Sub-lethal concentration of sulfamethoxazole affects the growth performance of milkfish (Chanos chanos), the microbial composition of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the prevalence of sulfonamide-resistance genes in mariculture.

To investigate the impacts of sub-lethal concentrations of antibiotic agents in mariculture, culturable approach and DNA based detection were employed to isolate and analyse resistant bacteria and resistant genes in this study. Milkfish (Chanos chanos), the target rearing animal was exposed to sulfamethoxazole (SMX; 2 mg/L) for 8 weeks and resulted in reduced survival rate and weight gain to 61.9 % and 28.

Characterization of a Sequential UV Photolysis-Biodegradation Process for Treatment of Decabrominated Diphenyl Ethers in Sorbent/Water Systems.

Decabrominated diphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a primary component of the brominated flame retardants used in a variety of industrial and domestic applications. BDE-209 bioaccumulates in aquatic organisms and has been identified as an emerging contaminant that threatens human and ecosystem health. Sequential photolysis-microbial biodegradation processes were utilized here to treat BDE-209 in clay- or soil-water slurries.

Effects of sulfamethoxazole and sulfamethoxazole-degrading bacteria on water quality and microbial communities in milkfish ponds.

Intensive farming practices are typically used for aquaculture. To prevent disease outbreaks, antibiotics are often used to reduce pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture animals. However, the effects of antibiotics on water quality and microbial communities in euryhaline fish culture ponds are largely unknown.

The effects of marine farm-scale sequentially integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems on microbial community composition, prevalence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria and sulfonamide resistance gene sul1.

Aquaculture, one of the most important food production practices worldwide, faces serious challenges of mitigating the detrimental impacts of intensive farming on the environment and increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance. To develop an environment-friendly aquaculture system, a land-based and farm-scale sequentially integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was established for farming Chanos chanos in southwestern Taiwan. In this system, fishes are cultured in combination with organic extractive shellfish and inorganic extractive seaweed.

Bacterial communities associated with aerobic degradation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from river sediments.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are persistent organic pollutants and have therefore drawn much environmental concern. We aimed to compare aerobic degradation of different PBDE congeners under various treatments and reveal the bacterial community associated with PBDE degradation in sediment. Results of this study indicate that degradation rates of BDE-15 were enhanced 45.

Prevalence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria, resistance genes and integron-associated horizontal gene transfer in natural water bodies and soils adjacent to a swine feedlot in northern Taiwan.

Antibiotics are commonly used in swine feed to treat and prevent disease, as well as to promote growth. Antibiotics released into the environment via wastewater could accelerate the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in the surrounding environment. In this study, we quantified the occurrence of sulfonamides, sulfonamide-resistant microorganisms and resistance genes in the wastewater from a swine farm in northern Taiwan and its surrounding natural water bodies and soils.

An investigation of total bacterial communities, culturable antibiotic-resistant bacterial communities and integrons in the river water environments of Taipei city.

The intensive use of antibiotics may accelerate the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). The global geographical distribution of environmental ARB has been indicated by many studies. However, the ARB in the water environments of Taiwan has not been extensively investigated.

Biodegradation of di-n-butyl phthalate by Rhodococcus sp. JDC-11 and molecular detection of 3, 4-phthalate dioxygenase gene.

Rhodococcus sp. JDC-11, capable of utilizing di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) as the sole source of carbon and energy, was isolated from sewage sludge and confirmed mainly based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The optimum pH, temperature, and agitation rate for DBP degradation by Rhodococcus sp.

Degradation of di-n-butyl phthalate by newly isolated Ochrobactrum sp.

A gram negative isolate designated JDC-41 was obtained from river sludge using mixtures of phthalate esters as the sole source and energy. The isolate was identified as Ochrobactrum sp. based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence.

[Isolation and identification of four DBP-degrading strains and molecular cloning of the degradation genes].

Four di-butyl-phthalate(DBP)-degrading bacterial strains, JDC-1, JDC-8, JDC-9 and JDC-12, were isolated from soil. The strains were gram positive. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that the four strains had similarities of 99% with Arthrobacter sp.

Effects of nonylphenol on the calcium signal and catecholamine secretion coupled with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in bovine adrenal chromaffin cells.

Nonylphenol (NP) is the most critical metabolite of alkylphenol polyethoxylate detergents. NP is known as an endocrine disruptor with estrogenic activities and as an inhibitor of endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase. Estrogen has modulatory roles on ligand-gated ion channels, such as nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs).

Evaluation of Colilert-18 for detection of coliforms and Eschericha coli in subtropical freshwater.

The accuracy of Colilert-18 as a test for coliforms and Escherichia coli in subtropical freshwater was evaluated by using API 20E strips and fatty acid methyl ester analysis. The false-positive and -negative rates of detection were 7.4 and 3.

Suitability of the traditional microbial indicators and their enumerating methods in the assessment of fecal pollution of subtropical freshwater environments.

Twenty-four freshwater sampling sites (11 river water, 6 spring water, and 7 groundwater) were selected from 4 sampling areas located in the northern and central parts of Taiwan. A total of 125 water samples were collected during a 5-month sampling period, and the numbers of total heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, enterococci, Aeromonas hydrophila, and Salmonella spp. were enumerated.