Joint effects of heavy metal binary mixtures on seed germination, root and shoot growth, bacterial bioluminescence, and gene mutation

This investigation was to assess the joint effects of metal binary mixtures on seed germination,root and shoot growth,bacterial bioluminescence,and gene mutation based on the one toxic unit(1 TU)approach.Different sensitivities and orders of toxicity of metal mixtures were observed among the bioassays.In general,mostly additive or antagonistic effects were observed,while almost no synergistic effects by the binary metal mixtures in all bioassays.Therefore,the combined effects of heavy metals in the different bioassays were difficult to generalize since they were dependent on both chemical type and the organism used in each bioassay.However, these results indicate that a battery of bioassays with mixture chemicals as opposed to just a single assay with single metal is a better strategy for the bioassessment of environmental pollutants.     

重金属对发光海藻Pyrocystis lunula的毒性研究——一种新型的快速生物毒性测试方法QwikLite

利用海洋发光藻--新月梨甲藻Pyrocystis lunula的生物发光特性(QwikLite方法),以发光抑制为测试终点,研究了6种重金属离子Zn2+、Cu2+、Pb2+、Cr6+、Cd2+、Hg2+的毒性,24h EC50分别为4.6601mg·L-1、0.0960mg·L-1、1.4935mg·L-1、0.1626mg·L-1、0.1272mg·L-1、0.0048mg·L-1.将该结果与这6种金属离子对其它发光藻、发光菌、糠虾和泥螺的毒性效应进行了比较.结果表明,利用QwikLite方法和Vibrio覱scheri(Microtox方法)测定的6种重金属离子的毒性顺序相似,但QwikLite法比Microtox法的灵敏度高1～2个数量级;发光藻与糠虾和泥螺的灵敏度相似或者更高,与泥螺存在显著的相关性.发光藻毒性测试方法QwikLite由于灵敏度高、操作简便、快速经济等优点,可以作为一种新型的快速生物测试方法.     

Application of stimulating agents on the immobilized bioluminescence strain Pseudomonas putida mt-2 KG1206, preserved by deep-freezing, for the convenient biomonitoring

This study was conducted to develop methods for the application of an immobilized bioluminescence strain(KG1206),preserved by deep-freezing(DF),for the monitoring of contaminated environments.The immobilized cells,preserved by DF,required approximately 2 hr for reconstitution of their activity.A large reduction in bioluminescence was observed due to the DF process;0.07-0.58 times that of the non deep-frozen(NDF) immobilized strain.The decreased bioluminescence activity induced by the DF process was enhanced by the stimulants,sodium lactate(SL) and KNO 3.However,regardless of the inducer chemical tested,the immobilized strain modified with KNO 3 consistently produced greater bioluminescence than that treated with SL,in the range of 3.0-10.7(avg.6.7 ± 3.69) and 1.2-4.2(avg.2.4 ± 1.47) times that of control,respectively.All KNO 3 treatments of contaminated groundwater samples also resulted in an increase in bioluminescence activity,but the rate of stimulation varied for each sample.Also,no strong linear correlation was observed between the bioluminescence and the total concentration of an inducer,which may related to the complex characteristics of the environmental samples.Overall,the results demonstrated the ability of immobilized genetically engineered bacteria,preserved by DF,to measure a specific group of environmental contaminants using a stimulating agent(KNO 3),suggesting the potential for its preliminary application in a field-ready bioassay.     

Shunning the night to elude the hunter: diurnal fireflies and the “femmes fatales”

Summary. Lucidota atra, a diurnal firefly, shares possession of defensive steroids (lucibufagins or LBGs) with nocturnal fireflies of the genus Photinus. Photinus are protected against predators by their LBGs, but not against fireflies of the genus Photuris, the so-called firefly femmes fatales, which prey upon Photinus, thereby acquiring LBGs for their own defense. We propose that L. atra may have been prompted evolutionarily to become diurnal by the opportunity to avoid, thereby, being hunted by Photuris. Indeed, L. atra, if offered to Photuris, were eagerly devoured by the latter, which sequestered their LBG’s. In feeding on L. atra, Photuris may be driven by a gustatory affinity for LBGs. Persistent nocturnality might therefore have put L. atra at risk vis à vis Photuris. Diurnality freed the firefly from that risk, without compromising its defended status with respect to other predators. Possession of LBGs may in fact account for L. atra’s unacceptability to birds and spiders.     

重金属Cd污染土壤毒性的发光菌法评价

应用明亮发光杆菌 Ｔ３ 对重金属污染土壤的毒性评价方法进行探索;进行了土壤平衡、土壤浸提实验及土壤中人为添加 Ｃｄ 对明亮发光杆菌 Ｔ３ 的效应实验;确定了土壤最佳平衡时间、土壤浸提剂、土壤最佳浸提时间及草甸棕壤中 Ｃｄ 对明亮发光杆菌 Ｔ３ 的毒性响应水平．实验结果表明：在土壤浸出液的提取过程中,土壤最佳平衡时间为１ ｄ ,最佳浸提液为０ ．１ ｍｏｌ／ Ｌ 盐酸,最佳浸提时间为２ ｈ ;草甸棕壤中 Ｔ３ 菌的发光强度与投加的 Ｃｄ浓度呈显著负相关（ Ｐ＜ ０ ．０１） ,ρ（ Ｃｄ） 对 Ｔ３ 菌的 Ｅ Ｃ５０ 值为２６ ．２ ｍｇ／ｋｇ ．