Dynamics of phosphatase activities in a cork oak litter (Quercus suber L.) following sewage sludge application

As part of a study of the processes involved in litter biodegradation following sewage sludge (SS) addition, the variations over 14 months of phosphatase activities in a cork oak litter (Quercus suber L.) were investigated. A field experimental design was carried out using the litter-bag method on both a fertilized plot receiving SS applications (twice ) and a control plot. Acid (APH) and alkaline (BPH) phosphatases were measured, along with several biotic and abiotic variables potentially involved in the regulation of these enzymes. These included moisture, temperature, pH, water-extractable inorganic P (P_W), culturable heterotrophic bacteria and fungi. Sludge addition had significant effects on all the variables measured. Indeed, sludge increased significantly BPH activities, available P_W, microbial densities (i.e. bacteria and fungi) and pH in the fertilized plot. In contrast, APH activities decreased significantly following sludge addition. As a consequence, the BPH/APH ratio increased markedly and immediately in the fertilized plot, but only after the 1st amendment. Following the 1st preconditioning SS amendment, the 2nd fertilization had fewer effects on biological variables, because of summer dryness. The different properties examined varied significantly with incubation time, and most were significantly related to the seasonal patterns of litter moisture in this Mediterranean forest ecosystem. Hence, sewage sludge application modified the intensity of microbial responses to environmental factors, but biological patterns regulating P turn-over were maintained.     

一株可降解苹果废弃枝条的生防细菌鉴定

筛选对废弃苹果枝条具有降解作用的细菌,为农业废弃物的资源化利用奠定基础。首先利用稀释涂布法从采集的带菌苹果枝段中分离,再通过羧甲基刚果红培养基和复筛培养基挑选出产纤维素酶的菌株,利用发酵培养基验证筛选菌株的纤维素降解能力,进行腐烂病（Valsa mali）的对峙试验并测定其生防潜力,最后通过菌落形态、显微观察和gyrA序列的16S rDNA分析对细菌进行鉴定。从采集的苹果枝条中共分离出3株细菌,其中X-2菌株对苹果枝条具有降解作用,其最适生长pH为8,最适生长温度为30 ℃左右。菌株分泌产生的滤纸酶（FPAase）、β-葡萄糖苷酶和羧甲基纤维素酶（CMCase）活力分别高达（12.78±0.03） U/mL、（8.63±0.64） U/mL和（8.36±0.02） U/mL,枝条纤维素降解率高达12.36%±0.44%,经过16S rDNA序列测定和Blast 同源序列检索,得出该生防菌株X-2为解淀粉芽孢杆菌 (Bacillus amyloliquefaciens)。菌株X-2可以满足废弃苹果枝条的降解需求,其在碱性条件下生长良好,有望应用于碱性地区废弃枝条纤维素的降解。     

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.     

光合细菌在虾病防治中的作用研究

本文着重研究光合细菌(PSB)在虾病防治中的作用,结果表明:对虾养殖池施用光合细菌后,随PSB浓度的增加水质、底泥中弧菌和异养细菌数量而逐渐减少,表明了PSB具有调节和改善养殖的微生态环境的作用。PSB还能降低底泥中的有机质和硫化物含量,降低COD含量,并提高养殖水体的溶解氧,改善水生环境。本文还分析了PSB在长毛对虾幼体培育中的应用效果,光合细菌的营养通过食物链的传递,促进对虾生长,增强对虾抗病能力,降低发病率和死亡率。