Novel synergistic photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics and bacteria using V-N doped TiO2 under visible light: the state of nitrogen in V-doped TiO2

We report the synthesis of vanadium and nitrogen co-doped TiO2 for photocatalysis mainly emphasizing the state of nitrogen doping into TiO2 in the presence of vanadium ions. Considering the increase in antibiotic resistance developed by microbes due to the excess of pharmaceutical waste in the ecosystem, the photocatalytic activity was measured by degrading an antibiotic, chloramphenicol. A novel experiment was conducted by degrading the antibiotic and bacteria in each other's vicinity to focus on their synergistic photo-degradation by V-N co-doped TiO2. The catalysts were characterized using XRD, DRS, PL, TEM, BET and XPS analysis. Both interstitial and substitutional nitrogen doping were achieved with V-TiO2, showing high efficiency under visible light for antibiotic and bacterial degradation. In addition, the effect of doping concentration of nitrogen and vanadium in TiO2 and catalyst loading was studied thoroughly. Reusability experiments show that the prepared V-N co-doped TiO2 was stable for many cycles.

利用含纤维素原料发酵产氢的研究

本文从新鲜大熊猫粪便和实验室保存的沼气发酵富集物中筛选得到 4 株厌氧纤维素分解菌B5、C3、D3-2、D4-1，利用这4 株菌预处理秸秆，然后将预处理后的秸秆用本实验室保存的厌氧产氢菌来发酵进行生物产氢。同时还比较研究了：○1 用1% H2SO4、25% NH3 · H2O和12% NaOH对秸秆进行化学预处理；○2 用厌氧纤维素分解菌对秸秆进行生物预处理；○3 化学与生物组合预处理对秸秆发酵生物产氢的影响。实验结果表明：12% NaOH和生物组合预处理后的秸秆发酵产氢效果最好，其产氢量为21.04 mL g-1，是未经预处理秸秆的75 倍；最高氢气浓度为57.3%，是未经预处理秸秆的96 倍；其产氢的最适pH 为4.5 ~ 6.0，最佳底物浓度为45 ~ 55 g L-1；其发酵过程中的挥发性脂肪酸（VFAs）以乙酸和丁酸为主。 本实验筛选到的 4 株厌氧纤维素分解菌株中，B5 和D4-1 在降解纤维素的同时还具有直接以纤维素为底物产氢的功能，因此本文分别对菌株B5 和D4-1 以及二者的组合菌株B5+D4-1 直接利用秸秆为基质发酵生物产氢做了初步探索研究。结果发现：组合菌株发酵产氢的效果以及对秸秆纤维素和半纤维素的降解率要比单菌株好。菌株B5+D4-1 发酵，秸秆的产氢量为11.4 mL g-1，分别是B5 和D4-1 单菌株的1.6 倍和3.1 倍；组合菌株B5+D4-1 发酵的最大氢气浓度为31.6%，分别是B5 和D4-1 单菌株的1.3 倍和2.4 倍。在发酵过程中，组合菌株B5+D4-1 对秸秆纤维素和半纤维素的最高降解率分别为35.0%和11.8%，分别是菌株B5 的1.2 倍和1.1 倍，是菌株D4-1的1.5 倍和1.3 倍。菌株B5，D4-1 以及组合菌株B5+D4-1 发酵过程产生的挥发性脂肪酸（VFAs）均以乙酸为主。菌株B5 单独发酵过程中只检测到乙酸和丁酸，菌株D4-1 单独发酵以及组合菌株B5+D4-1 发酵过程检测到有乙醇、乙酸和丁酸。 The fermentative bio-hydrogen production by anaerobic hydrogen bacteria preserved in our laboratory from the straw which had been pretreated by four anaerobic cellulolytic decomposition strains of B5, C3, D3-2, D4-1 which were isolated and screened from giant panda’s excrement and biogas fermentation enrichments conserved in our laboratory was studied. Besides, the impact of chemical(1% H2SO4、25% NH3·H2O and 12% NaOH), biological (cellulolytic strains of B5, C3, D3-2, D4-1) and chemical-biological combination pretreatment on bio-hydrogen production from straw by fermentation was also comparatively studied. The experiments showed that the best results of bio-hydrogen production were obtained from the straw with 12% NaOH-biological combination pretreatment method, its capability of bio-hydrogen production was 21.04 mL g-1, which was 75 times higher than the straw without pretreatment; the maximum concentration of H2 was 57.3%, which was 96 times higher than the straw without pretreatment; its optimum pH range was 4.5 ~ 6.0, and its optimum range of substrate concentration was 45 ~ 55 g L-1; In the process of fermentation, the main composition of VFAs were acetate and butyrate. Among the four strains of B5, C3, D3-2, D4-1, B5 and D4-1 have the function of hydrogen-producing by cellulose used as substrate when it decompose cellulose, so the preliminary exploration and research on fermentative bio-hydrogen production by B5, D4-1 and B5+D4-1 which directly used straw as substrate was carried out. The results showed that the combination strains of B5+D4-1 was strikingly better than either B5 or D4-1 strain in the fermentative hydrogen production. The hydrogen-production capability of B5+D4-1 was 11.4 mL g-1 which was respectively 1.6 times and 3.1times higher than B5 and D4-1; the maximum hydrogen concentration of B5+D4-1 was 31.6% which was respectively 1.3 times and 2.4 times higher than B5 and D4-1. In the process of fermentation, the maximum degradation rate of cellulose and hemicellulose in straw was respectively 35.0% and 11.8% by B5+D4-1, which was 1.2 times and 1.1 times higher than B5, and was 1.5 times and 1.3 times higher than D4-1 respectively. The Volatile Fattty Acids(VFAs) generated in the process of fermentation with strains of B5, D4-1 and B5+D4-1 were all mainly acetate. Acetate and butyrate were detected in the process of fermentation with B5, ethonal, acetate and butyrate were detected in the process of fermentation with D4-1 and B5+D4-1.

Detection of Anaerobic Bacteria in High Numbers in Sputum from Patients with Cystic Fibrosis

Rationale: Pulmonary infection in cystic ?brosis (CF) is polymicrobial and it is possible that anaerobic bacteria, not detected by routine aerobic culture methods, reside within infected anaerobic airway
mucus.
Objectives: To determine whether anaerobic bacteria are present in the sputum of patients with CF.
Methods: Sputum samples were collected from clinically stable adults with CF and bronchoalveolar lavage ?uid (BALF) samples from children with CF. Induced sputum samples were collected from healthy volunteers who did not have CF. All samples were processed using anaerobic bacteriologic techniques and bacteria within the samples were quanti?ed and identi?ed.
Measurements and Main Results: Anaerobic species primarily within the genera Prevotella,Veillonella, Propionibacterium, andActinomyces were isolated in high numbers from 42 of 66 (64%) sputum samples from adult patients with CF. Colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa signi?cantly increased the likelihood that anaerobic bacteria would be present in the sputum. Similar anaerobic species were identi?ed in BALF from pediatric patients with CF. Although anaerobes were detected in induced sputum samples from 16 of 20 volunteers, they were present in much lower numbers and were
generally different species compared with those detected in CF sputum. Species-dependent differences in the susceptibility of the anaerobes to antibiotics with known activity against anaerobes were apparent with all isolates susceptible to meropenem.
Conclusions: A range of anaerobic species are present in large numbers in the lungs of patients with CF. If these anaerobic bacteria are contributing signi?cantly to infection and in?ammation in the CF
lung, informed alterations to antibiotic treatment to target anaerobes, in addition to the primary infecting pathogens, may improve management.

Stereoselective reductase-catalysed deoxygenation of sulfoxides in aerobic and anaerobic bacteria

Direct and indirect evidence, Of unexpected stereoselective reductase-catalysed deoxygenations of sulfoxides, was found. The deoxygenations proceeded simultaneously, with the expected dioxygenase-catalysed asymmetric sulfoxidation of sulfides, during some biotransformations with the aerobic bacterium Pseudomonas putida UV4. Stereoselective reductase-catalysed asymmetric deoxygenation of racemic alkylaryl, dialkyl and phenolic sulfoxides was observed, without evidence of the reverse sulfoxidation reaction, using anaerobic bacterial strains. A purified dimethyl sulfoxide reductase, obtained from the intact cells of the anaerobic bacterium Citrobacter braakii DMSO 11, yielded, from the corresponding racemates, enantiopure alkylaryl sulfoxide and thiosulfinate samples.

Variation in stable carbon isotope fractionation during aerobic degradation of phenol and benzoate by contaminant degrading bacteria

Variation in the natural abundance stable carbon isotope composition of respired CO2 and biomass has been measured for two types of aerobic bacteria found in contaminated land sites. Pseudomonas putida strain NCIMB 10015 was cultured on phenol and benzoate and Rhodococcus sp. I-1 was cultured on phenol. Results indicate that aerobic isotope fractionations of differing magnitudes occur during aerobic biodegradation of these substrates with an isotopic depletion in the CO2 (Delta(13)C(phenol-CO2)) as much as 3.7 parts per thousand and 5.6 parts per thousand for Pseudomonas putida and Rhodococcus sp. I-1 respectively. This observation has significant implications for the use of a stable isotope mass balance approach in monitoring degradation processes that rely on indigenous bacterial populations. The effects of the metabolic pathway utilised in degradation and inter-species variation on the magnitude of isotope fractionation are discussed. Possible explanations for the observed isotope fractionation include differences in the metabolic pathways utilised by the organisms and differences in specific growth rates and physiology. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The effect of slurry storage and anaerobic-digestion on survival of pathogenic bacteria

The decline in viable numbers of Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica and Listeria monocytogenes in beef cattle slurry is temperature-dependent; they decline more rapidly at 17-degrees-C than at 4-degrees-C. Mesophilic anaerobic digestion caused an initial rapid decline in the viable numbers of Escherichia coli, Salm. typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica and L. monocytogenes. This was followed by a period in which the viable numbers were not reduced by 90%. The T90 values of E. coli, Salm. typhimurium and Y. enterocolitica ranged from 0.7 to 0.9 d during batch digestion and 1.1 to 2-5 d during semi-continuous digestion. Listeria monocytogenes had a significantly higher mean T90 value during semi-continuous digestion (35.7 d) than batch digestion (12.3 d). Anaerobic digestion had little effect in reducing the viable numbers of Campylobacter jejuni.

Survival of pathogenic bacteria during mesophilic anaerobic-digestion of animal waste

The survival of pathogenic bacteria was investigated during the operation of a full-scale anaerobic digester which was fed daily and operated at 28-degrees-C. The digester had a mean hydraulic retention time of 24 d. The viable numbers of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter jejuni were reduced during mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Escherichia coli had the smallest mean viable numbers at each stage of the digestion process. Its mean T90 value was 76-9 d. Yersinia enterocolitica was the least resistant to the anaerobic digester environment; its mean T90 value was 18.2 d. Campylobacter jejuni was the most resistant bacterium; its mean T90 value was 438.6 d. Regression analysis showed that there were no direct relationships between the slurry input and performance of the digester and the decline of pathogen numbers during the 140 d experimental period.

Metabolic-activity of pathogenic bacteria during semicontinuous anaerobic-digestion

In natural environments such as anaerobic digesters, bacteria are frequently subjected to the stress of nutrient fluxes because of the continual changes in the flow of nutrients, and to survive, they must be capable of adapting readily to nutrient changes. In this study, the metabolic activities of Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Yersinia enterocolitica, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni were studied within culture bags (Versapor-200 filters, 0.22-mu m pore size) in laboratory anaerobic digesters. The metabolic activity of these bacteria was indicated by their adenylate energy charge (EC) ratios and their ability to incorporate [H-3]thymidine, which was related to the respective changes in viable numbers within the culture bags during anaerobic digestion. Fluctuations in the adenylate EC ratios, the uptake of [H-3]thymidine, and the viable numbers of E. coli, S. typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica, and L. monocytogenes cells were probably due to constant changes in the amount of available nutrients within the anaerobic digesters. The viability of S. typhimurium increased quickly after a fresh supply of nutrients was added to the system as indicated by the uptake of [H-3]thymidine and an increase in the adenylate EC ratios. The viable numbers of E. coli, S. typhimurium, Y. enterocolitica, and L. monocytogenes organisms declined rapidly from 10(7) to 10(8) CFU/ml to 10(3) to 10(4) CFU/ml and remained at this level for an indefinite period. The decimal reduction time calculated during the period of exponential decline ranged from 0.8 to 1.2 days for these bacteria. C. jejuni had the greatest mean decimal reduction time value (3.6 days). This bacterium had adenylate EC ratios of less than 0.5 during anaerobic digestion, although the adenylate nucleotide concentrations in the cells were much greater than those in the other enteric cells. The results show that the enteric bacteria investigated probably exist in transient states between different stages of growth because of fluctuating nutrient levels during anaerobic digestion.

Reduced Bacterial Colony Count of Anaerobic Bacteria Is Associated with a Worsening in Lung Clearance Index and Inflammation in Cystic Fibrosis

Anaerobic bacteria have been identified in abundance in the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects. The impact their presence and abundance has on lung function and inflammation is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the colony count of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, lung clearance index (LCI), spirometry and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in patients with CF. Sputum and blood were collected from CF patients at a single cross-sectional visit when clinically stable. Community composition and bacterial colony counts were analysed using extended aerobic and anaerobic culture. Patients completed spirometry and a multiple breath washout (MBW) test to obtain LCI. An inverse correlation between colony count of aerobic bacteria (n = 41, r = -0.35; p = 0.02), anaerobic bacteria (n = 41, r = -0.44, p = 0.004) and LCI was observed. There was an inverse correlation between colony count of anaerobic bacteria and CRP (n = 25, r = -0.44, p = 0.03) only. The results of this study demonstrate that a lower colony count of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria correlated with a worse LCI. A lower colony count of anaerobic bacteria also correlated with higher CRP levels. These results indicate that lower abundance of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria may reflect microbiota disruption and disease progression in the CF lung.