Molasses as C source for heterotrophic bacteria production on solid fish waste

The drumfilter effluent from a recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) can be used as substrate for heterotrophic bacteria production. These bacteria can be reused as aquatic feed. In RAS drumfilter effluents are organic carbon deficient for bacteria production. This is due to nitrogen accumulation in the system water. In the present experiment, a bacteria growth reactor (3.5l) was connected to the drumfilter (filter mesh size 60 μm) outlet of a recirculation system. To counteract carbon deficiency, different supplementation levels of molasses (organic carbon) were tested (carbon fluxes of 0.0, 3.2, 5.8, 7.8, 9.7 gC molasses/l/d; C:N ratios: 3.4, 6.4, 9.4, 13.0 and 16.5). The hydraulic retention time in the bacteria reactor was 6 h. For the maximum flux, the VSS and crude protein productions were about 168 gVSS and 95 g crude protein per kg feed. The maximum conversion of nitrate and ortho-phosphate was 24 g NO₃₋N and 4 gP/kg feed. This equals a conversion of 90% of the inorganic nitrogenous waste and 98% of the ortho-phosphate-P. Furthermore the maximum substrate removal rate and the K_s for molasses were determined (1.62 gC/l/h and 0.097 gC/l respectively). The maximum specific removal rate was 0.31 gC/gVSS/h and the related half saturation constant was 0.008 gC/l. The observed growth rate reached a maximum for C fluxes higher than 8 g/l/d. The present integration of heterotrophic bacteria production in RAS represents, therefore, an innovative option to reduce waste discharge by conversion. If the bacteria are reused as feed, system's ecological sustainability increases.     

乳山湾东流区细菌数量的分布及与环境因子关系的研究

根据1995年6～9月对乳山湾东流区的微生物调查资料，研究了乳山湾东流区海水及底泥中细菌和弧菌量的变化及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明，该海域海水中细菌和弧菌的数量变化与温度的变化相一致，6月中旬～8月中旬，细菌数量增长比较缓慢，8月中旬开始，细菌数量增长较快，到8月底，达到最高值，异养菌为5．71×106cell／mL，弧菌为2．1×104cell／mL。而后，随着温度的下降，水中的细菌量逐渐减少。滩涂底泥中，细菌和弧菌的数量均比海水中细菌高l～2个数量级。     

Using cell and developmental biology to enhance embryo survival in aquaculture

Research on how the young embryo protects itself from normal environmental stresses reveals that the earliest phases of development have unique, innate mechanisms to protect the embryo during this most sensitive phase of embryogenesis. This paper shows ways in which knowledge of these protection mechanisms might be used to advantage in the aquaculture situation. These include novel mechanisms to deter bacteria and fungi such as secretion of anti-bacterial/anti-fungal substances from the egg at fertilization, as well as the utilization of anti-fungal metabolites provided by symbiotic bacteria associated with egg cases. UV damage is avoided by provision of unique sunscreens to the embryos so that UV penetration into the cytoplasm is avoided. Finally, embryos have exaggerated mechanisms to avoid the effect of toxicants on development but these are inadequate to remove pollutants present in feed used in aquaculture. Approaches are suggested on how this knowledge about adaptations might be used in the aquaculture setting to avoid pathogens, increase UV resistance and reduce levels of pollutants.     

Treatment of the early life stages of scallop (Pecten maximus) with antimicrobial agents; searching for an alternative to chloramphenicol

High mortality rates are often observed in rearing the early stages of the great scallop, Pecten maximus. The addition of antibacterial agents has been necessary to improve larval survival. However, as one antibacterial agent, chloramphenicol, is banned in Norway and Europe the aim of this study is to investigate alternative antibacterial agents. The therapeutic agents investigated in this study were florfenicol, oxytetracycline, oxolinic acid, neomycin and Pyceze. The mean minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined for oxytetracycline, oxolinic acid and Pyceze against bacteria isolated from scallop larvae. Two types of treatment regime were investigated on an intermediate scale (20 L). One regime involved continuous exposure of scallop larvae to the therapeutic agent while the other involved a short exposure lasting two hours. All intermediate scale treatments were performed in parallel to large-scale production (800 L) treatment with chloramphenicol. Of the therapeutants investigated, oxolinic acid was the most effective, although only at high concentrations. The short exposure of two hours was ineffective for all therapeutics.     

The antimicrobial activity of honey against common equine wound bacterial isolates

Delayed healing associated with distal limb wounds is a particular problem in equine clinical practice. Recent studies in human beings and other species have demonstrated the beneficial wound healing properties of honey, and medical grade honey dressings are available commercially in equine practice. Equine clinicians are reported to source other non-medical grade honeys for the same purpose. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial activity of a number of honey types against common equine wound bacterial pathogens. Twenty-nine honey products were sourced, including gamma-irradiated and non-irradiated commercial medical grade honeys, supermarket honeys, and honeys from local beekeepers. To exclude contaminated honeys from the project, all honeys were cultured aerobically for evidence of bacterial contamination. Aerobic bacteria or fungi were recovered from 18 products. The antimicrobial activity of the remaining 11 products was assessed against 10 wound bacteria, recovered from the wounds of horses, including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Eight products were effective against all 10 bacterial isolates at concentrations varying from <2% to 16% (v/v). Overall, the Scottish Heather Honey was the best performing product, and inhibited the growth of all 10 bacterial isolates at concentrations ranging from <2% to 6% (v/v).Although Manuka has been the most studied honey to date, other sources may have valuable antimicrobial properties. Since some honeys were found to be contaminated with aerobic bacteria or fungi, non-sterile honeys may not be suitable for wound treatment. Further assessment of gamma-irradiated honeys from the best performing honeys would be useful.     

对虾白黑斑病的病原病因研究

对虾白黑斑病是养殖中国对虾的常见病，曾被怀疑是细菌性疾病，本试验通过对病虾肝胰腺、血液和病灶组织的细菌分离，对正常虾用白黑斑虾的细菌注射感染等一系列试验发现：细菌或其它生物性病原与对虾白黑斑病并无直接关系。     

Analysis of nutrient flows in integrated intensive aquaculture systems

This paper analyses nutrient conversions, which are taking place in integrated intensive aquaculture systems. In these systems fish is cultured next to other organisms, which are converting otherwise discharged nutrients into valuable products. These conversions are analyzed based on nitrogen and phosphorous balances using a mass balance approach. The analytical concept of this review comprises a hypothetical system design with five modules: (1) the conversion of feed nutrients into fish biomass, the “Fish-Biomass-Converter”; (2) the separation of solid and dissolved fish waste/nutrients; the “Fish-Waste-Processor”; (3) the conversion of dissolved fish waste/nutrients, the “Phototrophic-herbivore-Converter”; (4 and 5) the conversion of solid fish waste, the “Bacterial-Waste-Converter”, or the “Detrivorous-Converter”. In the reviewed examples, fish culture alone retains 20–50% feed nitrogen (N) and 15–65% feed phosphorous (P). The combination of fish culture with phototrophic conversion increases nutrient retention of feed N by 15–50% and feed P by up to 53%. If in addition herbivore consumption is included, nutrient retention decreases by 60–85% feed N and 50–90% feed P. This is according to the general observation of nutrient losses from one trophic level to the next. The conversion of nutrients into bacteria and detrivorous worm biomass contributes only in smaller margins (e.g. 7% feed N and 6% feed P and 0.06% feed N 0.03 × 10⁻³% feed P, respectively). All integrated modules have their specific limitations, which are related to uptake kinetics, nutrient preference, unwanted conversion processes and abiotic factors.     

Bacterial diversity in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) rhizosphere in response to salinity, soil pH, and boron

Soil salinity is a major factor relating microbial communities to environmental stress in the microbial selection process as stress can reduce bacterial diversity. In the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California, the problem of increasing salinity and consequently, decreasing crop productivity, due to reuse of saline drainage water are major concerns. An experiment was conducted in a closed, recirculating volumetric lysimeter system (VLS) consisting of 24 experimental plant growth units to determine the interactive effects of salinity, boron and pH on rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere microbial composition of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Seminis Turbo hybrid). Plants in the VLS were irrigated from individual reservoirs containing a modified half-strength Hoagland's nutrient solution combined with salinity, boron (B), and pH treatments. The results indicated that salinity and pH were the most influential factors affecting the growth of plants and the effect of boron on the plant was more severe under slightly acidic conditions. Total bacterial DNA was extracted from rhizosphere and non-rhizosphere samples, and a 236-bp DNA fragment in the V3 region of the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes of eubacteria was amplified. The 16S rRNA and the products were subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and sequencing. Analyses of bacterial diversity showed that the effects of salinity, boron, and pH were more severe on the rhizosphere bacterial population during the first week of growing cucumber, with decreasing impacts with plant growth. However, there was no salinity-B-pH interaction effects on plant biomass, but the effects were seen in the number of heterotrophic bacteria in the rhizosphere and on species richness and diversity during week seven of the study. These suggest that the effects of salinity-B-pH interactions may influence microorganisms first before plants and may pose long term effects on soil quality.     

Fate of prions in soil: Degradation of recombinant prion in aqueous extracts from soil and casts of two earthworm species

Prions represent the active agent in transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) diseases and can remain infective to mammals even after prolonged periods in soil. The influence of mesofauna on prion dispersal and degradation in soil, however, remains unknown. In this study the effect of earthworms on the retention/dissemination of TSEs in soil was evaluated using a model recombinant prion protein (recPrP) and aqueous extracts from soil and fresh casts of two earthworm species, Lumbricus terrestris and Aporrectodea caliginosa. Our results showed that earthworm gut-derived enzymes did not enhance the degradation of recPrP in comparison to soil, even though non-prion related proteolytic activity was higher in fresh worm excrements than in soil samples. Complete degradation of recPrP occurred in the aqueous extracts from all samples within up to 6 days at +15 °C. The proteolytic enzymes responsible for degrading recPrP were inhibited by aprotinin and leupeptin and studies in pure cultures suggested these were most probably of soil microbial origin.     

中国主要稻区周丛生物群落组成结构及其磷捕获能力

广泛分布在水-土界面之间的周丛生物是稻田生态系统物质迁移和能量交换的关键热区和必经之地,但至今鲜有研究关注稻田周丛生物的群落特征及其调控功能。为进一步了解周丛生物磷捕获功能,本研究选取我国主要稻区周丛生物,覆盖华南地区、长江中下游地区、东北地区三个水稻种植区,利用高通量测序技术分析周丛生物群落组成结构,结合PLS-PM和回归分析揭示影响稻田周丛生物捕获磷的因素。结果表明：不同地区稻田土壤理化性质存在显著差异（P < 0.05）。我国主要稻区周丛生物磷捕获能力由北到南、由西向东呈现递增的趋势。不同地区稻田周丛生物群落组成差异显著（P < 0.05）。在属水平上,华南地区周丛生物以Acinetobacter、Proteiniclasticum等原核微生物及Gregarina、Adriamonas等真核微生物为优势物种;长江中下游地区周丛生物以Bacillus、Cloacibacterium等原核微生物及Gregarina、Vermamoeba等真核微生物为主组成;在东北地区,周丛生物由Flavisolibacter、Anaerolinea为优势的原核微生物和以Adriamonas、Vermamoeba为优势的真核微生物组成。发现土壤理化性质（特别是土壤有机碳含量和田面水pH）与周丛生物群落多样性存在相关性。华南地区周丛生物中的微藻对于磷的捕获起到一定的促进作用,而东北地区周丛生物中的聚磷菌对磷的捕获有正效应。本研究通过对全国不同地区稻田周丛生物磷捕获能力的分析,丰富了对稻田周丛生物群落组成、结构及其调控磷循环的认识,也为将来开发生物技术回收利用稻田盈余磷提供了理论依据。