Identification and Metabolic Mechanism of Non-fermentative Short-cut Denitrifying Phosphorus-removing Bacteria

To investigate the characteristics and metabolic mechanism of short-cut denitrifying phospho- rus-removing bacteria （SDPB） that are capable of enhanced biological phosphorus removal （EBPR） using nitrite as an electron acceptor, an aerobic/anoxic sequencing batch reactor was operated under three phases. An SDPB-strain YC was screened after the sludge enrichment and was identified by morphological, physiological, biochemical properties and 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. Denitrifying phosphorus-removing experiments were conducted to study anaerobic and anoxic metabolic mechanisms by analyzing the changes of chemical oxygen demand （COD）, phosphate, nitrite, poly-fl-hydroxybutyrate （PHB）, and glycogen. The results show that strain YC is a non-fermentative SDPB similar to Paracoccus denitrificans. As a kind of non-fermentative bacteria, the energy of strain YC was mainly generated from phosphorus release （96.2%） under anaerobic conditions with 0.32 mg P per mg synthesized PHB. Under anoxic conditions, strain YC accumulated 0.45 mg P per mg degraded PHB, which produced most of energy for phosphate accumulation （91.3%） and a little for glycogen synthesis （8.7%）. This metabolic mechanism of strain YC is different from that of traditional phosphorus-accumulating organisms （PAOs）. It is also found that PHB, a kind of intracellular polymer, plays a very important role in denitrifying and accumulating phosphorus by supplying sufficient energy for phosphorous accumulation and carbon sources for denitrification. Therefore, monitoring AP/APHB and ANO2 -N/APHB is more necessary than monitoring AP/ACOD, ANO2 -N/ACOD, or AP / ANO2 -N.

Geographical Distribution of Arboviruses, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus Vectors and Their Resistance to Insecticides in Africa: A Systematic Review

Background & Objectives: Epidemics of arboviruses such as Dengue, Chikungunya and Zika have been recorded in recent years indicating that Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are both important and very active vectors in Africa. For vector control, insecticides are on the front line, unfortunately, reported resistance jeopardizes the effectiveness of this strategy. The objective of this review was to determine the geographical distribution and insecticide resistance mechanisms of Ae. aegypti and Ae. Albopictus in Africa. Methods: A systematic review of the literature in scientific databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Hinari) allowed us to identify relevant articles on the geographical distribution of Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus and arboviral diseases. On the other hand, studies related to insecticides used in vector control against Aedes, associated resistances and their molecular and metabolic mechanisms. Results: A total of 94 studies met the inclusion criteria for this search. Aedes aegypti is reported in most of Africa, and Aedes albopictus in part. There is a re-emergence and outbreak of Arbovirus epidemics in West and Central Africa. The insecticides used were organochlorines, carbamates, organophosphates and pyrethroids. In Aedes, target site insensitivity and metabolic resistance would be the 2 main mechanisms of resistance to these insecticides. Interpretation & Conclusion: Resistance has been recorded in all four major classes of insecticides recommended by WHO for vector control and eradication. New vector control methods such as the use of plant extracts with larvicidal and adulticidal activities, advanced modern biotechnology techniques, and nanobiotechnology need to be developed.

Exercise-induced irisin in bone and systemic irisin administration reveal new regulatory mechanisms of bone metabolism

Irisin is a polypeptide hormone derived from the proteolytic cleavage of fibronectin-type III domain- containing 5 （FNDC5） protein. Once released to circulation upon exercise or cold exposure, irisin stimulates browning of white adipose tissue （WAT） and uncoupling protein I （UCP1） expression, leading to an increase in total body energy expenditure by augmented UCPl-mediated thermogenesis. It is currently unknown whether irisin is secreted by bone upon exercise or whether it regulates bone metabolism in vivo. In this study, we found that 2 weeks of voluntary wheel-running exercise induced high levels of FNDC5 messenger RNA as well as FNDC5/irisin protein expression in murine bone tissues. Increased immunoreactivity due to exercise-induced FNDC5/irisin expression was detected in different regions of exercised femoral bones, including growth plate, trabecular bone, cortical bone, articular cartilage, and bone-tendon interface. Exercise also increased expression of osteogenic markers in bone and that of UCP1 in WAT, and led to bodyweight loss. Irisin intraperitoneal （IP） administration resulted in increased trabecular and cortical bone thickness and osteoblasts numbers, and concurrently induced UCP1 expression in subcutaneous WAT. Lentiviral FNDC5 IP administration increased cortical bone thickness. In vitro studies in bone cells revealed irisin increases osteoblastogenesis and mineralization, and inhibits receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand （RANKL）- induced osteoclastogenesis. Taken together, our findings show that voluntary exercise increases irisin production in bone, and that an increase in circulating irisin levels enhances osteogenesis in mice.

Kinetic analysis of anaerobic phosphorus release during biological phosphorus removal process

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal(EBPR)is a commonly used and sustainable method for phosphorus removal from wastewater.Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate(PHB),polyphosphate,and glycogen are three kinds of intracellular storage polymers in phosphorus accumulation organisms.The variation of these polymers under different conditions has an apparent influence on anaerobic phosphorus release,which is very important for controlling the performance of EBPR.To obtain the mechanism and kinetic character of anaerobic phosphorus release,a series of batch experiments were performed using the excessively aerated sludge from the aerobic unit of the biological phosphorus removal system in this study.The results showed that the volatile suspended solid(VSS)had an increasing trend,while the mixed liquid suspended sludge(MLSS)and ashes were reduced during the anaerobic phosphorus release process.The interruption of anaerobic HAc-uptake and phosphorus-release occurs when the glycogen in the phosphorus-accumulating-organisms is exhausted.Under the condition of lower initial HAc-COD,HAc became the limiting factor after some time for anaerobic HAc uptake.Under the condition of higher initial HAc-COD,HAc uptake was stopped because of the depletion of glyco-gen in the microorganisms.The mean ratio ofΔ_(ρP)/Δ_(ρPHB),Δ_(ρ)GLY/ΔρPHB,Δ_(ρP)/ΔCOD,andΔ_(ρPHB)/ΔCOD was 0.48,0.50,0.44,and 0.92,respectively,which was nearly the same as the theoretical value.The calibrated kinetic parameters of the HAc-uptake and phosphorus-release model were evaluated as follows:QHAc,max was 164 mg/(g·h),QP,max was 69.9 mg/(g·h),Kgly was 0.005,and KCOD was 3 mg/L.An apparently linear correlation was observed between the ratio ofΔ_(ρP)/ΔCOD and pH of the solution,and the equation between them was obtained in this study.Enhanced biological phosphorus removal(EBPR)is a commonly used and sustainable method for phosphorus removal from wastewater.Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate(PHB),polyphosphate,and glycogen are three kinds of intracellular storage polymers in phosphorus accumulation organisms.The variation of these polymers under different conditions has an apparent influence on anaerobic phosphorus release,which is very important for controlling the performance of EBPR.To obtain the mechanism and kinetic character of anaerobic phosphorus release,a series of batch experiments were performed using the excessively aerated sludge from the aerobic unit of the biological phosphorus removal system in this study.