污水回用中主要病原菌解析及其紫外消毒效应

本研究以污水处理厂二级出水中的微生物为研究对象,通过454焦磷酸测序技术分析其群落结构组成,揭示了主要病源菌的种类和比例;通过培养法、q PCR、Q-RT-PCR这3种方法分析紫外剂量为60 m J·cm-2时对指示菌大肠杆菌和典型病原菌沙门氏菌及分枝杆菌的去除特性.结果表明,二级出水中共有11种病原菌,主要为梭菌属(2.96%)、弓形杆菌属(0.82%)和分枝杆菌(0.36%).60 m J·cm-2剂量的紫外消毒可以有效去除99.9%可培养的大肠杆菌和沙门氏菌,对可培养分枝杆菌的去除率不足90%.但是,该剂量紫外消毒对活性大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌和分枝杆菌的去除率较低,Q-RT-PCR检测方法可以较准确评价微生物的存活状态.60 m J·cm-2紫外剂量会导致大量病原菌进入具有活性但不可培养(VBNC)状态,需结合其他深度处理工艺进一步去除活性病原菌以保障污水回用的安全利用.     

Variation with Land Use of Immune Function and Prevalence of Avian Pox in Galapagos Finches

Introduced disease has been implicated in recent wildlife extinctions and population declines worldwide. Both anthropogenic‐induced change and natural environmental features can affect pathogen spread. Furthermore, environmental disturbance can result in changes in stress physiology, nutrition, and social structure, which in turn can suppress immune system function. However, it remains unknown whether landscape variation results in heterogeneity in host resistance to pathogens. Avian pox virus, a pathogen implicated in avian declines and extinctions in Hawaii, was introduced to the Galapagos in the 1890s, and prevalence (total number of current infections) has increased recently in finches. We tested whether prevalence and recovery trends in 7 species of Galapagos finches varied by elevation or human land use. To do so, we used infection data obtained from 545 wild‐caught birds. In addition, we determined whether annual changes in 4 aspects of innate immune function (complement protein activity, natural antibody activity, concentration of PIT54 protein, and heterophil:lymphocyte ratio) varied by elevation or land use. Prevalence and recovery rates did not vary by elevation from 2008 to 2009. Avian pox prevalence and proportion of recovered individuals in undeveloped and urban areas did not change from 2008 to 2009. In agricultural areas, avian pox prevalence increased 8‐fold (from 2% to 17% of 234 individuals sampled) and proportion of recovered individuals increased (11% to 19%) from 2008 to 2009. These results suggest high disease‐related mortality. Variation in immune function across human land‐use types correlated with variation in both increased prevalence and susceptibility, which indicates changes in innate immune function may underlie changes in disease susceptibility. Our results suggest anthropogenic disturbance, in particular agricultural practices, may underlie immunological changes in host species that themselves contribute to pathogen emergence. Variación con el Uso de Suelo de la Función Inmune y la Prevalencia de la Varicela Aviar en Pinzones de las Galápagos     

Preemptive and Salvage Harvesting of New England Forests: When Doing Nothing Is a Viable Alternative

Abstract:  One unexpected consequence of natural disturbances in forested areas is that managers often initiate activities that may impose greater ecosystem impacts than the disturbances themselves. By salvage logging areas affected by windstorms or other impacts, by harvesting host trees in advance of insect infestation or disease, or by preemptively harvesting forests in an attempt to improve their resilience to future disturbances and stresses, managers initiate substantial changes in the ecosystem structure and function. Much of this activity is undertaken in the absence of information on the qualitative and quantitative differences between disturbance impacts and harvesting. To provide insight for such decisions we evaluated the ecosystem consequences of two major disturbance processes in New England (U.S.A.)—intense windstorms and invasive pests and pathogens—and contrasted them with impacts from preemptive and salvage harvesting. Despite dramatic physical changes in forest structure resulting from hurricane impacts and insect infestation, little disruption of biogeochemical processes or other ecosystem functions typically follows these disturbances. Indeed, the physical and organic structures produced by these disturbances are important natural features providing habitat and landscape heterogeneity that are often missing due to centuries of land use. From an ecosystem perspective there are strong arguments against preemptive and salvage logging or the attempt through silvicultural means to improve the resistance or resilience of forests to disturbance and stress. There are often valid motivations for salvage or preemptive logging including financial considerations, human safety, and a desire to shape the long-term composition and resource-production characteristics of forests. Nonetheless, there are many ecological benefits derived from leaving forests alone when they are affected or threatened by disturbances and pest and pathogen outbreaks.     

环境污染与植物病害

本文讨论了环境污染物与植物病害的某些已知关系。污染物可以直接或通过作用于寄主植物影响病原接种体及其侵入后的扩展,影响植物体表微生物群落,改变各类有害生物的资源竞争格局,从而改变双方寄生关系的建立和发展模式,对发病率和严重度产生影响。而且,病害对植物生理状况的改变还将影响植株对污染物伤害的敏感性。污染物的这些作用都是依赖于特定植物病原组合的。     

Infectious Diseases and Extinction Risk in Wild Mammals

Abstract:  Parasite-driven declines in wildlife have become increasingly common and can pose significant risks to natural populations. We used the IUCN Red List of Threatened and Endangered Species and compiled data on hosts threatened by infectious disease and their parasites to better understand the role of infectious disease in contemporary host extinctions. The majority of mammal species considered threatened by parasites were either carnivores or artiodactyls, two clades that include the majority of domesticated animals. Parasites affecting host threat status were predominantly viruses and bacteria that infect a wide range of host species, including domesticated animals. Counter to our predictions, parasites transmitted by close contact were more likely to cause extinction risk than those transmitted by other routes. Mammal species threatened by parasites were not better studied for infectious diseases than other threatened mammals and did not have more parasites or differ in four key traits demonstrated to affect parasite species richness in other comparative studies. Our findings underscore the need for better information concerning the distribution and impacts of infectious diseases in populations of endangered mammals. In addition, our results suggest that evolutionary similarity to domesticated animals may be a key factor associated with parasite-mediated declines; thus, efforts to limit contact between domesticated hosts and wildlife could reduce extinction risk.     

Temporal genetic variability and host sources of Escherichia coli associated with fecal pollution from domesticated animals in the shellfish culture environment of Xiangshan Bay, East China Sea

This study was conducted to analyze the genetic variability of Escherichia coli from domesticated animal wastes for microbial source tracking (MST) application in fecal contaminated shellfish growing waters of Xiangshan Bay, East China Sea. (GTG)₅ primer was used to generate 1363 fingerprints from E. coli isolated from feces of known 9 domesticated animal sources around this shellfish culture area. Jackknife analysis of the complete (GTG)₅-PCR DNA fingerprint library indicated that isolates were assigned to the correct source groups with an 84.28% average rate of correct classification. Based on one-year source tracking data, the dominant sources of E. coli were swine, chickens, ducks and cows in this water area. Moreover, annual and spatial changes of E. coli concentrations and host sources may affect the level and distribution of zoonotic pathogen species in waters. Our findings will further contribute to preventing fecal pollution in aquatic environments and quality control of shellfish.     

Investigating the Fate and Transport of Escherichia coli in the Charles River,Boston, Using High‐Resolution Observation and Modeling1

Abstract: The processes affecting the fate and transport of Escherichia coli in surface waters were investigated using high‐resolution observation and modeling. The concentration patterns in Boston’s Charles River were observed during four sampling events with a total of 757 samples, including two spatial surveys with two along‐river (1,500 m length) and three across‐river (600 m length) transects at approximately 25‐m intervals, and two temporal surveys at a fixed location (Community Boating) over seven days at hourly intervals. The data reveal significant spatial and temporal structure at scales not resolved by typical monitoring programs. A mechanistic, time‐variable, three‐dimensional coupled hydrodynamic and water quality model was developed using the ECOMSED and RCA modeling frameworks. The computational grid consists of 3,066 grid cells with average length dimension of 25 m. Forcing functions include upstream and downstream boundary conditions, Stony Brook, and Muddy River (major tributaries) combined sewer overflow (CSO) and non‐CSO discharge and wind. The model generally reproduces the observed spatial and temporal patterns. This includes the presence and absence of a plume in the study area under similar loading, but different hydrodynamic conditions caused by operation of the New Charles River Dam (downstream) and wind. The model also correctly predicts an episode of high concentrations at the time‐series station following seven days of no rainfall. The model has an overall root mean square error (RMSE) of 250 CFU/100 ml and an error rate (above or below the USEPA‐recommended single sample criteria value of 235 CFU/100 ml) of 9.4%. At the time series station, the model has an RMSE of 370 CFU/100 ml and an error rate of 15%.     

繁茂膜海绵生物修复养殖水体中病原体的初步研究

研究繁茂膜海绵(Hymeniacidon perleve)滤食近海养殖水体中病原体细菌.海绵处理海水24 h后,海水中总大肠菌群、弧菌和总细菌分别比初始数量降低55.%～91.%、55.%～96.%和25.%～95.%.海绵滤食总大肠菌群、弧菌和总细菌速率分别在4.～105./(h·g)、1.×104～3.×104/(h·g)和2.×106～48.×106/(h·g),且滤食速率随细菌初始数量的加大而增加.当初始细菌总数在55×104～250×104/mL范围内,海绵滤食细菌的速率与细菌初始数量成线性正相关,其斜率为0.2.     

人工湿地系统中微生物的研究进展

微生物在人工湿地系统净化污水过程中发挥着重要作用。文章介绍了人工湿地系统中微生物的研究进展,重点讨论了人工湿地对病原微生物的去除以及系统基质中微生物的种群和活性等内容。     

PCR技术对水中病原体的检测

水中有病毒、细菌、原生动物、蠕虫等多种病原体。常规的检测方法是用大肠菌作为病原体的指示生物,但是大肠菌的生存特性与病毒、原生动物差异较大,难以指示病毒、原生动物的存在与否。对每一种病原体单独进行检测,费时、费力。由于PCR技术具有快速、灵敏、特异的特点,使得它对于水中病原体的检测具有较高的应用价值。