...Method of detecting Anthrax Whether its natural or man made The key to meeting the challenge is to approach it in a systematic, comprehensive way. We must fully examine the biological threats we face, address the capabilities we must continue to build in order to mitigate them, and consider the complex legal and ethical issues that will arise during a biological calamity if ever we have one. They seek to cure, vaccinate, and alleviate suffering. Yet that is only one part of what must be done during such a crisis. If there is one lesson that the 7 years since 9/11 should have taught, it is that advance planning is the only way to respond to a major threat to safety and security. threat awareness and detection, prevention and protection, and response and recovery. First, we must search for signs of laboratories across the globe that could be poised to weaponize materials. For the 91 million people who come to the United States by air, or the 411 million who arrive by land each year, we can screen for incoming nuclear or radiological devices, but it is pure fantasy to imagine medically testing all of them as well. If we had credible information about a pandemic brewing elsewhere in the world, we could redirect flights and aircraft from the affected region and screen their passengers more intensively. So screening can be of value, but not without the intelligence that lets us focus on those individuals who might pose a genuine risk. Detection depends...
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...Introduction Ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth’s surface has increased significantly over the last 20 years from increased ozone depletion. UV radiation is a component of sunlight that is divided into three parts: UVA (320-400nm), UV-B (280-320nm) and UVC (less than 280nm) [25]. Wavelength determines the transmission of UV radiation through the Earth’s atmosphere. UVC is completely absorbed by the atmospheric gases; UV-B radiation is absorbed by ozone layer and only a small amount reaches the Earth’s surface while UVA radiation is hardly absorbed. The decreased UV-B-filtering capacity of the ozone layer due to pollutants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFC), methylbromide and halons has increased the amount of solar UV-B radiation that plant life is exposed to [2]. A thorough understanding of the UV-B radiation levels is especially important in agriculture as its effects on crop species is essential to design crops that can produce food and other raw materials for the increasing world population. Increased UV-B exposure has the potential to damage DNA, generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and disrupt cellular process in many plant species [10]. Specifically, the primary deleterious effects of increased UV-B occur on the efficiency of the photosynthetic apparatus and the reduction of photosynthetic genes. Damage to the thylakoid membrane and destruction of chlorophyll (Fig. 6) along with the decrease in the amount of photosynthesis are also attributed to over exposure...
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...Biochemical Engineering Journal 13 (2003) 169–179 Bioconversion of lignocellulose in solid substrate fermentation R.P. Tengerdy a,∗ , G. Szakacs b b a Department of Microbiology, Colorado State University, Technical University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1677, USA Department of Agricultural Chemical Technology, Technical University of Budapest, 1111 Budapest, Gellert ter 4, Hungary Received 15 November 2001; accepted after revision 24 July 2002 Abstract In this review the state of the art of lignocellulose bioconversion by solid substrate fermentation (SSF) is presented. The most important lignocellulolytic fungi and their properties are described, and their application in novel solid state bioreactors with on-line process control is discussed. The most important bioconversion products, biofuels, enzymes, animal feeds, biofertilizers, biopesticides, biopromoters, secondary metabolites, and the economy of their production by SSF is discussed. The use of SSF in the pulp and paper industry and in integrated crop management is illustrated. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Lignocellulose; Bioconversion; Solid substrate fermentation 1. Introduction Lignocellulose composes more than 60% of plant biomass produced on earth. This vast resource is the potential source of biofuels, biofertilizers, animal feed and chemical feedstocks. Lignocellulose is also the raw material of the paper industry. To fully utilize the potential of lignocellulose, it has...
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...Diagnostic and Biochemical Tests for Gram Positive Cocci/ Gram Negative Bacilli By: Angelita A. Briñas, RMT I. CATALASE TEST + result vigorous effervescence II. COAGULASE TEST III. MANNITOL SALT FERMENTATION TEST IV.DNASE TEST * * Staphylococus aureus on the left is negative for DNase production; the Serratia marcescens on the right is positive for DNase production as evidenced by the area of clearing around the growth. IV. NOVOBIOCIN TEST Rapid, automated identification of novobiocin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci. (CoNS) ID of Staph.saprophyticus Resistant= less than 16mm Sensitive= more than 16mm * Staph.saprophyticus is Novobiocin resistant * Staph.epidermidis- Novobiocin sensitive V.BACITRACIN (TAXO A) TEST Difference of the group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus from other non-group A beta-hemolytic streptococci is by using sensitivity test to bacitracin (Taxo A discs). OPTOCHIN (TAXO P) DISCS TEST This is a differential test used to distinguish between organisms sensitive to the antibiotic optochin and those not. This test is used to distinguish Streptococcus pneumoniae (optochin sensitive (pictured on the right)) from other a-hemolytic streptococci (optochin resistant (Streptococcus mitis is pictured on the left). Bile- Esculin Hydrolysis Determine the ability to grow in 40% bile and esculin hydrolysis POSITIVE RESULT- Esculetin reacts with FeCl3 to form brown-black ppt The...
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...LATEST BIOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES CAPILLARY ELECTROPHORESIS Capillary electrophoresis is an analytical technique that separates ions based on their electrophoretic mobility with the use of an applied voltage. The electrophoretic mobility is dependent upon the charge of the molecule, the viscosity, and the atom’s radius. In conventional electrophoresis, electrically charged analytes move in a conductive liquid medium under the influence of an electric field. The rate at which the particles moves is directly proportional to the applied electric field; the greater the field strength, the faster the mobility. If two ions are the same size, the greater charge will move the fastest. For ions of the same charge, the smaller particle has less friction and overall faster migration rate. The technique of capillary electrophoresis was designed to separate species based on their size to charge ratio in the interior of a small capillary filled with an electrolyte. Capillary electrophoresis is used most predominately because it gives faster results and provides high resolution separation. It is a useful technique because there is a large range of detection methods available. PRINCIPLE Electrophoresis is the process whereby the movement of ions is produced under the influence of an applied voltage across a field that the ions exist. In electrophoresis, ions that are negatively charged will move or migrate towards the positively charged electrode while ions that are positively charged will...
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...Introduction A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioreactor that converts chemical energy in the chemical bonds in organic compounds to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. (Allen and Bennetto, 1993; Gil et al., 2003; Moon et al., 2006; Choi et al., 2003). It MFC structure consist of an anaerobic sections of an anode (negative) electrode and a cathode (positive) electrode which is separated by a Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM). It has been recognized for numerous years that it is possible to generate electricity directly by the use of bacteria in the breaking down of organic substrates. There has been a serious interest in MFCs among academic scientists as a method to generate electricity and hydrogen from biomass without the negative net carbon emission into the environment. Applications of MFCs can be used in the breaking down of organic matter at wastewater treatment facilities. They have also been considered in the use as biosensors for biological oxygen demand (BOD) monitoring, electricity generation and Biohydrogen. On the negative side Coulombic efficiency and Power output are considerably affected by the types of microbe in the anodic chamber of the microbial fuel cell, Configuration and operational conditions. Presently, practical applications of MFCs are limited because of its power density level being low of several thousandths mW/m2. Many efforts in improving the performance, reduced construction and operating costs...
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...Biochemical tests are often used to determine the identity of bacteria and differentiate between its species. There are numerous types of tests meant to detect key characteristics such as morphology, stain, motility, fermentation pathways used, oxygen requirements, enzymes present, and redox tests used. By conducting these tests with aseptic techniques, one can usually narrow down an unknown bacterium to its family; with the help of dichotomous keys and Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology, particular genus and species can be identified. The first tests commonly conducted on a bacterium also give the broadest results. Initial tests employ differential staining and normally include gram, capsule, and endospore stains. All three indicate...
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...Title: Identification of Biochemical in Their Pure Form Objective: To identify the components of the solution in its pure form with various food tests and state the justifications. Observations: Tests | Observations | Reducing sugar test a) Glucose | * White glucose solution changes colour to blue when Benedict’s solution is added. After the solution is heated, the blue solution forms moderate amount of brick red precipitate. | b) Fructose | * White fructose solution changes colour to blue when Benedict’s solution is added. After heating, blue solution forms more amount of brick red precipitate. | c) Lactose | * White lactose solution changes colour to blue when Benedict’s solution is added. After heating, blue solution forms least amount of brick red precipitate. Solution still have a slight blue colour. | Non-reducing sugar test a) Sucrose | * Sucrose solution is neutralized with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution. No changes is observed. Blue colour forms when the solution is added with Benedict’s solution. After heating, brick red precipitate is formed. | Iodine test a) Starch | * Blue-black precipitate is formed after 3 drops of iodine is added. | | Sudan III test | * Oil and distilled water were immiscible forming two separate layer. When Sudan III is added, fats globules are stained red. Fat layers forms at the top layer. The solution was opaque and forms at the bottom layer. | Emulsion test |...
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...Objective: To identify the components of the solution in its pure form with various food tests and state the justifications. Observations: Tests | Observations | Reducing sugar test a) Glucose | * White glucose solution changes colour to blue when Benedict’s solution is added. After the solution is heated, the blue solution forms moderate amount of brick red precipitate. | b) Fructose | * White fructose solution changes colour to blue when Benedict’s solution is added. After heating, blue solution forms more amount of brick red precipitate. | c) Lactose | * White lactose solution changes colour to blue when Benedict’s solution is added. After heating, blue solution forms least amount of brick red precipitate. Solution still have a slight blue colour. | Non-reducing sugar test a) Sucrose | * Sucrose solution is neutralized with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide solution. No changes is observed. Blue colour forms when the solution is added with Benedict’s solution. After heating, brick red precipitate is formed. | Iodine test a) Starch | * Blue-black precipitate is formed after 3 drops of iodine is added. | | Sudan III test | * Oil and distilled water were immiscible forming two separate layer. When Sudan III is added, fats globules are stained red. Fat layers forms at the top layer. The solution was opaque and forms at the bottom layer. | Emulsion test | * After shaking- White, opaque solution was formed. * After...
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...Biochemical Analysis of Psychrophilic Proteins from the methanogen Methanococcoides burtonii Erick Morales Abstract About 75% of our biosphere’s temperature is cold (≤ 5°C) and many microorganisms inhabit this type (psychrophilic) of environment, requiring the same building blocks for life as organisms inhabiting moderate (mesophilic) temperatures. Despite this, research on the biosynthetic pathways psychrophiles use is very limited. The enzymes found in these microbes are adapted with structural features that give them the ability to function up to 10 times higher catalytic efficiency than their mesophilic homologues. The overall goal of the proposed research is to use a biochemical and genetics approach to study the stability, structure, and function of psychrophilic proteins involved or believed to be involved in the nitrogen metabolism of Methanococcoides burtonii. The specific objectives are: 1. Investigate the structural and functional properties of M. burtonii’s nifH and nifD gene products using sequence analysis, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and two-hybrid studies; 2. Investigate the structure, stability, and kinetics of M. burtonii’s glutamate dehydrogenase through sequence analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, protein modeling, and kinetic assays. Cold-enzyme study can increase knowledge in the field of protein folding and catalysis and the broader impacts of this project include (1) potential biotechnological applications of cold-enzymes (2) the involvement of...
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...1. There are many ways in which human activities may lead to an imbalance in biochemical cycling: Something that the natural environment is unfamiliar which can harm the chemical imbalance. One of the many negative impacts caused by eutrophication and increased algal growth; is a decrease in the oxygen available, known as anoxia. These anoxic conditions have the ability to harm fishes and other aquatic animals. However, it is true that algae produce oxygen, but that is possible when an enough amount of light is available. Eutrophication reduces the clarification in water and visible light underwater. When there isn’t enough visible light for algae they stop the production of oxygen and begin the consumption of oxygen. 2. Opportunistic species...
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...IDENTIFICATION OF UNKNOWN BACTERIA It is virtually impossible to identify bacteria based on physical characteristics alone. This is due to the fact that there are only a few basic shapes and physical features commonly seen in the prokaryotic world. Instead, biochemical testing has been used to make bacterial identification down to the “species” level. These schemes are based on creating and matching biochemical profiles of the production of enzymes, acids and gases by isolated pure cultures of a given microorganism. Identification schemes and flow charts can be found in reference texts such as “Bergey’s Manual of Determinative Bacteriology” or “The Prokaryotes”. Each group of students will receive a TSA slant or broth containing a pure culture of an unknown bacterium belonging to the Family Enterobacteriaceae. It is the responsibility of the group to maintain stock cultures of the organism provided. Working stock cultures will be used to inoculate the various biochemical test media over the next several weeks and should be fresh and free from contaminants. A reserve stock culture should be made and after incubation and comparison with the original slant, kept with the original slant in the refrigerator. It is critically important that aseptic techniques are used during transfers and inoculations to prevent contamination of your cultures. If contamination is suspected, you will be able to fall back to your reserve stock. If you fail to maintain a reserve stock...
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...and non agricultural purposes in India, creates a serious threat to the environment as well as target and non target organisms.the objective of the study was to determine the toxicity of malathion at sublethal concentration for 28 days on certain biochemical parameter including blood urea,creatinine and blood urea nitrogen of fresh water fish channa punctatus(Bloch.). The sub lethal concentration was 0.09ml(1/5 of LC50) of malathion for which the fish was exposed at different time intervals 7,14,21 and 28 days. The present study showed statistically increase value in blood urea,creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. Introduction Pollution due to pesticides needs considerable attention because of the toxicants, which lack the capacity to dramatically increase the rate of...
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...A Disease Controlled by Diet Is alcoholism a disease? There’s much confusion. Pull up a barstool beside any alcoholic drinker and ask whether he thinks he has a disease. He will tell you no, even though he may be quick to admit he’s “an alcoholic.” But ask any recovering alcoholic in A.A. He’ll tell you he has a disease and he’ll tell you he has this disease whether or not he’s drinking. Each of them is partly right. Alcoholic drinking starts a disease process. This process progresses when you’re drinking. It stops when you stop drinking. And when you stop drinking, you can heal much of the damage from the disease if you change your diet. Alcoholism fits the definition of disease. Like other diseases, alcoholism impairs your health by damaging your cells. Like other diseases, it interrupts your body’s vital functions, causing specific symptoms. And like other diseases such as cancer, if it’s allowed to continue long enough, it’ll kill you. But as a disease, it has an ironic twist. The agent causing the disease acts like a medicine that cures the symptoms. Alcoholic drinkers actually feel healthier when they’re drinking. Pain and sickness seem to disappear. Unfortunately, the sense of health is artificial. When you drink, you relieve yourself of the symptoms only. Meanwhile, inside your body, a disease process rages. Drinking wears out your body and actually speeds up the aging process. Your cells live their lives in the fast lane of high blood-sugar and toxic...
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...Abstract Halobacterium salinarum and Haloferax volcanii come from the domain called Archaea and are considered to be halophilic, because they thrive in extreme environments. In this lab experiment, several tasks took place. In order to be able to observe the colony morphology of both Archaea, they were grown on an agar surface that allowed them to form colonies of characteristic colour and appearance. In order to observe the physiology of both Archaea on the effect of salt concentration, pH, and temperature, they needed to be placed on agar plates and incubated for two weeks. Being incubated for two weeks, allowed the halophilic archaeal cultures to grow. The objective of this experiment was to determine the morphological and biochemical characteristics along with the growth requirements of the halophilic Archaeans; Halobacterium salinarum NRC-1 and Haloferax volcanii DS2. Introduction The domain, Archaea, possesses prokaryotic cells and has a cell wall that contains no peptidoglycan. Archaea contain rRNA that is unique to the Archaea as indicated by the presence of molecular regions. Archaea usually live in extreme environments and include methanogens, extreme halophiles, and hyperthermophiles. One reason for this is that the ether-containing linkages in the Archaea membranes are more stable and are able to withstand higher temperatures and stronger acid concentrations. The other two domains of life are Bacteria and Eukarya. Unlike the Bacteria and the Eukarya...
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