Kinetics of mercury accumulation by freshwater biofilms

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Perrine Dranguet ◽  
Vera I. Slaveykova ◽  
Séverine Le Faucheur

Environmental contextMercury (Hg) is a major environmental contaminant due to its toxicity, accumulation and biomagnification along the food chain. We demonstrate that Hg accumulation by biofilms, one possible entry point for Hg into food webs, is rapid and depends on biofilm structure and composition. These findings have important implications for the understanding of Hg bioavailability and effects towards aquatic microorganisms. AbstractMercury contamination is of high concern due to its bioaccumulation, toxicity and biomagnification along the food chain. Biofilms can accumulate Hg and contribute to its incorporation in freshwater food webs. Nevertheless, the accumulation kinetics of Hg by biofilms is not well described and understood. The aim of the present study was thus to gain mechanistic understanding of Hg accumulation by biofilms. Kinetics of Hg uptake by biofilms of different ages (e.g. different compositions) was characterised by determining Hg contents in biofilms with and without a cysteine-washing step. Hg accumulation was rapid in both biofilms, with the uptake rate constant of the younger biofilm 10 times higher than that of the older biofilm. Moreover, accumulated Hg reached a plateau at 24h exposure in the younger biofilm, whereas it increased linearly in the older biofilm. The observed difference in Hg uptake by the studied biofilms is likely a result of the difference in biofilm thickness (and thus Hg diffusion inside the biofilm matrix) and microbial composition. These findings have important implications for the understanding of Hg bioavailability and effects towards aquatic microorganisms.

1980 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 697-702 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vlastimil Vyskočil ◽  
Miroslav Zdražil

Kinetics of isomerisation of cyclohexene to methylcyclopentene proceeding as parallel reaction to hydrogenation of cyclohexene to cyclohexane on cobalt-molybdenum catalysts of different composition has been measured. The surface acidity of these catalysts was estimated from the difference in the adsorption of toluene and heptane which was measured by chromatographic method. In a series of catalysts containing molybdenum the acidity parallels isomerisation activity. Cobalt on alumina catalysts and alumina itself have greater acidity but exhibit lower isomerisation activity compared to the catalysts containing molybdenum.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (14) ◽  
pp. 7522
Author(s):  
Yassin Elfaki ◽  
Juhao Yang ◽  
Julia Boehme ◽  
Kristin Schultz ◽  
Dunja Bruder ◽  
...  

During influenza A virus (IAV) infections, CD4+ T cell responses within infected lungs mainly involve T helper 1 (Th1) and regulatory T cells (Tregs). Th1-mediated responses favor the co-expression of T-box transcription factor 21 (T-bet) in Foxp3+ Tregs, enabling the efficient Treg control of Th1 responses in infected tissues. So far, the exact accumulation kinetics of T cell subsets in the lungs and lung-draining lymph nodes (dLN) of IAV-infected mice is incompletely understood, and the epigenetic signature of Tregs accumulating in infected lungs has not been investigated. Here, we report that the total T cell and the two-step Treg accumulation in IAV-infected lungs is transient, whereas the change in the ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells is more durable. Within lungs, the frequency of Tregs co-expressing T-bet is steadily, yet transiently, increasing with a peak at Day 7 post-infection. Interestingly, T-bet+ Tregs accumulating in IAV-infected lungs displayed a strongly demethylated Tbx21 locus, similarly as in T-bet+ conventional T cells, and a fully demethylated Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) within the Foxp3 locus. In summary, our data suggest that T-bet+ but not T-bet− Tregs are epigenetically stabilized during IAV-induced infection in the lung.


1992 ◽  
Vol 26 (9-11) ◽  
pp. 1995-1998 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. M. Peyton ◽  
W. G. Characklis

In predictive biofilm modeling, the detachment rate coefficient may be the most sensitive variable affecting both the predicted rate and the extent of biofilm accumulation. At steady state the detachment rate must be equal to the net growth rate in the biofilm. In systems where organic carbon is growth-limiting, the substrate carbon utilization rate determines the net biomass production rate and, therefore, the steady state biomass detachment rate. Detachment rates, first order with biofilm thickness, fit the experimental data well, but are not predictive since the coefficients must be determined experimentally.


1989 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitri D. Vvedensky ◽  
Shaun Clarke

AbstractThe epitaxial growth kinetics of Co on Cu(100) are investigated with a kinetic solid-on-solid model. Two effects are found to dominate the growth of this system reflecting the difference in surface free energies betweenthe two materials: the difference of diffusion parameters, and the inability of Co to wet Cu(100) at lower temperatures.


2011 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Benjamin Murat ◽  
Frédéric Grenouillet ◽  
Gabriel Reboux ◽  
Emmanuelle Penven ◽  
Adam Batchili ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTHypersensitivity pneumonitis, also known as “machine operator's lung” (MOL), has been related to microorganisms growing in metalworking fluids (MWFs), especiallyMycobacterium immunogenum. We aimed to (i) describe the microbiological contamination of MWFs and (ii) look for chemical, physical, and environmental parameters associated with variations in microbiological profiles. We microbiologically analyzed 180 MWF samples from nonautomotive plants (e.g., screw-machining or metal-cutting plants) in the Franche-Comté region in eastern France and 165 samples from three French automotive plants in which cases of MOL had been proven. Our results revealed two types of microbial biomes: the first was from the nonautomotive industry, showed predominantly Gram-negative rods (GNR), and was associated with a low risk of MOL, and the second came from the automotive industry that was affected by cases of MOL and showed predominantly Gram-positive rods (GPR). Traces ofM. immunogenumwere sporadically detected in the first type, while it was highly prevalent in the automotive sector, with up to 38% of samples testing positive. The use of chromium, nickel, or iron was associated with growth of Gram-negative rods; conversely, growth of Gram-positive rods was associated with the absence of these metals. Synthetic MWFs were more frequently sterile than emulsions. Vegetable oil-based emulsions were associated with GNR, while mineral ones were associated with GPR. Our results suggest that metal types and the nature of MWF play a part in MWF contamination, and this work shall be followed by furtherin vitrosimulation experiments on the kinetics of microbial populations, focusing on the phenomena of inhibition and synergy.


1991 ◽  
Vol 276 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-641 ◽  
Author(s):  
F F Craig ◽  
A C Simmonds ◽  
D Watmore ◽  
F McCapra ◽  
M R H White

Five esters of luciferin were synthesized and compared with native luciferin as substrates for firefly luciferase expressed in live intact mammalian cells. The esters themselves were not substrates for purified luciferase, but four were substrates for a purified esterase and all appeared to be hydrolysed to luciferin within mammalian cells. At a substrate concentration of 0.01 mM, the peak luminescence from the cos cells expressing luciferase was up to 6-fold greater with the esters than with unmodified luciferin. At 0.1 mM, the difference between luciferin and the esters was decreased. The kinetics of the luminescent signal with the different luciferin esters varied significantly, indicating possible differences in the rates of uptake, breakdown and enzyme inhibition. The esters did not support luminescence from Escherichia coli cells expressing firefly luciferase, suggesting a lack of appropriate esterase activity in this particular strain. The esters could be useful for the assay of luciferase expression in intact mammalian cells when luciferin levels are limiting, for example in tissues, and in plants. Alternative luciferin derivatives may allow further improvements in sensitivity.


MRS Advances ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (23) ◽  
pp. 1703-1708 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Yako ◽  
N. J. Kawai ◽  
Y. Mizuno ◽  
K. Wada

ABSTRACTThe kinetics of Ge lateral overgrowth on SiO2 with line-shaped Si seeds is examined. The growth process is described by the difference between the growth rates of Ge on (100) planes (GR100) and <311> facets (GR311). The theoretical calculations well reproduce the growth kinetics. It is shown that narrowing the line-seeds helps Ge coalescence and flat film formation.


NeoBiota ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 66 ◽  
pp. 75-94
Author(s):  
Sergey Golubkov ◽  
Alexei Tiunov ◽  
Mikhail Golubkov

The paucity of data on non-indigenous marine species is a particular challenge for understanding the ecology of invasions and prioritising conservation and research efforts in marine ecosystems. Marenzelleria spp. are amongst the most successful non-native benthic species in the Baltic Sea during recent decades. We used stable isotope analysis (SIA) to test the hypothesis that the dominance of polychaete worm Marenzelleria arctia in the zoobenthos of the Neva Estuary after its invasion in the late 2000s is related to the position of this species in the benthic food webs. The trend towards a gradual decrease in the biomass of Marenzelleria worms was observed during 2014–2020, probably due to significant negative relationships between the biomass of oligochaetes and polychaetes, both of which, according to SIA, primarily use allochthonous organic carbon for their production. The biomass of benthic crustaceans practically did not change and remained very low. The SIA showed that, in contrast to the native crustacean Monoporeia affinis, polychates are practically not consumed either by the main invertebrate predator Saduria entomon, which preys on M. affinis, oligochaetes and larvae of chironomids or by benthivorous fish that prefer native benthic crustaceans. A hypothetical model for the position and functional role of M. arctia in the bottom food web is presented and discussed. According the model, the invasion of M. arctia has created an offshoot food chain in the Estuary food webs. The former dominant food webs, associated with native crustaceans, are now poorly developed. The lack of top-down control obviously contributes to the significant development of the Marenzelleria food chain, which, unlike native food chains, does not provide energy transfer from autochthonous and allochthonous organic matter to the upper trophic levels. The study showed that an alien species, without displacing native species, can significantly change the structure of food webs, creating blind offshoots of the food chain.


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