Andreia Cruz

Ecotoxicity and genotoxicity of a binary combination of triclosan and carbendazim to Daphnia magna

In the environment, chemical substances appear as complex mixtures and consequently organisms are exposed to a variety of chemicals from different sources (e.g. wastewater treatment plants, agriculture runoffs). When studying chemical mixtures, there are two conceptual models usually used to predict toxicity: the Independent Action (IA) and Concentration Addition (CA) models. However, deviations from these reference models can occur as synergism or antagonism, dose ratio or dose level dependency. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of triclosan and carbendazim, and their binary mixture to Daphnia magna. With this purpose, immobilisation, feeding inhibition, and reproduction were assessed as main ecotoxicity endpoints. In addition, in vivo genotoxicity of both chemicals was investigated using the comet assay. In the single exposure, carbendazim was more toxic to D. magna than triclosan. When daphnids were exposed to both single compounds, DNA damage was observed. Concerning mixture exposures, different endpoints followed different patterns of response, from additivity: IA model (feeding inhibition and reproduction data), to deviations that indicate interaction between chemicals inside the organism: dose level dependency (immobilisation data) and dose ratio dependency (DNA damage). This study showed that additivity does not rule the dose-effect relation in chemical mixtures of carbendazim and triclosan and interactions between both chemicals might induce generally higher toxicity than predicted based on single chemical exposures.

Effect of tributyltin (TBT) in the metabolic activity of TBT-resistant and sensitive estuarine bacteria

The effect of tributyltin (TBT) on growth and metabolic activity of three estuarine bacteria with different TBT resistance profiles was investigated in an organic‐rich culture medium (TSB) and in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer. Exposure to TBT was assessed by determining its effect on growth (OD600 nm measurement), bacterial productivity (leucine incorporation), viability (CFU counts), aggregation and cell size (from Live/Dead analysis), ATP and NADH concentrations. TBT exposure resulted in decrease of bacterial density, cell size, and metabolic activity. In addition, cell aggregates were observed in the TBT‐treated cultures. TBT strongly affected bacterial cell metabolism and seemed to exert an effect on its equilibrium, interfering with cell activity. Also, TBT toxicity was lower when cells were grown in TSB than in PBS, suggesting that a nutrient‐rich growth medium can protect cells from TBT toxicity. This study contributes to our understanding of the TBT‐resistant cell behavior reflected in its physiology and metabolic activity. This information is of utmost importance for further studies of TBT bioremediation.

Tributyltin (TBT): A Review on Microbial Resistance and Degradation

Tributyltin (TBT) is one of the most toxic xenobiotics ubiquitous in the aquatic environment. Several reports have described the negative impact of TBT in living organisms, from bacteria to mammals. Over the world, TBT contamination has being described as a serious problem. Thus, it is imperative to decontaminate TBT polluted sites. Bioremediation strategies may constitute an alternative to conventional decontamination methods, benefiting from the microorganisms potential to metabolize xenobiotics. Several microorganisms among bacteria, fungus, and algae have been reported to possess the ability to resist and, in certain cases, degrade TBT in their simple and less toxic derivatives. Due their characteristics, some of those microorganisms have been used for bioremediation studies and to construct bioreporters to detect TBT in the environment. This review provides an overview regarding microbial TBT resistance, while focusing on TBT degradation and bioremediation. A comprehensive revision on the several applications of organotin compounds, adverse biological effects on living organisms, and information regarding the available TBT bioreporters is also included.

New ternary bipyridine–terpyridine copper(II) complexes as self-activating chemical nucleases

Seeking self-activating chemical nucleases with potential applications as therapeutic agents, new ternary terpyridine–bipyridine–Cu(II) complexes carrying pendant cyclic amines were developed. After detailed characterization, the nuclease activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated by using circular plasmid DNA as substrate and analyzing the products by agarose-gel electrophoresis. The new complexes present an impressive plasmid DNA cleaving ability, which triggers double-strand DNA breaks in the absence of any exogenous agents, via an oxidative mechanism. The binding affinity towards duplex DNA was determined using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopic titrations. These studies showed that the tested complexes bind moderately (in the order of 104 M−1) to duplex DNA. The copper complexes displayed high cytotoxicity against ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells (4-fold cisplatin activity), surpassing the resistance on the cisplatin-resistant cell line (A2780cisR) with lower resistance factors. Cellular uptake studies showed that the ternary complexes were able to enter the cell with a significant localization in the cytoskeleton.

A microcosm approach to evaluate the degradation of tributyltin (TBT) by Aeromonas molluscorum Av27 in estuarine sediments

Tributyltin (TBT) is a biocide extremely toxic to a wide range of organisms, which has been used for decades in antifouling paints. Despite its global ban in 2008, TBT is still a problem of great concern due to the high levels trapped in sediments. Aeromonas molluscorum Av27 is a TBT degrading bacterium that was isolated from an estuarine system. We investigated the ability and the role of this bacterium on TBT degradation in this estuarine system, using a microcosm approach in order to mimic environmental conditions. The experiment was established and followed for 150 days. Simultaneously, changes in the indigenous bacterial community structure were also investigated. The results revealed a maximum TBT degradation rate of 28% accompanied by the detection of the degradation products over time. Additionally, it was observed that TBT degradation was significantly enhanced by the presence of Av27. In addition a significantly higher TBT degradation occurred when the concentration of Av27 was higher. TBT degradation affected the bacterial community composition as revealed by the changes in the prevalence of Proteobacteria subdivisions, namely the increase of Deltaproteobacteria and the onset of Epsilonproteobacteria. However, the addition of Av27 strain did not affect the dominant phylotypes. Total bacterial number, bacterial biomass productivity, 16S rRNA gene and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses also indicated alterations on the bacterial community structure over time, with bacteria non-tolerant to pollutants increasing their representativeness, as, for instance, the increase of the number of Alphaproteobacteria clones from 6% in the beginning to 12% at the end of the experiment. The work herein presented confirms the potential of Av27 strain to be used in the decontamination of TBT-polluted environments.

Transcriptomes analysis of Aeromonas molluscorum Av27 cells exposed to tributyltin (TBT): Unravelling the effects from the molecular level to the organism

Aeromonas molluscorum Av27 cells were exposed to 0, 5 and 50 μM of TBT and the respective transcriptomes were obtained by pyrosequencing. Gene Ontology revealed that exposure to 5 μM TBT results in a higher number of repressed genes in contrast with 50 μM of TBT, where the number of over-expressed genes is greater. At both TBT concentrations, higher variations in gene expression were found in the functional categories associated with enzymatic activities, transport/binding and oxidation-reduction. A number of proteins are affected by TBT, such as the acriflavin resistance protein, several transcription-related proteins, several Hsps, ABC transporters, CorA and ZntB and other outer membrane efflux proteins, all of these involved in cellular metabolic processes, important to maintain overall cell viability. Using the STRING tool, several proteins with unknown function were related with others involved in degradation processes, such as the pyoverdine chromophore biosynthetic protein, that has been described as playing a role in the Sn–C cleavage of organotins. This approach has allowed a better understanding of the molecular effects of exposure of bacterial cells to TBT. Furthermore it contributes to the knowledge of the functional genomic aspects of bacteria exposed to this pollutant. Furthermore, the transcriptomic data gathered, and now publically available, constitute a valuable resource for comparative genome analysis.

Pedobacter lusitanus sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from sludge of a deactivated uranium mine in Portugal.

Strain NL19T is a Gram-stain-negative, aerobic bacterium that was isolated from sludge of a deactivated uranium mine in Portugal. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain NL19T is a member of the genus Pedobacter and closely related to the strains Pedobacter himalayensis MTCC 6384T, Pedobacter cryoconitis DSM 14825T, Pedobacter westerhofensis DSM 19036T and Pedobacterhartonius DSM 19033T. It had a DNA G+C content of 40.8 mol%, which agreed with the genus description. The main fatty acids included C16 : 1ω7c, C14 : 1ω5c, C4 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The main lipids present were phospholipids (60 %) and sphingolipids (35 %). The most abundant phospholipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylcholine. Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) was the only isoprenoid quinone detected. DNA-DNA hybridization similarities between strain NL19T and Pedobacter himalayensis MTCC 6384T, Pedobacter cryoconitis DSM 14825T, Pedobacter westerhofensis DSM 19036T and Pedobacter hartonius DSM 19033T were 15.3 , 16.2 , 11.5 and 16.0 %, respectively. Strain NL19T can also be distinguished from these four species based on gyrB and intergenic transcribed spacers (ITS) sequences and by some phenotypic traits such as NaCl tolerance, pH, growth temperature and carbon source utilization. Strain NL19Trepresents a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter lusitanus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NL19T (=LMG 29220T=CECT 9028T). An amended description of Pedobacter himalayensis is also included.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pedobacter sp. Strain NL19, a Producer of Potent Antibacterial Compounds

ABSTRACT Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Pedobacter sp. strain NL19. The genome has 5.99 Mbp and a G+C content of 39.0%. NL19 was isolated from sludge from an abandoned uranium mine in the north of Portugal, and it produces potent antibacterials against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Microbial remediation of organometals and oil hydrocarbons in the marine environment

Marine environments are exposed to pollution that mostly results from human activities. Organometals and oil hydrocarbons are among the most hazardous pollutants. In surface waters and along the water column, these compounds are more easily degraded than in sediments, especially under anoxic conditions, where they are highly persistent. Due to their negative impact in living organisms, decontamination of polluted marine sites with minimum collateral impacts is imperative. Bioremediation strategies, benefiting from the ability of aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms to degrade organometals or oil hydrocarbons to simpler and less toxic derivatives, represent an alternative to traditional physicochemical decontamination methods. Different bioremediation strategies have been applied in marine environments, including monitored natural recovery, biostimulation, bioaugmentation and phytoremediation. Individual microbial agents or mixed microbial consortia able to remediate these pollutants in marine environments have been identified, and the most relevant mechanisms of biodegradation of pollutants are characterised.