Characterization of microbial communities from coastal waters using microarrays

Molecular methods, including DNA probes, were used to identify and enumerate pathogenic Vibrio species in the Chesapeake Bay; our data indicated that Vibrio vulnificus exhibits seasonal fluctuations in number. Our work included a characterization of total microbial communities from the Bay; development of microarrays that identify and quantify the diversity of those communities; and observation of temporal changes in those communities. To identify members of the microbial community, we amplified the 16S rDNA gene from community DNA isolated from a biofilm sample collected from the Chesapeake Bay in February, 2000. The resultant 75 sequences were 95% or more similar to 7 species including two recently described Shewanella species, baltica and frigidimarina, that have not been previously isolated from the Chesapeake. When the genera of bacteria from biofilm after culturing are compared to those detected by subcloning amplified 16S fragments from community DNA, the cultured sample exhibited a strong bias. In oysters collected in February, the most common bacteria were previously unknown. Based on our 16S findings, we are developing microarrays to detect these and other microbial species in these estuarine communities. The microarrays will detect each species using four distinct loci, with the multiple loci serving as an internal control. The accuracy of the microarray will be measured using sentinel species such as Aeromonas species, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio vulnificus. Using microarrays, it should be possible to determine the annual fluctuations of bacterial species (culturable and non-culturable, pathogenic and non-pathogenic). The data may be applied to understanding patterns of environmental change; assessing the health of the Bay; and evaluating the risk of human illness associated with exposure to and ingestion of water and shellfish.     

Molecular behavior and interactions with microbes during anaerobic degradation of bio-derived DOM in waste leachate

It is the key to control bio-derived dissolved organic matters (DOM) in order to reduce the effluent concentration of wastewater treatment, especially for waste leachate with high organic contaminants. In the present study, the anaerobic degradation of aerobically stabilized DOM was investigated with DOM substrate isolated through electrodialysis. The degradation of bio-derived DOM was confirmed by reduction of 15% of total organic carbon in 100 days. We characterized the molecular behavior of bio-derived DOM by coupling molecular and biological information analysis. Venn based Sankey diagram of mass features showed the transformation of bio-derived DOM mass features. Occurrence frequency analysis divided mass features into six categories so as to distinguish the fates of intermediate metabolites and persistent compounds. Reactivity continuum model and machine learning technologies realized the semi-quantitative determination on the kinetics of DOM mass features in the form of pseudo-first order, and confirmed the reduction of inert mass features. Furthermore, network analysis statistically establish relationship between DOM mass features and microbes to identify the active microbes that are able to utilize bio-derived DOM. This work confirmed the biological technology is still effective in controlling recalcitrant bio-derived DOM during wastewater treatment.     

Comparison of mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestions of thermal hydrolysis pretreated swine manure: Process performance, microbial communities and energy balance

Anaerobic digestion (AD) of swine manure (SM) commonly shows low biogas output and unsatisfactory economic performance. In this study, thermophilic AD (TAD, 50 ± 1 °C) was combined with thermal hydrolysis pretreatment (THP, 170 °C/10 bar), to investigate its potential for maximizing biogas yield, securing successful digestion and microbial diversity, as well as improving energy balance. Four lab-scale continuously stirred tank reactors were operated for 300 days and compared with each other, i.e., reactor 1 (raw SM fed in mesophilic AD: RSM-MAD), reactor 2 (THP-treated SM fed in MAD: TSM-MAD), reactor 3 (RSM-TAD), and reactor 4 (TSM-TAD). The results showed that THP was efficient to increase methane production of SM, TSM-TAD mode led to the highest methane yield (129.8 ± 40.5 mL-CH₄/g-VS/day) among the tests (p < 0.05). Although TAD was more likely to induce free ammonia (> 700 mg/L) or volatile fatty acids (> 6000 mg/L) accumulation compared with MAD in start-up phase, TSM-TAD treatment mode behaved a sustainable digestion process in a long-term operation. For TSM-TAD scenario, higher Shannon–Weaver (3.873) and lower Simpson index (0.061) indicated this mode ensured and enlarged the diversity of bacteria communities. Phylum Bathyarchaeota was dominant (59.3%−90.0%) in archaea community, followed by Euryarchaeota in the four reactors. RSM-MAD treatment mode achieved the highest energy output (4.65 GJ/day), TSM-TAD was less effective (−17.38 GJ/day) due to increased energy demands. Thus improving the energetic efficiency of THP units is recommended for the development of TSM-TAD treatment mode.     

The challenges of sustainability in mining regions: The coal mining region of Santa Catarina, Brazil

Throughout history, mining communities have invariably found themselves striving for a good quality of life and a long‐term future. In the 21st century, problems of maintaining the economic vitality of mining regions are now compounded by concerns about the biophysical integrity of the local environment. In regions of the world where the economic viability of the resource is marginal and achieving a reasonable quality of life is a daily struggle, sustainable mining may seem to be a dubious prospect at best. Yet the twin imperatives of global political forces and burgeoning environmental concerns are requiring industry, governments and other interests to re‐conceptualize the way in which mining takes place in communities. Although mining itself may not be seen as an industry that contributes to the achievement of environmental objectives, it could — with careful planning — be used as a tool to foster a more sustainable and healthier community. This argument is considered in the context of the coal mining region of Santa Catarina, Brazil.     

水-苦草-沉积物系统对聚乙烯微塑料的响应

水生态系统中的微塑料对生态安全和环境健康造成严重威胁,受到广泛关注.为了揭示水-苦草-沉积物系统对于微塑料暴露的响应,将苦草暴露于不同质量分数（1%～5%,沉积物湿重质量分数）的聚乙烯微塑料（PE-MPs）中,分别研究了PE-MPs对系统中水质理化指标、沉水植物形态特征、生理性状、抗氧化系统和沉积物中微生物群落结构的影响.结果表明,PE-MPs处理组对于水体理化性质的改变不显著,PE-MPs处理组显著抑制了植株株高、氧化应激指标和抗氧化系统. 1% PE-MPs处理组株高的增长仅为对照组的47.44%,叶绿素a含量为对照组的81.04%,过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性、丙二醛（MDA）含量和过氧化物酶（POD）活性较对照组分别提高了233.70%、 117.82%和61.62%.不同质量分数的PE-MPs对沉积物中的微生物群落结构存在一定的影响.上述结果有助于完善水-沉水植物-沉积物系统中PE-MPs生态风险的评价体系.     

COD降解菌剂的构建及在污水处理中的评估

采用微生物育种技术,从活性污泥中分离筛选得到活性菌株,结合微生物生态学原理,对高效去除污水中COD的复合菌剂构建原则进行探究。通过考察单菌的COD去除效果与絮凝效果,获得7株菌。分别在SBR和A/O模拟系统中进行验证,按COD-03比例复合时,SBR系统出水COD从300 mg·L-1降到约120 mg·L-1（进水COD 1 200 mg·L-1）,较其他组具有极显著性降低（α=0.01）;A/O系统出水COD从约500 mg·L-1降到将近100 mg·L-1（进水COD 1 200 mg·L-1）。结果表明,复合菌剂构建策略具有良好的应用性和可操作性,在COD微生物增效菌剂制备方面具有良好可行性。     

双室微生物燃料电池重金属毒性传感器的研制

构建了双室微生物燃料电池（double microbial fuel cells,DMFC）型毒性传感器分别对Cr（Ⅵ）、Cd2+、Cu2+、Zn2+进行在线检测研究。通过对反应器进行优化,确定DMFC在外电阻为1 000 Ω时达到最大功率密度;外循环速率为0.933 4 mL·min-1时反应器运行较稳定。在最优条件下,通过监测铜离子来确定检测时间为60 min,清洗时间为10 min。在以上条件下进行重金属检测,结果表明4种重金属的检测范围分别为0.3~10、0.4~10、40~160、15~80 mg·L-1。抑制率可以用来验证反应器的可行性,检测范围内抑制率与重金属浓度呈现一定的线性关系,其相关系数分别为0.959 7、0.979 5、0.944 1、0.936 6。并可得到相应的线性方程,这些方程可用于验证DMFC-传感器的稳定性。选取检测范围内的浓度进行验证,结果表明4种重金属的相对误差均小于11%,传感器相对稳定并可长期运行。     

SDS促进复配酶水解排水管网沉积物

采用SDS协同复配酶水解排水管网沉积物,分别考察了SDS投加量、反应时间、pH、温度4个影响因素对沉积物水解效果的影响,并通过 SEM、EPS、三维荧光光谱以及粒径等表征方法进行机理分析。结果表明,投加5%(w:w)SDS与8%(w:w)复配酶,在原泥pH(7.28±0.3)、25 ℃、反应时间为2 h时,沉积物水解效果最好。此时SCOD、多糖和氨氮分别由初始的5 686.9、1 913.75和87.32 mg·L⁻¹增加到8 192.9、3 561.29和153.37 mg·L⁻¹,有机质含量由56.32%下降到55.59%。在SDS+复配酶处理管网沉积物后,其内部紧实结构被破坏,TB-EPS向S-EPS转移,腐殖酸类物质荧光强度增强,表明溶解性EPS增多,且沉积物粒径向<300 μm转变。高通量测序分析结果表明,SDS+复配酶对管网沉积物微生物种类的丰富度和多样性影响不大,但在一定程度上会改变微生物的功能菌群,减少CH₄和H₂S的产生。以上研究结果可为延缓排水管网淤堵问题提供数据支持。     

不同生境氨氮浓度及悬浮污泥对厌氧氨氧化生物膜特性的协同影响

生物膜技术是厌氧氨氧化工艺应用的关键,但关于不同生境氨氮浓度和悬浮污泥协同作用下形成的生物膜特性鲜有报道。本研究在推流式固定生物膜-活性污泥反应器中,发现在高氨氮浓度下生长的生物膜具有较高的污泥量和厚度,但低氨氮浓度生长的生物膜具有更高的厌氧氨氧化菌丰度((4.91±0.65)×10⁹ 拷贝数·g⁻¹,P<0.05)和厌氧氨氧化比活性(6.53 mg·(g·h)⁻¹)。高通量分析结果表明,Candidatus Brocadia是生物膜和悬浮污泥中主要的厌氧氨氧化菌,在两类生物膜上的丰度未有显著差异;在低氨氮浓度生物膜中Candidatus Jettenia的相对丰度显著高于高氨氮浓度的生物膜,但Candidatus Kuenenia的丰度则相反。综合分析发现,厌氧氨氧化菌种的附着生长与悬浮污泥群落多样性的初始定殖有关,而低丰度菌种的分布则受不同生境的影响,该结果表明不同氨氮浓度和悬浮污泥类型的选择对生物膜的协同影响不可忽略。     

石河子市细颗粒物中微生物活性水平分析

大气颗粒物( particulate matter,PM)中的生物成分会严重引起组织炎症,并且有传播给人类、植物和家畜病原菌等危害。通过FDA(荧光素二乙酸酯)水解法定义石河子市微生物气溶胶的酶活性水平,采用Pearson双变量分析方法分析其影响因素。结果表明,石河子市的细颗粒物中微生物酶活性最高的是夏季,最低的是冬季。酶活性水平与温度(R=0.587,n=75,P<0.01)、细颗粒物浓度(R=-0.704,n=75,P<0.01)和风速(R=0.605,n=75,P<0.05)存在显著相关性。通过逐步多元线性回归方程可知温度是最显著的影响因素。研究为城市重点区域环境规划和总体环境改善方案提供基础科学数据,对石河子的大气环境研究有重要的参考价值。