Impact of biotic and a-biotic parameters on structure and function of microbial communities living on sclerotia of the soil-borne pathogenic fungus .

The plant pathogen is very difficult to control due to its persistent, long-living sclerotial structures in soil. Sclerotia are the main source of infection for diseases, which cause high yield losses on a broad host range world-wide. Little is known about micro-organisms associated with sclerotia in soil.

Sequential application of electron donors and humic acids for the anaerobic bioremediation of chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons.

In situ anaerobic bioremediation of chlorinated solvents such as perchloroethene (PCE) frequently faces the problem of accumulating toxic, lower chlorinated compounds such as dichloroethene (cis-DCE) and vinyl chloride (VC). In the present study, the efficacy of the sequential application of electron donors, supporting reductive dechlorination, and of humic acids, acting as extracellular electron shuttles facilitating the anaerobic oxidation of recalcitrant intermediates, was explored in microcosm studies. Upon one initial dose of lactose, supplied in a 1000-fold superstoichiometric electron equivalent ratio, PCE was completely converted into cis-DCE within 35 days.

Sensor materials for the detection of human neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G activity in wound fluid.

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) and cathepsin G (CatG) are involved in the pathogenesis of a number of inflammatory disorders. These serine proteinases are released by neutrophils and monocytes in case of infection. Wound infection is a severe complication regarding wound healing causing diagnostic and therapeutic problems.

Automated measurement and quantification of heterotrophic bacteria in water samples based on the MPN method.

Quantification of heterotrophic bacteria is a widely used measure for water analysis. Especially in terms of drinking water analysis, testing for microorganisms is strictly regulated by the European Drinking Water Directive, including quality criteria and detection limits. The quantification procedure presented in this study is based on the most probable number (MPN) method, which was adapted to comply with the need for a quick and easy screening tool for different kinds of water samples as well as varying microbial loads.

Phyto-bioconversion of hard coal in the Cynodon dactylon/coal rhizosphere.

Fundamental processes involved in the microbial degradation of coal and its derivatives have been well documented. A mutualistic interaction between plant roots and certain microorganisms to aid growth of plants such as Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) on hard coal dumps has recently been suggested. In the present study coal bioconversion activity of nonmycorrhizal fungi was investigated in the C.

Enhanced ammonium removal from liquid anaerobic digestion residuals in an advanced sequencing batch reactor system.

When treating effluents from anaerobic processing of organic wastes, the challenge lies in the large quantity of recalcitrant COD and in the high nitrogen content. The data presented in this study illustrate an advanced SBR concept that is able to significantly reduce the organic load. It was found that undigested mashed bio-waste bypassing the anaerobic digestion is highly suitable as an external carbon source to compensate deficiencies of readily biodegradable BOD required for denitrification.

Plant growth promotion by 18:0-lyso-phosphatidylethanolamine involves senescence delay.

-phosphatidylethanolamine (LPE) is a minor membrane glycerolipid and egg-derived 18:0-LPE is used commercially as a plant bio-regulator to improve plant product quality. Physiological responses initiated by LPE treatment included delayed senescence in leaves and fruits, improved shelf-life of products post harvest, and mitigation of ethylene-induced process. However, the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying LPE-induced responses in plants and harvested plant parts remain unclear.

Ammonium removal from anaerobic digester effluent by ion exchange.

The effluent of a 500 kW biogas plant is treated with a solid separation, a micro filtration and a reverse osmosis to achieve nutrient recovery and an effluent quality which should meet disposal quality into public water bodies. After the reverse osmosis, the ammonium concentration is still high (NH(4)-N = 467 mg/l), amongst other cations (K+ = 85 mg/l; Na+ = 67 mg/l; Mg2+ = 0.74 mg/l; Ca2+= 1.

Influence of lyophilization, fluidized bed drying, addition of protectants, and storage on the viability of lactic acid bacteria.

Aims: The present study focuses on the impact of two different drying technologies and the influence of protectants on process survival and storage stability of the two lactic acid bacterial strains Enterococcus faecium and Lactobacillus plantarum.

Methods And Results: After incubation with the protectants glucose, sucrose, trehalose, and maltodextrin the concentrated bacterial suspensions were subjected to fluidized bed drying and lyophilization and subsequently stored at 4, 22, and 35 degrees C for half a year. Lactobacillus plantarum turned out to be more sensitive to both drying methods than Ent.

Pilot plant experiences using physical and biological treatment steps for the remediation of groundwater from a former MGP site.

The production of manufactured gas at a site in Vienna, Austria led to the contamination of soil and groundwater with various pollutants including PAHs, hydrocarbons, phenols, BTEX, and cyanide. The site needs to be remediated to alleviate potential impacts to the environment. The chosen remediation concept includes the excavation of the core contaminated site and the setup of a hydraulic barrier to protect the surrounding aquifer.

Optimised anaerobic treatment of house-sorted biodegradable waste and slaughterhouse waste in a high loaded half technical scale digester.

Anaerobic co-digestion of organic wastes from households, slaughterhouses and meat processing industries was optimised in a half technical scale plant. The plant was operated for 130 days using two different substrates under organic loading rates of 10 and 12 kgCOD.m(-3).

Self-heating of anaerobic digesters using energy crops.

With the increasing application of energy crops in agricultural biogas plants and increasing digester volumes, the phenomenon of self-heating in anaerobic digesters appeared in some cases. Until now this development was just known from aerobic systems. To obtain an idea of the thermodynamics inside an anaerobic digester, a detailed analysis of all heat fluxes in a full-scale agricultural biogas plant was carried out.

Polymerization of guaiacol and a phenolic beta-O-4-substructure by Trametes hirsuta laccase in the presence of ABTS.

The reaction of the monomeric lignin model compound guaiacol and the beta-O-4-type dimer erol (1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-2(2-methoxyphenoxy)-propane-1,3-diol with laccase from Trametes hirsuta was studied in the presence of the mediator ABTS (2,2'-azino-di[3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid]). The product mixtures were analyzed by means of aqueous-phase size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with 50 mM NaOH as eluent. Interestingly, in the laccase-catalyzed reaction with both substrates, the mediator not only functioned as an electron carrier but underwent coupling reactions with the substrate to give polymeric coupling products.

Aerobic treatment of a concentrated urea wastewater with simultaneous stripping of ammonia.

An industrial wastewater containing a total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) of 12.80 g l(-1) was treated in a continuously fed activated sludge reactor. The main contaminant was urea (21.