In vitro characteristics of human fetal cells obtained from chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis

In vitro characteristics of human fetal cells have been investigated after chorionic villus sampling at the first trimester and amniocentesis at the second trimester of pregnancy. Light microscopy revealed heterogeneous morphology of cell types in both the chorionic villus culture and the amniotic fluid cultures. Based on the experiments performed, chorionic villus cells are more sensitive to pronase, trypsin, and versene during subculture and have a higher DNA content per single cell and release more [¹²⁵I]-Beta-human chorionic gonadotropin into culture medium than those found in amniotic fluid cells. The practical applications of this study are discussed.     

Circulating ‘trophoblast’ cells in pregnancy have maternal genetic markers

A syncytiotrophoblast-associated antigen identified by the monoclonal antibody (McAb) H315 is detectable on the surface of a low proportion of peripheral blood cells in pregnant women, raising the possibility of a new approach to prenatal diagnosis of genetic disorders. We aimed at verifying the trophoblastic origin of H315⁺ cells and their use for prenatal diagnosis of β-thalassaemia. H315 ⁺ cells were separated from the peripheral blood of pregnant women: the DNA obtained from these cells in two selected cases was shown to have genetic markers indistinguishable from those of the mother and definitely different from the fetus. Our results suggest that H315 antigen is expressed by maternal cells and that prenatal diagnosis on peripheral blood of the mother using H315 McAb is not feasible.     

Prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis using linked DNA probes

This paper presents data collected in Europe on 107 prenatal diagnoses of cystic fibrosis (CF) using linked DNA markers. To date, 38 children have been born without CF, as predicted, demonstrating the present rapid move from research to clinical genetic service.     

A routine method for storing lymphocytes for repeated isolation of DNA

A protocol for easy storage and later expansion of lymphocyte populations is given. Compared with methods using transformed cell lines, the method has a number of advantages for repeated production of cells for the isolation of DNA in amounts sufficient for use in diagnostic DNA technology.     

Relationships between regulated DBPs and emerging DBPs of health concern in U.S. drinking water

A survey was conducted at eight U.S. drinking water plants, that spanned a wide range of water qualities and treatment/disinfection practices. Plants that treated heavily-wastewater-impacted source waters had lower trihalomethane to dihaloacetonitrile ratios due to the presence of more organic nitrogen and HAN precursors. As the bromide to total organic carbon ratio increased, there was more bromine incorporation into DBPs. This has been shown in other studies for THMs and selected emerging DBPs (HANs), whereas this study examined bromine incorporation for a wider group of emerging DBPs (haloacetaldehydes, halonitromethanes). Moreover, bromine incorporation into the emerging DBPs was, in general, similar to that of the THMs. Epidemiology studies that show an association between adverse health effects and brominated THMs may be due to the formation of brominated emerging DBPs of heath concern. Plants with higher free chlorine contact times before ammonia addition to form chloramines had less iodinated DBP formation in chloraminated distribution systems, where there was more oxidation of the iodide to iodate (a sink for the iodide) by the chlorine. This has been shown in many bench-scale studies (primarily for iodinated THMs), but seldom in full-scale studies (where this study also showed the impact on total organic iodine. Collectively, the THMs, haloacetic acids, and emerging DBPs accounted for a significant portion of the TOCl, TOBr, and TOI; however, ∼50% of the TOCl and TOBr is still unknown. The correlation of the sum of detected DBPs with the TOCl and TOBr suggests that they can be used as reliable surrogates.     

稻田土菌群驯化对稻秆两步发酵产甲烷效果的影响

为提高稻秆的降解率及其厌氧发酵甲烷产量,采用高氨氮畜禽废水作为氮源以驯化稻田土壤微生物,优化其降解稻秆的初始pH值,并评估水解产物液体发酵产甲烷性能.结果表明,混合组驯化的微生物产纤维素酶活性及对稻秆木质素的降解率高于其它组及先前文献报道,分别达到4.01 IU和51.96%,且后期水解液中总有机碳（Total organic carbon, TOC）及还原糖含量最高.随着初始pH值的提高,稻秆中纤维素、半纤维素和木质素的降解率显著增加,稻秆水解液中的挥发性脂肪酸（Volatile fatty acids, VFAs）和TOC含量均显著增加,并在第7 d达到最高值.将水解稻秆7 d的水解液进行厌氧发酵显示,在初始pH=9.0条件下累积甲烷产量达到最大,为37.60 mL·mL^-1水解液.本实验结果表明, 驯化的稻田土微生物在碱性条件下可以更有效地降解稻秆,提高水解液中TOC及VFAs含量,从而提高厌氧发酵的甲烷产量.     

两相一体式污泥浓缩消化(TISTD)反应器微生物多样性研究

针对课题组开发的两相一体式污泥浓缩消化反应器(TISTD),采用16S rDNA、PCR-TGGE等分子生物学技术,对反应器在不同阶段稳态下的内、外反应室中微生物的多样性和种群结构进行了研究.结果表明:TISTD反应器内外反应室中微生物群落均呈现高度的多样性分布,优势菌群明显,群落结构差异性很大,且外反应室较内反应室具有更多的微生物种群数量,外室是水解酸化的场所,污泥在外室经过微生物的水解酸化后进入内室,内室是严格厌氧的产甲烷场所;从反应器运行的不同时期来看,反应器中微生物优势种群呈现一定的差异,随着反应器负荷的改变,微生物的群落结构和种群数量也呈现出明显的演替过程,优势种群的功能地位处在动态变化中.微生物种群之间通过协同和竞争作用,形成了特定生态位的群落结构.研究结果解释了TISTD反应器同时浓缩和消化的工作机理,并为其推广、应用及优化调控提供了理论基础.