MyMedR

Displaying all 18 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Enzymatic cyanide degradation by cell-free extract of Rhodococcus UKMP-5M

Nallapan Maniyam M, Sjahrir F, Latif Ibrahim A, Cass AE

J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 2015;50(4):357-64.
PMID: 25723061 DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2015.987524

The cell-free extract of locally isolated Rhodococcus UKMP-5M strain was used as an alternative to develop greener and cost effective cyanide removal technology. The present study aims to assess the viability of the cell-free extract to detoxify high concentrations of cyanide which is measured through the monitoring of protein concentration and specific cyanide-degrading activity. When cyanide-grown cells were subjected to grinding in liquid nitrogen which is relatively an inexpressive and fast cell disruption method, highest cyanide-degrading activity of 0.63 mM min(-1) mg(-1) protein was obtained in comparison to enzymatic lysis and agitation with fine glass beads. The cell-free extracts managed to degrade 80% of 20 mM KCN within 80 min and the rate of cyanide consumption increased linearly as the concentration of protein was raised. In both cases, the addition of co-factor was not required which proved to be advantageous economically. The successful formation of ammonia and formate as endproducts indicated that the degradation of cyanide by Rhodococcus UKMP-5M proceeded via the activity of cyanidase and the resulting non-toxic products are safe for disposal into the environment. Further verification with SDS-PAGE revealed that the molecular weight of the active enzyme was estimated to be 38 kDa, which is consistent with previously reported cyanidases. Thus, the utilization of cell-free extracts as an alternative to live microbial in cyanide degradation offers numerous advantageous such as the potential to tolerate and degrade higher concentration of cyanide and total reduction in the overall cost of operation since the requirement for nutrient support is irrelevant.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Effective microbes for simultaneous bio-oxidation of ammonia and manganese in biological aerated filter system

Abu Hasan H, Abdullah SR, Kofli NT, Kamarudin SK

Bioresour Technol, 2012 Nov;124:355-63.
PMID: 22995166 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.08.055

This study determined the most effective microbes acting as ammonia-oxidising (AOB) and manganese-oxidising bacteria (MnOB) for the simultaneous removal of ammonia (NH(4)(+)-N) and manganese (Mn(2+)) from water. Two conditions of mixed culture of bacteria: an acclimatised mixed culture (mixed culture: MC) in a 5-L bioreactor and biofilm attached on a plastic medium (stages of mixed culture: SMC) in a biological aerated filter were isolated and identified using Biolog MicroSystem and 16S rRNA sequencing. A screening test for determining the most effective microbe in the removal of NH(4)(+)-N and Mn(2+) was initially performed using SMC and MC, respectively, and found that Bacillus cereus was the most effective microbe for the removal of NH(4)(+)-N and Mn(2+). Moreover, the simultaneous NH(4)(+)-N and Mn(2+) removal (above 95% removal for both NH(4)(+)-N and Mn(2+)) was achieved using a biological aerated filter under various operating conditions. Thus, the strain could act as an effective microbe of AOB and a MnOB for the simultaneous removal of NH(4)(+)-N and Mn(2+).

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Treatment of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus wastewater utilizing phytoremediation of microalgae, Chlorella sp. with Aspergillus niger bio-harvesting

Nasir NM, Bakar NS, Lananan F, Abdul Hamid SH, Lam SS, Jusoh A

Bioresour Technol, 2015 Aug;190:492-8.
PMID: 25791330 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.03.023

This study focuses on the evaluation of the performance of Chlorella sp. in removing nutrient in aquaculture wastewater and its correlation with the kinetic growth of Chlorella sp. The treatment was applied with various Chlorella sp. inoculation dosage ranging from 0% to 60% (v/v) of wastewater. The optimum inoculation dosage was recorded at 30% (v/v) with effluent concentration of ammonia and orthophosphate recording at 0.012mgL(-1) and 0.647mgL(-1), respectively on Day 11. The optimum dosage for bio-flocculation process was obtained at 30mgL(-1) of Aspergillus niger with a harvesting efficiency of 97%. This type of development of phytoremediation with continuous bio-harvesting could promote the use of sustainable green technology for effective wastewater treatment.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
Fulltext Comparative genomics sheds light on niche differentiation and the evolutionary history of comammox Nitrospira

Palomo A, Pedersen AG, Fowler SJ, Dechesne A, Sicheritz-Pontén T, Smets BF

ISME J, 2018 06;12(7):1779-1793.
PMID: 29515170 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0083-3

The description of comammox Nitrospira spp., performing complete ammonia-to-nitrate oxidation, and their co-occurrence with canonical β-proteobacterial ammonia oxidizing bacteria (β-AOB) in the environment, calls into question the metabolic potential of comammox Nitrospira and the evolutionary history of their ammonia oxidation pathway. We report four new comammox Nitrospira genomes, constituting two novel species, and the first comparative genomic analysis on comammox Nitrospira. Unlike canonical Nitrospira, comammox Nitrospira genomes lack genes for assimilatory nitrite reduction, suggesting that they have lost the potential to use external nitrite nitrogen sources. By contrast, compared to canonical Nitrospira, comammox Nitrospira harbor a higher diversity of urea transporters and copper homeostasis genes and lack cyanate hydratase genes. Additionally, the two comammox clades differ in their ammonium uptake systems. Contrary to β-AOB, comammox Nitrospira genomes have single copies of the two central ammonia oxidation pathway operons. Similar to ammonia oxidizing archaea and some oligotrophic AOB strains, they lack genes involved in nitric oxide reduction. Furthermore, comammox Nitrospira genomes encode genes that might allow efficient growth at low oxygen concentrations. Regarding the evolutionary history of comammox Nitrospira, our analyses indicate that several genes belonging to the ammonia oxidation pathway could have been laterally transferred from β-AOB to comammox Nitrospira. We postulate that the absence of comammox genes in other sublineage II Nitrospira genomes is the result of subsequent loss.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Biodegradation of cyanide by acetonitrile-induced cells of Rhodococcus sp. UKMP-5M

Nallapan Maniyam M, Sjahrir F, Ibrahim AL, Cass AE

J Gen Appl Microbiol, 2013;59(6):393-404.
PMID: 24492598

A Rhodococcus sp. UKMP-5M isolate was shown to detoxify cyanide successfully, suggesting the presence of an intrinsic property in the bacterium which required no prior cyanide exposure for induction of this property. However, in order to promote growth, Rhodococcus sp. UKMP-5M was fully acclimatized to cyanide after 7 successive subcultures in 0.1 mM KCN for 30 days. To further shorten the lag phase and simultaneously increase the tolerance towards higher cyanide concentrations, the bacterium was induced with various nitrile compounds sharing a similar degradatory pathway to cyanide. Acetonitrile emerged as the most favored inducer and the induced cells were able to degrade 0.1 mM KCN almost completely within 18 h. With the addition of subsequent aliquots of 0.1 mM KCN a shorter period for complete removal of cyanide was required, which proved to be advantageous economically. Both resting cells and crude enzyme of Rhodococcus sp. UKMP-5M were able to biodegrade cyanide to ammonia and formate without the formation of formamide, implying the identification of a simple hydrolytic cyanide degradation pathway involving the enzyme cyanidase. Further verification with SDS-PAGE revealed that the molecular weight of the active enzyme was estimated to be 38 kDa, which is consistent with previously reported cyanidases. Since the recent advancement in the application of biological methods in treating cyanide-bearing wastewater has been promising, the discovery of this new bacterium will add value by diversifying the existing microbial populations capable of cyanide detoxification.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
Diel osmorespiration rhythms of juvenile marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmorata)

Lim LS, Tan SY, Tuzan AD, Kawamura G, Mustafa S, Rahmah S, et al.

Fish Physiol Biochem, 2020 Aug;46(4):1621-1629.
PMID: 32430644 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-020-00817-5

Oxyeleotris marmorata is an ambush predator. It is known for slow growth rate and high market demand. Farming of O. marmorata still remains a challenge. In order to establish a proper feeding practice to stimulate growth, knowledge of its metabolic processes and cost should be examined. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the diel osmorespiration rhythms of O. marmorata in response to feeding challenge by using an osmorespirometry assay. The results have shown that oxygen consumption rate of the fed fish was approximately 3 times higher than that of the unfed fish in early evening to support specific dynamic action. Digestion and ingestion processes were likely to be completed within 18-20 h in parallel with the ammonia excretion noticeable in early morning. Under resting metabolism, metabolic oxygen consumption was influenced by diel phase, but no effect was noted in ammonia excretion. As a nocturnal species, O. marmorata exhibited standard aerobic metabolic mode under dark phase followed by light phase, with high oxygen consumption rate found in either fed or unfed fish. It can be confirmed that both the diel phase and feeding have a significant interactive impact on oxygen consumption rate, whereas ammonia metabolism is impacted by feeding state. High metabolic rate of O. marmorata supports the nocturnal foraging activity in this fish. This finding suggested that feeding of O. marmorata should be performed during nighttime and water renewal should be conducted during daytime.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
Fulltext Optimal reduction of chemical oxygen demand and NH3-N from landfill leachate using a strongly resistant novel Bacillus salmalaya strain

Dadrasnia A, Azirun MS, Ismail SB

BMC Biotechnol, 2017 Nov 28;17(1):85.
PMID: 29179747 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-017-0395-9

BACKGROUND: When the unavoidable waste generation is considered as damaging to our environment, it becomes crucial to develop a sustainable technology to remediate the pollutant source towards an environmental protection and safety. The development of a bioengineering technology for highly efficient pollutant removal is this regard. Given the high ammonia nitrogen content and chemical oxygen demand of landfill leachate, Bacillus salmalaya strain 139SI, a novel resident strain microbe that can survive in high ammonia nitrogen concentrations, was investigated for the bioremoval of ammonia nitrogen from landfill leachate. The treatability of landfill leachate was evaluated under different treatment parameters, such as temperature, inoculum dosage, and pH.
RESULTS: Results demonstrated that bioaugmentation with the novel strain can potentially improve the biodegradability of landfill leachate. B. salmalaya strain 139SI showed high potential to enhance biological treatment given its maximum NH3-N and COD removal efficiencies. The response surface plot pattern indicated that within 11 days and under optimum conditions (10% v/v inoculant, pH 6, and 35 °C), B. salmalaya strain139SI removed 78% of ammonia nitrogen. At the end of the study, biological and chemical oxygen demands remarkably decreased by 88% and 91.4%, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that ammonia ions covered the cell surface of B. salmalaya strain139SI.
CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, novel resistant Bacillus salmalaya strain139SI significantly reduces the chemical oxygen demand and NH3-N content of landfill leachate. Leachate treatment by B. salmalaya strain 139SI within 11 days.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
Postprandial increases in nitrogenous excretion and urea synthesis in the giant mudskipper Periophthalmodon schlosseri

Ip YK, Lim CK, Lee SL, Wong WP, Chew SF

J Exp Biol, 2004 Aug;207(Pt 17):3015-23.
PMID: 15277556

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of feeding on the excretory nitrogen (N) metabolism of the giant mudskipper, Periophthalmodon schlosseri, with special emphasis on the role of urea synthesis in ammonia detoxification. The ammonia and urea excretion rates of P. schlosseri increased 1.70- and 1.92-fold, respectively, within the first 3 h after feeding on guppies. Simultaneously, there were significant decreases in ammonia levels in the plasma and the brain, and in urea contents in the muscle and liver, of P. schlosseri at 3 h post-feeding. Thus, it can be concluded that P. schlosseri was capable of unloading ammonia originally present in some of its tissues in anticipation of ammonia released from the catabolism of excess amino acids after feeding. Subsequently, there were significant increases in urea content in the muscle, liver and plasma (1.39-, 2.17- and 1.62-fold, respectively) at 6 h post-feeding, and the rate of urea synthesis apparently increased 5.8-fold between 3 h and 6 h. Increased urea synthesis might have occurred in the liver of P. schlosseri because the greatest increase in urea content was observed therein. The excess urea accumulated in the body at 6 h was completely excreted between 6 and 12 h, and the percentage of waste-N excreted as urea-N increased significantly to 26% during this period, but never exceeded 50%, the criterion for ureotely, meaning that P. schlosseri remained ammonotelic after feeding. By 24 h, 62.7% of the N ingested by P. schlosseri was excreted, out of which 22.6% was excreted as urea-N. This is the first report on the involvement of increased urea synthesis and excretion in defense against ammonia toxicity in the giant mudskipper, and our results suggest that an ample supply of energy resources, e.g. after feeding, is a prerequisite for the induction of urea synthesis. Together, increases in nitrogenous excretion and urea synthesis after feeding effectively prevented a postprandial surge of ammonia in the plasma of P. schlosseri as reported previously for other fish species. Consequently, contrary to previous reports, there were significant decreases in the ammonia content of the brain of P. schlosseri throughout the 24 h period post-feeding, accompanied by a significant decrease in brain glutamine content between 12 h and 24 h.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
The giant mudskipper Periophthalmodon schlosseri facilitates active NH(4)(+) excretion by increasing acid excretion and decreasing NH(3) permeability in the skin

Ip YK, Randall DJ, Kok TK, Barzaghi C, Wright PA, Ballantyne JS, et al.

J Exp Biol, 2004 Feb;207(Pt 5):787-801.
PMID: 14747411

Periophthalmodon schlosseri is an amphibious and obligatory air-breathing teleost, which is extremely tolerant to environmental ammonia. It actively excretes NH(4)(+) in ammonia loading conditions. For such a mechanism to operate efficaciously the fish must be able to prevent back flux of NH(3). P. schlosseri could lower the pH of 50 volumes (w/v) of 50% seawater in an artificial burrow from pH 8.2 to pH 7.4 in 1 day, and established an ambient ammonia concentration of 10 mmol l(-1) in 8 days. It could alter the rate of titratable acid efflux in response to ambient pH. The rate of net acid efflux (H(+) excretion) in P. schlosseri was pH-dependent, increasing in the order pH 6.0<7.0<8.0<8.5. Net acid flux in neutral or alkaline pH conditions was partially inhibited by bafilomycin, indicating the possible involvement of a V-type H(+)-ATPase. P. schlosseri could also increase the rate of H(+) excretion in response to the presence of ammonia in a neutral (pH 7.0) external medium. Increased H(+) excretion in P. schlosseri occurred in the head region where active excretion of NH(4)(+) took place. This would result in high concentrations of H(+) in the boundary water layer and prevent the dissociation of NH(4)(+), thus preventing a back flux of NH(3) through the branchial epithelia. P. schlosseri probably developed such an 'environmental ammonia detoxification' capability because of its unique behavior of burrow building in the mudflats and living therein in a limited volume of water. In addition, the skin of P. schlosseri had low permeability to NH(3). Using an Ussing-type apparatus with 10 mmol l(-1) NH(4)Cl and a 1 unit pH gradient (pH 8.0 to 7.0), the skin supported only a very small flux of NH(3) (0.0095 micromol cm(-2) min(-1)). Cholesterol content (4.5 micromol g(-1)) in the skin was high, which suggests low membrane fluidity. Phosphatidylcholine, which has a stabilizing effect on membranes, constituted almost 50% of the skin phospholipids, with phosphatidyleserine and phsophatidylethanolamine contributing only 13% and 15%, respectively. More importantly, P. schlosseri increased the cholesterol level (to 5.5 micromol g(-1)) and altered the fatty acid composition (increased total saturated fatty acid content) in its skin lipid after exposure to ammonia (30 mmol l(-1) at pH 7.0) for 6 days. These changes might lead to an even lower permeability to NH(3) in the skin, and reduced back diffusion of the actively excreted NH(4)(+) as NH(3) or the net influx of exogenous NH(3), under such conditions.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Sodium butyrate mitigates in vitro ammonia generation in cecal content of laying hens

Wang A, Wang Y, Di Liao X, Wu Y, Liang JB, Laudadio V, et al.

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2016 Aug;23(16):16272-9.
PMID: 27154844 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6777-z

One of the environmental challenges that modern poultry industry faced is odor pollution caused by ammonia emission. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of sodium butyrate on the production of ammonia in the cecal contents of laying hens using in vitro gas production study and to elucidate the mechanism behind it. The study consisted of a control (without sodium butyrate), and three experimental groups added with 10, 15, and 20 mg of sodium butyrate, respectively. Results showed that ammonia production in headspace of the syringe decreased by 8.2, 23, and 23 %, respectively, while ammonium production from the fermentation broth decreased by 6.3, 14.4, and 13.7 %, respectively. Sodium butyrate had no significant effect on the contents of uric acid and urea, nitrate-N, or total N in all treatments. However, sodium butyrate decreased the urease and uricase activities (P ammonia production.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Nitrogen metabolism and excretion in the aquatic chinese soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis, exposed to a progressive increase in ambient salinity

Lee SM, Wong WP, Hiong KC, Loong AM, Chew SF, Ip YK

J. Exp. Zoolog. Part A Comp. Exp. Biol., 2006 Dec 1;305(12):995-1009.
PMID: 17068799

This study aimed to determine effects of 6-day progressive increase in salinity from 1 per thousand to 15 per thousand on nitrogen metabolism and excretion in the soft-shelled turtle, Pelodiscus sinensis. For turtles exposed to 15 per thousand water on day 6, the plasma osmolality and concentrations of Na+, Cl- and urea increased significantly, which presumably decreased the osmotic loss of water. Simultaneously, there were significant increases in contents of urea, certain free amino acids (FAAs) and water-soluble proteins that were involved in cell volume regulation in various tissues. There was an apparent increase in proteolysis, releasing FAAs as osmolytes. In addition, there might be an increase in catabolism of certain amino acids, producing more ammonia. The excess ammonia was retained as indicated by a significant decrease in the rate of ammonia excretion on day 4 in 15 per thousand water, and a major portion of it was converted to urea. The rate of urea synthesis increased 1.4-fold during the 6-day period, although the capacity of the hepatic ornithine urea cycle remained unchanged. Urea was retained for osmoregulation because there was a significant decrease in urea excretion on day 4. Increased protein degradation and urea synthesis implies greater metabolic demands, and indeed turtles exposed to 15 per thousand water had significantly higher O2 consumption rate than the freshwater (FW) control. When turtles were returned from 15 per thousand water to FW on day 7, there were significant increases in ammonia (probably released through increased amino acid catabolism) and urea excretion, confirming that FAAs and urea were retained for osmoregulatory purposes in brackish water.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
Fulltext Performance of wild-Serbian Ganoderma lucidum mycelium in treating synthetic sewage loading using batch bioreactor

Mohd Hanafiah Z, Wan Mohtar WHM, Abu Hasan H, Jensen HS, Klaus A, Wan-Mohtar WAAQI

Sci Rep, 2019 11 06;9(1):16109.
PMID: 31695087 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52493-y

The fluctuation of domestic wastewater characteristic inhibits the current conventional microbial-based treatment. The bioremediation fungi has received attention and reported to be an effective alternative to treat industrial wastewater. Similar efficient performance is envisaged for domestic wastewater whereby assessed performance of fungi for varying carbon-to-nitrogen ratios in domestic wastewater is crucial. Thus, the performance of pre-grown wild-Serbian Ganoderma lucidum mycelial pellets (GLMPs) was evaluated on four different synthetic domestic wastewaters under different conditions of initial pH (pH 4, 5, and 7) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) to nitrogen (COD/N) ratio of 3.6:1, 7.1:1, 14.2:1, and 17.8:1 (C3.6N1, C7.1N1, C14.2N1, and C17.8N1). The COD/N ratios with a constant concentration of ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) were chosen on the basis of the urban domestic wastewater characteristics sampled at the inlet basin of a sewage treatment plant (STP). The parameters of pH, COD, and NH3-N were measured periodically during the experiment. The wild-Serbian GLMPs efficiently removed the pollutants from the synthetic sewage. The COD/N ratio of C17.8N1 wastewater had the best COD and NH3-N removal, as compared to the lower COD/N ratio, and the shortest treatment time was obtained in an acidic environment at pH 4. The highest percentage for COD and NH3-N removal achieved was 96.0% and 93.2%, respectively. The results proved that the mycelium of GLMP has high potential in treating domestic wastewater, particularly at high organic content as a naturally sustainable bioremediation system.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
The kinetic properties of the glutamate dehydrogenase of Teladorsagia circumcincta and their significance for the lifestyle of the parasite

Muhamad N, Simcock DC, Pedley KC, Simpson HV, Brown S

Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol, 2011 Jun;159(2):71-7.
PMID: 21296180 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2011.01.008

Like other nematodes, both L(3) and adult Teladosagia circumcincta secrete or excrete NH(3)/NH(4)(+), but the reactions involved in the production are unclear. Glutamate dehydrogenase is a significant source NH(3)/NH(4)(+) in some species, but previous reports indicate that the enzyme is absent from L(3)Haemonchus contortus. We show that glutamate dehydrogenase was active in both L(3) and adult T. circumcincta. The apparent K(m)s of the L(3) enzyme differed from those of the adult enzyme, the most significant of these being the increase in the K(m) for NH(4)(+) from 18mM in L(3) to 49mM in adults. The apparent V(max) of the oxidative deamination reaction was greater than that of the reductive reaction in L(3), but this was reversed in adults. The activity of the oxidative reaction of the L(3) enzyme was not affected by adenine nucleotides, but that of the reductive reaction was stimulated significantly by either ADP or ATP. The L(3) enzyme was more active with NAD(+) than it was with NADP(+), although the activities supported by NADH and NADPH were similar at saturating concentrations. While the activity of the oxidative reaction was sufficient to account for the NH(3)/NH(4)(+) efflux we have previously reported, the reductive amination reaction was likely to be more active.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Extracellular urease from Arthrobacter creatinolyticus MTCC 5604: scale up, purification and its cytotoxic effect thereof

Rajendran R, Pandi A, Ramchary A, Thiagarajan H, Panneerselvam J, Niraikulam A, et al.

Mol Biol Rep, 2019 Feb;46(1):133-141.
PMID: 30374769 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-018-4453-8

Urease is a potent metalloenzyme with diverse applications. This paper describes the scale up and purification of an extracellular urease from Arthrobacter creatinolyticus MTCC 5604. The urease production was scaled-up in 3.7 L and 20 L fermentor. A maximum activity of 27 and 27.8 U/mL and a productivity of 0.90 and 0.99 U/mL/h were obtained at 30 h and 28 h in 3.7 and 20 L fermentor, respectively. Urease was purified to homogeneity with 49.85-fold purification by gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography with a yield of 36% and a specific activity of 1044.37 U/mg protein. The enzyme showed three protein bands with molecular mass of 72.6, 11.2 and 6.1 kDa on SDS-PAGE and ~ 270 kDa on native PAGE. The cytotoxic effect of urease was assessed in vitro using cancer cell lines (A549 and MG-63) and normal cell line (HEK 293). Urease showed its inhibitory effects on cancer cell lines through the generation of toxic ammonia, which in turn increased the pH of the surrounding medium. This increase in extracellular pH, enhanced the cytotoxic effect of weak base chemotherapeutic drugs, doxorubicin (50 µM) and vinblastine (100 µM) in the presence of urease (5 U/mL) and urea (0-4 mM) significantly.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
Influence of high temperature on the performance of aerobic granular sludge in biological treatment of wastewater

Ab Halim MH, Nor Anuar A, Abdul Jamal NS, Azmi SI, Ujang Z, Bob MM

J Environ Manage, 2016 Dec 15;184(Pt 2):271-280.
PMID: 27720606 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.09.079

The effect of temperature on the efficiency of organics and nutrients removal during the cultivation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) in biological treatment of synthetic wastewater was studied. With this aim, three 3 L sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) with influent loading rate of 1.6 COD g (L d)(-1) were operated at different high temperatures (30, 40 and 50 °C) for simultaneous COD, phosphate and ammonia removal at a complete cycle time of 3 h. The systems were successfully started up and progressed to steady state at different cultivation periods. The statistical comparison of COD, phosphate and ammonia for effluent from the three SBRs revealed that there was a significant difference between groups of all the working temperatures of the bioreactors. The AGS cultivated at different high temperatures also positively correlated with the accumulation of elements including carbon, oxygen, phosphorus, silicon, iron, aluminium, calcium and magnesium that played important roles in the granulation process.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism
Chronic and acute ammonia toxicity in mudskippers, Periophthalmodon schlosseri and Boleophthalmus boddaerti: brain ammonia and glutamine contents, and effects of methionine sulfoximine and MK801

Ip YK, Leong MW, Sim MY, Goh GS, Wong WP, Chew SF

J Exp Biol, 2005 May;208(Pt 10):1993-2004.
PMID: 15879078

The objective of this study was to elucidate if chronic and acute ammonia intoxication in mudskippers, Periophthalmodon schlosseri and Boleophthalmus boddaerti, were associated with high levels of ammonia and/or glutamine in their brains, and if acute ammonia intoxication could be prevented by the administration of methionine sulfoximine [MSO; an inhibitor of glutamine synthetase (GS)] or MK801 [an antagonist of N-methyl D-aspartate type glutamate (NMDA) receptors]. For P. schlosseri and B. boddaerti exposed to sublethal concentrations (100 and 8 mmol l(-1) NH4Cl, respectively, at pH 7.0) of environmental ammonia for 4 days, brain ammonia contents increased drastically during the first 24 h, and they reached 18 and 14.5 micromol g(-1), respectively, at hour 96. Simultaneously, there were increases in brain glutamine contents, but brain glutamate contents were unchanged. Because glutamine accumulated to exceptionally high levels in brains of P. schlosseri (29.8 micromol g(-1)) and B. boddaerti (12.1 micromol g(-1)) without causing death, it can be concluded that these two mudskippers could ameliorate those problems associated with glutamine synthesis and accumulation as observed in patients suffering from hyperammonemia. P. schlosseri and B. boddaerti could tolerate high doses of ammonium acetate (CH3COONH4) injected into their peritoneal cavities, with 24 h LC50 of 15.6 and 12.3 micromol g(-1) fish, respectively. After the injection with a sublethal dose of CH3COONH4 (8 micromol g(-1) fish), there were significant increases in ammonia (5.11 and 8.36 micromol g(-1), respectively) and glutamine (4.22 and 3.54 micromol g(-1), respectively) levels in their brains at hour 0.5, but these levels returned to normal at hour 24. By contrast, for P. schlosseri and B. boddaerti that succumbed within 15-50 min to a dose of CH3COONH4 (15 and 12 micromol g(-1) fish, respectively) close to the LC50 values, the ammonia contents in the brains reached much higher levels (12.8 and 14.9 micromol g(-1), respectively), while the glutamine level remained relatively low (3.93 and 2.67 micromol g(-1), respectively). Thus, glutamine synthesis and accumulation in the brain was not the major cause of death in these two mudskippers confronted with acute ammonia toxicity. Indeed, MSO, at a dosage (100 microg g(-1) fish) protective for rats, did not protect B. boddaerti against acute ammonia toxicity, although it was an inhibitor of GS activities from the brains of both mudskippers. In the case of P. schlosseri, MSO only prolonged the time to death but did not reduce the mortality rate (100%). In addition, MK801 (2 microg g(-1) fish) had no protective effect on P. schlosseri and B. boddaerti injected with a lethal dose of CH3COONH4, indicating that activation of NMDA receptors was not the major cause of death during acute ammonia intoxication. Thus, it can be concluded that there are major differences in mechanisms of chronic and acute ammonia toxicity between brains of these two mudskippers and mammalian brains.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Molecular diversity of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria community in disused tin-mining ponds located within Kampar, Perak, Malaysia

Sow SL, Khoo G, Chong LK, Smith TJ, Harrison PL, Ong HK

World J Microbiol Biotechnol, 2014 Feb;30(2):757-66.
PMID: 24078113

Disused tin-mining ponds make up a significant amount of water bodies in Malaysia particularly at the Kinta Valley in the state of Perak where tin-mining activities were the most extensive, and these abundantly available water sources are widely used in the field of aquaculture and agriculture. However, the natural ecology and physicochemical conditions of these ponds, many of which have been altered due to secondary post-mining activities, remains to be explored. As ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) are directly related to the nutrient cycles of aquatic environments and are useful bioindicators of environmental variations, the focus of this study was to identify AOBs associated with disused tin-mining ponds that have a history of different secondary activities in comparison to ponds which were left untouched and remained as part of the landscape. The 16S rDNA gene was used to detect AOBs in the sediment and water sampled from the three types of disused mining ponds, namely ponds without secondary activity, ponds that were used for lotus cultivation and post-aquaculture ponds. When the varying pond types were compared with the sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the AOB clone libraries, both Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira-like AOB were detected though Nitrosospira spp. was seen to be the most ubiquitous AOB as it was present in all ponds types. However, AOBs were not detected in the sediments of idle ponds. Based on rarefaction analysis and diversity indices, the disused mining pond with lotus culture indicated the highest richness of AOBs. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that among the physicochemical properties of the pond sites, TAN and nitrite were shown to be the main factors that influenced the community structure of AOBs in these disused tin-mining ponds.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism*
Plant growth-promoting bacteria as potential bio-inoculants and biocontrol agents to promote black pepper plant cultivation

Lau ET, Tani A, Khew CY, Chua YQ, Hwang SS

Microbiol Res, 2020 Nov;240:126549.
PMID: 32688172 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2020.126549

Black pepper production in Malaysia was restricted by various diseases. Hazardous chemical products appear to be the best solution to control diseases in black pepper cultivation. However, persistence of chemical residues in peppercorns could affect the quality of exports and consumptions. Application of fertilizers is crucial to sustain pepper growth and high yield. But, continuous use of chemical fertilizers could affect the soil ecosystem and eventually restrict nutrient uptake by pepper roots. Therefore, we propose biological approaches as an alternative solution instead of chemical products to sustain pepper cultivation in Malaysia. In this study, we have isolated a total of seven indigenous rhizobacteria antagonistic to soil-borne Fusarium solani, the causal fungus of slow decline, the most serious debilitating disease of black pepper in Malaysia. The isolated bacteria were identified as Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus siamensis, Brevibacillus gelatini, Pseudomonas geniculata, Pseudomonas beteli, Burkholderia ubonensis and Burkholderia territorii. These bacteria were effective in production of antifungal siderophore with the amount of 53.4 %-73.5 % per 0.5 mL of cell-free supernatants. The bacteria also produced appreciable amount of chitinase with chitinolytic index was ranged from 1.19 to 1.76. The bacteria have shown phosphate solubilizing index within 1.61 to 2.01. They were also efficient in ACC deaminase (0.52 mM-0.62 mM) and ammonia (60.3 mM-75.3 mM) production. The isolated antagonists were efficacious in stimulation of black pepper plant growth and root development through IAA (10.5 μg/mL-42.6 μg/mL) secretion. In conclusion, the isolated rhizobacteria are potent to be developed not only as biocontrol agents to minimize the utilization of hazardous chemicals in black pepper disease management, but also developed as bio-fertilizers to improve black pepper plant growth due to their capabilities in plant growth-promotion.

Matched MeSH terms: Ammonia/metabolism

Filters

Please provide feedback to Administrator (afdal@afpm.org.my)

External Links