Role of shear stress on composition, diversity and dynamics of biofilm bacterial communities

This article evaluates the effect of shear stress on the composition of biofilm bacterial communities. For the first time, a Conical Couette-Taylor Reactor (CCTR) was used to develop biofilms at varying shear stresses (from 0.055 to 0.27 Pa) and provided a useful model for studying the effect of hydrodynamics on biofilms. The composition, diversity and dynamics of biofilm bacterial communities were analysed using the PCR-SSCP fingerprint method. Results clearly demonstrate a link between shear stress and composition of the microbial communities. High shear stresses decrease biofilm diversity and the analysis of biofilm community dynamics suggests that shear stress would slow down biofilm maturation and tend to maintain a young biofilm.     

Assessment of biogas potential hazards

Biogas produced from anaerobic fermentation of organic substances represents an alternative renewable energy source. Its utilization would contribute to substantial reduction of the solid waste volume in land-filling and incineration. Biogas so produced could be utilized on site or it could be injected into the natural gas distribution network. Microbiological and chemical compositions of different biogas types were determined in order to conduct qualitative and quantitative risk assessments of the potential health hazards associated with biogas use for cooking. Biogas types that could be allowed for injection in the natural gas pipelines were listed with recommendations, while outlining the European biogas injection policy. Results indicated that the injection of the processed biogas in the distribution network did not present any additional chemical or microbiological risk to consumers when compared to natural gas, provided that the biogas resulted from the fermentation of non-dangerous waste. However, since this study did not examine the microbiological and chemical composition of biogas originating from wastewater sludges and/or industrial wastes, the injection of this type of biogas into the gas distribution network should not be allowed unless a similar risk evaluation study is conducted for each case.     

A 25-year laboratory experiment on French SON68 nuclear glass leached in a granitic environment - First investigations

We have investigated a 25.75-year old leaching experiment to improve our understanding of the mechanisms controlling glass dissolution in geological disposal conditions. A SON68 glass block was leached in slowly renewed synthetic groundwater (at 90 °C, 100 bar) in contact with some pieces of granite and Ni-Cr-Mo alloy as environmental storage materials. One hundred and sixty-three samplings were carried out over the entire duration of the experiment and were used to calculate the mean thickness of the altered glass (28 (±9) μm) and the glass dissolution rate. After few months, the rate remained very constant at 6 × 10⁻³ g m⁻² d⁻¹ which is about 20 times higher than the residual rate measured in a batch reactor at the same temperature.At the end of the experiment, mainly SEM analyses were performed on the entire glass block. Surprisingly, the glass alteration layer has neither a homogeneous thickness, nor a homogeneous morphology. The location of the sampling valve (at half height of the glass block) seems to divide the glass block into two parts. In the upper half (above the sampling valve), the general morphology of the alteration layer consists in a relatively simple and uniform gel and some secondary phases which are rare-earth phosphates. The mean measured thickness of this alteration layer is 6.7 (±0.3) μm. However, in the lower half of the glass block, the gel is globally larger and frequently contains rounded shapes which are rare-earth phosphates. This section is edged by secondary phases bearing Mg, Na, Zn and Ni. The mean measured thickness is 81.3 (±1.1) μm in the lower half. In this experiment, the flow rate which leads to the hydrodynamic transport of the soluble species must be a key factor for the local glass alteration process. We have also shown that this unexpected behavior is likely due to heterogeneities of the chemistry of the solution. This conclusion is supported by the behavior of Mg. This element, supplied by the inlet solution, precipitates with Si and forms clay minerals and therefore weakens the passivating properties of the gel. Mg-rich clay minerals are only observed in the lower half of the glass block. Further investigations are necessary to better understand the coupling between the hydrodynamics and chemistry in this experiment. However, based on this study, we can conclude that glass in disposal should be very sensitive to the water renewal near the glass surface.     

Structure, thermostability, and conformational flexibility of hen egg-white lysozyme dissolved in glycerol

Hen egg-white lysozyme dissolved in glycerol containing 1% water was studied by using CD and amide proton exchange monitored by two-dimensional 1H NMR. The far- and near-UV CD spectra of the protein showed that the secondary and tertiary structures of lysozyme in glycerol were similar to those in water. Thermal melting of lysozyme in glycerol followed by CD spectral changes indicated unfolding of the tertiary structure with a Tm of 76.0 +/- 0.2 degreesC and no appreciable loss of the secondary structure up to 85 degreesC. This is in contrast to the coincident denaturation of both tertiary and secondary structures with Tm values of 74.8 +/- 0.4 degreesC and 74.3 +/- 0.7 degreesC, respectively, under analogous conditions in water. Quenched amide proton exchange experiments revealed a greater structural protection of amide protons in glycerol than in water for a majority of the slowly exchanging protons. The results point to a highly ordered, native-like structure of lysozyme in glycerol, with the stability exceeding that in water.     

Relationship between plasma phospholipid transfer protein activity and HDL subclasses among patients with low HDL and cardiovascular disease

NK lysin is a 9-kDa polypeptide that was originally isolated from porcine intestinal tissue based on its antibacterial activity. It is produced by cytolytic lymphocytes and is cytolytic against a number of different types of tumor cells. Here we report the binding of NK lysin to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its anti-LPS activity. NK lysin binds to matrix-coated LPS from Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and different strains of Salmonella enterica. Lipid A and polymyxin B inhibited the binding, demonstrating a preferential interaction of NK lysin with the lipid part of LPS. Chromium-labeled lymphoma cells were lysed by NK lysin, and LPS dose-dependently inhibited the cytolysis at equimolar amounts. In the same manner, NK lysin inhibited certain LPS-stimulated effects on mouse bone marrow cells as well as LPS binding to mouse granulocytes. These results suggest that NK lysin may be a another natural LPS-binding protein from lymphocytes that may participate in the endogenous defense response associated with elevated concentrations of LPS.     

Histamine immunoreactive axons in the macaque retina

PURPOSE: The goal of these experiments was to identify the neurotransmitter in centrifugal axons of the macaque retina. METHODS: Macaca mulatta retinas and optic nerves were fixed overnight in carbodiimide and labeled with an antiserum to histamine with the use of an immunofluorescence technique. RESULTS: Several large histamine-immunoreactive axons ran from the optic nerve head to the peripheral retina, where they branched extensively and terminated in the inner plexiform layer, occasionally alongside retinal blood vessels. Other axons that emerged from the optic nerve head ran in the optic fiber layer to the central retina, circled the fovea, and then returned to the optic disc. These may be the source of histamine-immunoreactive axons that have been observed in central visual areas. No labeled cell bodies were present in the retina. Because perikarya in the posterior hypothalamus are the only known source of histamine in the primate central nervous system and because neurons there can be retrogradely labeled from the cut optic nerve, the histamine-immunoreactive axons must have originated there. CONCLUSIONS: Centrifugal axons in the macaque retina are part of the system of axons containing histamine that originate in the hypothalamus and project throughout the brain. Because the activity of these neurons is highest during the morning, histamine might play a role in preparing the retina to operate in daylight. The contacts of histamine-immunoreactive axons with blood vessels suggest that histamine may also play a role in regulating the retinal microvasculature.