Search results for "Quaternary"
showing 10 items of 411 documents
Stability of PEI–DNA and DOTAP–DNA complexes: effect of alkaline pH, heparin and serum
2001
Abstract DNA complexes formed with nonviral vectors such as polyethylenimine (PEI) or 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) are widely used in gene therapy. These complexes prevent the interaction of DNA with the fluorescent probes usually employed to quantify DNA. We thus studied the procedures for DNA quantification from DNA complexes as well as their stability in the presence of DNase or mouse, rat and human sera. Release of the DNA from its complexes was accomplished by increasing the pH of the medium (from 7.3 to 13.4) or by adding heparin. The stability against degradation was tested in vitro, by incubating the complexes at 37°C in the presence of DNase I and sera from the …
The microbiology of Lascaux Cave.
2010
Lascaux Cave (Montignac, France) contains paintings from the Upper Paleolithic period. Shortly after its discovery in 1940, the cave was seriously disturbed by major destructive interventions. In 1963, the cave was closed due to algal growth on the walls. In 2001, the ceiling, walls and sediments were colonized by the fungus Fusarium solani. Later, black stains, probably of fungal origin, appeared on the walls. Biocide treatments, including quaternary ammonium derivatives, were extensively applied for a few years, and have been in use again since January 2008. The microbial communities in Lascaux Cave were shown to be composed of human-pathogenic bacteria and entomopathogenic fungi, the for…
Effect of pH, substrate and free nitrous acid concentrations on ammonium oxidation rate.
2012
Respirometric techniques have been used to determine the effect of pH, free nitrous acid (FNA) and substrate concentration on the activity of the ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) present in an activated sludge reactor. With this aim, bacterial activity has been measured at different pH values (ranging from 6.2 to 9.7), total ammonium nitrogen concentrations (ranging from 0.1 to 10 mg TAN L-1) and total nitrite concentrations (ranging from 3 to 43 mg NO2-N L-1). According to the results obtained, the most appropriate kinetic expression for the growth of AOB in activated sludge reactors has been established. Substrate half saturation constant and FNA and pH inhibition constants have been obt…
Performances of a granular sequencing batch reactor (GSBR).
2007
Aerobic granulation in sequencing batch reactors is widely reported in literature and in particular in SBAR (Sequencing batch airlift reactor) configuration, due to the high localised hydrodynamic shear forces that occur in this type of configuration. The aim of this work was to observe the phenomenon of the aerobic granulation and to confirm the excellent removal efficiencies that can be achieved with this technology. In order to do that, a laboratory-scale plant, inoculated with activated sludge collected from a conventional WWTP, was operated for 64 days: 42 days as a SBAR and 22 days as a SBBC (sequencing batch bubble column). The performances of the pilot plant showed excellent organic…
Internal leachate quality in a municipal solid waste landfill: Vertical, horizontal and temporal variation and impacts of leachate recirculation
2008
The aim of this study was to monitor and characterise internal leachate quality at a Finnish municipal solid waste landfill (Lahti, Kujala, in operation for approximately 50 years) to provide information about its horizontal and vertical variation as well as effects of leachate recirculation on leachate quality. The study area (approximately 4h) of the landfill had 14 monitoring wells for leachate quality monitoring over a 2-year period. The leachate was monitored for COD, BOD, TKN, NH4-N, Cl, pH and electric conductivity. The results showed high horizontal and vertical variability in leachate quality between monitoring wells, indicating that age and properties of waste, local conditions (e…
A parsimonious dynamic model for river water quality assessment
2010
Water quality modelling is of crucial importance for the assessment of physical, chemical, and biological changes in water bodies. Mathematical approaches to water modelling have become more prevalent over recent years. Different model types ranging from detailed physical models to simplified conceptual models are available. Actually, a possible middle ground between detailed and simplified models may be parsimonious models that represent the simplest approach that fits the application. The appropriate modelling approach depends on the research goal as well as on data available for correct model application. When there is inadequate data, it is mandatory to focus on a simple river water qua…
Hybrid activated sludge/biofilm process for the treatment of municipal wastewater in a cold climate region: a case study.
2011
A hybrid activated sludge/biofilm process was investigated for wastewater treatment in a cold climate region. This process, which contains both suspended biomass and biofilm, usually referred as IFAS process, is created by introducing plastic elements as biofilm carrier media into a conventional activated sludge reactor. In the present study, a hybrid process, composed of an activated sludge and a moving bed biofilm reactor was used. The aim of this paper has been to investigate the performances of a hybrid process, and in particular to gain insight the nitrification process, when operated at relatively low MLSS SRT and low temperatures. The results of a pilot-scale study carried out at the…
Evidence that clustered phosphocholine head groups serve as sites for binding and assembly of an oligomeric protein pore.
2006
High susceptibility of rabbit erythrocytes toward the pore-forming action of staphylococcal alpha-toxin correlates with the presence of saturable, high affinity binding sites. All efforts to identify a protein or glycolipid receptor have failed, and the fact that liposomes composed solely of phosphatidylcholine are efficiently permeabilized adds to the enigma. A novel concept is advanced here to explain the puzzle. We propose that low affinity binding moieties can assume the role of high affinity binding sites due to their spatial arrangement in the membrane. Evidence is presented that phosphocholine head groups of sphingomyelin, clustered in sphingomyelin-cholesterol microdomains, serve th…
The SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein has evolved towards membrane topology robustness.
2021
- Single-spanning SARS-CoV-2 envelope (E) protein topology is a major determinant of protein quaternary structure and function. - Charged residues distribution in E protein sequences from highly pathogenic human coronaviruses (i.e., SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2) stabilize Ntout-Ctin membrane topology. - E protein sequence could have evolved to ensure a more robust membrane topology from MERS-CoV to SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.
Structural and functional diversity of the lectin repertoire in teleost fish: Relevance to innate and adaptive immunity
2011
Protein–carbohydrate interactions mediated by lectins have been recognized as key components of innate immunity in vertebrates and invertebrates, not only for recognition of potential pathogens, but also for participating in downstream effector functions, such as their agglutination, immobilization, and complement-mediated opsonization and killing. More recently, lectins have been identified as critical regulators of mammalian adaptive immune responses. Fish are endowed with virtually all components of the mammalian adaptive immunity, and are equipped with a complex lectin repertoire. In this review, we discuss evidence suggesting that: (a) lectin repertoires in teleost fish are highly dive…