Responses of bacterial strains isolated from drinking water environments to N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones and their analogs during biofilm formation

Often as a result ofbiofilm formation, drinking water distribution systems （DWDS） are regularly faced with the problem of microbial contamination. Quorum sensing （QS） systems play a marked role in the regulation of microbial biofilm formation; thus, inhibition of QS systems may provide a promising approach to biofilm formation control in DWDS. In the present study, 22 bacterial strains were isolated from drinking water-related environments. The following properties of the strains were investigated： bacterial biofilm formation capacity, QS signal molecule N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones （AHLs） production ability, and responses to AHLs and AHL analogs, 3-chloro-4-（dichloromethyl）-5-hydroxy-2（5H）- furanone （MX） and 2（5H）-furanone. Four AHLs were added to developed biofilms at dosages ranging from 0.1 nmol.L J to 100nmol.L1. As a result, the biofilm growth of more than 1/4 of the isolates, which included AHL producers and non-producers, were significantly promoted. Further, the biofilm biomasses were closely associated with respective AHLs concentrations. These results provided evidence to support the idea that AHLs play a definitive role in biofilm formation in many of the studied bacteria. Meanwhile, two AHLs analogs demon- strated unexpectedly minimal negative effects on biofilm formation. This suggested that, in order to find an applicable QS inhibition approach for biofilm control in DWDS, the testing and analysis of more analogs is needed.     

p,p'-DDE与雄激素受体突变体H874Y及T877A激动性作用机制的理论研究

1,1-二氯-2,2-双(对氯苯基)乙烯(p,p'-DDE)是一种已知的雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)拮抗剂。有趣的是,已有研究证实p,p'-DDE同时可经由作用于AR的2种天然突变体H874Y和T877A产生拟雄激素效应,但其相互作用的分子机制尚不清晰。本研究联用分子动力学模拟与MM-GBSA方法,以内源性激素二氢睾酮(DHT)作为对照,对p,p'-DDE与2种突变体的相互作用分子机制进行了研究。模拟结果指出范德华相互作用是维持p,p'-DDE与AR突变体结合的主要驱动力,而溶剂化作用的差异是导致p,p'-DDE与H874Y具有较高结合活性的主要原因,H874Y结合口袋与p,p'-DDE的结构匹配度优于与T877A。与内源性配体二氢睾酮相比较,范德华作用与静电相互作用的差异是造成p,p'-DDE比DHT结合活性低的主要原因,p,p'-DDE与AR突变体之间缺乏氢键的稳定。MM-GBSA的结果确定p,p'-DDE与突变体结合过程的关键氨基酸以疏水性残基为主,其中L704、M745、L873尤为重要。计算获得的p,p'-DDE对H874Y及T877A相互作用分子机制有助于理解该污染物在不同人群中内分泌干扰效应的差异。     

铁屑/焦炭/H2O2法预处理焦化废水的试验研究

采用铁屑/焦炭/H2O2法对焦化废水进行处理,通过单因素试验法考察了铁炭比、铁炭用量、H2O2用量、废水pH以及反应时间对处理效果的影响,并确定了最适工艺条件。结果表明,铁屑/焦炭/H2O2法与常规的铁屑内电解法相比,可显著提高焦化废水的预处理效果,并缩短反应时间。铁屑/焦炭/H2O2法处理焦化废水的最适条件为:铁炭比为4,铁炭用量为300mg/L铁屑+75mg/L焦炭,H2O2用量为1000mg/L,pH为3,反应时间20min。在此条件下,COD、色度、NH3-N和CN-的去除效率分别可达61.2%、74.0%、56.2%和74.3%,B/C比由处理前的0.189提高到0.387,处理水可生化性良好。铁屑/焦炭/H2O2可作为焦化废水的一种有效的预处理方法。     

水质对UV/H_2O_2降解2,4-二氯酚的影响

研究了UV/H2O2工艺对2,4-二氯酚(2,4-DCP)的去除效果和水中阴离子、腐殖酸对该工艺降解2,4-DCP的影响。结果表明:UV/H2O2工艺可以有效的去除水中2,4-DCP,光降解过程符合一级反应动力学模型;在H2O2投加量为8mg/L,1个30W低压汞灯照射下,2,4-DCP在蒸馏水和自来水中光降解速率常数分别为0.0232/min和0.0162/min;NO3-、Cl-、HCO3-对2,4-DCP光降解有抑制作用;当3种离子浓度为0.5mmol/L、10mmol/L、20mmol/L时,对2,4-DCP光降解的抑制程度为HCO3->NO3->Cl-;随着离子浓度增大,抑制作用增强;自来水中的光降解速率常数低于蒸馏水中的光降解速率常数是由于水中多种离子影响的结果;腐殖酸在低浓度时,促进光降解反应的进行,在高浓度时,2,4-DCP的光降解氧化受到抑制。     

油气田开发与炼化企业硫化氢危害分析与预防

分析了油田开发和炼油化工生产过程中H2S的分布区域、特点及危害.通过对66起H2S中毒事故的分析,指出在设备及管线的吹扫、堵漏、拆卸、安装作业过程中较易发生H2S中毒事故;事故主要是由于违章及误操作以及对H2S的毒害认识不够、安全意识差引起的.从管理措施、技术支持、人员培训、应急救援等方面提出了预防H2S中毒的措施.     

大型铜尾矿库区节节草(Hippochaete ramosissimum)根际土壤重金属形态分布与影响因素研究

通过野外调查和实验分析,对安徽省铜陵市铜官山铜尾矿库、狮子山铜尾矿库及狮子山铜尾矿库周边农田3处生长的节节草根际与非根际土壤中重金属(Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn)的形态、含量和分布进行了研究.结果表明,节节草根际与非根际土壤重金属的主要形态分布基本一致,均表现为矿物态含量占据了重金属全量的大部分,而交换态含量偏低.与非根际土壤相比较,根际土壤中交换态、有机态重金属所占比例显著增加,其中Cu的有机结合态所占比例增加了53 25%、Cd、Pb的有机结合态所占比例增加超过17%,Zn则增加了5.67%;与此同时,碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态含量有所下降.统计分析表明,Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn在根际土壤中的形态分布与土壤pH值、有机质含量、植物生长等因素密切相关.     

Induction of cytochrome P4501A and endocrine disrupting effects of school incinerator residues

The emission of the dioxin-like compounds from on-site waste incinerators of seven schools in Kyonggi Province of Korea was evaluated by determination of the cytochrome P4501A(CYP1A) catalytic activity and antiestrogenic activity using cell culturemicrobioassay. The residue samples were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus using toluene for 20 hr. The concentrated crude extractswere fractionated with a basic alumina column. Dioxin-like compounds were then extracted. Induction of CYP1A activity in a rat(H4IIE) hepatoma cell line was used as indicator of biologicaleffect of incinerator residues and measured as 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase(EROD) activities. The EROD activities of fraction II extracts (one of the two extracts) in the H4IIE cells were from 0.044±0.002 to 4.424±0.351 ng-TEQ g^-1 (TCDD Toxicity equivalent), showing relatively high inducing capacity. Antisetrogenicity of the extracts was measured as decrease in E₂-induced cell proliferation. Most of the extracts showed antiestrogenic activity in MCF7-BUS cell.The TEQ levels of the incinerator residues and the antiestrogenicactivities were in good correlation, strongly suggesting that thepotent toxic emissions were indeed produced from the on-site school waste semi-incinerators and could cause the antiestrogenicity.     

Fetal phenotype of Prader–Willi syndrome due to maternal disomy for chromosome 15

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) results from either paternal deletion of 15q11–q13, or maternal uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 15 or imprinting center mutation. Prenatal diagnosis of PWS is currently indicated for chromosomal parental translocation involving chromosome 15 and for decreased fetal movements during the third trimester of gestation. Here we present the prenatal diagnosis of PWS during the first trimester of gestation and autopsy findings. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) was performed for advanced maternal age at 13 weeks' gestation. CVS showed mosaicism including cells with a normal karyotype and cells with trisomy 15. Amniocentesis showed cells with a normal karyotype. Molecular analysis demonstrated that the fetus had a typical PWS abnormal methylation profile and maternal disomy for chromosome 15. Fetal ultrasound examination showed slightly enlarged lateral ventricles and hypoplasic male external genitalia without intra-uterine growth retardation. The autopsy showed a eutrophic male fetus with facial dysmorphy, hypoplasic genitalia, abnormal position of both feet and posterior hypoplasia of the corpus callosum. This report points out that in a karyotypically normal fetus with ambiguous male external genitalia and cerebral anomalies, extensive cytogenetic and molecular biology studies are strongly recommended because of risk of PWS. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.