Genetic characterization and potential molecular dissemination mechanism of tet(31) gene in Aeromonas caviae from an oxytetracycline wastewater treatment system

Recently, the rarely reported tet(31) tetracycline resistance determinant was commonly found in Aeromonas salmonicida, Gallibacterium anatis, and Oblitimonas alkaliphila isolated from farming animals and related environment. However, its distribution in other bacteria and potential molecular dissemination mechanism in environment are still unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential mechanism underlying dissemination of tet(31) by analysing the tet(31)-carrying fragments in A. caviae strains isolated from an aerobic biofilm reactor treating oxytetracycline bearing wastewater. Twenty-three A. caviae strains were screened for the tet(31) gene by polymerase chain reaction(PCR). Three strains(two harbouring tet(31), one not) were subjected to whole genome sequencing using the PacBio RSII platform. Seventeen A. caviae strains carried the tet(31) gene and exhibited high resistance levels to oxytetracycline with minimum inhibitory concentrations(MICs)ranging from 256 to 512 mg/L. tet(31) was comprised of the transposon Tn6432 on the chromosome of A. caviae, and Tn6432 was also found in 15 additional tet(31)-positive A. caviae isolates by PCR. More important, Tn6432 was located on an integrative conjugative element(ICE)-like element, which could mediate the dissemination of the tet(31)-carrying transposon Tn6432 between bacteria. Comparative analysis demonstrated that Tn6432 homologs with the structure ISCR2-ΔphzF-tetR(31)-tet(31)-ΔglmM-sul2 were also carried by A. salmonicida, G. anatis, and O. alkaliphila, suggesting that this transposon can be transferred between species and even genera. This work provides the first report on the identification of the tet(31) gene in A. caviae, and will be helpful in exploring the dissemination mechanisms of tet(31) in water environment.

An Investigation of Freezing of Supercooled Water on Anti-Freeze Protein Modified Surfaces

This work investigates how functionalization of aluminium surfaces with natural type III Anti-Freeze Protein （AFP） affects the mechanism of heterogeneous ice nucleation. First the bulk ice nucleation properties of distilled water and aqueous solution of AFP were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry. Then the modified surface was characterized by Secondary Ions Mass Spectroscopy （SIMS）, Fourier Transform InfraRed （FTIR） spectroscopy and contact angle measurement. Freezing experiments were then conducted in which water droplets underwent a slow controlled cooling. This study shows that compared to uncoated aluminium, the anti-freeze proteins functionalized surfaces exhibit a higher and narrower range of freezing temperature. It was found that these proteins that keep living organisms from freezing in cold environment act in the opposite way once immobilized on surfaces by promoting ice nucleation. Some suggestions regarding the mechanism of action of the observed phenomena were proposed based on the Classical Nucleation Theory （CNT）.

Friction of MoO_(3) Nanoflakes on Graphite Surface with an Ace-like Intercalation Layer

How water layer adsorbed on solid surface under ambient conditions affects the interfacial friction is a fundamental question for understanding the friction and lubrication phenomena in practical system.We investigate the formation of ice-like(IL)water layers on the hydrophobic surface of graphite with partially covered MoO_(3)nanoflakes(NFs)using atomic force microscopy(AFM)based techniques.The IL water layers are found surrounding the MoO_(3)NFs and also intercalated at the MoO_(3)/graphite interface,as proved by thickness measurements as well as local adhesion force and surface potential mappings.AFM manipulations carried out on MoO_(3)NFs on graphite show that the presence of the IL water layers increases the frictional resistance of the interface.Comparing the results on continuous and discontinuous IL water layers,we can identify the different sliding interfaces in the two scenarios.The increased friction for MoO_(3)NFs sliding on graphite with an intercalated water layer is attributed to the energy dissipation originated from the metastable nature of the IL layers.