Project description:To study the responses of microbial communities to short-term nitrogen addition and warming,here we examine microbial communities in mangrove sediments subjected to a 4-months experimental simulation of eutrophication with 185 g m-2 year-1 nitrogen addition (N), 3oC warming (W) and nitrogen addition*warming interaction (NW).
Project description:We established simple synthetic microbial communities in a microcosm model system to determine the mechanisms that underlay cross-feeding in microbial methane-consuming communities. Co-occurring strains from Lake Washington sediment were used that are involved in methane consumption, a methanotroph and two non-methanotrophic methylotrophs.
Project description:Significant occupational and environmental exposures to hexavalent chromium, a metal with broad toxicity potential in humans, have been reported. In order to understand the mechanisms of dermal toxicity induced by hexavalent chromium, global gene expression profiling of human dermal fibroblasts exposed to a toxic concentration of potassium dichromate was performed. Microarray analysis of the gene expression profile in the fibroblasts treated with potassium dichromate identified significant differential expression of approximately 1,200 transcripts compared with the control cells. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the gene expression profile demonstrated a clear separation of the treated cells from the control group of cells. Functional categorization of the differentially expressed genes identified the enrichment of genes involved in several cellular processes, including apoptosis and oxidative stress, in the fibroblasts exposed to hexavalent chromium. Induction of apoptosis and generation of hydroxyl radicals indicative of oxidative stress in the dermal fibroblasts in response to their exposure to hexavalent chromium were independently confirmed by TUNEL assay and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis, respectively. The potassium dichromate-induced cytotoxicity, differential gene expression, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were significantly blocked by the addition of ferrous sulfate, an agent known for its ability to reduce hexavalent chromium to the insoluble and therefore impermeable trivalent form, to the cell culture medium. Taken together, our data provide insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the dermal toxicity of hexavalent chromium and suggest a definite role for apoptosis and oxidative stress in Cr(VI)-induced cytotoxicity in human dermal fibroblasts.
Project description:Seagrass meadows are highly productive ecosystems that are considered hotspots for carbon sequestration. The decline of seagrass meadows of various species has been documented worldwide, including that of Cymodocea nodosa, a widespread seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea. To assess the influence of seagrass decline on the metabolic profile of sediment microbial communities, metaproteomes from two sites, one without vegetation and one with a declining Cymodocea nodosa meadow, were characterised at monthly intervals from July 2017 to October 2018. The differences in the metabolic profile observed between the vegetated and nonvegetated sediment before the decline were more pronounced in the deeper parts of the sediment and disappeared with the decay of the roots and rhizomes. During the decline, the protein richness and diversity of the metabolic profile of the microbial communities inhabiting the nonvegetated sediment became similar to those observed for the vegetated communities. Temporal shifts in the structure of the metabolic profile were only observed in the nonvegetated sediment and were also more pronounced in the deeper parts of the sediment. The assessment of the dynamics of proteins involved in the degradation of organic matter, such as ABC transporters, fermentation-mediating enzymes, and proteins involved in dissimilatory sulphate reduction, reflected the general dynamics of the metabolic profile. Overall, the metabolic profile of the microbial communities inhabiting the nonvegetated sediment was influenced by the decline of seagrass, with stronger shifts observed in the deeper parts of the sediment.
Project description:Significant occupational and environmental exposures to hexavalent chromium, a metal with broad toxicity potential in humans, have been reported. In order to understand the mechanisms of dermal toxicity induced by hexavalent chromium, global gene expression profiling of human dermal fibroblasts exposed to a toxic concentration of potassium dichromate was performed. Microarray analysis of the gene expression profile in the fibroblasts treated with potassium dichromate identified significant differential expression of approximately 1,200 transcripts compared with the control cells. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the gene expression profile demonstrated a clear separation of the treated cells from the control group of cells. Functional categorization of the differentially expressed genes identified the enrichment of genes involved in several cellular processes, including apoptosis and oxidative stress, in the fibroblasts exposed to hexavalent chromium. Induction of apoptosis and generation of hydroxyl radicals indicative of oxidative stress in the dermal fibroblasts in response to their exposure to hexavalent chromium were independently confirmed by TUNEL assay and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis, respectively. The potassium dichromate-induced cytotoxicity, differential gene expression, apoptosis, and oxidative stress were significantly blocked by the addition of ferrous sulfate, an agent known for its ability to reduce hexavalent chromium to the insoluble and therefore impermeable trivalent form, to the cell culture medium. Taken together, our data provide insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the dermal toxicity of hexavalent chromium and suggest a definite role for apoptosis and oxidative stress in Cr(VI)-induced cytotoxicity in human dermal fibroblasts. 16 samples were analyzed in this experiment. Exponentially growing human dermal fibroblasts (3x105 cells) were cultured in T25 cell culture flasks. When the cells were approximately 70% confluent, hexavalent potassium dichromate (5µM) was added to the medium with or without 40µM ferrous sulfate. Following 16 hours of culturing at 37oC, total RNA was isolated for gene expression studies. Details of the samples are: Control 4 Samples: Cr(0)-1, Cr(0)-2, Cr(0)-3, Cr(0)-4 Cr 5 µM 4 Samples: Cr(5)-5, Cr(5)-6, Cr(5)-7, Cr(5)-8 FeSO4 40 µM 4 Samples: Fe(40)-9, Fe(40)-10, Fe(40)-11, Fe(40)-12 Cr 5 µM + FeSO4 40 µM 4 Samples: Cr(5)+Fe(40)-13,Cr(5)+Fe(40)-14, Cr(5)+Fe(40)-15, Cr(5)+Fe(40)-16
Project description:In order to evaluate the mechanisms underlying hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) responses, mice and rats were treated with varying concentrations of Cr(VI) in drinking water, as sodium dichromate dihydrate (SDD). Potential transcriptomic responses were evaluated through microarray analysis.
Project description:In order to evaluate the mechanisms underlying hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) responses, mice and rats were treated with varying concentrations of Cr(VI) in drinking water, as sodium dichromate dihydrate (SDD). Potential transcriptomic responses were evaluated through microarray analysis.
Project description:The increased urban pressures are often associated with specialization of microbial communities. Microbial communities being a critical player in the geochemical processes, makes it important to identify key environmental parameters that influence the community structure and its function.In this proect we study the influence of land use type and environmental parameters on the structure and function of microbial communities. The present study was conducted in an urban catchment, where the metal and pollutants levels are under allowable limits. The overall goal of this study is to understand the role of engineered physicochemical environment on the structure and function of microbial communities in urban storm-water canals. Microbial community structure was determined using PhyoChio (G3)