Accumulation of heavy metals in native Andean plants: potential tools for soil phytoremediation in Ancash (Peru).

Metal contamination is a recurring problem in Peru, caused mainly by mine tailings from a past active mining activity. The Ancash region has the largest number of environmental liabilities, which mobilizes high levels of metals and acid drainages into soils and freshwater sources, posing a standing risk on human and environmental health. Native plant species spontaneously growing on naturally acidified soils and acid mine tailings show a unique tolerance to high metal concentrations and are thus potential candidates for soil phytoremediation.

High-sensitivity C-reactive protein and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 stability before and after stroke and myocardial infarction.

Background And Purpose: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) are hypothesized to be biomarkers of systemic inflammation and risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. Little is known, however, about the stability of these markers over time, and in particular, about the effects of acute vascular events on these marker levels.

Methods: Serum samples were collected at 4 annual intervals in 52 stroke-free participants from the Northern Manhattan Study (NOMAS) and assayed for hsCRP and Lp-PLA2 mass and activity levels using standard techniques.

Isolation of autochthonous non-white rot fungi with potential for enzymatic upgrading of Venezuelan extra-heavy crude oil.

The increasing world demand for fuels makes it necessary to exploit the largest reserve of extra-heavy crude oil (EHCO) of the Orinoco Oil Belt from Venezuela. We propose the use of extracellular oxidative enzymes, in particular, lignin-degrading enzyme systems (LDS) of fungi, for enzymatic improvement of EHCO. Autochthonous non-white rot fungal strains able to use EHCO, and several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as sole carbon source and energy, were isolated from EHCO-polluted soils and identified as belonging to the genera Fusarium, Penicillium , Trichoderma , Aspergillus , Neosartorya, Pseudallescheria, Cladosporium, Pestalotiopsis , Phoma and Paecillomyces.

Enhancement of oil degradation by co-culture of hydrocarbon degrading and biosurfactant producing bacteria.

In this study the biodegradation of oil by hydrocarbon degrading Pseudomonas putida in the presence of a biosurfactant-producing bacterium was investigated. The co-culture of test organisms exhibited improved degradation capacities, in a reproducible fashion, in aqueous and soil matrix in comparison to the individual bacterium culture. Results indicate that the in situ biosurfactant production not only resulted in increased emulsification of the oil but also change the adhesion of the hydrocarbon to cell surface of other bacterium.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon degradation by biosurfactant-producing Pseudomonas sp. IR1.

We characterized a newly isolated bacterium, designated as IR1, with respect to its ability to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and to produce biosurfactants. Isolated IR1 was identified as Pseudomonas putida by analysis of 16S rRNA sequences (99.6% homology).