One-dimensional mixed-culture biofilm model considering different space occupancies of particulate components

A new one-dimensional mixed-culture biofilm model was derived based on a hypothesis that each particulate component would have different space occupancy within biofilm. Contrary to conventional density-based modeling approaches, in this model the volume change of the biofilm is described with the space occupancies of the particulate components, new model parameters introduced here. The unique feature of this model is that internal pore development during biofilm growth can be predicted implicitly so that the changes of effective diffusivities of soluble components depending on internal porosity are readily implemented in the model. Simulation studies revealed that the presented biofilm model could reasonably describe several important aspects of biofilm growth phenomena. In a mixed-culture biofilm system where heterotrophs and autotrophs were involved, the overall biofilm growth pattern was governed by microbial competition depending on influent composition. In a thick heterotrophic biofilm, a simulated biomass distribution and internal porosity profile showed higher total biomass concentration, lower active cell fraction, and lower internal porosity in the bottom layers of the biofilm, which are well coincident with the experimental data reported previously. All these phenomena can be explained by the proceeding of biofilm consolidation, which happens due to the inter-conversions of the particulate components having different space-occupancy values. The presented biofilm model suggests that the space occupancy of EPS may be a key model parameter to decide the overall biofilm growth pattern by regulating the extent of biofilm consolidation.     

Molecular typing of Streptococcus uberis strains isolated from cases of bovine mastitis

The discriminatory power of two polymerase chain reaction-based DNA fingerprinting methods, random amplified polymorphic DNA and repetitive extragenic palindrome were compared by subtyping 128 isolates of Streptococcus uberis cultured from cows in six different dairy herds in New Zealand. The typing results demonstrated that the majority of isolates possessed unique fingerprint profiles except on occasions where multiple isolates were obtained from individual cows. On these occasions, individual quarters of the mammary gland were generally, but not exclusively, infected by the same strain of bacteria. Both random amplified polymorphic DNA and repetitive extragenic palindromic typing assays were simple to perform, relatively inexpensive ($11.00 per reaction), and provided reliable and reproducible results. Furthermore, when these assays were used in conjunction with each other, they provided a means of confirmation of the specific DNA fingerprint patterns obtained.     

A biofilm model for flowing systems in the food industry

When bacteria attach to the walls of pipelines, they can form biofilms, which can cause the recontamination of food products. In order to quantify such recontamination, a one-dimensional biofilm model was developed taking into account adsorption, desorption, and the growth of cells. The model consisted of two mass balances describing increases in biofilm formation at the wall and the accumulation of cells in the liquid phase. The necessary parameters for the model were obtained in laboratory biofilm experiments. These experiments involved a flowing system and the use of Staphylococcus aureus as a model pathogen and silicon tubing as a testing material. S. aureus was inoculated into the system for 2 h, and then the system was changed to a sterile medium. Both biofilm formation and the release of cells into the flowing liquid were measured until steady-state conditions were reached (for up to 9 days). The experiments were performed in duplicate for different flow conditions (i.e., for Reynolds numbers of 3.2, 32, and 170). It was shown that at higher Reynolds numbers, the biofilm developed faster, probably owing to an increase in the transfer of nutrients to the surface. The proposed biofilm model was capable of describing the data obtained for the three different flow conditions with the use of the specific growth rate in the biofilm and the desorption coefficient as fit parameters. The specific growth rates were 0.16, 0.27, and 0.49 h(-1) for Reynolds numbers of 3.2, 32, and 170, respectively, and the desorption coefficients were about 1% of these values.     

Internalization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 following biological and mechanical disruption of growing spinach plants

The internalization and persistence of a bioluminescent Escherichia coli O157:H7 Ph1 was investigated in growing spinach plants that had been either biologically or mechanically damaged. In control (undamaged) plants cultivated in soil microcosms inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 Phl, the bacterium was recovered from surface-sterilized root tissue but not from leaves. Mechanical disruption of the seminal root and root hairs of the plants did not result in the internalization of the pathogen into the aerial leaf tissue. When imprints of the root tissue were made on plates of tryptic soy agar plus ampicillin, no colonies of E. coli O157:H7 were observed around damaged tissue. The roots of growing plants were exposed to the northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla, in the presence of E. coli O157:H7. Although this treatment caused knot formation on the roots, it did not enhance the internalization of the bacterium into the plant vascular system. Coinoculation of intact leaves with E. coli O157:H7 and the phytopathogen Pseudomonas syringae DC3000 resulted in localized necrosis, but the persistence of the human pathogen was not affected. The mechanical disruption of roots does not result in the internalization of E. coli O157:H7 into the aerial tissue of spinach, and there does not appear to be any effect of P. syringae in terms of enhancing the persistence of E. coli O157:H7 in spinach leaves.     

JUKI关于2009年度的构想——JUKI株式会社产业装置事业部事业部长永岛弘和

笔者：回顾2008年，请问贵公司在2009年有些什么计划呢？ 敝公司的贴片机部门在2007年取得了不俗的业绩，一直N2008年下半年一切都如期进展、非常顺利。但在2008年后期由于美国雷曼兄弟公司（Lehman Brothers）的破产，行业的动向出现了较大的变化。自10月起各贴片机制造商的业绩急剧恶化。这种情景与2001年IT泡沫经济崩溃时的状况十分相似。从销售额来看，12月行业整体的业绩都不理想。预计在2009年1月之后这种情况还将持续一段时间。