Mutation of the Maturase Lipoprotein Attenuates the Virulence of Streptococcus equi to a Greater Extent than Does Loss of General Lipoprotein Lipidation Andrea Hamilton,†‡ Carl Robinson,† Iain C. Sutcliffe, Josh Slater, Duncan J. Maskell, Nick Davis-Poynter, Ken Smith, Andrew Waller, and Dean J. Harrington* University of Sunderland, SR1 3SD Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom; Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, United Kingdom; Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 8ST, United Kingdom; Royal Veterinary College, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, United Kingdom; Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, United Kingdom; and University of Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, United Kingdom

/pdf/infection-and-immunity-3e6gs6qla4.pdf

Infection and immunity

We provide a synthesis of the literature describing biochemical interactions between microorganisms and insects by way of microbial volatile organic compound (MVOC) production. We evaluated the functionality and ecological context of MVOC signals, and explored important metabolic pathways involved in MVOC production. The cosmopolitan distribution of microorganisms creates a context for frequent, and frequently overlooked, insect responses to microbial emissions. There are numerous instances of MVOCs being closely associated with insect feeding behaviors, but some MVOCs are also powerful repellants. Emissions from microorganisms in situ may signal aspects of habitat suitability or potential exposure to entomopathogens. In some ecosystems, bacterial or fungal volatiles can also incite insect aggregations, or MVOCs can resemble sexual pheromones that elicit mating and oviposition behaviors from responding insects. A single microorganism or MVOC can have different effects on insect behaviors, especially across species, ontogenies, and habitats. There appears to be a multipartite basis for insect responses to MVOCs, and complex tritrophic interactions can result from the production of MVOCs. Many biochemical pathways for behaviorally active volatile production by microbial species are conserved across large taxonomic groupings of microorganisms. In addition, there is substantial functional redundancy in MVOCs: fungal tissues commonly produce polyketides and short-chain alcohols, whereas bacterial tissues tend to be more commonly associated with amines and pyrazines. We hypothesize that insect olfactory responses to emissions from microorganisms inhabiting their sensory environment are much more common than currently recognized, and that these signals represent evolutionarily reliable infochemicals. Insect chemoreception of microbial volatiles may contribute to the formation of neutral, beneficial, or even harmful symbioses and provide considerable insight into the evolution of insect behavioral responses to volatile compounds.

Microbial volatile emissions as insect semiochemicals.

From the NJIT Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Graduate Certificate in Environmental Engineering allows students to focus in Water Quality, Treatment and Infrastructure, Integrated Site Remediation, or Multidisciplinary Environmental Engineering. Environmental Engineers are interested in ways to protect the environment, improve water quality, and are essential in planning, designing and constructing water and wastewater treatment plants, solid waste disposal systems, site remediation approaches and emission control measures.

Environmental engineering-i

The qualities of the treated final effluents of a wastewater treatment plant located in a rural community of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa were assessed over the duration of 12 months. Parameters measured include pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, salinity, turbidity, total dissolved solid, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, nitrate, nitrite and orthophosphate levels and these were simultaneously monitored in the treated final effluents and the receiving watersheds using standard methods. Unacceptably, high levels of the assayed parameters were observed in many cases for chemical oxygen demand (7.5–248.5 mg/L), nitrate (1.82–13.14 mg/L), nitrite (0.09–1.3 mg/L), orthophosphate (0.07–4.81 mg/L), dissolved oxygen (4.15–11.22 mg/L) and turbidity (3.68–159.06 NTU) during the study period and are severally outside the compliance levels of the South African Guidelines and World Health Organization tolerance limits for effluents intended for discharge through public sewers into receiving watersheds. The study has revealed that there was an adverse impact on the physico-chemical characteristics of the receiving watershed as a result of the discharge of inadequately treated effluents from the wastewater treatment facility. This poses a health risk to several rural communities which rely on the receiving water bodies primarily as their sources of domestic water. There is need for the intervention of appropriate regulatory agencies to ensure production of high quality treated final effluents by wastewater treatment facilities in rural communities of South Africa.

/pdf/impact-of-discharge-wastewater-effluents-on-the-physico-322denuvz2.pdf

Impact of discharge wastewater effluents on the physico-chemical qualities of a receiving watershed in a typical rural community

: The biodegradation of naphthalene, creosote, and naphthalene-enriched creosote applied to wood pilings used at Roosevelt Roads Naval Base in Puerto Rico was studied. It was found that naphthalene-degrading bacteria rapidly colonized new wood pilings within hours after installation but that the rate of attachment and subsequent colonization was significantly slower for the naphthalene- enriched creosote-treated wood. The bacteria attaching to new wood were predominantly stalked bacteria whereas the microbial flora of old wood reflected that of the surrounding water and sediment. The gut of Limnoria tripunctata reared in the laboratory was found to be free of bacteria but the external surfaces of the borer were heavily colonized by bacteria. (Author)

Microbial Degradation of Petroleum in the Marine Environment.

The effect of various concentrations of crude oil on fungal populations of soil was investigated for a period of 18 weeks using standard methods. Total fungal counts ranged from 26 to 143 × 10 2 cfu/gsoil while counts of petroleum-utilizing fungi ranged from 2 to 102 × 10 2 cfu/g soil. Analysis of variance and randomized complete block design of counts of total fungi and petroleum-utilizers showed high significant difference between the control and the oil treated soils at p 0.5 % > 1 % > 3 % > 5 %. This order of fungal diversity is a reverse of the decreasing order of fungal counts of these same soils. This showed that higher concentrations of crude oil has adverse effect on fungal diversity while enhancing the population of a fewer fungi.

Impact of various concentrations of crude oil on fungal populations of soil

methods. The total counts of saprophytic fungi ranged from 28.33 x 10 2 to 34.69 x 10 2 cfug -1 for the cow dung while that of poultry droppings ranged from 44.67 x 10 2 to 48.33 x 10 2 cfug -1 .The total counts of petroleum-utilizing fungi ranged from 4.67 x 10 1 to 6.67 x 10 1 cfug -1 for cow dung and ranged from 9.67 x 10 1 to 14.33 x 10 1 cfug -1 for poultry droppings. The average counts of the total petroleum-utilizing fungi for cow dung and poultry droppings was 5.67 x 10 1 cfug -1

Saprophytic and crude oil degrading fungi from cow dung and poultry droppings as bioremediating agents

In this study, enumeration and identification of total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and petroleum-utilizing bacteria as well as the degradative potential of petroleum-utilizing bacterial isolates were carried out. The average counts of total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria in cow dung and poultry manure were 74.25 × 105 c.f.u. g−1 and 138.75 × 105 c.f.u. g−1 respectively. Acinetobacter sp, Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, and Serratia spp. occurred as aerobic heterotrophs in both cow dung and poultry manure. However, Alcaligenes spp. occurred only in cow dung while, Flavobacterium sp, Klebsiella sp, Micrococcus sp, and Nocardia spp. occurred only in poultry manure as aerobic heterotrophs. The average counts of petroleum-utilizing bacteria in cow dung and poultry manure were 9.25 × 105 c.f.u. g−1 and 17.25 × 105 c.f.u. g−1 respectively. Pseudomonas spp. occurred as petroleum utilizer in both cow dung and poultry manure. However, Bacillus spp. occurred only in cow dung while Acinetobacter spp. and Micrococcus spp. occurred only in poultry manure as petroleum utilizers. Relative abundance of petroleum utilizers in total aerobic heterotrophs ranged from 6.38% to 20.00% for cow dung and from 9.38% to 17.29% for poultry manure. Introduction of pure cultures of petroleum-utilizing bacteria from cow dung and poultry manure into sterile oil-polluted soil revealed oil degradation in one week period.

Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and petroleum-utilizing bacteria from cow dung and poultry manure

The physico-chemical and bacteriological characteristics of soils as influenced by the addition of 5% gasoline, kerosene and diesel oil hydrocarbons, were investigated. Soil for study was bulked from around a car park in Port Harcourt. Soil sampling was carried out at weekly intervals for four weeks and subsequently at monthly intervals for four months, between the months of March and July 1998. Physico-chemical parameters such as organic carbon, magnesium, and sodium increased from 1.48% to 2.46%: 0.60 to 3.40meg 100g-1 soil and 0.23 to 0.77meg 100g-1 soil respectively. Nitrogen and phosphorous decreased from 0.15% to 0.07% and 35.1ppm to 10.88pm respectively while ammonium nitrate and nitrite were not affected in all soils. Calcium and potassium decreased beyond the control soil level in gasoline — contaminated soil after week 16. Counts of total viable aerobic heterotrophs ranged from 0.46 x 106 CFGg-1 soil to 1.59 x 106 CFUg-1 soil for the control soil; and from 0.56 x 106 CFUg-1 to 2.40 x 106 CFUg-1 soil for the hydrocarbon — contaminated soils. There was significant difference amongst treatments at P = 1%. 
(Journal of Applied Sciences & Environmental Management: 2002 6(1): 39-44)

https://www.ajol.info/index.php/jasem/article/download/17193/62876

Effects of Refined Petroleum Hydrocarbon on Soil Physicochemical and Bacteriological Characteristics

The bacterium Zymomonas mobilis was isolated from fresh palm-sap samples from three different locations as to determine the contribution of the bacterial isolate to alcohol production in palm-wine. Carbohydrate (sugar) fermentation, alcohol tolerance, and growth of the bacterium at different pH and temperature values were determined; and a comparison of sugar fermentation by Z. mobilis and Saccharomyces cerevisiae was also determined. Z. mobilis contributes much to the fermentation of palm-wine due to its ability to ferment sucrose, glucose and fructose which are the main sugars in palm-sap. The bacterium reached its maximum density of 2.72 x 10 7 cells/ml between 12 and 15 hrs after tapping of the palm-sap. Z. mobilis is acid and alcohol tolerant being able to grow at pH values between 4.0 and 7.0 and in alcohol concentration of between 2.5% and 15% respectively. Z. mobilis was also found to ferment sugars at a faster rate than Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Statistical analysis of the data obtained using ANOVA showed that there is no significant difference at p = 0.05 level of significance in the growth of isolates of Z. mobilis obtained from the three locations under different pH, alcohol and temperature values. @JASEM Palm-wine is an alcoholic beverage obtained from the fermentation of the sugary sap of various palm species in Nigeria. It is usually obtained from Raphia vinifera, Raphia hookeri, and Elaeis guineensis by methods described by Bassir (1965), Faparusi (1966) and Okafor (1972). Raphia palms usually yield more sap than oil palms although raphia palms can only be tapped once in its life time because its terminal inflorescence is destroyed during tapping (Okafor, 1977).

O Obire

Papers

Impact of various concentrations of crude oil on fungal populations of soil

Saprophytic and crude oil degrading fungi from cow dung and poultry droppings as bioremediating agents

Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria and petroleum-utilizing bacteria from cow dung and poultry manure

Effects of Refined Petroleum Hydrocarbon on Soil Physicochemical and Bacteriological Characteristics

Activity of Zymomonas species in palm-sap obtained from three areas in Edo State, Nigeria.