scholarly journals Preliminary Data Related to the Effect of Climacostol Produced by the Freshwater Ciliate Climacostomum virens on Human Adenovirus

Viruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 658
Author(s):  
Marco Verani ◽  
Graziano Di Giuseppe ◽  
Ileana Federigi ◽  
Federico Buonanno ◽  
Claudio Ortenzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Human Adenovirus ◽  
Log10 Reduction ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Viral Pathogens ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Serotype 5 ◽  
Waterborne Viruses

The new epidemiological scenario has so far focused on the environmental circulation of human viral pathogens. Owing to the side effects of chemical disinfectants, there is an increasing need for knowledge on the use of virucidal compounds, especially those of a natural origin. Climacostol is a molecule produced by a freshwater ciliate and it exhibits activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens. We thus also speculated that there might be an effect on viral viability, which has never been tested. To evaluate such activity, we chose human adenovirus (HAdV), which is representative of waterborne viruses. We conducted experiments using HAdV serotype 5, whose titer was determined by infecting HeLa cell cultures. HAdV5 was shown to be sensitive to climacostol at a concentration of 0.0002 mg/mL, with an approximate 3 Log10 reduction when the initial titer of HAdV5 was approximately 104 and 103 TCID50/mL. These preliminary results could be an important starting point for further research aimed at improving the characterization of climacostol activity under different experimental conditions and against various viruses, including enveloped ones (i.e., the coronavirus). The production of climacostol by a protist living in fresh water also suggests a possible application in the activated sludge of wastewater treatment plants.

scholarly journals Synthesis of New Modified with Rhodamine B Peptides for Antiviral Protection of Textile Materials

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 6608
Author(s):  
Petar Todorov ◽  
Stela Georgieva ◽  
Desislava Staneva ◽  
Petia Peneva ◽  
Petar Grozdanov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rhodamine B ◽  
Human Adenovirus ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Textile Materials ◽  
Solvent Influence ◽  
Closed Ring ◽  
Modified Peptides ◽  
Serotype 5 ◽  
Syncytial Virus

Here we report on the synthesis and characterization of three new N-modified analogues of hemorphin-4 with rhodamine B. Modified with chloroacetyl, chloride cotton fabric has been dyed and color coordinates of the obtained textile materials were determined. Antiviral and virucidal activities of both the peptide-rhodamine B compounds and the dyed textile material were studied. Basic physicochemical properties (acid-base behavior, solvent influence, kinetics) related to the elucidation of structural activity of the new modified peptides based on their steric open/closed ring effect were studied. The obtained results lead to the conclusion that in protic solvent with change in pH of the environment, direct control over the dyeing of textiles can be achieved. Both the new hybrid peptide compounds and the modification of functionalized textile materials with these bioactive hemorphins showed virucidal activity against the human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV-S2) and human adenovirus serotype 5 (HAdV-5) for different time intervals (30 and 60 min) and the most active compound was Rh-3.

Prediction of the O2 Conditions in the Selector

1994 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 229-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kruit ◽  
F. Boley ◽  
L. J. A. M. Jacobs ◽  
T. W. M. Wouda
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Pilot Plant ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Coarse Filter ◽  
Plant Research ◽  
Influent Characterization

Influent characterization and biosorption experiments were carried out with settled influent of seven wastewater treatment plants to study the influence of O2 in the selector in relation to the success of developing good settling properties of the sludge. In previous years working selectors were installed and/or pilot plant research was carried out at these wastewater treatment plants. Characterization of the influent was done with help of standard COD and BOD measurements with help of a coarse filter. The research has elucidated that the presence of O2 in the selector, at initial sludge loadings of 3.5-6.5 kg BOD/kg MLSS.d, is important for producing good settling properties of the sludge when the sum of readily biodegradable COD and rapidly hydrolysable COD is greater than 40%. When the sum of sludge COD and slow hydrolysable COD is greater than 50% an unaerated selector can be used.

scholarly journals Adsorption Studies on Magnetic Nanoparticles Functionalized with Silver to Remove Nitrates from Waters

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1757
Author(s):  
Yesica Vicente-Martínez ◽  
Manuel Caravaca ◽  
Antonio Soto-Meca ◽  
Miguel Ángel Martín-Pereira ◽  
María del Carmen García-Onsurbe
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Nanoparticles ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Adsorption Efficiency ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Dependent Behavior ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Naoh Solution ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Interference Studies

This paper presents a novel procedure for the treatment of contaminated water with high concentrations of nitrates, which are considered as one of the main causes of the eutrophication phenomena. For this purpose, magnetic nanoparticles functionalized with silver (Fe3O4@AgNPs) were synthesized and used as an adsorbent of nitrates. Experimental conditions, including the pH, adsorbent and adsorbate dose, temperature and contact time, were analyzed to obtain the highest adsorption efficiency for different concentration of nitrates in water. A maximum removal efficiency of 100% was reached for 2, 5, 10 and 50 mg/L of nitrate at pH = 5, room temperature, and 50, 100, 250 and 500 µL of Fe3O4@AgNPs, respectively. The characterization of the adsorbent, before and after adsorption, was performed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Nitrates can be desorbed, and the adsorbent can be reused using 500 µL of NaOH solution 0.01 M, remaining unchanged for the first three cycles, and exhibiting 90% adsorption efficiency after three regenerations. A deep study on equilibrium isotherms reveals a pH-dependent behavior, characterized by Langmuir and Freundlich models at pH = 5 and pH = 1, respectively. Thermodynamic studies were consistent with physicochemical adsorption for all experiments but showed a change from endothermic to exothermic behavior as the temperature increases. Interference studies of other ions commonly present in water were carried out, enabling this procedure as very selective for nitrate ions. In addition, the method was applied to real samples of seawater, showing its ability to eliminate the total nitrate content in eutrophized waters.

scholarly journals Ultrafiltration Method for Plasma Protein Binding Studies and Its Limitations

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 382
Author(s):  
Camelia-Maria Toma ◽  
Silvia Imre ◽  
Camil-Eugen Vari ◽  
Daniela-Lucia Muntean ◽  
Amelia Tero-Vescan
Keyword(s):  
Protein Binding ◽  
Plasma Protein Binding ◽  
Plasma Protein ◽  
Specific Binding ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Volume Ratio ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Key Aspects

Plasma protein binding plays a critical role in drug therapy, being a key part in the characterization of any compound. Among other methods, this process is largely studied by ultrafiltration based on its advantages. However, the method also has some limitations that could negatively influence the experimental results. The aim of this study was to underline key aspects regarding the limitations of the ultrafiltration method, and the potential ways to overcome them. The main limitations are given by the non-specific binding of the substances, the effect of the volume ratio obtained, and the need of a rigorous control of the experimental conditions, especially pH and temperature. This review presents a variety of methods that can hypothetically reduce the limitations, and concludes that ultrafiltration remains a reliable method for the study of protein binding. However, the methodology of the study should be carefully chosen.

The first sequenced Sphaerotilus natans bacteriophage– characterization and potential to control its filamentous bacterium host

2021 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rute Ferreira ◽  
Rui Amado ◽  
Jorge Padrão ◽  
Vânia Ferreira ◽  
Nicolina M Dias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Bacterial Communities ◽  
Potential Application ◽  
Deleterious Effect ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Lytic Phage ◽  
Filamentous Bacterium ◽  
Sphaerotilus Natans ◽  
Isolation And Characterization

ABSTRACT Bacteriophages (phages) are ubiquitous entities present in every conceivable habitat as a result of their bacterial parasitism. Their prevalence and impact in the ecology of bacterial communities and their ability to control pathogens make their characterization essential, particularly of new phages, improving knowledge and potential application. The isolation and characterization of a new lytic phage against Sphaerotilus natans strain DSM 6575, named vB_SnaP-R1 (SnaR1), is here described. Besides being the first sequenced genome of a Sphaerotilus natans infecting phage, 99% of its 41507 bp genome lacks homology with any other sequenced phage, revealing its uniqueness and previous lack of knowledge. Moreover, SnaR1 is the first Podoviridae phage described infecting this bacterium. Sphaerotilus natans is an important filamentous bacterium due to its deleterious effect on wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and thus, phages may play a role as novel biotechnological tools against filamentous overgrowth in WWTP. The lytic spectrum of SnaR1 was restricted to its host strain, infecting only one out of three S. natans strains and infection assays revealed its ability to reduce bacterial loads. Results suggest SnaR1 as the prototype of a new phage genus and demonstrates its potential as a non-chemical alternative to reduce S. natans DSM 6575 cells.

scholarly journals Towards Reduced CNNs for De-Noising Phase Images Corrupted with Speckle Noise

Photonics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (7) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Marie Tahon ◽  
Silvio Montresor ◽  
Pascal Picart
Keyword(s):  
Phase Error ◽  
Speckle Noise ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Benchmark Data ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Phase Images ◽  
Different Depths ◽  
Phase Data ◽  
Do So

Digital holography is a very efficient technique for 3D imaging and the characterization of changes at the surfaces of objects. However, during the process of holographic interferometry, the reconstructed phase images suffer from speckle noise. In this paper, de-noising is addressed with phase images corrupted with speckle noise. To do so, DnCNN residual networks with different depths were built and trained with various holographic noisy phase data. The possibility of using a network pre-trained on natural images with Gaussian noise is also investigated. All models are evaluated in terms of phase error with HOLODEEP benchmark data and with three unseen images corresponding to different experimental conditions. The best results are obtained using a network with only four convolutional blocks and trained with a wide range of noisy phase patterns.

Detection and molecular characterization of enteric adenovirus in treated wastewater in the Brazilian Federal District

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. S. C. Quintão ◽  
F. G. Silva ◽  
A. L. Pereira ◽  
W. N. Araújo ◽  
P. M. Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phylogenetic Analysis ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Federal District ◽  
Treated Wastewater ◽  
Conventional Pcr ◽  
Rainfall Index ◽  
Enteric Adenovirus ◽  
Enteric Adenoviruses

AbstractHuman enteric viruses, such as enteric adenoviruses (HAdV), are known to be involved with gastrointestinal disorders, especially acute gastroenteritis. Several studies have used HAdV as an indicator of water quality, since they are considered highly stable and widely distributed viruses in water matrices. The aim of this study was to detect and genotype HAdVs in water matrices impacted by discharges of treated effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Wastewater treatment plants from the sanitary system of the Brazilian Federal District were assessed in 2018 and 2019. Samples were collected upstream and downstream from discharge points for each WWTP. Viral concentration based on adsorption-elution and conventional PCR was used for molecular detection, and positive samples were sequenced for phylogenetic analysis. Pluviosity data for the period in which the samples were collected were obtained. Our results demonstrated the presence of HAdVs in 27.2% (61/224) of the samples. The positivity was significantly higher in downstream samples compared to upstream. Moreover, the HAdV positivity was higher in downstream samples collected from receiving water bodies impacted by secondary-level WWTPs in comparison with those impacted by tertiary-level WWTPs. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated the presence of genotypes 40 and 41, with prevalence of HAdV genotype 41. Despite the predominance of HAdV-41, an increasing frequency of the HAdV-40 was associated with higher pluviosity. In conclusion, this study is the first documentation in the Brazilian Federal District dealing with the prevalence and diversity of HAdVs in several WWTP, along with their correlation with rainfall index.

scholarly journals Identification and Characterization of the First Virulent Phages, Including a Novel Jumbo Virus, Infecting Ochrobactrum spp.

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 2096
Author(s):  
Przemyslaw Decewicz ◽  
Piotr Golec ◽  
Mateusz Szymczak ◽  
Monika Radlinska ◽  
Lukasz Dziewit
Keyword(s):  
Dna Methyltransferase ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Genome Mining ◽  
Sewage Sample ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Regulatory Circuits ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Insightful Analysis

The Ochrobactrum genus consists of an extensive repertoire of biotechnologically valuable bacterial strains but also opportunistic pathogens. In our previous study, a novel strain, Ochrobactrum sp. POC9, which enhances biogas production in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) was identified and thoroughly characterized. Despite an insightful analysis of that bacterium, its susceptibility to bacteriophages present in WWTPs has not been evaluated. Using raw sewage sample from WWTP and applying the enrichment method, two virulent phages, vB_OspM_OC and vB_OspP_OH, which infect the POC9 strain, were isolated. These are the first virulent phages infecting Ochrobactrum spp. identified so far. Both phages were subjected to thorough functional and genomic analyses, which allowed classification of the vB_OspM_OC virus as a novel jumbo phage, with a genome size of over 227 kb. This phage encodes DNA methyltransferase, which mimics the specificity of cell cycle regulated CcrM methylase, a component of the epigenetic regulatory circuits in Alphaproteobacteria. In this study, an analysis of the overall diversity of Ochrobactrum-specific (pro)phages retrieved from databases and extracted in silico from bacterial genomes was also performed. Complex genome mining allowed us to build similarity networks to compare 281 Ochrobactrum-specific viruses. Analyses of the obtained networks revealed a high diversity of Ochrobactrum phages and their dissimilarity to the viruses infecting other bacteria.

scholarly journals Rhizosphere-enriched microbes as a pool to design synthetic communities for reproducible beneficial outputs

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria-Dimitra Tsolakidou ◽  
Ioannis A Stringlis ◽  
Natalia Fanega-Sleziak ◽  
Stella Papageorgiou ◽  
Antria Tsalakou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Growth Parameters ◽  
Tomato Plants ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Tomato Growth ◽  
In Vitro Antifungal Activity

Abstract Composts represent a sustainable way to suppress diseases and improve plant growth. Identification of compost-derived microbial communities enriched in the rhizosphere of plants and characterization of their traits, could facilitate the design of microbial synthetic communities (SynComs) that upon soil inoculation could yield consistent beneficial effects towards plants. Here, we characterized a collection of compost-derived bacteria, previously isolated from tomato rhizosphere, for in vitro antifungal activity against soil-borne fungal pathogens and for their potential to change growth parameters in Arabidopsis. We further assessed root-competitive traits in the dominant rhizospheric genus Bacillus. Certain isolated rhizobacteria displayed antifungal activity against the tested pathogens and affected growth of Arabidopsis, and Bacilli members possessed several enzymatic activities. Subsequently, we designed two SynComs with different composition and tested their effect on Arabidopsis and tomato growth and health. SynCom1, consisting of different bacterial genera, displayed negative effect on Arabidopsis in vitro, but promoted tomato growth in pots. SynCom2, consisting of Bacilli, didn't affect Arabidopsis growth, enhanced tomato growth and suppressed Fusarium wilt symptoms. Overall, we found selection of compost-derived microbes with beneficial properties in the rhizosphere of tomato plants, and observed that application of SynComs on poor substrates can yield reproducible plant phenotypes.

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