Enteric viruses in New Zealand drinking-water sources.

This study determined whether human pathogenic viruses are present in two New Zealand surface waters that are used as drinking-water sources. Enteric viruses were concentrated using hollow-fibre ultrafiltration and detected using PCR for adenovirus (AdV), and reverse transcription PCR for norovirus (NOV) genogroups I-III, enterovirus, rotavirus (RoV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV). Target viruses were detected in 106/109 (97%) samples, with 67/109 (61%) samples positive for three or more viral types at any one time.

Survival of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. after application of sewage sludge to a Pinus radiata forest.

Aims: This study investigated the survival of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in sewage sludge applied to young and old Pinus radiata forest in Spring and Autumn/Winter.

Methods And Results: Large numbers of E.

Tobacco particulate matter is more potent than nicotine at upregulating nicotinic receptors on SH-SY5Y cells.

The effect of total particulate matter (TPM) from cigarette smoke on the expression and binding properties of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) was investigated using a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y). TPM but not nicotine on its own inhibited cell growth at nicotine concentrations above 5 microM. To examine effects on nAChR expression, intact cells were incubated with 3H-epibatidine, and a Bmax of 13 fmoles/10(5) cells (7.

A preliminary investigation into the use of biosensors to screen stomach contents for selected poisons and drugs.

The bioluminescence response of two genetically modified (lux-marked) bacteria to potentially toxic compounds (PTCs) in stomach contents was monitored using an in vitro assay. Cells of Escherichia coli HB101 and Salmonella typhimurium both carrying the lux light producing gene on a plasmid (pUDC607) were added to stomach contents containing various concentrations of organic and inorganic compounds. There was some variability in the response of the two biosensors, but both were sensitive to the herbicides glyphosate, 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T); pentachlorophenol (PCP), and inorganic poisons arsenic and mercury at a concentration range likely to be found in stomach contents samples submitted for toxicological analysis.

Lipophilic toxicity from the marine dinoflagellate Karenia brevisulcata: use of the brevetoxin neuroblastoma assay to assess toxin presence and concentration.

A method for assessing the presence and concentration of a major toxin produced by Karenia brevisulcata has been developed, based on the neuroblastoma assay for brevetoxins. This cytotoxicity assay, coupled with observations of the dose-response relationship and of changes in cellular morphology during the assay gave a characteristic toxin 'signature'. This signature was consistent whether the toxicity was assessed in extracts of shellfish, seawater samples, uni-algal cultures of K.