Perchlorate Contamination: Sources, Effects, and Technologies for Remediation

Perchlorate is a persistent pollutant, generated via natural and anthropo genic processes, that possesses a high potential for endocrine disruption in humans and biota. It inhibits iodine fixation, a major reason for eliminating this pollutant from ecosystems. Remediation of perchlorate can be achieved with various physi cochemical treatments, especially at low concentrations. However, microbiological approaches using microorganisms, such as those from the genera Dechloromonas, Serratia, Propionivibrio, Wolinella, and Azospirillum, are promising when perchlo rate pollution is extensive. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria, isolated from harsh Perchlorate is a persistent pollutant, generated via natural and anthropo genic processes, that possesses a high potential for endocrine disruption in humans and biota. It inhibits iodine fixation, a major reason for eliminating this pollutant from ecosystems. Remediation of perchlorate can be achieved with various physi cochemical treatments, especially at low concentrations. However, microbiological approaches using microorganisms, such as those from the genera Dechloromonas, Serratia, Propionivibrio, Wolinella, and Azospirillum, are promising when perchlo rate pollution is extensive. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria, isolated from hars

Monitoring Conservation of Forest in Protected Areas using Remote Sensing Change Detection Approach: a Review

Abstract: Deforestation and fragmentation threaten biodiversity owing to their impacts on many species. To prevent and minimise the problem, protected areas have been created with the aim of conserving biodiversity, and parts of continental territories have been designated for this purpose. However, these areas are not exempt from forest loss and can be directly and indirectly disturbed by surrounding territories, natural disasters, climate, and human actions. In addition, the management quality of many protected areas is unknown. Thus, forest change detection using remote sensing data has been implemented as an approach to assess forest loss in conservation areas, since it generates spatio-temporal information about the protected forest area, which can then be used to improve forest management and decision making. This article reviews the approaches that have been implemented to study forest changes in protected areas. © 2022, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Presence of perchlorate in marine sediments from Antarctica during 2017–2020

Perchlorate of natural origin is a persistent pollutant that affects thyroid function by inhibiting iodine uptake, and this pollutant is frequently detected in different ecosystems at concentrations that can harm human health. In this study, we measured the perchlorate concentrations in 3,000 marine sediment samples from January to March in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 during the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th Colombian Scientific Expeditions to Antarctica. The sampling zones were located at 15 different points on the South Shetland Islands and Antarctic Peninsula, and they were measured using a selective perchlorate electrode. The concentration data indicate that perchlorate reached a minimum concentration of 90 ppm on Horseshoe Island and a maximum concentration of 465 ppm on Deception Island, suggesting a spatial variation in perchlorate concentrations that can be attributed to the natural formation of this pollutant due to volcanic eruptions. Additionally, homogeneous distribution of perchlorate was not observed in Antarctic

Concentrations of Airborne Cultivable Fungi at a Higher Education Institution in Cartagena de Indias, Colombian Caribbean

Bioaerosols are as small particles suspended in air that contain several microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses). These particles are studied because of the possible impacts that they have on the health of humans and animals in open and closed spaces. In this study, the presence of airborne fungi presents in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) of the city of Cartagena de Indias, Colombian Caribbean was evaluated. Over 4 months (June–October 2018), 128 fungal samples were collected using a two-stage cascade impactor, and the fungi present in these samples were counted, characterized, and identified. Bioaerosol concentrations were correlated with meteorological data from the Rafael Núñez Airport meteorological station to establish the possible influence of these factors on the presence of bioaerosols. The results obtained showed an average concentration of fungal aerosols of 123.71 ± 17.97 UFC/m3, with the highest proportion occurring in the morning. The predominant genera were Aspergillus (60.8%), followed by Penicillium (24.5%) and Fusarium (9.3%). According to the correlations obtained from a multivariate analysis, the meteorological parameters did not influence the presence of microorganisms at the HEI studied; however, a possible influence of emission sources such as vegetation and industry is suggested. © 2022, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy Sciences

Perchlorate-Reducing Bacteria from Hypersaline Soils of the Colombian Caribbean

[EN] Perchlorate (ClO4¿) has several industrial applications and is frequently detected in environmental matrices at relevant concentrations to human health. Currently, perchlorate-degrading bacteria are promising strategies for bioremediation in polluted sites. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize halophilic bacteria with the potential for perchlorate reduction. Ten bacterial strains were isolated from soils of Galerazamba-Bolivar, Manaure-Guajira, and Salamanca Island-Magdalena, Colombia. Isolates grew at concentrations up to 30% sodium chloride. The isolates tolerated pH variations ranging from 6.5 to 12.0 and perchlorate concentrations up to 10000¿mg/L. Perchlorate was degraded by these bacteria on percentages between 25 and 10. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strains were phylogenetically related to Vibrio, Bacillus, Salinovibrio, Staphylococcus, and Nesiotobacter genera. In conclusion, halophilic-isolated bacteria from hypersaline soils of the Colombian Caribbean are promising resources for the bioremediation of perchlorate contamination.This research received support from the Vice Presidency of Research, University of Cartagena; and Colciencias-University of Cartagena (Grant: RC-758-2011/1107-521-29360).Acevedo-Barrios, R.; Bertel-Sevilla, A.; Alonso Molina, JL.; Olivero-Verbel, J. (2019). Perchlorate-Reducing Bacteria from Hypersaline Soils of the Colombian Caribbean. International Journal of Microbiology. 2019:1-13. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/6981865S1132019Cole-Dai, J., Peterson, K. M., Kennedy, J. A., Cox, T. S., & Ferris, D. G. (2018). Evidence of Influence of Human Activities and Volcanic Eruptions on Environmental Perchlorate from a 300-Year Greenland Ice Core Record. Environmental Science & Technology, 52(15), 8373-8380. doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b01890Acevedo-Barrios, R., Sabater-Marco, C., & Olivero-Verbel, J. (2018). 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Assessing Forest Cover Loss Using Landsat Images and GIS: A Case Study in Colombian Protected Area

The Corchal “El Mono Hernández” Fauna and Flora Sanctuary is a protected area located in northern Colombia and is home to the Pterocarpus officinalis forest. In this area, however, this forest cover is declining due to natural causes associated with a change in the hydrosedimentological dynamics. Multitemporal assessment was performed to quantify the forest loss. Landsat images from the years 1986, 1998, 2003, 2013, and 2018 were downloaded and a supervised classification was performed using four cover classes: “Pterocarpus officinalis,” “other vegetation,” “waterbody,” and “bare land.” The results showed that the vegetation cover of Pterocarpus officinalis forest had an initial extent of 865.26 ha in 1986; for the 1986–1998 period, the reduction was 60.30 ha; for the 1998–2003 period, it was 399.15 ha; and for the 2003–2013 period, it was 78.30 ha. Contrary to previous periods, in the 2013–2018 period, 79.65 ha of forest was recovered. In conclusion, Pterocarpus officinalis forest lost approximately 50% of its cover during the 1986–2018 period. This information is of great importance for government and management entities for decision-making in the conservation and restoration of this forest. © 2022 Taylor & Francis.APCs y acuerdos transformativos 2022, Taylor & Franci

Pseudomonas strains from the Livingston Island, Antarctica: a source of cold-active hydrolytic enzymes

Pseudomonas spp. is considered one of the most successful bacterial genera due to its plasticity and metabolic versatility, which has allowed it to colonize different ecosystems, including Antarctica. The ability of Pseudomonas to adapt an d survive in the hostile conditions of the Antarctic makes them a reservoir of enzymes that can be used in different biotechnological applications; however, research on this genus in Antarctica is still in its infancy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to isolate and characterise cold-adapted Pseudomonas from Livingston Island, Antarctica, and expl ore th eir abi l ity to produce cold-active hydrolytic enzymes. In the present study, we isolated seven cold-adapted bacteria related to the genus Pseudomonas. The isolated strains have the ability to produce hydrolytic enzymes. These results demonstrate that cold-adapted Pseudomonas from Antarctica are a promising source of cold-active enzymes with biotechnological potential

Descripción de la situación de los principales retrovirus felinos en la ciudad de Montevideo y zona metropolitana

Los retrovirus son agentes virales muy importantes que infectan a los felinos de todo el mundo produciendo, entre otras cosas, leucemia felina e inmunodeficiencia felina. Su prevalencia varía mucho según las técnicas empleadas para su diagnóstico. Se ha reportado una prevalencia del 2,3 % al 15,6 % al virus de la leucemia felina (VileF), según la región analizada. El virus de la inmunodeficiencia felina (VIF) se divide en cinco subtipos denominándose desde A hasta E. En la región en estudio se han reportado los subtipos A, B, C y E. En Uruguay no existen publicaciones sobre la situación de estos virus, por lo tanto, el objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar y conocer la situación epidemiológica de ambos virus en la población felina de Montevideo y zona metropolitana.Trabajo publicado en Cagliada, Maria del Pilar Lilia y Galosi, Cecilia Mónica (comps.). I Congreso de Microbiología Veterinaria. Libro de resúmenes. La Plata: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, 2021.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria