Norfloxacin degradation by Bacillus subtilis strains able to produce biosurfactants on a bioreactor scale

The discharge of antibiotics into the environment has become a major concern since this group of pharmaceuticals influence on microbial communities not only by its mode of action, but also because of the risk of a worldwide dispersal of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG). Antibiotics residues have been found in various environments such as waters, sediments, and soils. Moreover, most WWTPs are not designed to treat such kind of pollutants, which remain incompletely removed. Currently, biodegradation processes which involved bacterial strains with increased degradation capabilities is one of the most promising technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the norfloxacin biodegradation potential of the three Bacillus subtilis strains named T-1, T′-1 and I′-1a on a bioreactor scale. The aerobic degradation was conducted in a 5-liter bioreactor on minimal salts medium in co-metabolic culture supplemented with glucose. The degradation rate of norfloxacin was determined with the HPLC technique. The surface tension was determined using ring method in order to observe the changes in biosurfactants production. Also, the biofilm formation abilities of the bacteria with two quantitative methods, crystal violet (CV) method and TTC-based test and enzymes production were evaluated

Metabolic responses of bacterial cells to immobilization

In recent years immobilized cells have commonly been used for various biotechnological applications, e.g., antibiotic production, soil bioremediation, biodegradation and biotransformation of xenobiotics in wastewater treatment plants. Although the literature data on the physiological changes and behaviour of cells in the immobilized state remain fragmentary, it is well documented that in natural settings microorganisms are mainly found in association with surfaces, which results in biofilm formation. Biofilms are characterized by genetic and physiological heterogeneity and the occurrence of altered microenvironments within the matrix. Microbial cells in communities display a variety of metabolic differences as compared to their free-living counterparts. Immobilization of bacteria can occur either as a natural phenomenon or as an artificial process. The majority of changes observed in immobilized cells result from protection provided by the supports. Knowledge about the main physiological responses occurring in immobilized cells may contribute to improving the efficiency of immobilization techniques. This paper reviews the main metabolic changes exhibited by immobilized bacterial cells, including growth rate, biodegradation capabilities, biocatalytic efficiency and plasmid stability

Properties of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Onsite Wastewater Treatment Plant in Relation to Biofilm Formation

The aim of the present study was to determine some properties of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains isolated from onsite wastewater technology in relation to biofilm formation, e.g., autoaggregation and motility. Additionally, biosurfactant production by the isolates was also evaluated. The ability of selected strains to develop a biofilm was assessed by using the crystal violet method, which allows to indirectly quantify the attached bacterial biomass (live, dead cells, and polysaccharides as well). Obtained results showed that 19 of the analyzed strains were able to produce biofilm after 72 h of incubation. The low values of surface tension in the range between 28 and 36 mN/m were observed in the bacteria, which are not able to produce biofilm or be classified as weak biofilm producers. Among biofilm-forming strains the highest autoaggregation index was observed for Mycobacterium brumae and Bacillus alcalophilus. Noteworthy, that some strains capable of biofilm formation showed no aggregation abilities or were characterized by low autoaggregative properties. The results of visual autoaggregation assay showed no visible flocs after given time of incubation. The results from motility test demonstrated that most of the analyzed strains were motile. Noteworthy, that up to now literature data about physiology, biofilm formation, and autoaggregative capabilities of bacteria isolated from onsite wastewater technology are very limited and this paper gives the information on the antibiotic-resistant bacteria with ability to form biofilm. Thus, the present study points to develop novel bioinocula in antibiotic degradation and to reach novel biofilm-dispersing agents produced by various bacteria that can be used as disinfectants or surface-coating agents to prevent microbial surface colonization and biofilm development

Influence of heavy metal oxide and activator concentration on spectroscopic properties of Eu 3+, Dy 3+ and Tb 3+ ions in lead borate glasses

Heavy metal lead borate glasses doped with rare earth ions were examined. The influence of heavy metal oxide PbO and activator concentration on luminescence properties of rare earth ions are discussed. Rare earth ions were limited to Eu3+, Dy3+ and Tb3+ which are emitting in the visible light. Increasing concentration of lead oxide in relation to boron oxide causes an increase in R (Eu3+), Y/B (Dy3+) and G/B (Tb3+) spectroscopic factors which correspond to the relative integrated luminescence intensities of 5D0–7F2 /5D0–7F1, 4F9/2–6H13/2 /4F9/2–6H15/2 and 5D4–7F5 /5D4–7F6 transitions, respectively. Moreover, the influence of heavy metal oxide and activator concentration on luminescence decays from excited states of rare earth ions was examined in details

Analysis of the Bioaugmentation Potential of Pseudomonas putida OR45a and Pseudomonas putida KB3 in the Sequencing Batch Reactors Fed with the Phenolic Landfill Leachate

The treatment of landfill leachate could be challenging for the biological wastewater treatment systems due to its high toxicity and the presence of poorly biodegradable contaminants. In this study, the bioaugmentation technology was successfully applied in sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) fed with the phenolic landfill leachate by inoculation of the activated sludge (AS) with two phenol-degrading Pseudomonas putida OR45a and Pseudomonas putida KB3 strains. According to the results, the SBRs bioaugmented with Pseudomonas strains withstood the increasing concentrations of the leachate. This resulted in the higher removal efficiency of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 79–86%, ammonia nitrogen of 87–88% and phenolic compounds of 85–96% as compared to 45%, 64%, and 50% for the noninoculated SBR. Simultaneously, the bioaugmentation of the AS allowed to maintain the high enzymatic activity of dehydrogenases, nonspecific esterases, and catalase in this ecosystem, which contributed to the higher functional capacity of indigenous microorganisms than in the noninoculated AS. Herein, the stress level experienced by the microorganisms in the SBRs fed with the leachate computed based on the cellular ATP measurements showed that the abundance of exogenous Pseudomonas strains in the bioreactors contributed to the reduction in effluent toxicity, which was reflected by a decrease in the stress biomass index to 32–45% as compared to the nonbioaugmented AS (76%)

Selecting Bacteria Candidates for the Bioaugmentation of Activated Sludge to Improve the Aerobic Treatment of Landfill Leachate

In this study, a multifaceted approach for selecting the suitable candidates for bioaugmentation of activated sludge (AS) that supports leachate treatment was used. To determine the exploitation of 10 bacterial strains isolated from the various matrices for inoculating the AS contaminated with the Kalina pond leachate (KPL), their degradative potential was analyzed along with their aptitude to synthesize compounds improving remediation of pollutants in wastewater and ability to incorporate into the AS flocs. Based on their capability to degrade aromatic compounds (primarily catechol, phenol, and cresols) at a concentration of 1 mg/mL and survive in 12.5% of the KPL, Pseudomonas putida OR45a and P. putida KB3 can be considered to be the best candidates for bioaugmentation of the AS among all of the bacteria tested. Genomic analyses of these two strains revealed the presence of the genes encoding enzymes related to the metabolism of aromatic compounds. Additionally, both microorganisms exhibited a high hydrophobic propensity (above 50%) and an ability to produce biosurfactants as well as high resistance to ammonium (above 600 g/mL) and heavy metals (especially chromium). These properties enable the exploitation of both bacterial strains in the bioremediation of the AS contaminated with the KPL

Heavy metal glasses and transparent glass-ceramics : preparation, local structure and optical properties

Heavy metal oxide and oxyfluoride lead silicate glasses doped with rare-earth ions were prepared. Next, they were heat treated in order to obtain transparent glass-ceramics. The rare-earths as optically active ions were limited to trivalent Eu3+ and Dy3+. Correlation between the local structure and the luminescence properties of Eu3+ and Dy3+ ions in the studied glass and glass-ceramic systems was examined using X-ray diffraction, FT-IR and optical measurements. Especially, the ratio of integrated emission intensity of the 5D0–7F2 transition to that of the 5D0–7F1 transition of Eu3+, defined as the luminescence intensity ratio R (Eu3+) as well as the ratio of integrated emission intensity of the 4F9/2–6H13/2 transition to that of the 4F9/2–6H15/2 transition of Dy3+, defined as the luminescence intensity ratio Y/B (Dy3+), have been analyzed in details. Their values are reduced due to part incorporation of rare-earth ions into cubic β -PbF2 crystalline phase. The excitation and luminescence spectra of rare-earth ions in glass samples before and after heat treatment are presented and discussed in relation to potential application in optoelectronics

Effects of Low Concentration of Selected Analgesics and Successive Bioaugmentation of the Activated Sludge on Its Activity and Metabolic Diversity

In this study, we evaluated the impact of the successive bioaugmentation of the activated sludge (AS) with the defined bacterial consortium on the activity and functional capacity of the AS microorganisms. In parallel, the removal of low concentrations of the selected non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac) and analgesic paracetamol was studied. We found that the addition of the bacterial consortium consisting of three pharmaceuticals-degrading strains Bacillus thuringiensis B1 (2015b), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia KB2, and Pseudomonas moorei KB4 into the AS did not cause any significant changes in the biomass abundance and metabolic activity of the AS microorganisms. Although, the successive bioaugmentation of the AS caused a slight increase in the metabolic diversity, the intensity of carbohydrates usage, and metabolic richness. Microorganisms in the bioaugmented and non-bioaugmented AS were able to degrade the mixture of the analyzed drugs with similar e ciency, however, diclofenac was removed more e ectively in the bioaugmented AS. Several metabolites were identified and e ciently utilized, with the exception of 4-OH diclofenac. Two new diclofenac-degrading strains assigned as Serratia proteamaculans AS4 and Rahnella bruchi AS7 were isolated from the diclofenac-treated AS

Excitation and luminescence of rare earth-doped lead phosphate glasses

Excitation and luminescence properties of Eu3+, Tb3+ and Er3+ ions in lead phosphate glasses have been studied. From excitation spectra of Eu3+ ions, the electron–phonon coupling strength and phonon energy of the glass host were calculated and compared to that obtained by Raman spectroscopy. Main intense and long-lived luminescence bands are related to the 5D0–7F2 (red) transition of Eu3+, the 5D4–7F5 (green) transition of Tb3+ and the 4I13/2–4I15/2 (near-infrared) transition of Er3+. The critical transfer distances, the donor–acceptor interaction parameters and the energy transfer probabilities were calculated using the fitting of the luminescence decay curves from 5D0 (Eu3+), 5D4 (Tb3+) and 4I13/2 (Er3+) excited states. The energy transfer probabilities for Eu3+ (5D0), Tb3+ (5D4) and Er3+ (4I13/2) are relatively small, which indicates low self-quenching luminescence of rare earth ions in lead phosphate glasses

Organic micropollutants paracetamol and ibuprofen - toxicity, biodegradation, and genetic background of their utilization by bacteria

Currently, analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are classified as one of the most emerging group of xenobiotics and have been detected in various natural matrices. Among them, monocyclic paracetamol and ibuprofen, widely used to treat mild and moderate pain are the most popular. Since long-term adverse effects of these xenobiotics and their biological and pharmacokinetic activity especially at environmentally relevant concentrations are better understood, degradation of such contaminants has become a major concern. Moreover, to date, conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are not fully adapted to remove that kind of micropollutants. Bioremediation processes, which utilize bacterial strains with increased degradation abilities, seem to be a promising alternative to the chemical methods used so far. Nevertheless, despite the wide prevalence of paracetamol and ibuprofen in the environment, toxicity and mechanism of their microbial degradation as well as genetic background of these processes remain not fully characterized. In this review, we described the current state of knowledge about toxicity and biodegradation mechanisms of paracetamol and ibuprofen and provided bioinformatics analysis concerning the genetic bases of these xenobiotics decomposition