Hydraulic consequences of enzymatic breakdown of grapevine pit membranes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Clara Fanton ◽  
Craig Brodersen

Abstract Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) is the xylem-dwelling bacterial agent associated with Pierce’s Disease (PD), which leads to significant declines in productivity in agriculturally important species like grapevine (Vitis vinifera). Xf spreads through the xylem network by digesting the pit membranes between adjacent vessels, thereby potentially changing the hydraulic properties of the stem. However, the effects of Xf on water transport varies depending on the plant host and the infection stage, presenting diverse outcomes. Here, we investigated the effects of polygalacturonase, an enzyme known to be secreted by Xf when it produces biofilm on the pit membrane surface, on stem hydraulic conductivity and pit membrane integrity. Experiments were performed on six grapevine genotypes with varying levels of PD resistance, with the expectation that pit membrane resistance to degradation by polygalacturonase may play a role in PD-resistance. Our objective was to study a single component of this pathosystem in isolation to better understand the mechanisms behind reported changes in hydraulics, thereby excluding the biological response of the plant to the presence of Xf in the vascular system. Pit membrane damage only occurred in stems perfused with polygalacturonase. Although the damaged pit membrane area was small (2-9% of the total pit aperture area), membrane digestion led to significant changes in the median air-seeding thresholds, and most importantly, shifted frequency distribution. Finally, enzyme perfusion also resulted in a universal reduction in stem hydraulic conductivity, suggesting the development of tyloses may not be the only contributing factor to reduced hydraulic conductivity in infected grapevine.

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 1038-1047
Author(s):  
Mawia & et al.

This study had as principal objective identification of osmotic-tolerant potato genotypes by using "in vitro" tissue culture and sorbitol as a stimulating agent, to induce water stress, which was added to the  culture nutritive medium in different concentration (0,50, 110, 220, 330 and 440 mM).  The starting point was represented by plantlets culture collection, belonging to eleven potato genotypes: Barcelona, Nectar, Alison, Jelly, Malice, Nazca, Toronto, Farida, Fabulla, Colomba and Spunta. Plantlets were multiplied between two internodes to obtain microcuttings (in sterile condition), which were inoculated on medium. Sorbitol-induced osmotic stress caused a significant reduction in the ascorbic acid, while the concentration of proline, H2O2 and solutes leakage increased compared with the control. Increased the proline content prevented lipid peroxidation, which played a pivotal role in the maintenance of membrane integrity under osmotic stress conditions. The extent of the cytoplasmic membrane damage depends on osmotic stress severity and the genotypic variation in the maintenance of membranes stability was highly associated with the ability of producing more amounts of osmoprotectants (proline) and the non-enzymic antioxidant ascorbic acid in response to osmotic stress level. The results showed that the genotypes Jelly, Nectar, Allison, Toronto, and Colomba are classified as highly osmotic stress tolerant genotypes, while the genotypes Nazca and Farida are classified as osmotic stress susceptible ones.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1302-1305
Author(s):  
Ali A. A. Al Janabi ◽  
Oana Cristina Parvulescu ◽  
Bogdan Trica ◽  
Tanase Dobre

The paper aimed at studying the performances of pervaporation separation of isopropanol-water system using a Pervatech ceramic membrane at various values of feed mixture flow rate (F=1000 kg/hr), feed water mass fraction (xF=0.1-0.2), operation temperature (t=60-90 �C), permeate pressure (pP=1000-9000 Pa) and water separation degree (sW=0.9, 0.95). Membrane total flux and separation factor were predicted applying a second order response surface model with 3 factors, i.e., xF, t and pP. An algorithm for estimating the membrane surface area was presented. Membrane area increased with sW and xF and its lowest values (A=13 m2 for xF=0.1 and A=24 m2 for xF=0.2) were attained for t=60 �C and pP=9000 Pa. These findings could be applied for optimizing the process of isopropanol dehydration by pervaporation.


BMC Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dustin A. Ammendolia ◽  
William M. Bement ◽  
John H. Brumell

AbstractPlasma membrane integrity is essential for cellular homeostasis. In vivo, cells experience plasma membrane damage from a multitude of stressors in the extra- and intra-cellular environment. To avoid lethal consequences, cells are equipped with repair pathways to restore membrane integrity. Here, we assess plasma membrane damage and repair from a whole-body perspective. We highlight the role of tissue-specific stressors in health and disease and examine membrane repair pathways across diverse cell types. Furthermore, we outline the impact of genetic and environmental factors on plasma membrane integrity and how these contribute to disease pathogenesis in different tissues.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 12
Author(s):  
Miruna-Silvia Stan ◽  
Ionela Cristina Nica ◽  
Juliette Moreau ◽  
Maïté Callewaert ◽  
Cyril Cadiou ◽  
...  

Nanogels are a novel class of three-dimensional cross-linked polymers able to retain high amounts of water in their network structure, with large potential applications in nanomedicine. In our study, the polymer matrix selected was chitosan, as this polysaccharide biopolymer composed of N-acetylglucosamine and glucosamine residues exhibits great biocompatibility and low toxicity. The preparation was performed by ionic gelation in the presence of hyaluronic acid and sodium tripolyphosphate, with rhodamine or fluorescein isothiocyanate molecules grafted on a chitosan backbone. In order to validate the possible usage of these chitosan-fluorophores conjugates for fluorescence imaging purposes in cancer diagnostics and therapy, their biological effect was assessed on SVEC4-10 cells (a simian virus 40-transformed mouse microvascular endothelial cell line). Cell viability, membrane integrity and nanogels uptake were examined following exposure for 6 and 24 h at concentrations up to 120 µg/mL. A good biocompatibility was obtained after both time intervals of incubation with nanogels, with no increase in cell death or membrane damage being noticed as compared to control. By examination on confocal laser scanning microscopy, both types of fluorescent nanogels agglomerated on the surface of the cell membrane, their cellular internalization being observed only for few cells, preferentially at the cell periphery. In conclusion, based on the biocompatibility of the nanogels, these can further incorporate gadolinium for an improved magnetic resonance imaging effect in nanomedicine.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurul Hainiza Abd-Razak ◽  
Y. M. John Chew ◽  
Michael R. Bird

Abstract The influence of feed condition and membrane cleaning during the ultrafiltration (UF) of orange juice for phytosterol separation was investigated. UF was performed using regenerated cellulose acetate (RCA) membranes at different molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) values with a 336 cm2 membrane area and a range of temperatures (10–40 °C) and different feed volumes (3–9 L). Fluid dynamic gauging (FDG) was applied to assess the fouling and cleaning behaviours of RCA membranes fouled by orange juice and cleaned using P3-Ultrasil 11 over two complete cycles. During the FDG testing, fouling layers were removed by fluid shear stress caused by suction flow. The cleanability was characterised by using ImageJ software analysis. A Liebermann-Buchard-based method was used to quantify the phytosterol content. The results show that RCA 10 kDa filters exhibited the best separation of phytosterols from protein in orange juice at 20 °C using 3 L feed with a selectivity factor of 17. Membranes that were fouled after two cycles showed higher surface coverage compared to one fouling cycle. The surface coverage decreased with increasing fluid shear stress from 0 to 3.9 Pa. FDG achieved 80–95% removal at 3.9 Pa for all RCA membranes. Chemical cleaning using P3-Ultrasil 11 altered both the membrane surface hydrophobicity and roughness. These results show that the fouling layer on RCA membranes can be removed by fluid shear stress without affecting the membrane surface modification caused by chemical cleaning.


2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (8) ◽  
pp. 1556 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Morrow ◽  
J. Gosálvez ◽  
C. López-Fernández ◽  
F. Arroyo ◽  
W. V. Holt ◽  
...  

There is growing concern over the effect of sperm cryopreservation on DNA integrity and the subsequent development of offspring generated from this cryopreserved material. In the present study, membrane integrity and DNA stability of Xenopus laevis and Xenopus tropicalis spermatozoa were evaluated in response to cryopreservation with or without activation, a process that happens upon exposure to water to spermatozoa of some aquatic species. A dye exclusion assay revealed that sperm plasma membrane integrity in both species decreased after freezing, more so for X. laevis than X. tropicalis spermatozoa. The sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test showed that for both X. tropicalis and X. laevis, activated frozen spermatozoa produced the highest levels of DNA fragmentation compared with all fresh samples and frozen non-activated samples (P < 0.05). Understanding the nature of DNA and membrane damage that occurs in cryopreserved spermatozoa from Xenopus species represents the first step in exploiting these powerful model organisms to understand the developmental consequences of fertilising with cryopreservation-damaged spermatozoa.


Membranes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Fanny Rivera ◽  
Raúl Muñoz ◽  
Pedro Prádanos ◽  
Antonio Hernández ◽  
Laura Palacio

Ammonia recovery from synthetic and real anaerobic digestates was accomplished using hydrophobic flat sheet membranes operated with H2SO4 solutions to convert ammonia into ammonium sulphate. The influence of the membrane material, flow rate (0.007, 0.015, 0.030 and 0.045 m3 h−1) and pH (7.6, 8.9, 10 and 11) of the digestate on ammonia recovery was investigated. The process was carried out with a flat sheet configuration at a temperature of 35 °C and with a 1 M, or 0.005 M, H2SO4 solution on the other side of the membrane. Polytetrafluoroethylene membranes with a nominal pore radius of 0.22 µm provided ammonia recoveries from synthetic and real digestates of 84.6% ± 1.0% and 71.6% ± 0.3%, respectively, for a membrane area of 8.6 × 10−4 m2 and a reservoir volume of 0.5 L, in 3.5 h with a 1 M H2SO4 solution and a recirculation flow on the feed side of the membrane of 0.030 m3 h−1. NH3 recovery followed first order kinetics and was faster at higher pHs of the H2SO4 solution and recirculation flow rate on the membrane feed side. Fouling resulted in changes in membrane surface morphology and pore size, which were confirmed by Atomic Force Microscopy and Air Displacement Porometry.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 947-957 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Frenkel ◽  
Y. Cohen

Abstract This paper presents methodology, concept and results of the WateReuse Foundation project WFR – 09 – 06b when developing a high pressure membrane, reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) online membrane integrity testing (MIT) technique. The use of pressure-driven membrane processes, particularly RO, has grown significantly over the past few decades in water treatment and reuse applications to safeguard water supplies against harmful pathogens and impurities. In principle, RO membranes should provide a complete physical barrier to the passage of nanosize pathogens (e.g., enteric viruses). However, in the presence of imperfections and/or membrane damage, membrane breaches as small as 20 to 30 nm can allow enteric viruses to pass through the membrane and contaminate the product water stream, thereby posing a potential health hazard that is of particular concern for potable water production. This project was focused on evaluating a pulsed-marker membrane integrity monitoring (PM-MIMo) approach for RO processes on the basis of the use of a fluorescent marker. The monitoring approach employs pulsed dosing (via a precision metering pump) of a marker into the RO feed stream coupled with online marker concentration monitoring in the RO permeate by an inline spectrofluorometer. Membrane integrity is then inferred on the basis of real-time analysis of the marker permeate time − profile concentration in response. The basic concept of the PM-MIMo approach for detecting membrane breaches was successfully demonstrated, by comparing intact and damaged membranes, in a series of experiments using a diagnostic plate-and-frame RO system and spiral-wound RO pilot system. Results of the developed technique are presented in the project report to allow the industry to consider adopting this technique for RO/NF online integrity monitoring.


2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 773-779 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianghua Wen ◽  
Pengzhe Sui ◽  
Xia Huang

In this study, ultrasound was applied to control membrane fouling development online in an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AMBR). Experimental results showed that membrane fouling could be controlled effectively by ultrasound although membrane damage may occur under some operational conditions. Based upon the observation on the damaged membrane surface via SEM, two mechanisms causing membrane damage by exerting ultrasound are inferred as micro particle collide on the membrane surface and chemical interaction between membrane materials and hydroxyl radicals produced by acoustic cavitations. Not only membrane damage but also membrane fouling control and membrane fouling cleaning were resulted from these mechanisms. Properly selecting ultrasonic intensity and working time, and keeping a certain thickness of cake layer on membrane surface could be effective ways to protect membrane against damage.


1977 ◽  
Vol 232 (3) ◽  
pp. F187-F195 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Lewis

The function of adult mammalian urinary bladder is evaluated in light of recent in vitro experiments. The discrepancy between in vivo and in vitro experimental results is examined and a possible solution proposed. Techniques for eliminating edge damage and measuring apical membrane surface area are described. A new chamber design for microelectrode studies is illustrated. The possibility of apical cell membrane damage caused by microelectrodes is critically examined and tested using the polyene antibiotic Nystatin. Using data from transepithelial and microelectrode experiments, a model for net Na+ transport across the bladder is proposed and then critically analyzed. The possible clinical implications of the in vitro experiments are briefly discussed.


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