无介体微生物燃料电池阳极生物膜传质分析

针对无介体微生物燃料电池阳极侧生物膜内的传递过程建立了一维稳态扩散传输模型,模型认为底物氧化产生的电子以直接方式传递至阳极,并考虑了生物膜内电势及pH的变化,计算获得了微生物燃料电池生物膜内的底物浓度、电势、电流密度以及pH值分布,讨论了生物膜的电导率、阳极电势和缓冲液浓度对生物膜内传质特性及产电性能的影响。计算结果表明随着生物膜电导率和阳极电势的增大,生物膜内底物浓度及pH值均降低,电池电流密度升高;进口缓冲液浓度越大,生物膜内pH值越高,有利于维持阳极生物膜内微生物的活性。     

氢基质生物膜反应器在饮用水处理中的研究进展

该文对氢基质生物膜反应器(MBf R)的作用机理、特性以及对饮用水中氧化性污染物的去除可行性进行了论述,并对国内外利用该技术去除饮用水中常见氧化性污染物(如:重金属离子:重铬酸盐、砷酸盐、硒酸盐等;无机阴离子:硝酸盐、溴酸盐、高氯酸盐;卤代有机化合物:对氯硝基苯、三氯乙烷、三氯乙烯、氯仿)的研究现状进行了总结。最后指出了MBf R研究中存在的问题以及在工程应用上的现状和发展前景。     

Introducing a Semi-Coated Model to Investigate Antibacterial Effects of Biocompatible Polymers on Titanium Surfaces

Peri-implant infections from bacterial biofilms on artificial surfaces are a common threat to all medical implants. They are a handicap for the patient and can lead to implant failure or even life-threatening complications. New implant surfaces have to be developed to reduce biofilm formation and to improve the long-term prognosis of medical implants. The aim of this study was (1) to develop a new method to test the antibacterial efficacy of implant surfaces by direct surface contact and (2) to elucidate whether an innovative antimicrobial copolymer coating of 4-vinyl-N-hexylpyridinium bromide and dimethyl(2-methacryloyloxyethyl) phosphonate (VP:DMMEP 30:70) on titanium is able to reduce the attachment of bacteria prevalent in peri-implant infections. With a new in vitro model with semi-coated titanium discs, we were able to show a dramatic reduction in the adhesion of various pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus sanguinis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis), completely independently of effects caused by soluble materials. In contrast, soft tissue cells (human gingival or dermis fibroblasts) were less affected by the same coating, despite a moderate reduction in initial adhesion of gingival fibroblasts. These data confirm the hypothesis that VP:DMMEP 30:70 is a promising antibacterial copolymer that may be of use in several clinical applications.     

生物膜厚度对膜曝气生物膜反应器硝化性能的影响

在设定的膜内压力下(2 k Pa)启动并运行膜曝气生物膜反应器(MABR),对生物膜生长过程中的硝化性能及生物膜组成变化进行了分析。实验结果表明,在生物膜厚度增长到(293.3±5.8)μm的过程中,生物膜内的总氧通量先增加后减少,最高可达21.3 g O2?m?2?d?1,证实了生物膜的存在可增强MABR的氧传质能力。在生物膜厚度增长的过程中,氨氮表面去除负荷也是先增加后减少,最高可达4.91 g N?m?2?d?1,表明在MABR硝化过程中存在最佳的生物膜厚度,根据所研究最佳生物膜厚度为(119.0±3.0)μm,此时MABR具有最高的氧通量和氨氮表面去除负荷,硝化性能最好。生物膜内胞外聚合物(EPS)成分分析结果表明,随着生物膜厚度的增加,生物膜内层紧密型EPS的含量增加,导致氧传质阻力增加,这是生物膜内氧通量及氨氮去除负荷随生物膜厚度先增加后下降的内在原因。     

Identification of Pathogenicity-Related Genes in Biofilm-Defective Acidovorax citrulli by Transposon Tn5 Mutagenesis

Biofilm formation is important for virulence of a large number of plant pathogenic bacteria. Indeed, some virulence genes have been found to be involved in the formation of biofilm in bacterial fruit blotch pathogen Acidovorax citrulli. However, some virulent strains of A. citrulli were unable to format biofilm, indicating the complexity between biofilm formation and virulence. In this study, virulence-related genes were identified in the biofilm-defective strain A1 of A. citrulli by using Tn5 insertion, pathogenicity test, and high-efficiency thermal asymmetric interlaced PCR (hiTAIL-PCR). Results from this study indicated that 22 out of the obtained 301 mutants significantly decreased the virulence of strain A1 compared to the wild-type. Furthermore, sequence analysis indicated that the obtained 22 mutants were due to the insertion of Tn5 into eight genes, including Aave 4244 (cation diffusion facilitator family transporter), Aave 4286 (hypothetical protein), Aave 4189 (alpha/beta hydrolase fold), Aave 1911 (IMP dehydrogenase/GMP reductase domain), Aave 4383 (bacterial export proteins, family 1), Aave 4256 (Hsp70 protein), Aave 0003 (histidine kinase, DNA gyrase B, and HSP90-like ATPase), and Aave 2428 (pyridoxal-phosphate dependent enzyme). Furthermore, the growth of mutant Aave 2428 was unaffected and even increased by the change in incubation temperature, NaCl concentration and the pH of the LB broth, indicating that this gene may be directly involved in the bacterial virulence. Overall, the determination of the eight pathogenicity-related genes in strain A1 will be helpful to elucidate the pathogenesis of biofilm-defective A. citrulli.     

A Phytochemical–Halogenated Quinoline Combination Therapy Strategy for the Treatment of Pathogenic Bacteria

With the continued rise of drug‐resistant bacterial infections coupled with the current discouraging state of the antibiotic pipeline, the need for new antibacterial agents that operate through unique mechanisms compared with conventional antibiotics and work in synergy with other agents is at an all‐time high. We have discovered that gallic acid, a plant‐derived phytochemical, dramatically potentiates the antibacterial activities of several halogenated quinolines (up to 11 800‐fold potentiation against Staphylococcus aureus) against pathogenic bacteria, including drug‐resistant clinical isolates. S. aureus demonstrated the highest sensitivity towards gallic acid–halogenated quinoline combinations, including one halogenated quinoline that demonstrated potentiation of biofilm eradication activity against a methicillin‐resistant S. aureus (MRSA) clinical isolate. During our studies, we also demonstrated that these halogenated quionlines operate through an interesting metal(II) cation‐dependent mechanism and display promising mammalian cytotoxicity.     

Metabolic turnover and catalase activity of biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens (ATCC 17552) as related to copper corrosion

In this work we report the results of a combined biochemical and electrochemical study aimed to analyze both the growth of biofilms of Pseudomonas fluorescens on copper samples and its possible role in the instability of the metal/electrolyte interface.DNA and RNA were quantified along the time for biofilms grown on copper and glass to estimate both the growth of the bacterial population and its metabolic state (through the RNA/DNA ratio). The expression and specific activity of catalase were also determined to gain insight into their possible role in corrosion acceleration. The electrochemical behavior of the biofilm/copper interface was monitored by Linear Polarization Resistance (Rp) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) along the experiments.Results showed a longer lag phase for biofilms developing on copper that included a period of high metabolic activity (as measured by the RNA/DNA ratio) without biomass growth. Biological activity introduced a new time constant at intermediate frequencies in EIS spectra whose capacitive behavior increased with the biofilm development. The increment in this biofilm-related signal was accompanied by a strong limitation to charge transfer through a diffusion controlled process probably due to oxygen exhaustion by cells respiration, while the resistance of the interface decreased presumably due to oxide dissolution by local acidification under the colonies. In addition, catalase activity was found to be high in mature copper-tolerant biofilms, which differentially express a catalase isoform not present in biofilms growing on glass.     

Biogas potential and microbial population distributions in flushed dairy manure and implications on anaerobic digestion technology

BACKGROUND: There remain technological deficiencies in the economical anaerobic digestion of the entire flow of flushed dairy manure on farms within cold climates. In order to develop an anaerobic digester tailored for this purpose, this study investigated the distributions of biomass and biogas generated in three particle‐size‐characterized zones of flushed dairy manure. RESULTS: Results demonstrate that comparable biogas generations are equally distributed between the solids and liquid phases of flushed dairy manure, implying that at least 50% of methane generation might be lost when utilizing existing processes that only selectively handle the liquid or solids phases. Microscopic and kinetic studies show that the majority of microorganisms in the manure are attached to the surface of undigested dairy manure fibrous solids. In particular, greater than 70% of acetate‐utilizing methanogens were found closely associated with the indigestible solids. This high microbial affinity to the dairy manure solids phase can be traced back to the selection pressure driven bacterial immobilization mechanism in cattle rumen. CONCLUSION: This study shows that dairy manure fibrous solids have the potential to act as effective natural biomass carriers for high rate and simultaneous methanation of both solids and liquid phases of flushed dairy manure in one digester. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inhibitory Activity of Paenibacillus polymyxa on the Biofilm Formation of Cronobacter spp. on Stainless Steel Surfaces

The objective of this study was to control the survival or biofilm formation of Cronobacter spp. on stainless steel surfaces using Paenibacillus polymyxa. The antibacterial activity of a cell‐free culture supernatant (CFCS) of P. polymyxa against Cronobacter spp. was found to vary with P. polymyxa incubation time. Maximum activity occurred when P. polymyxa was incubated at 25 or 30 °C for 96 h. When the CFCS was introduced to Cronobacter spp. adhered to stainless steel strips at 25 °C for up to 72 h, the CFCS successfully inhibited Cronobacter biofilm formation. Additionally, stainless steel surfaces with a preformed P. polymyxa biofilm were exposed to Cronobacter spp. suspensions in PBS or 0.1% peptone water at 3, 5, or 7 log CFU/mL to facilitate its attachment. The Cronobacter population significantly decreased on this surface, regardless of inoculum level or carrier, when the P. polymyxa biofilm was present. However, the microbial population decreased within 6 h and remained unchanged thereafter when the surface was immersed in an inoculum suspended in 0.1% peptone water at 5 or 7 log CFU/mL. These results indicate that P. polymyxa is able to use a promising candidate competitive‐exclusion microorganism to control Cronobacter spp.