Sustainable Treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) by using Pectin and Chitosan in Jar Test Protocol – Sequential Comparison

Oil palm industry in Malaysia is developing as demand towards alternative and cheaper edible oil continuously received from the European Union. However, adverse environmental impacts from this activity coupled with laden recalcitrant effluent contribute to the water pollution pose risk to water body and human’s health. The purpose of this research project is to compare the efficiency between Pectin (Heteropolysaccharide) and Chitosan (D-glucosamine) for tertiary treatment of anaerobic-aerobic treated palm oil mill effluent (POME). Factor that affecting the efficiency of the coagulation process such as dosage of coagulant used was studied by using jar-test protocol. From the experimental results, the ideal experimental conditions that remove turbidity, COD and colour were exceptional when using Chitosan. At this condition 83% of turbidity, 88% of TSS, 79% of colour and 53.1% of COD were removed. Nevertheless, it was observed that pH plays dominating factor that contribute to the overall removal efficiency. This research would give an idea on alternative way for tertiary wastewater treatment of POME

Sustainable Treatment of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) by using Pectin and Chitosan in Jar Test Protocol – Sequential Comparison

Oil palm industry in Malaysia is developing as demand towards alternative and cheaper edible oil continuously received from the European Union. However, adverse environmental impacts from this activity coupled with laden recalcitrant effluent contribute to the water pollution pose risk to water body and human’s health. The purpose of this research project is to compare the efficiency between Pectin (Heteropolysaccharide) and Chitosan (D-glucosamine) for tertiary treatment of anaerobic-aerobic treated palm oil mill effluent (POME). Factor that affecting the efficiency of the coagulation process such as dosage of coagulant used was studied by using jar-test protocol. From the experimental results, the ideal experimental conditions that remove turbidity, COD and colour were exceptional when using Chitosan. At this condition 83% of turbidity, 88% of TSS, 79% of colour and 53.1% of COD were removed. Nevertheless, it was observed that pH plays dominating factor that contribute to the overall removal efficiency. This research would give an idea on alternative way for tertiary wastewater treatment of POME

Structural insight into SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and modulation of syncytia

International audienceInfection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is initiated by binding of the viral Spike protein to host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), followed by fusion of viral and host membranes. Although antibodies that block this interaction are in emergency use as early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapies, the precise determinants of neutralization potency remain unknown. We discovered a series of antibodies that potently block ACE2 binding but exhibit divergent neutralization efficacy against the live virus. Strikingly, these neutralizing antibodies can inhibit or enhance Spike-mediated membrane fusion and formation of syncytia, which are associated with chronic tissue damage in individuals with COVID-19. As revealed by cryoelectron microscopy, multiple structures of Spike-antibody complexes have distinct binding modes that not only block ACE2 binding but also alter the Spike protein conformational cycle triggered by ACE2 binding. We show that stabilization of different Spike conformations leads to modulation of Spike-mediated membrane fusion with profound implications for COVID-19 pathology and immunity

Structural insight into SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies and modulation of syncytia.

Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is initiated by binding of the viral Spike protein to host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), followed by fusion of viral and host membranes. Although antibodies that block this interaction are in emergency use as early coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapies, the precise determinants of neutralization potency remain unknown. We discovered a series of antibodies that potently block ACE2 binding but exhibit divergent neutralization efficacy against the live virus. Strikingly, these neutralizing antibodies can inhibit or enhance Spike-mediated membrane fusion and formation of syncytia, which are associated with chronic tissue damage in individuals with COVID-19. As revealed by cryoelectron microscopy, multiple structures of Spike-antibody complexes have distinct binding modes that not only block ACE2 binding but also alter the Spike protein conformational cycle triggered by ACE2 binding. We show that stabilization of different Spike conformations leads to modulation of Spike-mediated membrane fusion with profound implications for COVID-19 pathology and immunity