方法,研究电缆绝缘油对8种占据不同生态位的海洋生物(费氏弧菌(Vibrio fischeri)、牟氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros mueleri)、卤虫(Artemia sp.)、蒙古裸腹溞(Moina mongolica)、凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)、裸项栉鰕虎鱼(Ctenogobius gymnauchen)、双齿围沙蚕(Perinereis aibuhitensis)、菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum))的急性毒性,同时进行了电缆绝缘油对裸项栉鰕虎鱼14 d延长毒性实验和电缆绝缘油对蒙古裸腹溞的慢性毒性。结果表明,电缆绝缘油在50%饱和溶解浓度下未对费氏弧菌产生明显的发光抑制作用;对牟氏角毛藻、凡纳滨对虾、裸项栉鰕虎鱼、双齿围沙蚕和菲律宾蛤仔等5种生物未表现出急性毒性影响,其LC50均大于饱和浓度;对卤虫的96 h-LC50为17.07%,LOEC为12.5%,NOEC为6.25%;对蒙古裸腹溞96 h-LC50为29.75%,LOEC为25.0%,NOEC为12.5%;电缆绝缘油对卤虫和蒙古裸腹溞有剧毒。对裸项栉鰕虎鱼成鱼14 d延长毒性LC50大于500 000 mg·L~(-1);对蒙古裸腹溞母溞存活数的NOEC为625μg·L~(-1),LOEC为1 250μg·L~(-1);对母溞存活期的NOEC为312μg·L~(-1),LOEC为625μg·L~(-1);对产胎数的NOEC为625μg·L~(-1),LOEC为1 250μg·L~(-1);对产幼溞数的NOEC为625μg·L~(-1),LOEC为1 250μg·L~(-1)。     

Immobilization of lead in anthropogenic contaminated soils using phosphates with/without oxalic acid

Understanding the effects of oxalic acid(OA) on the immobilization of Pb(Ⅱ) in contaminated soils by phosphate materials, has considerable benefits for risk assessment and remediation strategies for the soil. A series of phosphate amendments with/without oxalic acid were applied to two anthropogenic contaminated soils. We investigated the immobilization of Pb(Ⅱ) by KH2PO4, phosphate rock(PR), activated phosphate rock(APR) and synthetic hydroxyapatite(HAP) at different phosphate:Pb(P:Pb) molar ratios(0, 0.6, 2.0 and 4.0) in the presence/absence of 50 mmol oxalic acid/kg soil, respectively. The effects of treatments were evaluated using single extraction with deionized water or Ca Cl2, Community Bureau of Reference(BCR) sequential extraction and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP)methods. Our results showed that the concentration of water extractable, exchangeable and TCLP-Pb all decreased with incubation time. The concentration of water-extractable Pb after120 days was reduced by 100% when soils were amended with APR, HAP and HAP + OA, and the TCLP-Pb was 5 mg/L for the red soil at P:Pb molar ratio 4.0. Water-soluble Pb could not be detected and the TCLP-Pb was 5 mg/L at all treatments applied to the yellow-brown soil. BCR results indicated that APR was most effective, although a slight enhancement of water-soluble phosphate was detected at the P:Pb molar ratio 4.0 at the beginning of incubation. Oxalic acid activated phosphates, and so mixing insoluble phosphates with oxalic acid may be a useful strategy to improve their effectiveness in reducing Pb bioavailability.     

Extracellular polymeric substance induces biogenesis of vivianite under inorganic phosphate-free conditions

Vivianite is often found in reducing environments rich in iron and phosphorus from organic debris degradation or phosphorus mineral dissolution. The formation of vivianite is essential to the geochemical cycling of phosphorus and iron elements in natural environments. In this study, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were selected as the source of phosphorus. Microcosm experiments were conducted to test the evolution of mineralogy during the reduction of polyferric sulfate flocs (PFS) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (S. oneidensis MR-1) at EPS concentrations of 0, 0.03, and 0.3 g/L. Vivianite was found to be the secondary mineral in EPS treatment when there was no phosphate in the media. The EPS DNA served as the phosphorus source and DNA-supplied phosphate could induce the formation of vivianite. EPS impedes PFS aggregation, contains redox proteins and stores electron shuttle, and thus greatly promotes the formation of minerals and enhances the reduction of Fe(III). At EPS concentration of 0, 0.03, and 0.3 g/L, the produced HCl-extractable Fe(II) was 107.9, 111.0, and 115.2 mg/L, respectively. However, when the microcosms remained unstirred, vivianite can be formed without the addition of EPS. In unstirred systems, the EPS secreted by S. oneidensis MR-1 could agglomerate at some areas, resulting in the formation of vivianite in the proximity of microbial cells. It was found that vivianite can be generated biogenetically by S. oneidensis MR-1 strain and EPS may play a key role in iron reduction and concentrating phosphorus in the oligotrophic ecosystems where quiescent conditions prevail.     

Extent and variation of sound enhancement inside burrows of the frog Eupsophus emiliopugini (Leptodactylidae)

Variation of the amplification effect of burrows of the leptodactylid frog Eupsophus emiliopugini on conspecific calls generated externally was investigated. Advertisement calls broadcast through a loudspeaker placed in the vicinity of a burrow were monitored with small microphones positioned inside and outside the cavity. For 150 presentations of calls of 15 individuals in 12 burrows, 134 were amplified and 16 were attenuated (range –6–13 dB). The fundamental resonant frequency of burrows, measured with broadcast noise and pure tones, averaged 814 Hz (range 302–1361 Hz) and covaried with burrow length. The dominant frequency of the calls of burrow occupants (average 1062 Hz, range 636–1459 Hz) was not correlated with the fundamental resonant frequency of these cavities. In burrows with low resonant frequencies, externally broadcast calls with high dominant frequencies were attenuated, or amplified to a lower extent than calls with lower dominant frequencies. The dominant frequencies of the calls experienced shifts towards the burrows’ fundamental resonant frequencies. The amplification of calls inside burrows of E. emiliopugini exhibits manifest variability, with considerable potential for facilitating acoustic interactions in this species. Received: 18 July 1999 / Received in revised form: 19 July 1999 / Accepted: 25 July 1999     

聚糖菌颗粒污泥基于胞内储存物质的同步硝化反硝化

采用特殊运行方式的厌氧-好氧SBR系统(厌氧后排水),以乙酸钠为有机基质成功富集了聚糖菌颗粒污泥.聚糖菌颗粒污泥厌氧-好氧批式实验表明,聚糖菌颗粒污泥具有较强的SND能力,TOC/N分别为5.0,4.0,2.8时,SND效率分别96.4%、95.3%及96.2%,而周期总氮去除效率随着碳氮比降低而降低,分别为66.0%、61.2%及56.3%.通过对周期氨氮、亚硝酸盐氮、硝酸盐氮、TOC以及胞内糖原、PHB变化的测定分析,证明聚糖菌颗粒污泥SND过程中,污泥以厌氧阶段储存于胞内的多聚物PHB作为反硝化碳源,并且反硝化聚糖菌是系统中反硝化能力的来源.与溶解性基质相比,PHB的降解速率相对较低,因此在SND过程中,反硝化可以与硝化保持相近的速率,从而有助于获得良好的SND效果.     

高分子吸水树脂作为蓄冷材料的性能研究

本文研究了不同吸水倍率的高分子吸水树脂的相变温度、相变潜热及作为蓄冷材料在35℃环境下的相变时间,并与冰做了对比。结果显示：吸收不同倍率水的高分子树脂。相变温度和相变潜热基本与水相似,随着吸水倍率的增加,相变潜热越接近于水的潜热;在相同条件下放置于隔冷袋中的高分子吸水树脂．在35℃高温环境中,可以维持20℃以下低温5h,比冰多了将近1h,克服了渗漏的缺点,在蓄冷领域表现出了明显的优势。     

Conservation Biology, Genetically Modified Organisms, and the Biosafety Protocol

Abstract:  Concerns have been raised regarding the potential adverse effects on biological diversity of the use of living modified organisms (LMOs, which are commonly known by similar terms such as genetically modified organisms). At the international level these concerns are addressed in part by an agreement known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and include potential toxic effects of insect-resistant crops on nontarget organisms and potential ecological effects of gene flow from modified crops, fish, microorganisms, or insects to wild species or counterparts. We reviewed the protocol's main provisions, including those dealing with risk assessment and risk management, decision making on imports, documentation accompanying shipments, and liability resulting from damages caused by LMOs. A medium-term program of work has been adopted by the parties, which includes the potential contribution of conservation biologists to delivering capacity building, developing risk assessment guidance, evaluating mechanisms of potential ecological damages from LMOs, and other issues. Conservation biologists and other experts have opportunities to influence the negotiations and implementation of the protocol by providing inputs at meetings, offering expertise to governments and organizations, and participating in or developing relevant projects and initiatives. Involvement of conservation biologists in the implementation and further development of the protocol would contribute to its effectiveness.     

水质酸化对水生生物影响的研究

通过人工模拟试验,评价了水体酸化对不同营养级水生生物的影响.结果表明,不同营养级水生生物忍耐pH的阈限为5.0—5.5.     

羟基自由基杀灭压载水赤潮入侵生物试验研究

采用羟基自由基对斯式根管藻、日本星杆藻、裸甲藻和细菌进行杀灭实验，确定杀灭入侵赤潮生物的所需OH^-比值浓度为0.68mg／L。当OH^-比值浓度达到0．68mg／L时，致死多甲藻(Peri.Spp)等10种赤潮生物效率达到99.8％，致死膝沟孢子、多甲藻孢子效率达到100％。试验数据表明，强电离先进氧化OH^-是治理赤潮有效、可行的绿色新方法。