Relation of hepatic EROD activity and CYP1A level in Sebastiscus marmoratus exposed to benzo[a]pyrene

This study was designed to investigate the in vivo effects of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) on hepatic ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and its correlation with cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) protein levels in Sebastiscus marmoratus, which were exposed through a water column to BaP (10, 100, 1000 ng/L, respectively) or were treated with intraperitoneal injections of BaP (0.5, 1, 5, 10 mg/kg, respectively) every 7 d. The results showed that after 25 d of waterborne exposure to 1000 ng/L BaP, fish hepatic CYP1A levels and EROD activity were significantly induced. In contrast, EROD activity was not altered 7 d after second ip injections, whereas, CYP1A protein levels were increased. Dose-dependent increase of biliary BaP metabolites demonstrated that the catalytic activity of CYP1A was induced by treatment with BaP. The lowest observable effect concentration with regard to biliary BaP metabolites (100 ng/L) was much lower than that with reference to EROD activity (1000 ng/L). The results suggest that biliary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites were shown to better reflect the contamination gradients of PAHs than EROD activity. It appeared to be necessary to measure CYP1A protein levels to complement the EROD activity in relevant toxicological assessments.     

Identification and comprehensive evaluation of a novel biocontrol agent Bacillus atrophaeus JZB120050

Abstract

Bacillus spp. have long been used as biocontrol agents because of their efficient broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. We identified a novel strain of Bacillus atrophaeus, named JZB120050, from soil. B. atrophaeus JZB120050 had a strong inhibitory effect against Botrytis cinerea and many other phytopathogens. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that B. atrophaeus JZB120050 produced many secondary metabolites, such as alkanes, alkenes and acids; some of which were related to pathogen inhibition. Enzyme activity analysis showed that B. atrophaeus JZB120050 secreted cell-wall-degrading enzymes, including chitinase, glucanase and protease, which degraded fungal cell walls. Both the novel glucanase gene bglu and chitinase gene chit1 were cloned and heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and the products showed strong enzyme activity. In addition, B. atrophaeus JZB120050 secreted siderophores and formed a significant biofilm. Future studies should focus on these antimicrobial factors to facilitate widespread application in the field of agricultural biocontrol.     

耐盐类固醇激素降解菌交替赤杆菌MH-B5的降解特性、降解途径及其固定化

从咸水湖中分离得到1株具有类固醇激素降解能力的耐盐菌株,利用16S rRNA基因序列同源性分析确定菌株MH-B5属于交替赤杆菌属(Altererythrobacter),其可生长p H范围为5.5~9.0,可耐受盐度生长范围为0~7%,单碳降解实验表明该菌可以利用雌酮、雌二醇、雌三醇和睾酮.应用超高压液相色谱串联四级杆飞行时间质谱分析得出菌株降解睾酮的过程中主要中间代谢产物为4-雄烯二酮、宝丹酮和雄二烯二酮.应用单一载体和复合载体两种方法分别制备的菌株MH-B5固定化颗粒均可降解雌二醇,批次降解实验表明菌株MH-B5固定化颗粒可有效降解2 mg·L~(-1)雌二醇及其初级代谢产物雌酮.上述研究结果表明菌株MH-B5可在海水中生长良好,其能降解典型雌激素及雄激素睾酮,且经过微生物固定化过程后依然具有类固醇激素的降解特性,因此对类固醇激素污染的咸水环境修复,具有潜在应用前景.     

6-2氟调醇在活性污泥中的降解

为了解6-2氟调醇(6-2 FTOH)在城市污水处理厂活性污泥中的好氧降解规律,利用室内模拟实验装置,研究了6-2FTOH在未经稀释驯化的活性污泥中的降解动力学及降解产物分布.结果表明,6-2 FTOH能被活性污泥快速吸附并发生降解,降解反应符合一级动力学,半衰期为0.9d.降解产物包括6-2氟调酸(6-2 FTCA)、6-2不饱和氟调酸(6-2 FTUCA)、5-3氟调酸(5-3 FTCA)、5-2s氟调醇(5-2s FTOH)和全氟己酸(PFHxA).第28 d实验结束时,6-2 FTOH残留率为5.5％,6-2 FTCA和6-2 FTUCA的最终产率分别为0和1.2％.5-3FTCA、5-2s FTOH、PFHxA最终产率分别为23.4％、17.6％和1.3％.     

ZnO-NPs对好氧反硝化细菌Zobellella sp. B307的致毒机制

本文以一株筛自胶州湾沉积物中的好氧反硝化细菌Zobellella sp.B307为研究对象，在短期暴露条件下，通过细菌的生长、脱氮能力，相关酶活以及代谢途径等指标的变化，研究纳米氧化锌（ZnO-NPs）对该菌株的毒性效应；结合锌离子溶出试验、CAT和ROS等氧化应激水平测定，探讨ZnO-NPs对该菌株的致毒机制.结果表明，200mg/L的ZnO-NPs会使菌株硝酸盐氮去除率降至57.53%，LDH升高至对照组的378%，ROS水平高达对照组的5.34倍，SOD活性比对照组升高了60.32%，NIR活性仅为对照组的14.46%；ZnO-NPs主要通过诱导菌株活性氧的生成使其膜通透性改变、相关酶活性下降，并使相关蛋白质、氨基酸的合成及基因表达等代谢通路受到影响，进而抑制该菌株的反硝化能力；游离锌离子的产生可能不是ZnO-NPs对菌株的主要致毒途径.     

Organochlorine residues in maternal milk from inhabitants of the Thohoyandou area,South Africa

The presence of organochlorine compounds (OC) such as DDT and their metabolites in the environment have created a significant environmental concern over the years due to adverse effects. Consequently, DDT has been banned in many countries. However, it is still used in some countries including South Africa, particularly for vector-borne disease eradication programmes. Since the presence of DDT and its metabolites may provide an indication of the general exposure and use of these compounds, there was a need for such a study. Human breast milk samples (n = 30) were collected from mothers within the age range of 19–40 years from the Thohoyandou area, South Africa. The liquid–liquid extraction method was used to extract DDT and its metabolites from the samples. The crude extracts were subjected to column chromatography for measurements of OC levels. The concentration ranges of the contaminants were as follows: not detected (ND) to1770 ng g^?1 (2,4′-DDE); ND to 3977 ng g^?1 (4,4′-DDE); ND to 3250 ng g^?1 (2,4′-DDD); ND to 2580 ng g^?1 (4,4′-DDD) and ND to 2847 ng g^?1 (4,4′-DDT). The mean ΣDDE, ΣDDD and ΣDDT obtained from the villages were 1180 ng g^?1, 830 ng g^?1 and 690 ng g^?1, respectively. The total DDT ranged from 820–7473 ng g^?1. The estimated daily intake varied from 260 to 4696 ng g^?1, ND-10551 ng g^?1 and ND-4237 ng g^?1 for DDE, DDD and DDT, respectively. These values are significantly higher than the FAO/WHO acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 20 ng g^?1. The ΣDDT was found to decrease with increasing age of the mothers. The observed high levels of DDE compared to DDT indicated chronic exposure of the mothers to DDT, which is metabolized to DDE and retained in the body.     

Comparative in vitro metabolism of chloroxylenol,chlorophene, and triclosan with rat,mouse, and human hepatic microsomes

A number of studies have reported the presence of chlorinated phenols, commonly used as antiseptics, in the environment. Chloroxylenol, chlorophene, and triclosan are three such chemicals believed to have leached into water supplies through the wastewater treatment facilities. Understanding how these compounds are metabolized is important in determining the risks of chemical exposure. In this study, we compared the in vitro metabolism of these three chlorinated phenols with rat, mouse, and human liver microsomes. The structures of the metabolites formed during the microsomal reactions were identical when rat, mouse, and human liver extracts were used, but variations existed in the kinetics of the reactions.     

Effect of cadmium in the soil on growth,secondary metabolites and metal uptake in Salvia miltiorrhiza

We investigated the effect of Cd with different concentrations in soil (control, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 mg kg^?1) on Salvia miltiorrhiza. The growth of S. miltiorrhiza was examined at 90 and 120 d, while active components were tested at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 d; Cd uptake was measured at days 0, 90, and 120. The biomass data indicated that high Cd concentration can stimulate the accumulation of biomass after a long treatment. The Cd content in the above- and below-ground parts strongly corresponds to the bioavailable Cd extracted by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) and acetic acid. The Cd content in the below-ground parts of control approached the Cd standards given by World Health Organization after 120 d. The Cd content in the below-ground parts of S. miltiorrhiza at a Cd concentration of 0.5 mg kg^?1 exceeded the Cd standards after being grown for 90 and 120 days. The accumulation of hydrosoluble components in the above-ground parts appeared later than that in the below-ground parts. With longer treatment time, high Cd treatment promoted an accumulation of hydrosoluble and liposoluble components. The Cd content in the below-ground plant parts indicated that there was still a risk of exceeding the Cd limit for S. miltiorrhiza grown in the soil contaminated by low-concentration Cd after a long time.     

Changes of main secondary metabolites in leaves of Ginkgo biloba in response to ozone fumigation

To investigate the effect of elevated O3 on the accumulation of main secondary metabolites in leaves of Ginkgo biloba L., four-year-old trees were exposed in open-top chambers with ambient air and the air with twice ambient O3 concentration in Shenyang in 2006.Elevated O3 increased the concentrations of terpenes, but decreased the concentrations of phenolics in G.biloba leaves.The results showed that secondary compounds from G.biloba leaves responded to the elevated O3 exposure in a different way when compared to previous studies which showed elevated O3 increased the concentrations of phenolics but had no effect on the terpenes in leaves of other deciduous trees.Furthermore, reduced synthesis of phenolics may decrease the resistance of G.biloba to O3 and other environmental factors.On the other hand, the induced synthesis of terpenes may enhance the antioxidant abilities in G.biloba leaves at the end of O3 fumigation.     

Isolation and algae-lysing characteristics of the algicidal bacterium B5

Water blooms have become a worldwide environmental problem.Recently,algicidal bacteria have attracted wide attention as possible agents for inhibiting algal water blooms.In this study,one strain of algicidal bacterium B5 was isolated from activated sludge.On the basis of analysis of its physiological characteristics and 16S rDNA gene sequence,it was identified as Bacillusfusiformis.Its algae- lysing characteristics on Microcystis aeruginosa,Chlorella and Scenedesmus were tested.The results showed that:(1)the algicidal bacterium B5 is a Gram-negative bacterium.The 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence homology of strain B5 with 2 strains of B.fusiformis reached 99.86%,so B5 was identified as B.fusiformis;(2)the algal-lysing effects of the algicidal bacterium B5 on M.aeruginosa, Chlorella and Scenedesmus were pronounced.The initial bacterial and algal cell densities strongly influence the removal rates of chlorophyll-α.The greater the initial bacterial cell density,the faster the degradation of chlorophyll-α.The greater the initial algal cell density,the slower the degradation of chlorophyll-α.When the bacterial cell density was 3.6 x l07 cells/ml,nearly 90% of chlorophyll-αwas removed.When the chlorophyll-αconcentration was less than 550μg/L,about 70% was removed;(3)the strain B5 lysed algae by secreting metabolites and these metabolites could bear heat treatment.