Sporulation Strategies and Potential Role of the Exosporium in Survival and Persistence of Clostridium botulinum

Clostridium botulinum produces the botulinum neurotoxin that causes botulism, a rare but potentially lethal paralysis. Endospores play an important role in the survival, transmission, and pathogenesis of C. botulinum. C. botulinum strains are very diverse, both genetically and ecologically. Group I strains are terrestrial, mesophilic, and produce highly heat-resistant spores, while Group II strains can be terrestrial (type B) or aquatic (type E) and are generally psychrotrophic and produce spores of moderate heat resistance. Group III strains are either terrestrial or aquatic, mesophilic or slightly thermophilic, and the heat resistance properties of their spores are poorly characterized. Here, we analyzed the sporulation dynamics in population, spore morphology, and other spore properties of 10 C. botulinum strains belonging to Groups I–III. We propose two distinct sporulation strategies used by C. botulinum Groups I–III strains, report their spore properties, and suggest a putative role for the exosporium in conferring high heat resistance. Strains within each physiological group produced spores with similar characteristics, likely reflecting adaptation to respective environmental habitats. Our work provides new information on the spores and on the population and single-cell level strategies in the sporulation of C. botulinum.

Heat-Resistant Al-Alloys with Quasicrystalline and L12- Precipitates

We have been developing Al-Mn-Cu based alloys alloyed with minor additions of different elements. Small additions of beryllium enhance the formation of the icosahedral quasicrystalline phase (IQC) during solidification, especially during ageing. Upon solidification, primary IQC-particles may form, with sizes, ranging from 5 to 50 μm. IQC is also present as a part of binary eutectic in the interdendritic regions. More importantly, nanosized quasicrystalline precipitates can form during T5-treatment at temperatures ranging from about 250−450 °C. They are, in fact, metastable precipitates transforming to ternary T-precipitates (Al20Mn3Cu2) phase above 450 °C. The heat resistance can be increased considerably by the addition of Sc and Zr by forming L12-precipitates in spaces between quasicrystalline precipitates. In this paper, we studied three alloys, two Al-Mn-Cu-Be alloys and an Al-Mn-Cu-Be-Sc-Zr alloy. The alloys were produced by vacuum induction melting and casting into a copper mould. We investigated the response of the alloys to different heat treatments and their heat resistance at higher temperatures. It was shown that the alloys could be precipitation strengthened by ageing at 300 °C and 400 °C. The hardness of the alloy stayed at relatively high levels even at 500 °C, while more substantial softening occurred at 600 °C.

Post-Synthetic Enzymatic and Chemical Modifications for Novel Sustainable Polyesters

Because of their biodegradability, compostability, compatibility and flexible structures, biodegradable polymers such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are an important class of biopolymers with various industrial and biological uses. PHAs are thermoplastic polyesters with a limited processability due to their low heat resistance. Furthermore, due to their high crystallinity, some PHAs are stiff and brittle. These features result sometimes in very poor mechanical characteristics with low extension at break values which limit the application range of some natural PHAs. Several in vivo approaches for PHA copolymer modifications range from polymer production to enhance PHA-based material performance after synthesis. The methods for enzymatic and chemical polymer modifications are aiming at modifying the structures of the polyesters and thereby their characteristics while retaining the biodegradability. This survey illustrates the efficient use of enzymes and chemicals in post-synthetic PHA modifications, offering insights on these green techniques for modifying and improving polymer performance. Important studies in this sector will be reviewed, as well as chances and obstacles for their stability and hyper-production.

Isolation of Elizabethkingia anophelis From COVID-19 Swab Kits

Purpose: To investigate and characterize the putative Elizabethkingia anophelis contaminant isolated from throat and anal swab samples of patients from three fever epidemic clusters, which were not COVID-19 related, in Shenzhen, China, during COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: Bacteria were cultured from throat (n = 28) and anal (n = 3) swab samples from 28 fever adolescent patients. The isolated bacterial strains were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) and the VITEK2 automated identification system. Nucleic acids were extracted from the patient samples (n = 31), unopened virus collection kits from the same manufacturer as the patient samples (n = 35, blank samples) and from unopened throat swab collection kits of two other manufacturers (n = 22, control samples). Metagenomic sequencing and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) detection were performed. Blood serum collected from patients (n = 13) was assessed for the presence of antibodies to E. anophelis. The genomic characteristics, antibiotic susceptibility, and heat resistance of E. anophelis isolates (n = 31) were analyzed.Results: The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF/MS and VITEK2 as Elizabethkingia meningoseptica. DNA sequence analysis confirmed isolates to be E. anophelis. The patients’ samples and blank samples were positive for E. anophelis. Control samples were negative for E. anophelis. The sera from a sub-sample of 13 patients were antibody-negative for isolated E. anophelis. Most of the isolates were highly homologous and carried multiple β-lactamase genes (blaB, blaGOB, and blaCME). The isolates displayed resistance to nitrofurans, penicillins, and most β-lactam drugs. The bacteria survived heating at 56°C for 30 min.Conclusion: The unopened commercial virus collection kits from the same manufacturer as those used to swab patients were contaminated with E. anophelis. Patients were not infected with E. anophelis and the causative agent for the fevers remains unidentified. The relevant authorities were swiftly notified of this discovery and subsequent collection kits were not contaminated. DNA sequence-based techniques are the definitive method for Elizabethkingia species identification. The E. anophelis isolates were multidrug-resistant, with partial heat resistance, making them difficult to eradicate from contaminated surfaces. Such resistance indicates that more attention should be paid to disinfection protocols, especially in hospitals, to avoid outbreaks of E. anophelis infection.

Effect of Sealing Treatment of Modified Aluminum Phosphate Sealing Agent on Corrosion Resistance of Fe-Based Amorphous Coating

A modified aluminum phosphate sealing agent was prepared by using aluminum dihydrogen phosphate and silica sol as raw materials, and was used for sealing treatment of iron-based amorphous coating. The phase of sealing agent was analyzed by XRD. SEM and TG-DSC were used to characterize the surface morphology of the coating before and after sealing and the heat resistance of the sealing agent. The corrosion resistance of the sealing coating was evaluated by electrochemical measurements. The results show that the modified aluminum phosphate sealing agent has good heat resistance, and fine and close sealing layer was obtained, thus the corrosion resistance is significantly improved.

Research Progress of Heat Resistant Magnesium Alloys

Magnesium alloy has extremely excellent properties and is known as “21st Century Green Engineering Material”. This article mainly introduces the influence of the heat resistance and comprehensive performance of the three series of Mg-Al, Mg-Zn and Mg-RE heat-resistant magnesium alloys after adding rare earth elements, alkali metal elements and other elements. Three development directions of improving the heat resistance of magnesium alloys are prospected. These are: 1. Using cheap alloy elements (such as Ca, Si, etc.) to replace rare earth elements of the heat-resistant magnesium alloy, 2. Titanium element is added to improve heat-resistant magnesium alloy’s mechanical properties and its strength, 3. The new casting process and processing technology are used to improve the heat-resistant magnesium alloy’s properties. This article aims to provide technical reference for the development of my country’s magnesium alloy industry.

Еffect of graphene filler oxidation on the thermal destruction of epoxy-graphene composites

The participation of the electronic subsystem of graphene nanoparticles in heat transfer on the interfaphase surface with epoxy polymer, its participation in the thermodestruction processes of epoxy matrix and the concentration interval of the subsystem's influence on the thermal destruction of the polymer matrix are investigated. For such purpose, epoxy resin composites with oxidized and non-oxidized graphene nanoparticles have been used.The particles were obtained by electrochemical method and those are characterized by the same dispersion and analogical of defect spectra. The particles have the same crystal structure, however in composites with oxidized graphene, the participation of the electronic subsystem in thermophysical processes on the interfacial surface is blocked by the atomic layer of adsorbed oxygen. Сomposites of epoxy resin filled with the same particles of nonoxidized and oxidized nanoparticles in the filler content 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, and 5.0 wt%. The multilayered graphene particles were studied by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy (RS) methods. It was shown that the graphene particles are the 2D dimensional structures with about of 100 layers. Desorption curves of epoxy and its composites have been obtained using a programmable thermal desorption mass-spectroscopic (TDMS) technique for fragments with 15≤ m/z ≤108 and temperature interval 35 - 800 оС. The activation energy of desorption was determined from the Wigner-Polanyi equation as 35 - 150 kJ/mol, temperature and mass dependences of the quantity of desorbed atomic fragments have been calculated. It were established the graphene electron subsystem takes part in polymer structure thermodestruction for epoxy composites with nonoxidized graphene enhancing their heat resistance at graphene content С ≤ 1 wt%. With increasing filler content, the thermodestruction behavior in pristine epoxy and its composites with nonoxidized and oxidized graphene is analogical. The thermodestruction characterizes by the stepwise variations in the desorption intensity of atomic fragments. The electron subsystem of graphene particles does not participate in the heat resistance variations.

Thermal resistance of building envelopes with heat-conducting elements in summer period

The analysis of the current methods and techniques of solving the problem of heat resistance of building envelopes with heat-conducting elements shows the solution of a onedimensional problem of heat resistance. One of the possible methods for determining the temperature fluctuation amplitude on the inner surface of the building envelopes with heatconducting elements is the modeling of non-stationary temperature conditions in the computer program. However, this solution causes great difficulties, as it transfers the specified calculation from engineering to scientific and cannot be recommended for practical application. The second method of solving this problem is the application of the convergence coefficient, which can be obtained empirically. The selection of the convergence coefficient allows for the influence of the heat-conducting elements on the weighted average surface temperature depending on the envelope configuration.The structural analysis of the building envelopes and their impact on the averaged amplitude of oscillations on the inner surface are conducted. The arrangement of heat-conducting elements at the outer edge is characterized by a negligible influence of the vibration amplitude on the averaged amplitude over the structural surface. The arrangement of heat-conducting elements greatly affects the heat-conducting elements. According to the comparative analysis, the convergence coefficient is preferable in harmonics of the average temperature fluctuations on the inner surface.