Bioremediation of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contaminated soil using an indigenous consortium

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) include a group of organic priority pollutants of critical environmental and public health concern due to their toxic, genotoxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. PAHs have been accumulated in the environment as a result of human activities. Bioremediation has become the most viable mechanism to reach the detoxification of contaminated sites. The objective of this study was to assess the capacity of an indigenous consortium enriched from an aged contaminated soil to biodegrade 16 PAHs, more concretely it was searched the complete removal of phenanthrene to CO2 and water.A PAHs degrading microbial consortium (OMC), isolated from a contaminated soil, was investigated for 16 PAHs biodegradation activity. The OMC consortium was able to biodegrade six of the 16 PAHs studied, reaching 100% for naphtalene acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorine, phenanthrene, naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, anthracene and fluoranthene. However, 78.4 and 53.86 % were removed for anthracene and fluerenthrene respectively.Nine Strains were isolated from the OMC (PHE1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9). Isolated strains were tested to mineralise and in all cases the PHE concentration was drastically reduced. Once has been confirmed that indigenous bacteria were capable of degrading PAH and mineralising PHE were identified through 16S rDNA. Moreover, was proved the presence of genes including monooxygenase and dioxygenase by PCR amplification in the OMC and in the identified strains from the consortium. In OMC two of these genes were found: PAH RHDα GN and nahAC. However, in the isolated strains only one of the genes searched was identified: PAH RHDα GN, more specifically in Phe 8, Phe 4 and Phe 9.As result, it is shown that bacteria from a contaminated soil are active in biodegradation and mineralisation process, what makes the indigenous microbiota a powerful tool for bioremediation uses

Isolation of a novel bacterial degrader strain from a contaminated soil by the insecticide chlorpyrifos, using the enrichment culture technique

Motivation: The use of pesticides in the modern agriculture has meant an improvement in the conditions and production of crops. However, the continuous use has led to contamination problems in soils, water and sediments affected by its application. One of the pesticides widely used to fight against insect pests is the chlorpyrifos. This organophosphate pesticide produces a metabolite known as triclhoro-2-pyridinol (TCP) which presents a high toxicity increasing the risk of environmental toxicity. The current study was carried out to assess the effect of native microorganisms from an agricultural soil contaminated by chlorpyrifos in the bioremediation of soils contaminated with this pesticide.  Methods: The soil sample was collected from a private property where chlorpyrifos was commonly used that was located in Roche, in the southern Cadiz. In order to isolate degrading bacterial strains from the soil treated with chlorpyrifos, enrichment technique with mineral salt medium (MSM), a nutrients solution and using the insecticide as the only carbon source was employed. Subsequently, potential CLP bacteria strains degraders were isolated from the microbial consortium, initially isolated. Biological oxygen demand (BOD) assays were performed with the aim of determining which bacterial strains were capable to biodegrade chlorpyrifos. Once the BOD results were obtained, the samples were analysed by the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to measure the insecticide concentration present in the solution, after the assay.Results:  A total of 21 bacterial strains were isolated from the enrichment mediums. From these strains, nine of them reached values of 50 mg O2 L-1 in BOD assays. These values were relevant to continue with the analysis of the solution from the samples in the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The degradation studies with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry where the concentration of supernatants from the BOD assays were analysed with the 197-ion extraction, indicated that R13A strain was able to degrade 70% of chlorpyrifos within 384 hours.Conclusions: In the present work, the effect of microbial population in the treatment of a soil that had received continuous applications of chlorpyrifos was determined. The R13A strain isolated from soil has shown promising results in the preliminary assays of biodegradation

Accelerated soil diuron mineralisation by microbial consortia inoculation and enhancing bioavailability with cyclodextrin.

The deleterious effects of pollution on human health, the functioning of biogeochemical cycles, erosion of biodiversity and more broadly on the entire biosphere, have become a major concern for modern societies. Diuron is considered a “Priority Hazardous Substance”.In the case of diuron, biodegradation appears to be the major cause of diuron dissipation, although due to its high persistence, and hence, the likely formation of aged residues, these can be found in many environment such as soil, sediments and water. Especially in the case of diuron, where its principal metabolite, 3,4 dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) is considered as highly toxic to different organisms.Agricultural soils possess large and often highly diverse microbial communities that potentially can exhibit many degradative properties, and when these capacities are expressed fully and rapidly, organic chemicals are readily destroyed.To date, all the efforts invested in research on soil bioremediation have been applied to optimizing microbial activity by adding nutrients (bioestimulation), or adding microbial consortia (bioaugmentation). This techniques belong to the green technologies that are used to remove organic contaminants from environments. Another technique used to increase solubility was to add cyclodextrins which increase bioavailability of pollutant.Different results were found for each of the consortium employed in this study, which were previously isolated using an enrichment technique from five agricultural soils that had been managed with pesticides for more than 10 years (C1,C2,C3,C4,C5). In solution medium, C2 consortium was able to mineralize a 88.6% of the diuron initially added to solution (10 ppm + 450 Bq). In the soil used in slurries conditions, time in days needed to reach a 50% of diuron mineralisation was drastically reduced,except when was inoculated C4. Afterwards, in a more realistic scenario under static conditions was observed 23.2% of global herbicide mineralisation with C1. By last, under static condition when cyclodextrin (CD) was used in combination with bioaugmentation (C1) a 42.2% of the extent of mineralisation was rised.In conclusion, the combination of bioaugmentation and bioestimulation resulted in a successful strategy to speed up soil diuron biorremediation. CD, provoked a substantial improvement in diuron mineralisation due to the formation of an inclusion complex with diuron,which increased its solubility and hence bioavailability and mineralisatio

Genome analysis for the identification of genes involved in phenanthrene biodegradation pathway in Stenotrophomonas indicatrix CPHE1. Phenanthrene mineralization in soils assisted by integrated approaches

Phenanthrene (PHE) is a highly toxic compound, widely present in soils. For this reason, it is essential to remove PHE from the environment. Stenotrophomonas indicatrix CPHE1 was isolated from an industrial soil contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and was sequenced to identify the PHE degrading genes. Dioxygenase, monooxygenase, and dehydrogenase gene products annotated in S. indicatrix CPHE1 genome were clustered into different trees with reference proteins. Moreover, S. indicatrix CPHE1 whole-genome sequences were compared to genes of PAHs-degrading bacteria retrieved from databases and literature. On these basis, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis pointed out that cysteine dioxygenase (cysDO), biphenyl-2,3-diol 1,2-dioxygenase (bphC), and aldolase hydratase (phdG) were expressed only in the presence of PHE. Therefore, different techniques have been designed to improve the PHE mineralization process in five PHE artificially contaminated soils (50 mg kg−1), including biostimulation, adding a nutrient solution (NS), bioaugmentation, inoculating S. indicatrix CPHE1 which was selected for its PHE-degrading genes, and the use of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBCD) as a bioavailability enhancer. High percentages of PHE mineralization were achieved for the studied soils. Depending on the soil, different treatments resulted to be successful; in the case of a clay loam soil, the best strategy was the inoculation of S. indicatrix CPHE1 and NS (59.9% mineralized after 120 days). In sandy soils (CR and R soils) the highest percentage of mineralization was achieved in presence of HPBCD and NS (87.3% and 61.3%, respectively). However, the combination of CPHE1 strain, HPBCD, and NS showed to be the most efficient strategy for sandy and sandy loam soils (LL and ALC soils showed 35% and 74.6%, respectively). The results indicated a high degree of correlation between gene expression and the rates of mineralization

"INTERGROWTH21st vs customized fetal growth curves in the assessment of the neonatal nutritional status: a retrospective cohort study of gestational diabetes"

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus is associated with increased incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes including newborns large for gestational age, macrosomia, preeclampsia, polyhydramnios, stillbirth, and neonatal morbidity. Thus, fetal growth should be monitored by ultrasound to assess for fetal overnutrition, and thereby, its clinical consequence, macrosomia. However, it is not clear which reference curve to use to define the limits of normality. Our aim is to determine which method, INTERGROWTH21st or customized curves, better identifies the nutritional status of newborns of diabetic mothers. Methods This retrospective cohort study compared the risk of malnutrition in SGA newborns and the risk of overnutrition in LGA newborns using INTERGROWTH21st and customized birth weight references in gestational diabetes. The nutritional status of newborns was assessed using the ponderal index. Additionally, to determine the ability of both methods in the identification of neonatal malnutrition and overnutrition, we calculate sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and likelihood ratios. Results Two hundred thirty-one pregnant women with GDM were included in the study. The rate of SGA indentified by INTERGROWTH21st was 4.7% vs 10.7% identified by the customized curves. The rate of LGA identified by INTERGROWTH21st was 25.6% vs 13.2% identified by the customized method. Newborns identified as SGA by the customized method showed a higher risk of malnutrition than those identified as SGA by INTERGROWTH21st. (RR 4.24 vs 2.5). LGA newborns according to the customized method also showed a higher risk of overnutrition than those classified as LGA according to INTERGROWTH21st. (RR 5.26 vs 3.57). In addition, the positive predictive value of the customized method was superior to that of INTERGROWTH21st in the identification of malnutrition (32% vs 27.27%), severe malnutrition (22.73% vs 20%), overnutrition (51.61% vs 32.20%) and severe overnutrition (28.57% vs 14.89%). Conclusions In pregnant women with DMG, the ability of customized fetal growth curves to identify newborns with alterations in nutritional status appears to exceed that of INTERGROWTH21s

INTERGROWTH-21st versus a customized method for the prediction of neonatal nutritional status in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Background Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) generate complications and are one of the principal causes of maternal, foetal, and neonatal mortality worldwide. It has been observed that in pregnancies with HDP, the incidence of foetuses small for their gestational age (SGA) is twice as high as that in noncomplicated pregnancies. In women with HDP, the identification of foetuses (SGA) is substantially important, as management and follow-up are determined by this information. Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the INTERGROWTH-21st method or customized birthweight references better identify newborns with an abnormal nutritional status resulting from HDP. Method A comparative analysis study was designed with two diagnostic methods for the prediction of neonatal nutritional status in pregnancies with HDP. The performance of both methods in identifying neonatal malnutrition (defined by a neonatal body mass index < 10(th) centile or a ponderal index < 10(th) centile) was assessed by calculating sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, diagnostic odds ratio, Youden's index and probability ratios. Results The study included 226 pregnant women diagnosed with HDP. The customized method identified 45 foetuses as small for gestational age (19.9%), while the INTERGROWTH-21st method identified 27 newborns with SGA (11.9%). The difference between proportions was statistically significant (p < 0.01). Using body mass index (< 10(th) centile) as a measure of nutritional status, newborns identified as SGA by the customized method showed a higher risk of malnutrition than those identified as SGA by INTERGROWTH-21st (RR: 4.87 (95% CI: 1.86-12.77) vs. 3.75 (95% CI: 1.49-9.43)) (DOR: 5.56 (95% CI: 1.82-16.98) vs. 4.84 (95% CI: 1.51-15.54)) Even when using Ponderal index (< 10(th) centile), newborns identified as SGA by the customized method showed a higher risk of malnutrition than those identified as SGA by INTERGROWTH-21st (RR 2.37 (95% CI: 1.11-5.05) vs. 1.68 (95% CI: 0.70-4.03))(DOR 2.62 (95% CI: 1.00-6.87) vs. 1.90 (95% CI: 0.61-5.92)). Conclusion In pregnant women with HDP, the predictive ability of the customized foetal growth curves to identify neonatal malnutrition appears to surpass that of INTERGROWTH-21st

Implementación de nuevas metodologías docentes en asignaturas del Área de Óptica: aula invertida y aprendizaje colaborativo

Memoria ID-036. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2021-2022

Famílies botàniques de plantes medicinals

Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia, Assignatura: Botànica Farmacèutica, Curs: 2013-2014, Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són els recull de 175 treballs d’una família botànica d’interès medicinal realitzats de manera individual. Els treballs han estat realitzat per la totalitat dels estudiants dels grups M-2 i M-3 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos d’abril i maig del curs 2013-14. Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pel professor de l’assignatura i revisats i finalment co-avaluats entre els propis estudiants. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica

Ítacas: sentidos, territorios y experiencias investigativas en Comunicación Social.

El programa de Comunicación Social de UNIMINUTO produce nuevo conocimiento desde enfoques multidisciplinares en las líneas de Educación, transformación social e innovación; Desarrollo humano y comunicación; Innovaciones sociales y productivas; y Gestión social, participación y desarrollo comunitario, las cuales aportan y fortalecen el perfil profesional e investigador de docentes y estudiantes del programa. Los resultados de las reflexiones que realizan los profesores y estudiantes se plantean como ejercicios introspectivos desde la investigación en comunicación social. Esta publicación busca divulgar el trabajo investigativo de profesores y estudiantes, especialmente este primer número representa el inicio de un camino que esperamos derive en la formación posgradual en niveles superiores de nuestros investigadores y aporte a la comprensión de la comunicación digital en este mundo globalizado. Desde una perspectiva amplia de la producción académica, la investigación se entiende como una mixtura de enfoques (cualitativo y cuantitativo), incluyendo los emergentes, además de variadas estrategias de recolección de información que resultan coherentes con los intereses investigativos del programa y los objetivos propuestos en la ruta de fortalecimento académico, para la articulación adecuada entre la formación y el desarrollo de propuestas científicas. Es así como el grupo de investigación Comunicación, Convergencia y Desarrollo asume la responsabilidad de conducir cada proyecto de investigación propuesto, de acuerdo con los propósitos de formación y la amplia comprensión del campo de la comunicación

Ítacas: sentidos, territorios y experiencias investigativas en Comunicación Social.

El programa de Comunicación Social de UNIMINUTO produce nuevo conocimiento desde enfoques multidisciplinares en las líneas de Educación, transformación social e innovación; Desarrollo humano y comunicación; Innovaciones sociales y productivas; y Gestión social, participación y desarrollo comunitario, las cuales aportan y fortalecen el perfil profesional e investigador de docentes y estudiantes del programa. Los resultados de las reflexiones que realizan los profesores y estudiantes se plantean como ejercicios introspectivos desde la investigación en comunicación social. Esta publicación busca divulgar el trabajo investigativo de profesores y estudiantes, especialmente este primer número representa el inicio de un camino que esperamos derive en la formación posgradual en niveles superiores de nuestros investigadores y aporte a la comprensión de la comunicación digital en este mundo globalizado. Desde una perspectiva amplia de la producción académica, la investigación se entiende como una mixtura de enfoques (cualitativo y cuantitativo), incluyendo los emergentes, además de variadas estrategias de recolección de información que resultan coherentes con los intereses investigativos del programa y los objetivos propuestos en la ruta de fortalecimento académico, para la articulación adecuada entre la formación y el desarrollo de propuestas científicas. Es así como el grupo de investigación Comunicación, Convergencia y Desarrollo asume la responsabilidad de conducir cada proyecto de investigación propuesto, de acuerdo con los propósitos de formación y la amplia comprensión del campo de la comunicación