scholarly journals Addition of Phosphatases and Phytases to Mature Compost to Increase Available Phosphorus: A Short Study

Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 2555
Author(s):  
Adrian Esteban Ortega-Torres ◽  
Enrique Rico-García ◽  
Rosario Guzmán-Cruz ◽  
Irineo Torres-Pacheco ◽  
Erik Gustavo Tovar-Pérez ◽  
...  

Agriculture depends on fertilizers to provide nutrients for plants. Phosphorus (P) is one of these nutrients and is the second-most necessary for plant growth. Global production of P fertilizer is concentrated in Morocco, China and the United States. A large amounts of P resources are found in organic wastes that can be transformed through phosphate-solubilizing microorganisms during the composting process. In this study, we first determined the enzymatic activity of phosphatases and phytase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATC 15442. Second, we evaluated the mineralization of P in mature compost when inoculated with P. aeruginosa ATC 15442, phytases, a cocktail of phosphate-solubilizing enzymes and their combinations. Finally, we evaluated different concentrations of the cocktail trying to release more P in the compost. The results indicated that P. aeruginosa exuded alkaline phosphatases, acid phosphatase, neutral phosphatase and phytase. The enzymatic cocktail increased inorganic P (Pi) when added to the mature compost: this was able to release up to 95% more Pi in the compost compared to the amount of Pi released in the control compost. The current study demonstrated the importance of adding the cocktail to enhance Pi in mature compost; however, further studies are required to confirm the results and practical applications.

Author(s):  
Rosalia Aparecida Moreira ◽  
Hugo Rodrigues Araujo

Em 1986, foi criado nos Estados Unidos a Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, entidade sem fins lucrativos com a missão de contribuir para conservação do patrimônio ferroviário, transformando os ramais abandonados em trilhas ferroviárias destinadas, exclusivamente, para caminhantes, ciclistas e cavaleiros. Com essa perspectiva, há 15 anos iniciou-se uma mobilização comunitária para transformar o antigo Ramal Ferroviário Corinto-Diamantina, localizado no Vale do Jequitinhonha/MG, na primeira trilha ferroviária do Brasil, denominada Trilha Verde da Maria Fumaça - TVMF. Além da conservação dos bens ferroviários, a TVMF busca a dinamização da economia local através do Turismo de Base Comunitária. Este artigo corresponde a um estudo de caso da TVMF, de caráter exploratório-descritivo. A pesquisa envolveu revisão bibliográfica e entrevista do gestor da ONG Caminhos da Serra, utilizando questionário semiestruturado. A análise qualitativa dos dados permitiu obter resultados que proporcionam o entendimento sobre a TVMF, contribuem para a abertura da discussão sobre trilhas ferroviárias no Brasil e fornecem informações para subsidiar aplicações práticas em outras ferrovias que se encontram abandonadas. Trilha Verde da Maria Fumaça: railroad heritage and tourism in the Vale do Jequitinhonha (Brazil). In 1986, the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy was created in the United States, a nonprofit organization with a mission to contribute to conservation of the railway heritage, turning extensions abandoned on rails trails, designed exclusively for walkers, cyclists and riders. With this perspective, 15 years ago a community began a mobilization to transform the old Railway Corinto-Diamantina, located in Vale do Jequitinhonha / MG, into the first rail trails in Brazil, called Trilha Verde da Maria Fumaça - TVMF. In addition to the conservation of rail assets, TVMF seeks to stimulate the local economy through the Community Based Tourism. This article is an exploratory and descriptive case study of TVMF. The research involved literature review and interview questions for the manager of the NGO Caminhos da Serra, by using semi-structured questionnaire. Through qualitative analysis of data it was possible to get results that provide an understanding of the TVMF, contribute to opening the discussion about rails trails in Brazil, and provide information to support practical applications in other railways that are abandoned. KEYWORDS: Railway Tourism; Sustainable Tourism; Rails Trails.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. S313-S313
Author(s):  
S J Ryan Arends ◽  
Dee Shortridge ◽  
Mariana Castanheira ◽  
Jennifer M Streit ◽  
Robert K Flamm

Abstract Background Ceftolozane–tazobactam (C-T) is an antibacterial combination of a novel antipseudomonal cephalosporin and a β-lactamase inhibitor. C-T was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2014 and by the European Medicines Agency in 2015 to treat complicated urinary tract infections, acute pyelonephritis, and complicated intra-abdominal infections. The Program to Assess Ceftolozane-Tazobactam Susceptibility (PACTS) monitors Gram-negative (GN) isolates resistant to C-T worldwide. In the current study, isolates were collected from patients hospitalized with bloodstream infections (BSIs) from 2015 to 2017 within the United States. Methods A total of 3,377 prevalence-based BSI GN isolates, including Escherichia coli (EC; 1,422), Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPN, 630), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA; 344), were collected during 2015 to 2017 from 32 PACTS hospitals in the United States. Isolates were tested for C-T susceptibility by CLSI broth microdilution method in a central monitoring laboratory (JMI Laboratories). Other antibiotics tested were amikacin (AMK), cefepime (FEP), ceftazidime (CAZ), colistin (COL), levofloxacin (LVX), meropenem (MEM), and piperacillin–tazobactam (TZP). Antibiotic-resistant phenotypes analyzed (CLSI, 2018) for EC and KPN included carbapenem-R (CR) and non-CR extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL); as well as CAZ-nonsusceptible (CAZ-NS), MEM-NS, and COL-NS PSA. Results Of the 3,377 BSI GN isolates, 3,219 (95.3%) had a C-T MIC ≤ 4 mg/L. The three most prevalent GN species isolated from BSIs were EC (42.1%), KPN (18.7%), and PSA (10.2%). The %S of C-T and comparators for the top three pathogens are shown in the table. C-T showed activity against these isolates with %S of ≥96.0% against all three species. Of the comparators tested, AMK and COL also had high %S against these isolates. Conclusion C-T demonstrated activity against the most prevalent contemporary GN isolates from BSIs in the US. C-T was the only beta-lactam that had ≥96%S against all three species: EC, KPN, and PSA. For PSA, C-T maintained activity (>90%S) against isolates resistant to CAZ, TZP, and MEM. These data suggest that C-T may be a useful treatment for GN BSI. Disclosures S. J. R. Arends, Merck: Research Contractor, Research support. D. Shortridge, Merck: Research Contractor, Research support. M. Castanheira, Merck: Research Contractor, Research support. J. M. Streit, Merck: Research Contractor, Research support. R. K. Flamm, Merck: Research Contractor, Research support.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Khan ◽  
Truc T Tran ◽  
Rafael Rios ◽  
Blake Hanson ◽  
William C Shropshire ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Treatment of serious infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa remains a challenge, despite the introduction of novel therapeutics. In this study, we report 2 extensively drug-resistant clinical isolates of sequence type (ST) 309 P aeruginosa resistant to all β-lactams, including the novel combinations ceftolozane/tazobactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and meropenem/vaborbactam. Methods Isolates were sequenced using both short-read (Illumina) and long-read technology to identify resistance determinants, polymorphisms (compared with P aeruginosa PAO1), and reconstruct a phylogenetic tree. A pair of β-lactamases, Guiana extended spectrum β-lactamase (GES)-19 and GES-26, were cloned and expressed in a laboratory strain of Escherichia coli to examine their relative impact on resistance. Using cell lysates from E coli expressing the GES genes individually and in tandem, we determined relative rates of hydrolysis for nitrocefin and ceftazidime. Results Two ST309 P aeruginosa clinical isolates were found to harbor the extended spectrum β-lactamases GES-19 and GES-26 clustered in tandem on a chromosomal class 1 integron. The presence of both enzymes in E coli was associated with significantly elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations to aztreonam, cefepime, meropenem, ceftazidime/avibactam, and ceftolozane/tazobactam, compared with those expressed individually. The combination of ceftazidime/avibactam plus aztreonam was active in vitro and used to achieve cure in one patient. Phylogenetic analysis revealed ST309 P aeruginosa are closely related to MDR strains from Mexico also carrying tandem GES. Conclusions The presence of tandem GES-19 and GES-26 is associated with resistance to all β-lactams, including ceftolozane/tazobactam. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that ST309 P aeruginosa may be an emerging threat in the United States.


2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tam T. Van ◽  
Emi Minejima ◽  
Chiao An Chiu ◽  
Susan M. Butler-Wu

ABSTRACT Fluoroquinolones remain some of the more commonly prescribed antimicrobial agents in the United States, despite the wide array of reported side effects that are associated with their use. In 2019, the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute revised the fluoroquinolone antimicrobial susceptibility testing breakpoints for both Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This breakpoint revision was deemed necessary on the basis of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses suggesting that the previous breakpoints were too high, in addition to the inability of the previous breakpoints to detect low-level resistance to this antibiotic class. In this minireview, we review the published data in support of this revision, as well as the potential challenges that these breakpoint revisions are likely to pose for clinical laboratories.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S237-S237
Author(s):  
Allison C Brown ◽  
Sarah Malik ◽  
Jennifer Huang ◽  
Amelia Bhatnagar ◽  
Rocio Balbuena ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Infections with metallo-β-lactamase (MBL)-producing organisms are emerging in the United States. Treatment options for these infections are limited. We describe MBL genes among carbapenemase positive carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CP-CRE) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CP-CRPA) isolates tested during the first two years of the Antibiotic Resistance Laboratory Network (AR Lab Network). Methods State and local public health laboratories tested CRE and CRPA isolates for organism identification, antimicrobial susceptibility, and PCR-based detection of blaKPC, blaNDM, blaOXA-48-like, blaVIM, and blaIMP carbapenemase genes. All testing results were sent to CDC at least monthly. Results Since January 2017, the AR Lab Network tested 21,733 CRE and 14,141 CRPA. CP-CRE were detected in 37% of CRE; 2% of CRPA were CP-CRPA. Among CP-CRE, 9% (686/8016) were MBL-producers (NDM, VIM, or IMP). Among MBL-producers, a blaNDM gene was detected most often (81%; 551/686). blaNDM were most common among Klebsiella spp. (47%; 261/551), blaIMP were most common among Providencia spp. (53%; 40/75), blaVIM was most common among Enterobacter spp. (19%; 25/62). Twelve percent (96) of MBL CP-CRE contained more than one carbapenemase gene. Among CP-CRPA, 73% (218/300) were MBL producers and blaVIM was the most common gene (62%; 186). Three (1%) MBL CP-CRPA contained more than one carbapenemase. Conclusion Increased testing of CRE and CRPA isolates through the AR Lab Network has facilitated early and rapid detection of hard-to-treat infections caused by MBL-producing organisms across the United States. The widespread distribution of MBL genes highlights the continued need for containment strategies that help prevent transmission between patients and among healthcare facilities. To support therapeutic decisions for severe infections caused by MBL-producing organisms, the AR Lab Network is now offering rapid susceptibility testing against aztreonam/avibactam, using digital dispenser technology. This testing program aims to close the gap between the availability of new drugs or drug combinations and the availability of commercial AST methods, thereby improving patient safety and antimicrobial stewardship. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2010 ◽  
Vol 54 (7) ◽  
pp. 3072-3072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurent Poirel ◽  
Timothy Cleary ◽  
L. Silvia Munoz-Price ◽  
Patrice Nordmann ◽  
Emilie Lagrutta

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 45-50
Author(s):  
Svitlana Shumovetska

AbstractThe necessity to research the problem of forming a professional culture of future border guard officers using the experience of military personnel training in the United States has been identified in the article. It has been found that professional culture and professionalism are an important part of the US military education system. The peculiarities of vocational training in the leading educational establishments of the United States of America, first of all the Military Academy (West Point, New York), have been studied. It has been determined that the priority of the academy, as a whole system of military vocational education in the USA, is attention to what is needed in the combat situation: analytical mind, leadership, theory and practice of management, knowledge of military history, operational doctrine, national defense policy, ability to plan and make decisions, perform legal duties, and abide the professional ethics. Experimental, case-based, interactive training with the extensive use of imitation devices and practical applications prevails in teaching methodology, which is needed to improve officers’ ability to analyze and solve problems, effectively interact and apply operational doctrine. To enhance the level of professional culture and military identity in military schools, great attention is paid to the development of officers’ intellectual potential, the ability to think and critically perceive the information needed to act in situations of ambiguity and uncertainty, to achieve intellectual superiority over the enemy. In accordance with the philosophy of military education in the United States, it is stipulated that a graduate of a military school should be first and foremost a highly intelligent person who, in many respects, must outperform a graduate of any civilian university, quickly acquire the chosen specialty. In addition to training for character education, military identity, the US military estalishments also intends to work hard to develop communicative skills and abilities through speaking and writing practice.


2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 2272-2273 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy D. Hanson ◽  
Ashfaque Hossain ◽  
Larry Buck ◽  
Ellen Smith Moland ◽  
Kenneth S. Thomson

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