Screening and molecular classification of low-temperature protease from Antarctic microorganism and its characterization

107 strains producing protease were screened from 260 strains of Antarctic psychrophilic bacteria, among which proteolytic activity of five strains was more than 45 U ml^-1. The 16S rRNA gcne sequences homology and phylogcnetic analysis of five Antarctic psychrophillc bacteria showed that NJ276, NJS-9, NJ16-70,NJ345 belonged tO the described genus Pseudoalteromonas and NJ341 belonged to the genus Colwellia. The growth and the protease characteristic of four Antarctic psychrophilic bacteria had been studied, and the result showed that the 6ptimal temperature for growth and protease-produeing of four strains was about 10℃. Their growth and protease-produeing were still high during incubatlng 2-5 days. The maximum proteolytic activity occurred at pH 9 for four Antarctic psychrophilic bacteria. The optimal temperature of protease action of both strains NJ276 and NJ5-9 was about 50℃, however, the optimal temperature of protease aetlon of both strains NJ341 and NJ345 was about 40 ℃, and their proteolytic activity under 0℃ exhibited nearly 30% of the maximum activity, but their thermal stabilities were weaker. These results indicated that proteases from NJ341 and NJ345 were low-temperature proteases.     

Biodegradation and transport of benzene,toluene, and xylenes in a simulated aquifer: comparison of modelled and experimental results

Both laboratory experiments and numerical modelling were conducted to study the biodegradation and transport of benzene–toluene–xylenes (BTX) in a simulated semi‐confined aquifer. The factors incorporated into the numerical model include advection, hydrodynamic dispersion, adsorption, and biodegradation. The various physico‐chemical parameters required by the numerical model were measured experimentally. In the experimental portion of the study, BTX compounds were introduced into the aquifer sand. After the contaminants had been transported through the system, BTX concentrations were measured at 12 equally spaced wells. Subsequently, microorganisms obtained from the activated sludge of a sewage treatment plant and cultured in BTX mixtures were introduced into the aquifer through the 12 sampling wells. The distribution data for BTX adsorption by the aquifer sand form a nonlinear isotherm. The degree of adsorption by the sand varies, depending on the composition of the solute. The degradation time, measured from the time since the bacteria were added to the aquifer until a specific contaminant was no longer detectable, was 35–42 h for BTX. The dissolved oxygen, after degradation by BTX compounds and bacteria, was consumed by about 40–60% in the entire simulated aquifer; thus the aerobic conditions were maintained. This study provides insights for the biodegradation and transport of BTX in aquifers by numerical modelling and laboratory experiments. Experimental and numerical comparisons indicate that the results by Monod degradation kinetics are more accurate than those by the first‐order degradation kinetics. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative analysis of bacterial contamination in tap and groundwater: A case study on water quality of Quetta City,an arid zone in Pakistan

Water is an essential element on earth, which provides human a variety of services in domestic use, agriculture, or industries. However, some serious health risks of drinking water are associated with microbial contamination, particularly with fecal matter. Therefore, microbial quality assessment is considered to be a necessary component of water quality assessment. This study investigates microbial contamination of water distributary system around the city by comparing groundwater (GW) and tap water (TW) quality in Quetta city. 31 GW samples and 31 TW samples were collected in the study area during the months of September, October, and November. Fecal coliform test was carried out in laboratory and their average total coliform contamination was computed. Results showed that the TW sample were all contaminated by coliform except for Chiltan town, hence are not considered suitable for drinking without any treatment according to WHO drinking water quality standards. The average coliform concentrations were 12 in Quetta main city, 11.6 in Jinnah town, 5.3 in Satallite town, 10 in Shahbaz town and 5 in Brewery town (0/100 mL CFU) and the TW samples from the three towns were even more contaminated with E.coli. Whereas among the GW, average microbial concentrations were 1.8 in Quetta main city, 2 in Satallite town, 1.4 in Shahbaz town, and 0.4 in Chiltan town (0/100 mL CFU), respectively, which shows that the contamination is occurring within the water distributary pipeline system when the water flows through the pipelines. Moreover, this research will be valuable for researchers and administrative authorities to conduct elaborative studies, and develop new policies to prevent further deterioration of drinking water in the water distribution system by pathogenic microorganisms and ensure safe drinking water to the public of Quetta city.     

火山灰增强微生物固化砂土效果的试验研究

为了提升微生物固化砂土的效果,考虑火山灰的多孔结构及活性特征,设计进行了火山灰增强微生物诱导碳酸钙沉淀（MICP）固化砂土试验,综合宏观物理力学试验和微细观检测,系统分析了火山灰对微生物固化砂土的增强效果及增强机制。结果表明：（1）火山灰能够显著提高砂土微生物加固过程中的固菌率和胶结物产量,火山灰掺量在10%左右达到最佳,与常规MICP相比,固菌率提高了118.28%,胶结物生成量提高了29.55%。（2）火山灰的掺入提高了固化体的抗压强度和抵抗变形的能力,不同围压下固化体的抗压强度提升了52.26%～62.96%,破坏时的应变增加了100.00%～112.58%。（3）火山灰掺入后,固化体的孔隙大小及孔隙率明显减小,整体的密实性及抗渗性能进一步提升,孔隙率从20.12%减小为14.17%,渗透系数降低了一个数量级。（4）火山灰对微生物固化砂土的增强机制主要包括3个方面,一方面,火山灰在砂颗粒间起到了良好的充填作用,大幅减少了颗粒间的大孔隙,使得固化体的密实性增强;另一方面,火山灰良好的吸附作用有效提高了试样内细菌的含量,使固化体碳酸钙的产量及分布的均匀性均增加;第3方面,火山灰中的活性物质参与反应生成的胶凝物质与碳酸钙晶体形成复合凝胶体,使得固化体的胶结性能和密实程度进一步增强。     

东风盐场卤水中可溶性糖的研究Ⅱ、盐田卤水中可溶性糖的来源、消耗及其调控方法初探

本文研究了东风盐场不同盐度的卤水中可溶性糖的变化及其与微藻优势种的组成和细胞数量之间的关系，卤虫对可溶性糖的调节作用及嗜盐菌对可溶性糖的消耗。结果表明，可溶性糖在低卤区和硅藻、甲藻等微藻密切相关，在中、高卤区与蓝藻和盐藻等密切相关，卤水中的卤虫能通过滤食微藻而有效地控制卤水中可溶性糖的浓度，在结晶卤水中接种嗜盐菌能有效地降解卤水中的可溶性糖，从而达到提高盐质的目的。     

九孔鲍养殖水体中产酶菌群的研究

为了解九孔鲍养殖环境中细菌生理菌群的生态作用,对分离自养殖水体的33株菌株的产酶能力和种类进行了研究。结果表明,具有分泌胞外蛋白酶、脂肪酶和纤维素酶能力的菌株分别为39.4%、57.6%和30.3%;在这33株菌中,产至少一种胞外酶的菌株比例高达63.6%。API鉴定结果表明,在有能力分泌胞外蛋白酶、脂肪酶和纤维素酶的菌株中,弧菌菌群所占的比例分别为46%、42%和40%,而其中河流弧菌又占各弧菌菌群比例的83.3%、62.5%和100%。充分阐明弧菌,尤其是河流弧菌为优势菌,在鲍鱼养殖微生物态中起的重要作用。     

A method for the quantitative estimation of bacteria from mangrove sediments

A simple and rapid method for the quantitative extraction of bacteria from high silt/clay-content muds associated with mangrove swamps is described. Mud samples are homogenized in filtered sea water and the supernatant is diluted and stained with Acridine Organge. The stained material is trapped on a 0·45 μm membrane filter and bacteria are counted under a fluorescence microscope. Samples may be pre-fixed in 5% formalin if they cannot be examined immediately.     

The relationship between abundances of meiofauna and their suspected microbial food (diatoms and bacteria)

Samples were taken bi-weekly for one year at a sand site and a mud site in the North Inlet Estuary, Georgetown, South Carolina, for meiofauna, their suspected microbial food (bacteria and diatoms), and associated physical factors. Linear regression techniques were used to correlate food abundance and physical factors with the density of meiofaunal taxa. At both sites diatoms positively correlated with meiofauna taxa, but bacteria did not. Physical factors were not correlated with meiofaunal or microbial abundances at the sand site. Whereas, at the mud site meiofauna and diatom abundances were positively correlated with the depth of the redox layer and inversely correlated with temperature. Peaks of meiofaunal abundance did not follow peaks of food abundance. Analysis of copepods at the species level indicated that taxa response was due to the response of the dominant species. Even though some correlations existed, this study suggests that copepod species and meiofauna at the gross taxonomic level do not respond to changes in potential food abundance. Physical factors apparently influence both meiofauna and diatoms in the same fashion. However, bacterial abundance was not positively correlated with any of the factors studied.     

Preliminary study on PAH degradation by bacteria from contaminated sediments in Xiamen Western Sea,Fujian, China

In order to estimate the biodegradation of three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compounds, bacterial strains were isolated from marine sediments in three heavily contaminated sites (Yuandang Lake, Dongdu Port and Aquacultural zones in Maluan Bay) in Xiamen Western Sea. The results show three bacterial strains, which used pyrene as the sole carbon source, were identified as strains of Aureobacterium sp.,Arthrobacter sp., Rhodococcus sp. The PAH-degrading bacteria isolated had a strong ability to degrade phenanhrene, fluoranthene and pyrene at different degradation rates. The highest degradation rate was observed when three PAH compounds were mixed with an individual strain in the medium. The three PAHs were degraded after one week with a degradation rate of 89.94 % for phenanthrene and 93.4 % for both of fluoranthene and pyrene.In addition, after 25 days of incubation, the degradation rate was 99.98 % for phenanthrene and 99.97 % for both of fluoranthene and pyrene. Optical density was measured to estimate bacterial growth during the degradation of PAHs. Highest levels of bacterial growth were observed with a three PAH mixture in the culture, suggesting that the concentration of PAHs influenced bacterial growth and the highest levels of degradation for most series were detected after one week of incubation.