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Vörösiszappal szennyezett talaj fizikai tulajdonságainak vizsgálata modell oszlopkísérletben | Model experiments on the physical properties of soil contaminated with red mud
No full textVizsgálatsorozatunkban a vörösiszap-elöntés hosszabb távú talajtani hatásait vizsgáltuk a szennyezett terület mellől kontrollként vett talajmintákból készített talajoszlopokon. Két különböző szcenáriót modelleztünk. Az elsőben a vörösiszaptározóból közvetlenül kiömlő, nagy víztartalmú, erősen lúgos (∼ pH 13) vörösiszapszuszpenzió talajtani hatását tanulmányoztuk, míg a második esetben a „vörösiszapár” levonulása után a talajfelszínen kiülepedett vörösiszap-öntésanyag hosszabb távú talajfizikai, -kémiai és -biológiai hatásait vizsgáltuk (30, 60 és 120 napos vörösiszap-borítás mellett). Az oszlopkísérlethez használt talajminták egy vörösiszappal nem szennyezett szántóföldi területen feltárt humuszos öntéstalaj különböző genetikus szintjeiből származtak.Közleményünkben a vörösiszap-elöntés talajtani hatásait vizsgáló modell oszlopkísérleteink talajfizikai vonatkozású eredményeit foglaltuk össze. Megállapítottuk, hogy a lúgos kémhatású, nagy Na+-tartalmú iszapból a talajba szivárgó oldatok jelentősen átalakították a vizsgált talaj szerkezetét: a felső talajrétegekben szerkezetleromlást (aggregátumstabilitás-csökkenést) okoztak, míg az alsóbb szintekben (feltételezhetően a bemosódott vagy helyben keletkezett nátrium-szilikát ásványok ragasztó hatása miatt) ideiglenesen aggregátumstabilitás-növekedést tapasztaltunk.Vizsgálati eredményeink alapján megállapítható, hogy a vörösiszap-borítás hatására a talajok elemi szemcséinek méret szerinti megoszlásában mérhető arányeltolódások — a vörösiszap-szemcsék felszíni rétegekbe történő bemosódásán túl — a fenti talajszerkezet-változási folyamatokkal függhetnek össze.
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The north-west embankment of red mud storage area No. 10 at the Ajka Alumina Refinery of MAL Inc. (Hungarian Aluminium Production and Trade Company) was breached on October 4, 2010, as a consequence of which an estimated 700,000 m3 of red mud and alkaline water (pH ∼13) flowed into the Torna Creek and flooded the surrounding villages (Kolontár, Devecser, Somlóvásárhely) and ∼800 ha agricultural land, causing damage to human health and to the environment.A series of experiments was performed to analyze the long-term effects of the red mud, using soil columns taken from control soils in the neighbourhood of the contaminated area. Two different scenarios were modelled. In the first, the effects of inundation with the initial red mud suspension (with high water content and a strongly alkaline pH of ∼13) on the soil properties were analyzed, while in the second the longer-term physical, chemical and biological effects of the contaminating material deposited on the soil surface by the flood were modelled after covering the soil for periods of 30, 60 and 120 days. The soil columns originated from four horizons (0–30, 30–50, 50–80 and 80–100 cm) of an uncontaminated humic alluvial soil (WRB: Eutric Fluvisols Arenic) used for arable purposes.The present work summarizes the results of column experiments modelling the effect of red mud on the physical properties of the soil. The soil structure was significantly modified by the alkaline pH and high Na+ content of the suspensions leached into the soil from the mud, with structure degradation (decreased aggregate stability) in the upper layer and a temporary increase in aggregate stability in deeper layers, presumably due to the adhesive effect of leached sodium silicate minerals, or those formed in situ.It could be concluded that changes in the ratios of different particle size fractions could be attributed not only to the leaching of red mud particles into the soil, but also to these alterations in the soil structure
Protective and antigenotoxic effect of Ulva rigida C. Agardh in experimental hypothyroid
No full textThe presence of chromosomal damage in bone marrow cells affected by several diseases such as thyroid, cancer etc., was detected by the micronucleus (MN) assay. The present study was designed to evaluate: i) volatile components of Ulva rigida, ii) effects of hypothyroidism on bone marrow MN frequency, iii) effects of oral administration of Ulva rigida ethanolic extract (URE) on MN frequency produced by hypothyroidism, and iv) thyroid hormone levels in normal and 6-n-Propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hypothyroid rats. The volatile components of Ulva rigida was studied using a direct thermal desorption (DTD) technique with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOF/MS). UREadministration was of no significant impact on thyroid hormone levels in control group, while PTU administration decreased thyroid hormone levels compared to control group (p < 0.001). Moreover, UREsupplementation resulted in a significant decrease in MN frequency in each thyroid group (p < 0.0001). This is the first in vivo study that shows the strong antigenotoxic and protective effect of UREagainst the genotoxicity produced by hypothyroidism
The role of ionizing radiaton on ovulation rate and oocyte morphology in mouse
No full textWe investigated the effects of ionizing radiation on maturation ability and radiosensitivity of oocytes enclosed in preantral and antral follicles. Balb/c female mice received total body single dose gamma radiation (7.2 Gy) at the diestrous to proestrous transition period. In the first experiment, spontaneously ovulated oocytes were collected from irradiated animals. In the second experiment, irradiated animals were allowed to superovulate to assess the ovarian function. The spontaneous ovulation rate of the follicles exposed at antral stage was significantly lower than the sham-irradiated mice (p < 0.01), and most of the oocytes were found at the metaphase I stage. Oocyte morphology and the ovulation rate of the follicles exposed at preantral stage were similar to the sham-irradiated group. Minimal morphological abnormalities were observed in the oocytes and the polar body as well. The superovulation response of all the irradiated animals was lower than the respective control animals. The superovulation rate was significantly lower in the first ovulation after irradiation (p < 0.01). In conclusion, our findings indicate that total body gamma irradiation, on a basis of estrous cycle stages, leads to ovulation failure in the antral stage while causes abnormal oocyte morphology in the preantral stage follicles in mice
Leaf litter decomposition in Torna stream before and after a red mud disaster
No full textThe aim of the study was to estimate the breakdown of the allochthonous litter in an artificial stream running in an agricultural area and compare it with the same values following a toxic mud spill into the same stream. Litter bags were filled with three types of leaves (Quercus robur, Populus tremula and Salix alba) and placed to the bottom of the river. Ergosterol was used to detect fungal biomass. We supposed the absence of fungi and the retardation of leaf litter decomposition. Only pH and conductivity increased significantly. Leaf mass loss after the catastrophe was much slower than in 2009 and the decay curves did not follow the exponential decay model. Prior to the catastrophe, leaf mass loss was fast in Torna, compared to other streams in the area. The reason is that the stream is modified, the bed is trapezoid and covered with concrete stones. Fungal biomass was lower, than in the pre-disaster experiment, because fungi did not have enough leaves to sporulate. Leaf mass loss followed the exponential decay curve before the disaster, but after that it was possible only after a non-change period
Variability of microcystins and its synthetase gene cluster in Microcystis and Planktothrix waterblooms in shallow lakes of Hungary
No full textWaterbloom samples of Microcystis aeruginosa and Planktothrix agardhii were collected from a variety of ponds, lakes and reservoirs in Hungary. Samples were tested with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization — time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify the microcystin forms. The concentration of the microcystins was measured with capillary electrophoresis and the toxicity was tested by sinapis test. DNA was extracted from the samples and tested using a range of primers linked to the biosynthesis of microcystin. All of the fourteen collected samples gave positive results for the presence of the mcy genes with PCR products with sizes between of 425 and 955 bp, respectively, indicating the presence of the genes implicated in the production of microcystins. The results showed that a wide range of microcystin (MC) forms were detected in the Microcystis containing samples, among which MC-LR, -RR, and -YR were the most common. The highest MC concentration was 15,701 mg g−1, which was detected in an angling pond. The samples containing Planktothrix agardhii were less toxic, and the most common form in this species was the Asp3-MC-LR
Use of TaqMan® real-time PCR for rapid detection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi
No full textWe evaluated the performances of a newly designed real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay using TaqMan® probes to detect Salmonella Typhi. TaqMan® real-time PCR assays were performed by designed primers and probe based on the staG gene for detecting S. Typhi. The specificity of the assay was evaluated on 15 Salmonella serovars. The analytical specificity was evaluated on 20 non-Salmonella microorganisms. The analytical sensitivity was assessed using decreasing DNA quantities of S. Typhi ATCC 19430. Finally the detection capability of the TaqMan® real-time PCR assay on isolates recovered from patients with Salmonella infections was compared to the conventional PCR assay. Only S. Typhi strain had positive results when subjected to the assay using Typhi-specific real-time PCR. No amplification products were observed in real-time PCR with any of the non-Salmonella microorganisms tested. The TaqMan® real-time PCR was more sensitive than the conventional PCR. In conclusion, we found that the easy-to-use real-time PCR assays were faster than conventional PCR systems. The staG-based TaqMan® real-time PCR assay showed to be specific and sensitive method for the safe and rapid detection of the S. Typhi
Penicillium antifungal protein (PAF) is involved in the apoptotic and autophagic processes of the producer Penicillium chrysogenum
No full textPAF, which is produced by the filamentous fungus Pencicillium chrysogenum, is a small antifungal protein, triggering ROS-mediated apoptotic cell death in Aspergillus nidulans. In this work, we provide information on the function of PAF in the host P. chrysogenum considering that carbon-starving cultures of the Δpaf mutant strain showed significantly reduced apoptosis rates in comparison to the wild-type (wt) strain. Moreover, the addition of PAF to the Δpaf strain resulted in a twofold increase in the apoptosis rate. PAF was also involved in the regulation of the autophagy machinery of this fungus, since several Saccharomyces cerevisiae autophagy-related ortholog genes, e.g. those of atg7, atg22 and tipA, were repressed in the deletion strain. This phenomenon was accompanied by the absence of autophagosomes in the Δpaf strain, even in old hyphae
Prevalence of human herpesvirus 6A and 6B during pregnancy
No full textThe aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of human herpesvirus 6A (HHV-6A) and human herpesvirus 6B (HHV-6B) infection during pregnancy. 100–100 blood samples were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women, then nucleic acid was isolated from both plasma and leukocytes fraction. Nested and real-time PCR were used to detect and differentiate HHV-6A and HHV-6B DNA and to determine viral loads. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) for HHV-6 U79/80 mRNA was performed in order to reveal active HHV-6 replication.HHV-6A and HHV-6B active infections were not detected in blood samples neither from pregnant nor from non-pregnant women. Frequency of HHV-6B and HHV-6A latency did not show difference between the studied groups (15% vs. 16%). HHV-6B latency was dominant in both studied groups (14/15 and 15/16). Beside these results, in leukocyte samples of one pregnant and three non-pregnant women high HHV-6A viral loads (1.28 × 105 − 5.07 × 105 GEq / 1.5 × 106 leukocytes) were detected, and viral DNA was also found in plasma samples. Although RT-PCR did not confirm virus replication, but chromosomal integration was also not proved unequivocally, the number of 0.08–0.33 HHV-6 copy / 1 leukocyte refers more to postnatal infection
Metabolic activity and genetic diversity of microbial communities inhabiting the rhizosphere of halophyton plants
No full textA preliminary study was conducted to compare the community level physiological profile (CLPP) and genetic diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities of four plant species growing nearby Kiskunság soda ponds, namely Böddi-szék, Kelemen-szék and Zab-szék. CLPP was assessed by MicroResp method using 15 different substrates while Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) was used to analyse genetic diversity of bacterial communities. The soil physical and chemical properties were quite different at the three sampling sites. Multivariate statistics (PCA and UPGMA) revealed that Zab-szék samples could be separated according to their genetic profile from the two others which might be attributed to the geographical location and perhaps the differences in soil physical properties. Böddi-szék samples could be separated from the two others considering the metabolic activity which could be explained by their high salt and low humus contents. The number of bands in DGGE gels was related to the metabolic activity, and positively correlated with soil humus content, but negatively with soil salt content. The main finding was that geographical location, soil physical and chemical properties and the type of vegetation were all important factors influencing the metabolic activity and genetic diversity of rhizosphere microbial communities
