Overexpression of NADH oxidase gene from Deinococcus geothermalis in Escherichia coli

When using stable enzyme genes from a thermophile to create a biosensor in Escherichia coli, it is vital that these genes be overexpressed in order to provide a sufficient supply of enzymes. In this study, overexpression of the NADH oxidase (Nox) gene from the thermophile Deinococcus geothermalis was successfully achieved with the aim of creating a stable biosensor active at room temperatures. To do so, modification of 10 nucleotides, GAAATTAACT, upstream of the start codon of the Nox gene was necessary.     

Effect of sediment size on bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated sediments of Izmir Inner Bay

The effect of sediment size on metals bioleaching from bay sediments was investigated by using fine (< 45 μm), medium (45-300 μm), and coarse (300-2000 μm) size fractions of a sediment sample contaminated with Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn. Chemical speciation of the metals in bulk and size fractions of sediment were studied before and after bioleaching. Microbial activity was provided with mixed cultures of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans and Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans. The bioleaching process was carried out in flask experiments for 48 days, by using 5% (W/V) of solid concentration in suspension. Bioleaching was found to be efficient for the removal of selected heavy metals from every size fraction of sediments, where the experiments with the smaller particles resulted in the highest solubilization ratios. At the end of the experimental period, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were solubilized to the ratios of 68%, 88%, 72%, and 91% from the fine sediment, respectively. Higher removal efficiencies can be explained by the larger surface area provided by the smaller particles. The changes in the chemical forms of metals were determined and most of the metal releases were observed from the reducible and organic fractions independent from grain size. Higher concentrations were monitored in the residual fraction after bioleaching period, suggesting they are trapped in this fraction, and cannot be solubilized under natural conditions.     

Soil microbial community structure and function responses to successive planting of Eucalyptus

Many studies have shown soil degradation after the conversion of native forests to exotic Eucalyptus plantations. However, few studies have investigated the long-term impacts of short-rotation forestry practices on soil microorganisms. The impacts of Eucalyptus successive rotations on soil microbial communities were evaluated by comparing phospholipid fatty acid （PLFA） abundances, compositions, and enzyme activities of native Pinus massoniana plantations and adjacent 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th generation Eucalyptus plantations. The conversion from P. massoniana to Eucalyptus plantations significantly decreased soil microbial community size and enzyme activities, and increased microbial physiological stress. However, the PLFA abundances formed ＂U＂ shaped quadratic functions with Eucalyptus plantation age. Alternatively, physiological stress biomarkers, the ratios of monounsaturated to saturated fatty acid and Gram＋ to Gram- bacteria, formed ＂∩＂ shaped quadratic functions, and the ratio of cy17：0 to 16： 1ω7c decreased with plantation age. The activities of phenol oxidase, peroxidase, and acid phosphatase increased with Eucalyptus plantation age, while the cellobiobydrolase activity formed ＂U＂ shaped quadratic functions. Soil N：P, alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen, soil organic carbon, and understory cover largely explained the variation in PLFA profiles while soil N：P, alkaline hydrolytic nitrogen, and understory cover explained most of the variability in enzyme activity. In conclusion, soil microbial structure and function under Eucalyptus plantations were strongly impacted by plantation age. Most of the changes could be explained by altered soil resource availability and understory cover associated with successive planting of Eucalyptus. Our results highlight the importance of plantation age for assessing the impacts of plantation conversion as well as the importance of reducing disturbance for plantation management.     

磁性多孔陶粒生物膜反应器处理焦化废水的试验研究

以磁性材料为原料,经过特定的工艺处理,对多孔陶瓷进行磁化改性获得磁性多孔载体,并将该载体应用于生物膜反应器中进行焦化废水处理试验。对不同类型的多孔陶粒载体进行对比试验,结果表明:磁性载体生物膜反应器对COD、NH3-N的去除率比普通活性污泥法高出25%³0%,比非载体生物膜反应器高出15%30%,比非载体生物膜反应器高出15%²0%左右。反应器的曝气量为1.5 L/h,曝气时间为10 h/d,温度为2520%左右。反应器的曝气量为1.5 L/h,曝气时间为10 h/d,温度为25³0℃。焦化废水经磁性载体生物膜反应器处理后,上清液中COD,NH3-N的去除率均在90%左右。出水浓度达到国家工业废水排放二级标准(GB18918-2002)。     

丛枝菌对转Bt基因棉根际土壤营养物质及酶活性的影响

转Bt基因抗虫棉已在全球范围内广泛种植,然而Bt棉根际分泌物是否会影响土壤理化性质及土壤功能尚缺乏深入研究。通过盆栽实验方法,设计不同的棉花品种与是否接种丛枝菌总共4个处理,以此研究Bt棉和接种丛枝菌根真菌对植物根际土壤营养物质含量以及土壤酶活性的影响。结果显示:丛枝菌可以使non-Bt棉和Bt棉根际土壤营养物质中的土壤有机质和土壤总氮含量显著增加,但是对根际土壤全磷却鲜有影响。转基因对于不同品种棉花根际土壤酶,丛枝菌均能有效增强其活性。由此表明,丛枝菌对Bt棉和non-Br棉根际土壤环境均具有改善作用。     

中国大气中重金属钒的排放特征

化石燃料原油和原煤的燃烧、含钒矿石的开采和冶炼是大气中重金属钒的主要来源。文章利用重金属钒的排放系数分析了中国1978-2010年人为过程释放到大气中重金属钒的总量和行业重金属钒的排放,预测了2020年和2030年中国大气中重金属钒的排放量。结果表明,自1978年以来,中国钒的排放量增加了4倍,中国2010年人类活动向大气排放的重金属钒总量达3.18万吨,约占世界总量的12%。原油燃烧释放到大气中的钒约占总量的85%,煤炭燃烧的排放量占10.5%,其中工业耗油向大气中释放重金属钒的比例从1980的71%下降到2008年的42%,总量从3 721 t增加至9 361 t;交通运输行业从10%上升到36%,总量从547 t增加至7 967 t;其它行业(农林牧渔水利业、批发零售业和住宿餐饮业、生活消费)基本维持在20%左右,总量从986 t增加至5 052 t。因此,应加强大气中钒的监测和管理,预防大气钒污染事件的发生。     

高效木薯渣分解复合菌群RXS的构建及其发酵特性研究

从富含腐烂纤维质的环境中取样,通过以木薯渣及滤纸为碳源的蛋白胨纤维素培养基不断地富集培养,构建了一组高效稳定的纤维质分解复合菌群.考察了该复合菌群对不同纤维质底物的分解性能及其在木薯渣水解过程中主要参数的变化.研究发现该复合菌群对滤纸、脱脂棉、微晶纤维素、麦秸秆和木薯渣等原料均能够进行有效的降解.在该复合菌群应用于木薯渣的水解过程中,监测发现纤维素酶、半纤维素酶、果胶酶等关键酶的酶活力分别在第2～3 d达到最大值34.4、90.5和15.8U;经过10 d的发酵后,木薯渣中的纤维素、半纤维素及木质素分别降解了79.8%、85.9%和19.4%,且木薯渣的失重高达61.5%;此外,代谢产物主要是乙酸、丁酸、己酸和甘油;而溶解性COD、总糖和总挥发酸的变化表明第2 d时木薯渣的水解率最高.上述结果表明,该复合菌群能够有效地水解木薯燃料酒精生产过程中的废弃物木薯渣,并有望用于木薯渣高效沼气发酵的前处理中.     

应用分子生物学与同位素示踪技术研究厌氧氨氧化菌活性及功效

厌氧氨氧化是一个新发现的氮循环途径,与反硝化作用都产生氮气,但准确衡量厌氧氨氧化活性及功效的相关方法还是个难题.本研究联合应用分子生物学与同位索示踪技术,以北京某污水处理厂的活性污泥为实验样品,研究其中厌氧氨氧化菌的存在、活性和功效.厌氧氨氧化菌的分子生物学分析是通过16S rRNA进行,选择两步引物分别为pla46-...     

江西省陆地生态系统氮平衡的时空分布规律研究

利用系统物质平衡模型,对1995-2005年江西省陆地生态系统的N收支平衡进行了核算,并分析了不同来源N收支量的时间序列特征以及N盈余强度的空间分布特征,探讨了自然灾害和政策实施对N平衡的影响.结果表明:江西省陆地生态系统的N输入量变化范围是(155.5-184.2)×107kg·a-1,平均值为168.5 ×107 ...     

Antimicrobial activity of thin metallic silver flakes, waste products of a manufacturing process

The aim of the research was to develop new products and processes from a manufacturing waste from an Italian metallurgic company. The company produced thin silver metallic films and the production scraps were silver flakes. The possibility to use the silver flakes in water disinfection processes was studied. The antimicrobial activity of the flakes was investigated in batch using Escherichia coli as Gram-negative microorganism model. The flakes did not show any antimicrobial activity, so they were activated with two different processes: thermal activation in reducing atmosphere and chemical activation, obtaining, respectively, reduced flakes (RF) and chemical flakes (CF). The flakes, activated with either treatment, showed antimicrobial activity against E. coli. The kill rate was dependent on the type of activated flakes. The chemical flakes were more efficient than reduced flakes. The kill rate determined for 1 g of CF, 1.0 ± 0.2 min⁻¹, was greater than the kill rate determined for 1 g of RF, 0.069 ± 0.004 min⁻¹. This was confirmed also by the minimum inhibitory concentration values. It was demonstrated that the antimicrobial capability was dependent on flakes amount and on the type of aqueous medium. Furthermore, the flakes maintained their properties also when used a second time. Finally, the antimicrobial activities of flakes were tested in an effluent of a wastewater treatment plant where a variety of heterotrophic bacteria were present.