Mechanisms of ultraviolet disinfection and chlorination of Escherichia coli: Culturability, membrane permeability, metabolism, and genetic damage

Traditional culture methods may underestimate the tolerance of microorganisms to disinfectants because of the existence of viable but nonculturable or sublethally injured cells after disinfection.The selection of a strict method is crucial for the evaluation of disinfection performance.The actions of 2 typical disinfectants–ultraviolet(UV)and chlorine–on the fecal indicator Escherichia coli were investigated by the detection of culturability,membrane permeability,metabolic activity,deoxyribonucleic acid(DNA),and messenger ribonucleic acid(m RNA).During UV disinfection,the irreversible damages in the cell membrane and cellular adenosine triphosphate(ATP)were negligible at low UV doses(80 m J/cm~2).However,membrane permeability was damaged at low doses of chlorine(5 mg/L),leading to leakage of cellular ATP.Our study showed that a slight lesion in DNA was detected even at high doses of UV(400 m J/cm~2)and chlorine(5 mg/L)treatments.The decay of m RNA was more rapid than that of DNA.The degradation level of m RNA depended on the choice of target genes.After exposure to 50 m J/cm~2UV dose or 5 mg/L chlorine for30 min,the DNA damage repair function(Rec A m RNA)was inhibited.The m RNA involved in the DNA damage repair function can be a potential indicator of bacterial viability.     

北京大气PM_(2.5)对A549细胞炎性因子及DNA损伤的毒性

为探讨大气PM_(2.5)及其不同组分对人肺上皮细胞A549的毒性作用及其剂量-反应关系,将前期采集的PM_(2.5)颗粒物用不同方法进一步制备PM_(2.5)水溶性组分、PM_(2.5)脂溶性组分和PM_(2.5)单纯颗粒物,将制备的PM_(2.5)颗粒物及其组分以不同浓度(10,50,100,200,400μg/m L)对A549细胞染毒,用MTS法分别在染毒6,10,24,48,72h后测定细胞活力,染毒24h后用ELISA及RT-QPCR法测定炎性因子IL-6和TNF-α表达量,AP位点计数法测定细胞DNA损伤情况.结果表明:除PM_(2.5)水溶性组分外,其余染毒样本高浓度染毒时始终对细胞生长表现出抑制作用,其中低浓度染毒时可在较短时间对细胞生长表现出抑制作用,染毒时间较长时抑制作用减弱或消失,PM_(2.5)水溶性组分对细胞生长抑制作用并不显著;除PM_(2.5)水溶性组分外,其余染毒样本都显著升高了IL-6m RNA的相对表达量和IL-6蛋白的分泌,除PM_(2.5)脂溶性组分外,其余染毒样本都显著升高了TNF-αm RNA的相对表达量;除PM_(2.5)水溶性组分外,其余染毒样本都显著提高了DNA碱基缺失程度.总的来说,PM_(2.5)水溶性组分在抑制细胞活力、造成炎性损伤及DNA损伤方面作用相对较小,而PM_(2.5)所产生的毒性作用并不仅限于其所吸附的复杂成分,其中作为载体的固体核心颗粒对机体可能造成的毒性作用也不容忽视.     

Screening pesticides for their ability to damage bacterial DNA

Abstract

Twenty‐six pesticides and pesticide degradation products were screened (125 μg ‐ 2000 μg) for their ability to induce unrepairable damage to bacterial DNA. Three repair test systems were utilized in this study, the Salmonella typhimurium (TA1538/TA1978), the E. coli K‐12 (Pol A₁ ⁺/Pol^‐ ₁) and the E. coli WP₂ (WP₂, WP₂ uvrA, WP67, CM611 and CM571). Aldicarb (1000 μg), benomyl (250 μg), 2‐aminobenzimidazole (2000 μg), captan (125 μg), fenazalor (500 μg), 5,6‐dichloro‐2‐trifluoromethylbenzimida‐zole (NC‐2983) (250 μg), isothymol (250 μg), maleic hydrazide(1000 μg), pentachloronitrobenzene (1000 μg) were DNA‐damaglng to one or more bacterial test systems. Isothymol and NC‐2983 affected all three test systems. Chlorinated hydrocarbon insec ticides, some being recognized as carcinogens, did not: produce a zone of inhibition in any of the tester strains possibly due to their poor solubility and diffusion in the agar overlay. It was concluded that these tests can be performed along with bacterial reversion tests to complement each other as short‐term screening tests for potential carcinogens and mutagens.     

Effects of dietary copper exposure on accumulation,growth, and hematological parameters in Cyprinus carpio

The influence of dietary copper (Cu) exposure on accumulation, growth, and hematological parameters was investigated in Cyprinus carpio after sub-chronic ingestion of 0, 250, 500, 750 or 1000?mg?kg^?1 for 60 days. The profile of Cu accumulation among tissues in C. carpio was dependent on the exposure period and Cu concentration. Liver of C. carpio was the predominant storage tissue and the order of Cu accumulation in tissues was liver?>?intestine?> gill?>?kidney?>?muscle. Cu concentration at >125?mg?kg^?1 reduced growth rate, and was inversely related to growth. The RNA?:?DNA ratios were not affected by exposure and there was no correlation between growth rate and RNA?:?DNA ratio in liver and muscle. There were no significant effects of exposure on blood parameters except for magnesium. Cu exposure time and dose increased the serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activity levels.     

Mate choice among sympatric fur seals: female preference for conphenotypic males

When closely related species breed in sympatry, and where hybrids have lower fitness, reinforcement theory predicts that selection should favour mechanisms that reduce the probability of interspecific matings. If this situation arises among species that exhibit resource defence polygyny where males and females of different species reside in the same territories, there may be some conflict between mate choice based on territory-holding ability (sexual selection) and mate choice for correct species. We investigated this in a population of fur seals where three species are sympatric and where some females breed in the territories of heterospecific males, and where interspecific matings and hybrid pups are observed. The territorial status of males and the birthing sites of females were determined during daily observations, as were the movements of males and females, the location of matings and mating partners. DNA extracted from skin samples was used to determine paternities using DNA fingerprinting and the mtDNA genotype of individuals. Individuals were also classed on the basis of species-typical phenotype. We found that extra-territory inseminations (ETIs) were significantly more prevalent (67%) when territorial males and resident females were of different phenotype than when of similar phenotype (27%), but mtDNA genotype had no effect on the rate of ETIs. ETIs were probably by males with the same phenotype, as pups born to these females in the following season had the same phenotype as their mothers, suggesting they were not hybrids. These results suggest that within the resource defence polygynous mating system of these sympatric fur seals, female mate choice is more influenced by male phenotype than genotype. Contrary to our predictions, our study indicates that potential conflict between mate choice based on sexual selection and species recognition is unlikely, because females have some capacity to discriminate between males both within and between species on phenotypic traits additional to those under sexual selection. Although at least 25% of the pups born in this study were hybrid, this study can only support reinforcement theory if hybrids have reduced fitness. The fitness of hybrids among the species studied is currently unknown. Received: 19 January 1998 / Accepted after revision: 12 September 1998     

Susceptibility of the freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnea luteola L. to copper oxide nanoparticle

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONP) are among the most widely used engineered nanoparticles and thus likely to permate the environment predominantly in sediments. The present study was designed to examine the adverse effects of CuONP in freshwater snail Lymnea luteola L. (L. luteola) exposed for 5 days. Induction of oxidative stress in digestive gland was evidenced by a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) whereas lipid peroxidation levels were increased at CuONP 7 or 21 µg/L. Superoxide dismutase activity was numerically higher at lower concentration of CuONP at 1 day but significantly decreased at 5 days. Catalase activity was reduced at 2 days but elevated at lower concentration of CuONP at 5 days. DNA impairment was noted in L. luteola based upon comet assay findings and expressed in terms of % tail DNA and olive tail moment. Results indicate that interaction of CuONP with snail produces toxicity, which is mediated by oxidative stress.