Determination of silver in foods by neutron activation analysis

Silver has been determined in a number of foodstuffs by neutron activation analysis. The results range from <1 to 530 ng g^?1 dry matter and are highly variable, suggesting that random contanination of samples may occur. Higher concentrations of up to 31 ug g^?1 dry matter were found in wild fungi. From these results, supplemented by others, the British dietary intake is estimated to be 4.5 ug Ag day^?1, which constitutes no hazard to human health.     

A Comparative Study on the Biosorption of Cd2+ onto Paecilomyces lilacinus XLA and Mucoromycote sp. XLC

The filamentous fungi XLA and XLC isolated from Cd-contaminated soil were identified morphologically and phylogenetically as Paecilomyces lilacinus and Mucoromycote sp., respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Cd²⁺, Co²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cr³⁺ and Cr⁶⁺ in minimum mineral (MM) medium agar plates were 29,786, 2945, 9425, 5080, 1785 and 204 mg·L⁻¹ for XLA and 11,240, 884, 9100, 2540, 3060 and 51 mg·L⁻¹ for XLC, respectively. Favorable biosorption conditions for adsorption of Cd²⁺ by the tested fungi were investigated. Efficient performances of the biosorbents were described using Langmuir isotherm model, and the predicted maximum biosorption capacities for Cd²⁺ were 77.61 mg·g⁻¹ of XLA and 79.67 mg·g⁻¹of XLC. Experiments on desorption potential of biosorbents validated their efficacy at a large scale. Results showed that XLA obtained a desorption rate of 84.7% by 2% EDTA and XLC gained a desorption rate of 78.9% by 0.1 M HCl. Analysis by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggested that groups of C–N, COO– for XLA and C–N, CH₂ and phosphate for XLC were the dominant binding sites for Cd²⁺ biosorption. Our results indicated that the fungus XLA, rather than XLC, could potentially be used as an inexpensive, eco-friendly and effective bioremediation agent for the removal of Cd²⁺ from wastewater.     

Metabolomics to Decipher the Chemical Defense of Cereals against Fusarium graminearum and Deoxynivalenol Accumulation

Fusarium graminearum is the causal agent of Fusarium head blight (FHB) and Gibberella ear rot (GER), two devastating diseases of wheat, barley, and maize. Furthermore, F. graminearum species can produce type B trichothecene mycotoxins that accumulate in grains. Use of FHB and GER resistant cultivars is one of the most promising strategies to reduce damage induced by F. graminearum. Combined with genetic approaches, metabolomic ones can provide powerful opportunities for plant breeding through the identification of resistant biomarker metabolites which have the advantage of integrating the genetic background and the influence of the environment. In the past decade, several metabolomics attempts have been made to decipher the chemical defense that cereals employ to counteract F. graminearum. By covering the major classes of metabolites that have been highlighted and addressing their potential role, this review demonstrates the complex and integrated network of events that cereals can orchestrate to resist to F. graminearum.     

Can we use indoor fungi as bioindicators of indoor air quality? Historical perspectives and open questions

Microbiological analysis of atmospheres witnessed substantial technical improvements in the 1940s to 1960s. May's cascade impactor and Hirst's spore trap allowed the counting of total cells but had limited capacity for identification of the spores. Bourdillon's sampler enabled the counting of cultivable fungi and their identification. A great step forward was given with the Andersen's six-stage impactor, which allowed discrimination of particles by size, counting of cultivable cells, and species identification. This period also witnessed the development of impingers, namely, the AGI-30 described by Malligo and Idoine, and the three-stage model designed by K. R. May. The 1990s to 2000s witnessed innovative discoveries on the biology of indoor fungi. Work carried out in several laboratories showed that indoor fungi can release groups of spores, individual spores and fungal fragments, and produce volatile organic compounds and mycotoxins. Integrating all findings a holistic interpretation emerged for the sick building syndrome. Healthy houses and buildings, with low indoor humidity, display no appreciable indoor fungal growth, and outdoor Cladosporium dominates. On the contrary, in sick houses and buildings, high indoor humidity allows fungal growth (mainly of Penicillium and Aspergillus), with concomitant release of conidia and fragments into the atmosphere. The intoxication probably results from a chronic exposure to volatile organic compounds and mycotoxins produced by Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Stachybotrys.Very clean atmospheres are difficult to study by conventional methods. However, some of these atmospheres, namely, those of hospital rooms, should be monitored. Sedimentary sampling, chemical methods applied to impinger's collection liquid, and selected molecular methods can be useful in this context.It was concluded that fungi can be useful indicators of indoor air quality and that it is important to deepen the studies of indoor atmospheres in order to promote air quality, the health and well-being of all, and a better understanding of the biology of indoor fungi.     

污泥膨胀的原因及控制措施

活性污泥法是污水处理采用最普遍的方法,运行中最大的问题是污泥膨胀。分析总结国内外的研究成果,主要介绍污泥膨胀的类型、引起膨胀的原因和控制措施,并对今后的研究方向进行了展望。     

Airborne microbiological characteristics in public buildings of Korea

Characteristics of airborne bacteria and fungi were surveyed in the public buildings regulated in Korea, with the six-stage cascade impactor. The total concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were averaged to 404 and 382 cfu m⁻³ in hospital, 931 and 536 cfu m⁻³ in kindergarten, 294 and 334 cfu m⁻³ in elderly welfare facility, and 586 and 371 cfu m⁻³ in postpartum nurse center. Mean respirable concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were 194 and 292 cfu m⁻³ in hospital, 358 and 347 cfu m⁻³ in kindergarten, 134 and 266 cfu m⁻³ in elderly welfare facility, and 254 and 289 cfu m⁻³ in postpartum nurse center, respectively. Based on this results, total and respirable concentrations of airborne bacteria and fungi were significantly highest in kindergarten and lowest in elderly welfare facility (p<0.05$p<0.05$). The ratios of indoor and outdoor concentration for airborne bacteria and fungi were below 1.0 in all the investigated public buildings regardless of size distribution. The dominant genera identified in the public buildings were Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Bacillus spp., for airborne bacteria and Penicillium spp., Cladosporium spp., and Aspergillus spp., for airborne fungi, respectively. Size distributions of airborne bacteria and fungi in terms of the dominant genera were not observed consistently except for Staphylococcus spp., which was detected mainly on the first stage (>7.0 μm) and second stage(4.7–7.0 μm), and Penicillium spp., and Cladosporium spp., showing the highest collection rate at stage 3 (3.3–4.7 μm) regardless of the kind of the public buildings.     

白腐菌木素氧化酶系的检测及其漆酶诱导产生的研究

为筛选生长速度快的高产漆酶菌种,通过平板组织分离法在东北林区的4个自然保护区采集、鉴定、分离纯化得到34个大型真菌菌种,其中25个为白腐菌.用丁香醛连氮法、苯胺蓝平板脱色法对获得的菌种进行木素氧化酶系定性测定,结果发现有14个菌种具有漆酶活性.选择其中生长速度快、漆酶活性高的菌种进行了培养方式、诱导剂诱导对漆酶产生的影响,研究发现白耙齿菌、血红密孔菌诱导、静止培养漆酶产生最高峰值分别达到340、480U/mL,明显高于其他3种培养方式,这说明白耙齿菌、血红密孔菌是生长速度快的高产漆酶菌种,且静止培养可代替振荡培养进行漆酶产生、制备等相关的后续工作.     

FIELD FUNGI AND β-GLUCAN SOLUBILASE IN BARLEY KERNELS*

Significant amounts of β-glucan solubilase activity have been found in barleys harvested from a number of test sites. Enzyme activity appeared to be related to the climatic conditions at crop maturity, indicating that β-glucan solubilase was generated, possibly, by microflora on the barley grain. Species of the most common field fungi genera, Alternaria, Cladosporium, Epicoccum and Helminthosporium and two bacterial cultures were isolated from barley kernels and incubated on autoclaved barley for solubilase examinations. All the fungal isolates studied showed abilities to reduce the viscosity of carboxymethyl cellulose and to solubilise barley β-glucan. The molecular size distribution of the solubilised β-glucan products resembled that obtained for products formed by a partially purified preparation of solubilase from barley. It has been concluded, therefore, that the common field fungi associated with the hull and seed cot of barley may be the source of β-glucan solubilase.     

基于高通量测序探究东北粳稻储藏期间真菌群落的演替

为探究不同初始水分的东北粳稻在模拟实仓环境储藏的条件下,稻谷中真菌群落随储藏时间的演替变化。选取水分在14.50%~15.50%的稻谷HW和13.50%~14.50%稻谷LW,进入模拟储藏实验。结果表明,在第一和第二储藏期高水分稻谷HW水分含量由15.50%降低至15.09%,低水分稻谷LW水分含量由14.21%降低至13.59%,直至第三储藏期保持平稳。基于可操作性分类单元（Operational Taxonmic Units,OTUs）的物种分类分析,两种水分的稻谷真菌群落经历了不同的演替变化。高水分稻谷在每个储藏期,真菌群落都发生了明显演替,稻瘟病菌（Magnaporthe_grisea）、金黄色蝶形担孢酵母（Papiliotrema_aurea）、弯孢菌（Curvularia_inaequalis）、黑孢霉（Neosetophoma_samararum）、汉纳酵母菌（Hannaella_sinensis）在储存结束时成为了最终的优势菌种。低水分稻谷在第二储藏期真菌群落发生明显演替,优势菌种为弯孢菌（Curvularia_inaequalis）、汉纳酵母菌（Hannaella_sinensis）、Hannaella_zeae。     

大豆储藏真菌危害早期预测的研究

对大豆储藏中水分和温度的变化,与真菌生长关系进行了研究,建立了一种大豆真菌危害早期预测方法。将样品含水量分别调至11.4%、12.1%、13.0%、13.9%、14.3%和14.7%,经低温平衡后,于10、15、20、25、30、35℃温箱中储藏,每隔10 d取样1次,检测样品中真菌生长变化情况,试验周期为180 d。结果表明,11.4%水分大豆在6个试验温度下储藏均是安全的,12.1%水分样品在20℃以上储藏,检出有真菌生长,随着水分增加,真菌生长逐渐加快,大豆储藏水分与真菌生长速度具有良好的相关性。大豆在15℃以下储藏,低温对真菌生长有明显的抑制作用。超过20℃时这种影响会随着温度上升逐步变小。本试验对不同水分大豆储藏温度与真菌生长起始时间进行了幂函数拟合,得到了大豆储藏水分、温度,及真菌起始生长时间预测关系曲线,通过本曲线,可对高水分大豆短期储藏安全性进行早期预测。