Effect of endophyte-infection on growth parameters and Cd-induced phytotoxicity of Cd-hyperaccumulator Solanum nigrum L

The aim of this work was to evaluate effects of endophytic bacterium inoculation on plant growth and assess the possible mechanism of endophyte in heavy metal phytoremediation. Seeds of Solanum nigrum L. were inoculated with endophyte Serratia nematodiphila LRE07 and were subjected to Cd in the growing medium. Cd produced a significant inhibition on plant growth and a reduction in the content of photosynthetic pigments. The inoculation of endophytic bacterium alleviated the Cd-induced changes, resulting in more biomass production and higher photosynthetic pigments content of leaves compared with non-symbiotic ones. The beneficial effect was more obvious at relatively low Cd concentration (10 μM). Based on the alteration of nutrient uptake and activated oxygen metabolism in infected plants, the possible mechanisms of endophytic bacterium in Cd phytotoxicity reduction can be concluded as uptake enhancement of essential mineral nutrition and improvement in the antioxidative enzymes activities in infected plant.     

Amniotic fluid microvillar enzyme activities in the early detection of fetal abnormalities

Measurement of the microvillar enzymes, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP), aminopeptidase M (APM) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), in amniotic fluid supernatant has been proposed as a method for the early prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. The activities of these enzymes in a series of other fetal abnormalities have now been examined. GGTP activities were below the 5th percentile in 28 out of 54 cases of trisomy 21 and 9 of 14 cases of trisomy 18, while APM values were below this cut-off in 26 of 54 cases of trisomy 21 and 8 of 14 cases of trisomy 18. Abnormal ALP isoenzyme ratios were found in 6 of 54 cases of trisomy 21 and 4 of 14 cases of trisomy 18. If prenatal cytogenetic studies are routinely carried out on amniotic fluid cells, the occasional confounding effect of abnormal microvillar enzymes associated with fetal trisomies rather than with cystic fibrosis should be avoided.     

Effect of a mixture of flufenacet and isoxaflutole on population numbers of soil-dwelling microorganisms,enzymatic activity of soil,and maize yield

Abstract

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of a mixture of flufenacet?+?isoxaflutole on counts of microorganisms, ecophysiological diversity index (EP), colony development index (CD) and on the enzymatic activity of soil and maize growth. The experiment was conducted with sandy clay, to which the tested herbicide was administered in doses of: 0.25, 5.0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160?mg/kg. Soil without the addition of the mixture served as the control. Results demonstrated that the tested mixture contributed to a decrease in numbers of Azotobacter, organotrophic bacteria, actinobacteria and fungi. The negative effect of the herbicide could also be noticed in the case of the enzymatic activity of soil. Soil contamination contributed to suppressed activities of dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, alkaline phosphatase and arylsulfatase. In turn, the initial increase in the activity of β-glucosidase was followed by its decline observed with time. The flufenacet?+?isoxaflutole mixture affected also maize plant growth, reducing maize dry matter yield when used at doses from 5.0 to 160?mg/kg. In summary, it may be concluded that mixture evokes a negative effect on the microbiological and biochemical activity of soil and that their excess in the soil leads to plant decay as at the seeding stage.     

Inhibitory Effects on Esterase Enzymes Buche and Ache in Rainbow Trout (Oncorhyncus mykiss) Produced by the Slow Release Insecticide Chitosan Diethyl Phosphate

The study on the toxicity of chitosan diethyl phosphate (ChDP), a controlled release insecticide, on the activities of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in rainbow trout exposed to this pesticide was carried out. It was found that ChDP reduced BuChE activity in O. mykiss by a factor of eight at 6 days, with high fluctuation to the end of the exposition time at 12 days. The in vitro analysis of brain AChE treated with ChDP and Phenamiphos showed that it was competitively inhibited by both organophosphates. The values obtained for K_m and V_max for the AChE-ChDP (K_m: 21.23 μ M; V_max: 43.10 μ mol/min/g) and AChE-Phenamiphos (K_m: 38.62 μ M; V_max: 38.91 μ mol/min/g) systems were relatively low compared to values of the AChE (control) system (K_m: 62.99 μ M; V_max: 63.29 μ mol/min/g). Results reported in this study confirmed that chitosan diethyl phosphate performs similarly to organophosphate pesticides, producing inhibition in cholinesterases in rainbow trout.     

Methylobacterium sp.TP-1好氧降解四溴双酚A机理及其功能酶研究

四溴双酚A(Tetrabromobisphenol A,TBBPA)是目前使用最广泛的溴代阻燃剂之一,在各种环境介质中普遍存在,对人体健康具有潜在危害.本研究从沉积物中筛选得到一株可降解TBBPA的菌株,命名为TP-1,经16S rDNA序列分析鉴定为甲基杆菌(Methylobacterium sp.).在pH=7的条件下反应60 h,菌株TP-1对初始浓度为10 mg·L~(-1)的TBBPA降解率为74.87%.采用HPLC-MS测定TBBPA的降解产物,发现主要产物为二溴双酚A、双酚A、4-对羟基苯乙酮和二溴化芳香族化合物,其降解方式主要为β断裂、还原脱溴和氧化,进而初步推测出其降解途径.在此基础上,基于KEGG数据库分析菌株TP-1降解TBBPA的分子生物学机制,依据模拟降解途径和KEGG注释结果推测菌株TP-1降解TBBPA的功能酶为过氧化氢酶(EC:1.11.1.6)、卤代烷脱卤酶(EC:3.8.1.5)、卤乙酸脱卤酶(EC:3.8.1.3)和单加氧酶(EC:1.14.13.7).对这4种酶同源性和编码基因进行对比分析表明,这4种酶与甲基杆菌属菌株的相应功能酶均具有较高的同源性,且相应的基因簇在甲基杆菌属菌株中均具有较好的同线性,据此推测甲基杆菌属的多数菌株具有TBBPA降解能力.本研究可从分子水平阐述TBBPA的微生物降解机制,为相关研究提供有益参考.     

Nickel accumulation and its effect on biomass, protein content and antioxidative enzymes in roots and leaves of watercress （Nasturtium officinale R. Br.）

In order to understand its response towards nickel stress, watercress (Nasturtium o cinale R. Br.) was exposed to nickel (1–25 mg/L) for 1, 3, 5 and 7 days. The accumulation and translocation of nickel were determined and the influence of nickel on biomass, protein content and enzymatic antioxidants was examined for both roots and leaves. It was determined that N. o cinale could accumulate appreciable amounts of Ni in both roots and leaves. Nickel accumulated particularly in the roots of plants. Biomass increased at low nickel concentrations but certain measurable change was not found at high concentrations. Under stress conditions the antioxidant enzymes were up-regulated compared to control. An increase in protein content and enzyme activities was observed at moderate exposure conditions followed by a decline at both roots and leaves. The maximum enzyme activities were observed at di erent exposure conditions. Our results showed that N. o cinale had the capacity to overcome nickel-induced stress especially at moderate nickel exposure. Therefore, N. o cinale may be used as a phytoremediator in moderately polluted aquatic ecosystems.     

栉孔扇贝对8:2FTCA的代谢转化与氧化应激响应

以栉孔扇贝（Chlamys farreri）为受试生物,研究了栉孔扇贝对8：2氟调聚羧酸（8：2FTCA）的代谢转化特征以及代谢过程中靶器官的氧化应激响应.结果发现,栉孔扇贝可将8：2FTCA转化为8：2氟调聚不饱和酸（8：2FTUCA）、7：3氟调聚羧酸（7：3FTCA）、全氟辛酸（PFOA）、全氟壬酸（PFNA）和全氟庚酸（PFHpA）等代谢产物.栉孔扇贝鳃和肝脏中代谢产物总量最高,为8：2FTCA的主要代谢靶器官.与本课题组前期虾夷扇贝的相关研究相比,8：2FTCA在栉孔扇贝与虾夷扇贝体内的生物转化行为主要有3方面相似之处：检测到的代谢产物相同、代谢靶器官相同以及鳃是最终代谢产物PFOA生成和蓄积的主要场所;不同之处主要体现在栉孔扇贝中代谢产物以7：3FTCA占比较高,虾夷扇贝中则是PFOA占比较高.同时在8：2FTCA暴露过程中,栉孔扇贝靶器官的关键抗氧化酶出现了一定的应激效应.丙二醛（MDA）和谷胱甘肽（GSH）等氧化应激指标以及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）,超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）等抗氧化酶系出现不同程度变化：GSH-Px在整个代谢转化过程中呈现抑制效应;SOD,CAT活性在鳃中呈诱导效应,而在肝脏中呈现明显的剂量-效应关系,低剂量组中均呈抑制效应,高剂量组中大部分时间呈诱导效应.GSH和MDA含量不仅表现出剂量-效应关系,组织间也存在差异.暴露实验结束后,生理指标均有不同程度恢复.     

Pb、Zn及其交互作用对蜈蚣草抗氧化酶及叶绿素含量的影响

采用水培实验的方法,研究了Pb、Zn及其交互作用对蜈蚣草抗氧化酶及叶绿素含量的影响.实验结果显示,Pb浓度在0—50 mg·L-1时,蜈蚣草叶绿素含量随Zn浓度增加逐渐升高、MDA含量逐渐降低,Pb、Zn交互作用可促进植株叶绿素合成.Pb浓度在100—400 mg·L-1时,Pb、Zn交互作用则降低叶绿素含量;在Pb浓度400 mg·L-1时,Pb、Zn交互作用显著增加MDA含量.实验结果还显示,在Pb浓度固定时,蜈蚣草叶片SOD、CAT的活性随Zn浓度增加呈现先上升后下降的趋势;POD随着Zn处理浓度的增加持续增加.在Zn浓度一定时,蜈蚣草叶片SOD、CAT、POD的活性随Pb浓度增加先上升后下降.由此可见,在低Pb、Zn浓度下,Pb、Zn交互作用表现为协同作用;在高Pb、Zn浓度下,Pb、Zn交互作用表现为拮抗作用.     

Chronic mixture toxicity study of Clophen A60 and diethyl phthalate in male rats

Chemical mixtures are an important area of research as individuals are exposed to low doses of persistent chemical agents known as environmental pollutants throughout their life time. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and diethyl phthalate (DEP) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that could be present in the same environmental compartment; hence organisms may get simultaneously exposed to both. Therefore, a study was undertaken to see whether PCB and DEP together show interactive chronic mixture toxicity in male Wistar rats. Healthy male Wistar rats weighing 70–100?g were randomly assigned to four groups of six each. Control rats were fed on normal diet and water ad libitum. Oil control rats were maintained on a normal diet mixed with corn oil. Rats were given Clophen A60 (PCB) and DEP dissolved individually in corn oil mixed with the diet at 50?mg?kg^?1 of the diet/day, as well as a mixture in corn oil mixed with the diet both at 50?mg?kg^?1 of the diet/day. After 150 days of treatment animals were sacrificed and enzymes and other biochemical parameters in the serum and liver were assessed. Liver weight to body weight ratio showed a significant increase in Clophen A60 and in Clophen A60?+?DEP treated rats. In the DEP, Clophen A60 and Clophen A60?+?DEP treated groups there was significant increase in liver and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activity. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) was significantly increased in the liver and serum of DEP treated rats only. Cholesterol levels were significantly increased only in the serum and the liver of DEP treated rats. Triglyceride levels were significantly increased in the serum of treated rats and only in the liver of Clophen A60 and Clophen A60?+?DEP treated rats. Liver glycogen levels were significantly increased in DEP and Clophen A60?+?DEP treated rats. In all treated animals, there was a significant decrease in liver glutathione reductase (GR). Histology of liver showed severe vacuolations, fatty degeneration and loss of hepatic architecture in Clophen A60 and Clophen A60?+?DEP treated rats, whereas in DEP treated rats only loss of hepatic architecture and granular deposits in the hepatocytes was predominant with mild vacuolations of centrilobular and periportal area. It is evident from this study of mixture toxicity of Clophen A60 and DEP that there is no significantly enhanced toxicity due to the interaction of these two compounds. On the other hand, to some extent there is alleviation in toxicity as evidenced by enzyme ACP and AST levels in the liver. The hepatocellular damage and biliary congestion caused by these two compounds, which can be confirmed by significantly increased liver weights and elevated serum and liver enzyme levels as well as histology, was almost the same between individual and mixture treated group.