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Sesin V, Judy JD, Kapustka L, Opeolu B, Ottinger MA, Bertsch PM, Wang Y, Lazorchak J, Smythe TA, Stahl RG. The Importance of Fostering and Funding Scientific Research, and its Relevance to Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:581-593. [PMID: 36524856 PMCID: PMC10203974 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
What do environmental contaminants and climate change have in common with the virus SARS-CoV-2 and the disease COVID-19? We argue that one common element is the wealth of basic and applied scientific research that provides the knowledge and tools essential in developing effective programs for addressing threats to humans and social-ecological systems. Research on various chemicals, including dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, resulted in regulatory action to protect environmental and human health. Moreover, decades of research on coronaviruses, mRNA, and recently SARS-CoV-2 enabled the rapid development of vaccines to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. In the present study, we explore the common elements of basic and applied scientific research breakthroughs that link chemicals, climate change, and SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 and describe how scientific information was applied for protecting human health and, more broadly, socio-ecological systems. We also offer a cautionary note on the misuse and mistrust of science that is not new in human history, but unfortunately is surging in modern times. Our goal was to illustrate the critical role of scientific research to society, and we argue that research must be intentionally fostered, better funded, and applied appropriately. To that end, we offer evidence that supports the importance of investing in scientific research and, where needed, ways to counter the spread of misinformation and disinformation that undermines legitimate discourse. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:581-593. © 2022 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verena Sesin
- Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan D Judy
- Soil and Water Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | | | - Beatrice Opeolu
- Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mary A Ottinger
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Ying Wang
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States
| | - James Lazorchak
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
| | - Tristan A Smythe
- Department of Chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ralph G Stahl
- DuPont Company (Retired), Wilmington, Delaware, United States
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2
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Ahmed W, Bivins A, Smith WJM, Metcalfe S, Stephens M, Jennison AV, Moore FAJ, Bourke J, Schlebusch S, McMahon J, Hewitson G, Nguyen S, Barcelon J, Jackson G, Mueller JF, Ehret J, Hosegood I, Tian W, Wang H, Yang L, Bertsch PM, Tynan J, Thomas KV, Bibby K, Graber TE, Ziels R, Simpson SL. Detection of the Omicron (B.1.1.529) variant of SARS-CoV-2 in aircraft wastewater. Sci Total Environ 2022; 820:153171. [PMID: 35051459 PMCID: PMC8762835 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.153171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
On the 26th of November 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) designated the newly detected B.1.1.529 lineage of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) the Omicron Variant of Concern (VOC). The genome of the Omicron VOC contains more than 50 mutations, many of which have been associated with increased transmissibility, differing disease severity, and potential to evade immune responses developed for previous VOCs such as Alpha and Delta. In the days since the designation of B.1.1.529 as a VOC, infections with the lineage have been reported in countries around the globe and many countries have implemented travel restrictions and increased border controls in response. We putatively detected the Omicron variant in an aircraft wastewater sample from a flight arriving to Darwin, Australia from Johannesburg, South Africa on the 25th of November 2021 via positive results on the CDC N1, CDC N2, and del(69-70) RT-qPCR assays per guidance from the WHO. The Australian Northern Territory Health Department detected one passenger onboard the flight who was infected with SARS-CoV-2, which was determined to be the Omicron VOC by sequencing of a nasopharyngeal swab sample. Subsequent sequencing of the aircraft wastewater sample using the ARTIC V3 protocol with Nanopore and ATOPlex confirmed the presence of the Omicron variant with a consensus genome that clustered with the B.1.1.529 BA.1 sub-lineage. Our detection and confirmation of a single onboard Omicron infection via aircraft wastewater further bolsters the important role that aircraft wastewater can play as an independent and unintrusive surveillance point for infectious diseases, particularly coronavirus disease 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia.
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Louisiana State University, 3255 Patrick F. Taylor Hall, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Wendy J M Smith
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Suzanne Metcalfe
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Mikayla Stephens
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Amy V Jennison
- Public Health Microbiology and Virology, Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Frederick A J Moore
- Public Health Microbiology and Virology, Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Jayden Bourke
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Sanmarie Schlebusch
- Public Health Microbiology and Virology, Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Jamie McMahon
- Public Health Microbiology and Virology, Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Glen Hewitson
- Public Health Microbiology and Virology, Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Son Nguyen
- Public Health Microbiology and Virology, Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Jean Barcelon
- Public Health Microbiology and Virology, Queensland Public Health and Infectious Diseases Reference Genomics, Forensic and Scientific Services, Queensland Department of Health, Coopers Plains, QLD, Australia
| | - Greg Jackson
- Water Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, QLD, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - John Ehret
- Qantas Airways Limited, 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, 2020, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian Hosegood
- Qantas Airways Limited, 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, 2020, NSW, Australia
| | - Wei Tian
- MGI Australia Pty Ltd, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Haofei Wang
- MGI Australia Pty Ltd, 300 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Lin Yang
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; MGI, BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Josh Tynan
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, University of Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Tyson E Graber
- Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research Institute, Ottawa K1H 8L1, Canada
| | - Ryan Ziels
- Department of Civil Engineering, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver V6T 1Z4, Canada
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3
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Ahmed W, Simpson SL, Bertsch PM, Bibby K, Bivins A, Blackall LL, Bofill-Mas S, Bosch A, Brandão J, Choi PM, Ciesielski M, Donner E, D'Souza N, Farnleitner AH, Gerrity D, Gonzalez R, Griffith JF, Gyawali P, Haas CN, Hamilton KA, Hapuarachchi HC, Harwood VJ, Haque R, Jackson G, Khan SJ, Khan W, Kitajima M, Korajkic A, La Rosa G, Layton BA, Lipp E, McLellan SL, McMinn B, Medema G, Metcalfe S, Meijer WG, Mueller JF, Murphy H, Naughton CC, Noble RT, Payyappat S, Petterson S, Pitkänen T, Rajal VB, Reyneke B, Roman FA, Rose JB, Rusiñol M, Sadowsky MJ, Sala-Comorera L, Setoh YX, Sherchan SP, Sirikanchana K, Smith W, Steele JA, Sabburg R, Symonds EM, Thai P, Thomas KV, Tynan J, Toze S, Thompson J, Whiteley AS, Wong JCC, Sano D, Wuertz S, Xagoraraki I, Zhang Q, Zimmer-Faust AG, Shanks OC. Minimizing errors in RT-PCR detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for wastewater surveillance. Sci Total Environ 2022. [PMID: 34818780 DOI: 10.20944/preprints202104.0481.v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance for pathogens using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an effective and resource-efficient tool for gathering community-level public health information, including the incidence of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater can potentially provide an early warning signal of COVID-19 infections in a community. The capacity of the world's environmental microbiology and virology laboratories for SARS-CoV-2 RNA characterization in wastewater is increasing rapidly. However, there are no standardized protocols or harmonized quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance. This paper is a technical review of factors that can cause false-positive and false-negative errors in the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, culminating in recommended strategies that can be implemented to identify and mitigate some of these errors. Recommendations include stringent QA/QC measures, representative sampling approaches, effective virus concentration and efficient RNA extraction, PCR inhibition assessment, inclusion of sample processing controls, and considerations for RT-PCR assay selection and data interpretation. Clear data interpretation guidelines (e.g., determination of positive and negative samples) are critical, particularly when the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is low. Corrective and confirmatory actions must be in place for inconclusive results or results diverging from current trends (e.g., initial onset or reemergence of COVID-19 in a community). It is also prudent to perform interlaboratory comparisons to ensure results' reliability and interpretability for prospective and retrospective analyses. The strategies that are recommended in this review aim to improve SARS-CoV-2 characterization and detection for wastewater surveillance applications. A silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the efficacy of wastewater surveillance continues to be demonstrated during this global crisis. In the future, wastewater should also play an important role in the surveillance of a range of other communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | | | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Linda L Blackall
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sílvia Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Bosch
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - João Brandão
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Phil M Choi
- Water Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark Ciesielski
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC, United States
| | - Erica Donner
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, University Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Nishita D'Souza
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostic, 166/5/3, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria; Research Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr. Karl-Dorrek-Straβe 30, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Daniel Gerrity
- Southern Nevada Water Authority, P.O. Box 99954, Las Vegas, NV 89193, USA
| | - Raul Gonzalez
- Hampton Roads Sanitation District, 1434 Air Rail Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, USA
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua 5240, New Zealand
| | | | - Kerry A Hamilton
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | | | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Rehnuma Haque
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Greg Jackson
- Water Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, QLD, Australia
| | - Stuart J Khan
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Wesaal Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Asja Korajkic
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Blythe A Layton
- Department of Research & Innovation, Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, OR, USA
| | - Erin Lipp
- Environmental Health Sciences Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Sandra L McLellan
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Brian McMinn
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Gertjan Medema
- KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Metcalfe
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Wim G Meijer
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Heather Murphy
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Coleen C Naughton
- University of California Merced, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 5200 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Rachel T Noble
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC, United States
| | - Sudhi Payyappat
- Sydney Water, 1 Smith Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia
| | - Susan Petterson
- Water and Health Pty Ltd., 13 Lord St, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia; School of Medicine, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Veronica B Rajal
- Facultad de Ingeniería and Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI) - CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Salta, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta, Argentina
| | - Brandon Reyneke
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Fernando A Roman
- University of California Merced, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 5200 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Joan B Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael J Sadowsky
- Biotechnology Institute and Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Laura Sala-Comorera
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yin Xiang Setoh
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kampangpetch 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Wendy Smith
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Joshua A Steele
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Rosalie Sabburg
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Erin M Symonds
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Phong Thai
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Josh Tynan
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon Toze
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Janelle Thompson
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) Singapore 637551
| | | | | | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8597, Japan
| | - Stefan Wuertz
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) Singapore 637551; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
| | - Irene Xagoraraki
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Qian Zhang
- Biotechnology Institute and Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Orin C Shanks
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
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4
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Ahmed W, Simpson SL, Bertsch PM, Bibby K, Bivins A, Blackall LL, Bofill-Mas S, Bosch A, Brandão J, Choi PM, Ciesielski M, Donner E, D'Souza N, Farnleitner AH, Gerrity D, Gonzalez R, Griffith JF, Gyawali P, Haas CN, Hamilton KA, Hapuarachchi HC, Harwood VJ, Haque R, Jackson G, Khan SJ, Khan W, Kitajima M, Korajkic A, La Rosa G, Layton BA, Lipp E, McLellan SL, McMinn B, Medema G, Metcalfe S, Meijer WG, Mueller JF, Murphy H, Naughton CC, Noble RT, Payyappat S, Petterson S, Pitkänen T, Rajal VB, Reyneke B, Roman FA, Rose JB, Rusiñol M, Sadowsky MJ, Sala-Comorera L, Setoh YX, Sherchan SP, Sirikanchana K, Smith W, Steele JA, Sabburg R, Symonds EM, Thai P, Thomas KV, Tynan J, Toze S, Thompson J, Whiteley AS, Wong JCC, Sano D, Wuertz S, Xagoraraki I, Zhang Q, Zimmer-Faust AG, Shanks OC. Minimizing errors in RT-PCR detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for wastewater surveillance. Sci Total Environ 2022; 805:149877. [PMID: 34818780 PMCID: PMC8386095 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater surveillance for pathogens using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is an effective and resource-efficient tool for gathering community-level public health information, including the incidence of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Surveillance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in wastewater can potentially provide an early warning signal of COVID-19 infections in a community. The capacity of the world's environmental microbiology and virology laboratories for SARS-CoV-2 RNA characterization in wastewater is increasing rapidly. However, there are no standardized protocols or harmonized quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) procedures for SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance. This paper is a technical review of factors that can cause false-positive and false-negative errors in the surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, culminating in recommended strategies that can be implemented to identify and mitigate some of these errors. Recommendations include stringent QA/QC measures, representative sampling approaches, effective virus concentration and efficient RNA extraction, PCR inhibition assessment, inclusion of sample processing controls, and considerations for RT-PCR assay selection and data interpretation. Clear data interpretation guidelines (e.g., determination of positive and negative samples) are critical, particularly when the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is low. Corrective and confirmatory actions must be in place for inconclusive results or results diverging from current trends (e.g., initial onset or reemergence of COVID-19 in a community). It is also prudent to perform interlaboratory comparisons to ensure results' reliability and interpretability for prospective and retrospective analyses. The strategies that are recommended in this review aim to improve SARS-CoV-2 characterization and detection for wastewater surveillance applications. A silver lining of the COVID-19 pandemic is that the efficacy of wastewater surveillance continues to be demonstrated during this global crisis. In the future, wastewater should also play an important role in the surveillance of a range of other communicable diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | | | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Linda L Blackall
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Sílvia Bofill-Mas
- Laboratory of Virus Contaminants of Water and Food, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Bosch
- Enteric Virus Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - João Brandão
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Phil M Choi
- Water Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Mark Ciesielski
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC, United States
| | - Erica Donner
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, University Boulevard, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Nishita D'Souza
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Institute of Chemical, Environmental & Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Environmental Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostic, 166/5/3, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria; Research Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Dr. Karl-Dorrek-Straβe 30, 3500 Krems an der Donau, Austria
| | - Daniel Gerrity
- Southern Nevada Water Authority, P.O. Box 99954, Las Vegas, NV 89193, USA
| | - Raul Gonzalez
- Hampton Roads Sanitation District, 1434 Air Rail Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23455, USA
| | - John F Griffith
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua 5240, New Zealand
| | | | - Kerry A Hamilton
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment and The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | | | - Valerie J Harwood
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - Rehnuma Haque
- Environmental Interventions Unit, Icddr,b, 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh
| | - Greg Jackson
- Water Unit, Health Protection Branch, Prevention Division, Queensland Health, QLD, Australia
| | - Stuart J Khan
- Water Research Centre, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of New South Wales, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Wesaal Khan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Asja Korajkic
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Giuseppina La Rosa
- Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Blythe A Layton
- Department of Research & Innovation, Clean Water Services, Hillsboro, OR, USA
| | - Erin Lipp
- Environmental Health Sciences Department, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Sandra L McLellan
- School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Brian McMinn
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Gertjan Medema
- KWR Water Research Institute, Groningenhaven 7, 3433 PE Nieuwegein, the Netherlands
| | - Suzanne Metcalfe
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Wim G Meijer
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Heather Murphy
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Coleen C Naughton
- University of California Merced, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 5200 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Rachel T Noble
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Institute of Marine Sciences, Morehead City, NC, United States
| | - Sudhi Payyappat
- Sydney Water, 1 Smith Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150, Australia
| | - Susan Petterson
- Water and Health Pty Ltd., 13 Lord St, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia; School of Medicine, Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Gold Coast, Australia
| | - Tarja Pitkänen
- Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Expert Microbiology Unit, P.O. Box 95, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland; University of Helsinki, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014, Finland
| | - Veronica B Rajal
- Facultad de Ingeniería and Instituto de Investigaciones para la Industria Química (INIQUI) - CONICET and Universidad Nacional de Salta, Av. Bolivia 5150, Salta, Argentina
| | - Brandon Reyneke
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
| | - Fernando A Roman
- University of California Merced, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 5200 N. Lake Rd., Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Joan B Rose
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University, E. Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Marta Rusiñol
- Institute of Environmental Assessment & Water Research (IDAEA), CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Michael J Sadowsky
- Biotechnology Institute and Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | - Laura Sala-Comorera
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yin Xiang Setoh
- Environmental Health Institute, National Environment Agency, Singapore
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA
| | - Kwanrawee Sirikanchana
- Research Laboratory of Biotechnology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, 54 Kampangpetch 6 Road, Laksi, Bangkok 10210, Thailand
| | - Wendy Smith
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Joshua A Steele
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, USA
| | - Rosalie Sabburg
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Erin M Symonds
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, St. Petersburg, FL, USA
| | - Phong Thai
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Josh Tynan
- The University of Queensland, Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, QLD, Australia
| | - Simon Toze
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Janelle Thompson
- Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore; Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) Singapore 637551
| | | | | | - Daisuke Sano
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Aoba 6-6-06, Aramaki, Aoba-Ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8597, Japan
| | - Stefan Wuertz
- Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE) Singapore 637551; School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798
| | - Irene Xagoraraki
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Qian Zhang
- Biotechnology Institute and Department of Soil, Water, and Climate, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA
| | | | - Orin C Shanks
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
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5
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Ahmed W, Bivins A, Simpson SL, Bertsch PM, Ehret J, Hosegood I, Metcalfe SS, Smith WJM, Thomas KV, Tynan J, Mueller JF. Wastewater surveillance demonstrates high predictive value for COVID-19 infection on board repatriation flights to Australia. Environ Int 2022; 158:106938. [PMID: 34735954 PMCID: PMC8514683 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Controlling importation and transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from overseas travelers is essential for countries, such as Australia, New Zealand, and other island nations, that have adopted a suppression strategy to manage very low community transmission. Wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA has emerged as a promising tool employed in public health response in many countries globally. This study aimed to establish whether the surveillance of aircraft wastewater can be used to provide an additional layer of information to augment individual clinical testing. Wastewater from 37 long-haul flights chartered to repatriate Australians was tested for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Children 5 years or older on these flights tested negative for coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) (deep nasal and oropharyngeal reverse-transcription (RT)-PCR swab) 48 h before departure. All passengers underwent mandatory quarantine for 14-day post arrival in Howard Springs, NT, Australia. Wastewater from 24 (64.9 %) of the 37 flights tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. During the 14 day mandatory quarantine, clinical testing identified 112 cases of COVID-19. Surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in repatriation flight wastewater using pooled results from three RT-qPCR assays demonstrated a positive predictive value (PPV) of 87.5 %, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 76.9 % and 83.7% accuracy for COVID-19 cases during the post-arrival 14-day quarantine period. The study successfully demonstrates that the surveillance of wastewater from aircraft for SARS-CoV-2 can provide an additional and effective tool for informing the management of returning overseas travelers and for monitoring the importation of SARS CoV-2 and other clinically significant pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | | | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - John Ehret
- Qantas Airways Limited, 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, 2020, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian Hosegood
- Qantas Airways Limited, 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, 2020, NSW, Australia
| | - Suzanne S Metcalfe
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Wendy J M Smith
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Brisbane, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Josh Tynan
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
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6
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Ahmed W, Tscharke B, Bertsch PM, Bibby K, Bivins A, Choi P, Clarke L, Dwyer J, Edson J, Nguyen TMH, O'Brien JW, Simpson SL, Sherman P, Thomas KV, Verhagen R, Zaugg J, Mueller JF. SARS-CoV-2 RNA monitoring in wastewater as a potential early warning system for COVID-19 transmission in the community: A temporal case study. Sci Total Environ 2021; 761:144216. [PMID: 33360129 PMCID: PMC7718102 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus which causes coronavirus disease (COVID-19), has spread rapidly across the globe infecting millions of people and causing significant health and economic impacts. Authorities are exploring complimentary approaches to monitor this infectious disease at the community level. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) approaches to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in municipal wastewater are being implemented worldwide as an environmental surveillance approach to inform health authority decision-making. Owing to the extended excretion of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool, WBE can surveil large populated areas with a longer detection window providing unique information on the presence of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases that are unlikely to be screened by clinical testing. Herein, we analysed SARS-CoV-2 RNA in 24-h composite wastewater samples (n = 63) from three wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia from 24th of February to 1st of May 2020. A total of 21 samples were positive for SARS-CoV-2, ranging from 135 to 11,992 gene copies (GC)/100 mL of wastewater. Detections were made in a Southern Brisbane WWTP in late February 2020, up to three weeks before the first clininal case was reported there. Wastewater samples were generally positive during the period with highest caseload data. The positive SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in wastewater while there were limited clinical reported cases demonstrates the potential of WBE as an early warning system to identify hotspots and target localised public health responses, such as increased individual testing and the provision of health warnings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia.
| | - Ben Tscharke
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Phil Choi
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Leah Clarke
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Jason Dwyer
- Urban Utilities, 15 Green Square Close, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Janette Edson
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thi Minh Hong Nguyen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Jake W O'Brien
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | | | - Paul Sherman
- Urban Utilities, 15 Green Square Close, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Rory Verhagen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Julian Zaugg
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
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7
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Ahmed W, Bivins A, Bertsch PM, Bibby K, Gyawali P, Sherchan SP, Simpson SL, Thomas KV, Verhagen R, Kitajima M, Mueller JF, Korajkic A. Intraday variability of indicator and pathogenic viruses in 1-h and 24-h composite wastewater samples: Implications for wastewater-based epidemiology. Environ Res 2021; 193:110531. [PMID: 33249042 PMCID: PMC8267967 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
We monitored the concentration of indicator viruses crAssphage and pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and human pathogen adenovirus (HAdV) in influent from a wastewater treatment plant in Brisbane, Australia in 1-h and 24-h composite samples. Over three days of sampling, the mean concentration of crAssphage gene copies (GC)/mL in 24-h composite samples did not differ significantly (p = 0.72-0.92), while for PMMoV GC/mL (p value range: 0.0002-0.0321) and HAdV GC/mL (p value range: 0.0028-0.0068) significant differences in concentrations were observed on one day of sampling compared to the other two. For all three viruses, the variation observed in 1-h composite samples was greater than the variation observed in 24-h composite samples. For crAssphage, in 54.1% of 1-h composite samples, the concentration was less than that observed in 24-h composite samples; whereas for PMMoV and HAdV the concentration was less in 79.2 and 70.9% of 1-h composite samples, respectively, compared to the relevant 24-h composite samples. Similarly, the concentration of crAssphage in 1-h compared to 24-h composite samples did not differ (p = 0.1082) while the concentrations of PMMoV (p < 0.0001) and HAdV (p < 0.0001) in 1-h composite samples were significantly different from 24-h composite samples. These results suggest that 24-h composite samples offer increased analytical sensitivity and decreased variability compared to 1-h composite samples when monitoring wastewater, especially for pathogenic viruses with low infection rates within a community. Thus, for wastewater-based epidemiology applications, 24-h composite samples are less likely to produce false negative results and erroneous public health information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD, 4102, Australia.
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | | | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4103, Australia
| | - Rory Verhagen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4103, Australia
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0032, Japan
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4103, Australia
| | - Asja Korajkic
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
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8
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Ahmed W, Bertsch PM, Bibby K, Haramoto E, Hewitt J, Huygens F, Gyawali P, Korajkic A, Riddell S, Sherchan SP, Simpson SL, Sirikanchana K, Symonds EM, Verhagen R, Vasan SS, Kitajima M, Bivins A. Decay of SARS-CoV-2 and surrogate murine hepatitis virus RNA in untreated wastewater to inform application in wastewater-based epidemiology. Environ Res 2020; 191:110092. [PMID: 32861728 PMCID: PMC7451058 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) demonstrates potential for COVID-19 community transmission monitoring; however, data on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater are needed to interpret WBE results. The decay rates of RNA from SARS-CoV-2 and a potential surrogate, murine hepatitis virus (MHV), were investigated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in untreated wastewater, autoclaved wastewater, and dechlorinated tap water stored at 4, 15, 25, and 37 °C. Temperature, followed by matrix type, most greatly influenced SARS-CoV-2 RNA first-order decay rates (k). The average T90 (time required for 1-log10 reduction) of SARS-CoV-2 RNA ranged from 8.04 to 27.8 days in untreated wastewater, 5.71 to 43.2 days in autoclaved wastewater, and 9.40 to 58.6 days in tap water. The average T90 for RNA of MHV at 4 to 37 °C ranged from 7.44 to 56.6 days in untreated wastewater, 5.58-43.1 days in autoclaved wastewater, and 10.9 to 43.9 days in tap water. There was no statistically significant difference between RNA decay of SARS-CoV-2 and MHV; thus, MHV is suggested as a suitable persistence surrogate. Decay rate constants for all temperatures were comparable across all matrices for both viral RNAs, except in untreated wastewater for SARS-CoV-2, which showed less sensitivity to elevated temperatures. Therefore, SARS-CoV-2 RNA is likely to persist long enough in untreated wastewater to permit reliable detection for WBE application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia.
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4 - 3 -11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400 -8511, Japan
| | - Joanne Hewitt
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Flavia Huygens
- Centre for Immunology and Infection Control, Queensland University of Technology, 300 Herston Road, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Asja Korajkic
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH, 45268, USA
| | - Shane Riddell
- CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia
| | - Samendra P Sherchan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University, 1440 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA
| | | | | | - Erin M Symonds
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701, USA
| | - Rory Verhagen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Seshadri S Vasan
- CSIRO Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness, Geelong, VIC, 3220, Australia; Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0032, Japan
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
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9
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Ahmed W, Bertsch PM, Bivins A, Bibby K, Farkas K, Gathercole A, Haramoto E, Gyawali P, Korajkic A, McMinn BR, Mueller JF, Simpson SL, Smith WJM, Symonds EM, Thomas KV, Verhagen R, Kitajima M. Comparison of virus concentration methods for the RT-qPCR-based recovery of murine hepatitis virus, a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 from untreated wastewater. Sci Total Environ 2020; 739:139960. [PMID: 32758945 PMCID: PMC7273154 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 335] [Impact Index Per Article: 83.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
There is currently a clear benefit for many countries to utilize wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) as part of ongoing measures to manage the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic. Since most wastewater virus concentration methods were developed and validated for nonenveloped viruses, it is imperative to determine the efficiency of the most commonly used methods for the enveloped severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Municipal wastewater seeded with a human coronavirus (CoV) surrogate, murine hepatitis virus (MHV), was used to test the efficiency of seven wastewater virus concentration methods: (A-C) adsorption-extraction with three different pre-treatment options, (D-E) centrifugal filter device methods with two different devices, (F) polyethylene glycol (PEG 8000) precipitation, and (G) ultracentrifugation. MHV was quantified by reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the recovery efficiency was calculated for each method. The mean MHV recoveries ranged from 26.7 to 65.7%. The most efficient methods were adsorption-extraction methods with MgCl2 pre-treatment (Method C), and without pre-treatment (Method B). The third most efficient method used the Amicon® Ultra-15 centrifugal filter device (Method D) and its recovery efficiency was not statistically different from the most efficient methods. The methods with the worst recovery efficiency included the adsorption-extraction method with acidification (A), followed by PEG precipitation (F). Our results suggest that absorption-extraction methods with minimal or without pre-treatment can provide suitably rapid, cost-effective and relatively straightforward recovery of enveloped viruses in wastewater. The MHV is a promising process control for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance and can be used as a quality control measure to support community-level epidemic mitigation and risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia.
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, 721 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Environmental Change Initiative, University of Notre Dame, 721 Flanner Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Kata Farkas
- School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, Anglesey LL59 5AB, UK
| | - Amy Gathercole
- ComPath, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4 - 3 -11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd. (ESR), Porirua 5240, New Zealand
| | - Asja Korajkic
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Brian R McMinn
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 26W Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | | | - Wendy J M Smith
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Erin M Symonds
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Rory Verhagen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0032, Japan
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10
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Wu J, Bai Y, Lu B, Li C, Menzies NW, Bertsch PM, Wang Z, Wang P, Kopittke PM. Application of sewage sludge containing environmentally-relevant silver sulfide nanoparticles increases emissions of nitrous oxide in saline soils. Environ Pollut 2020; 265:114807. [PMID: 32512423 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Silver (Ag) is released from a range of products and accumulates in agricultural soils as silver sulfide (Ag2S) through the application of Ag-containing biosolids as a soil amendment. Although Ag2S is comparatively stable, its solubility increases with salinity, potentially altering its impacts on microbial communities due to the anti-microbial properties of Ag. In this study, we investigated the impacts of Ag on the microbially mediated N cycle in saline soils by examining the relationship between the (bio)availability of Ag2S and microbial functioning following the application of Ag2S-containing sludge. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) revealed that the Ag2S was stable within the soil, although extractable Ag concentrations increased up to 18-fold in soils with higher salinity. However, the extractable Ag accounted for <0.05% of the total Ag in all soils and had no impact on plant biomass or soil bacterial biomass. Interestingly, at high soil salinity, Ag2S significantly increased cumulative N2O emissions from 80.9 to 229.2 mg kg-1 dry soil (by 180%) compared to the corresponding control sludge treatment, which was ascribed to the increased abundance of nitrification and denitrification-related genes (amoA, nxrB, narG, napA, nirS, and nosZ) and increased relative abundance of denitrifiers (Rhodanobacter, Salinimicrobium, and Zunongwangia). Together, our findings show that the application of Ag2S-containing sludge to a saline soil can disrupt the N cycle and increase N2O emissions from agroecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Wu
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Yunfei Bai
- Nanjing Agricultural University, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Bingkun Lu
- Nanjing Agricultural University, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Cui Li
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia; Northwestern Polytechnical University, Research Centre for Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Xi'an, 710072, China
| | - Neal W Menzies
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia; Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Land and Water, 41 Boggo Road, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, 4102, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zhanke Wang
- The University of Queensland, School of Chemical Engineering, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
| | - Peng Wang
- Nanjing Agricultural University, College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing, 210095, China.
| | - Peter M Kopittke
- The University of Queensland, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, St Lucia, Queensland, 4072, Australia
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11
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Ahmed W, Bivins A, Bertsch PM, Bibby K, Choi PM, Farkas K, Gyawali P, Hamilton KA, Haramoto E, Kitajima M, Simpson SL, Tandukar S, Thomas K, Mueller JF. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater: Methods optimisation and quality control are crucial for generating reliable public health information. Curr Opin Environ Sci Health 2020. [PMID: 33052320 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2020c.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater through the process of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides an additional surveillance tool, contributing to community-based screening and prevention efforts as these measurements have preceded disease cases in some instances. Numerous detections of SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been reported globally using various methods, demonstrating the technical feasibility of routine monitoring. However, in order to reliably interpret data produced from these efforts for informing public health interventions, additional quality control information and standardization in sampling design, sample processing, and data interpretation and reporting is needed. This review summarizes published studies of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in wastewater as well as available information regarding concentration, extraction, and detection methods. The review highlights areas for potential standardization including considerations related to sampling timing and frequency relative to peak fecal loading times; inclusion of appropriate information on sample volume collected; sample collection points; transport and storage conditions; sample concentration and processing; RNA extraction process and performance; effective volumes; PCR inhibition; process controls throughout sample collection and processing; PCR standard curve performance; and recovery efficiency testing. Researchers are recommended to follow the Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR (MIQE) guidelines. Adhering to these recommendations will enable robust interpretation of wastewater monitoring results and improved inferences regarding the relationship between monitoring results and disease cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
- Environmental Change Initiative, 721 Flanner Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
| | - Phil M Choi
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102
| | - Kata Farkas
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Kerry A Hamilton
- The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Temple, AZ, 85287
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4 - 3 -11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400 -8511, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0032, Japan
| | | | - Sarmila Tandukar
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4 - 3 -11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400 -8511, Japan
| | - Kevin Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102
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12
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Ahmed W, Bivins A, Bertsch PM, Bibby K, Choi PM, Farkas K, Gyawali P, Hamilton KA, Haramoto E, Kitajima M, Simpson SL, Tandukar S, Thomas K, Mueller JF. Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater: Methods optimisation and quality control are crucial for generating reliable public health information. Curr Opin Environ Sci Health 2020; 17:S2468-5844(20)30060-X. [PMID: 33052320 PMCID: PMC7544017 DOI: 10.1016/j.coesh.2020.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater through the process of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides an additional surveillance tool, contributing to community-based screening and prevention efforts as these measurements have preceded disease cases in some instances. Numerous detections of SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been reported globally using various methods, demonstrating the technical feasibility of routine monitoring. However, in order to reliably interpret data produced from these efforts for informing public health interventions, additional quality control information and standardization in sampling design, sample processing, and data interpretation and reporting is needed. This review summarizes published studies of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in wastewater as well as available information regarding concentration, extraction, and detection methods. The review highlights areas for potential standardization including considerations related to sampling timing and frequency relative to peak fecal loading times; inclusion of appropriate information on sample volume collected; sample collection points; transport and storage conditions; sample concentration and processing; RNA extraction process and performance; effective volumes; PCR inhibition; process controls throughout sample collection and processing; PCR standard curve performance; and recovery efficiency testing. Researchers are recommended to follow the Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR (MIQE) guidelines. Adhering to these recommendations will enable robust interpretation of wastewater monitoring results and improved inferences regarding the relationship between monitoring results and disease cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
- Environmental Change Initiative, 721 Flanner Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Sciences, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 46656, USA
| | - Phil M Choi
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102
| | - Kata Farkas
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Kerry A Hamilton
- The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Temple, AZ, 85287
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4 - 3 -11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400 -8511, Japan
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 060-0032, Japan
| | | | - Sarmila Tandukar
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4 - 3 -11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, 400 -8511, Japan
| | - Kevin Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102
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13
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Wu J, Bai Y, Lu B, Zhao W, Forstner C, Menzies NW, Bertsch PM, Wang P, Kopittke PM. Silver Sulfide Nanoparticles Reduce Nitrous Oxide Emissions by Inhibiting Denitrification in the Earthworm Gut. Environ Sci Technol 2020; 54:11146-11154. [PMID: 32790293 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c01241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The accumulation of Ag2S in agricultural soil via application of Ag-containing sludge potentially affects the functioning of soil microorganisms and earthworms (EWs) due to the strong antimicrobial properties of Ag. This study examined the effects of Ag2S nanoparticles (Ag2S-NPs) on the EW-mediated (Eisenia fetida and Pontoscolex corethrurus) soil N cycle. We used 16S rRNA gene-based sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction to examine the bacterial community and nitrification/denitrification-related gene abundance. The presence of either EWs or Ag significantly increased denitrification and N2O emissions. However, the addition of Ag2S to EW-inhabited soil reduced N2O emissions by 14-33%. Furthermore, Ag2S caused a low-dose stimulation but a high-dose inhibition to N2O flux from the EW gut itself. Accordingly, an increase in Ag in the EW gut caused a decrease in the relative abundance of denitrifiers in both the soil and the gut, especially for the dominant genus Bacillus. Ag2S also decreased the copy numbers of nitrification gene (nxrB) and denitrification genes (napA, nirS, and nosZ) in EW gut, leading to the observed decrease in N2O emissions. Collectively, applying Ag2S-containing sludge disturbs the denitrification function of the EW gut microbiota and the cycling of N in soil-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtao Wu
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Yunfei Bai
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Bingkun Lu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Christian Forstner
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Neal W Menzies
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
- Land and Water Ecosciences Precinct, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park 4102, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peng Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Solid Organic Waste Resource Utilization, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Peter M Kopittke
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia 4072, Queensland, Australia
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14
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Ahmed W, Bertsch PM, Angel N, Bibby K, Bivins A, Dierens L, Edson J, Ehret J, Gyawali P, Hamilton KA, Hosegood I, Hugenholtz P, Jiang G, Kitajima M, Sichani HT, Shi J, Shimko KM, Simpson SL, Smith WJM, Symonds EM, Thomas KV, Verhagen R, Zaugg J, Mueller JF. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in commercial passenger aircraft and cruise ship wastewater: a surveillance tool for assessing the presence of COVID-19 infected travellers. J Travel Med 2020; 27:taaa116. [PMID: 32662867 PMCID: PMC7454825 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taaa116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be an important source of information for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) management during and after the pandemic. Currently, governments and transportation industries around the world are developing strategies to minimize SARS-CoV-2 transmission associated with resuming activity. This study investigated the possible use of SARS-CoV-2 RNA wastewater surveillance from airline and cruise ship sanitation systems and its potential use as a COVID-19 public health management tool. METHODS Aircraft and cruise ship wastewater samples (n = 21) were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using two virus concentration methods, adsorption-extraction by electronegative membrane (n = 13) and ultrafiltration by Amicon (n = 8), and five assays using reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and RT-droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR). Representative qPCR amplicons from positive samples were sequenced to confirm assay specificity. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in samples from both aircraft and cruise ship wastewater; however concentrations were near the assay limit of detection. The analysis of multiple replicate samples and use of multiple RT-qPCR and/or RT-ddPCR assays increased detection sensitivity and minimized false-negative results. Representative qPCR amplicons were confirmed for the correct PCR product by sequencing. However, differences in sensitivity were observed among molecular assays and concentration methods. CONCLUSIONS The study indicates that surveillance of wastewater from large transport vessels with their own sanitation systems has potential as a complementary data source to prioritize clinical testing and contact tracing among disembarking passengers. Importantly, sampling methods and molecular assays must be further optimized to maximize detection sensitivity. The potential for false negatives by both wastewater testing and clinical swab testing suggests that the two strategies could be employed together to maximize the probability of detecting SARS-CoV-2 infections amongst passengers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warish Ahmed
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Qld 4102, Australia
| | - Nicola Angel
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kyle Bibby
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Aaron Bivins
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering & Earth Science, University of Notre Dame, 156 Fitzpatrick Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556, USA
| | - Leanne Dierens
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Janette Edson
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - John Ehret
- Qantas Airways Limited, 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, 2020, NSW, Australia
| | - Pradip Gyawali
- Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd (ESR), Porirua, 5240, New Zealand
| | - Kerry A Hamilton
- The Biodesign Institute Center for Environmental Health Engineering, Arizona State University, Temple, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Ian Hosegood
- Qantas Airways Limited, 10 Bourke Rd Mascot, 2020, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip Hugenholtz
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Guangming Jiang
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Masaaki Kitajima
- Division of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North 13 West 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8628, Japan
| | - Homa T Sichani
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Jiahua Shi
- School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering, University of Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Katja M Shimko
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | | | - Wendy J M Smith
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Erin M Symonds
- College of Marine Science, University of South Florida, 140 Seventh Avenue South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 USA
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Rory Verhagen
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
| | - Julian Zaugg
- Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jochen F Mueller
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4103, Australia
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15
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Lewis RW, Bertsch PM, McNear DH. Nanotoxicity of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) to environmentally relevant beneficial soil bacteria - a critical review. Nanotoxicology 2019; 13:392-428. [PMID: 30760121 DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2018.1530391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Deposition of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) in various environmental compartments is projected to continue rising exponentially. Terrestrial environments are expected to be the largest repository for environmentally released ENMs. Because ENMs are enriched in biosolids during wastewater treatment, agriculturally applied biosolids facilitate ENM exposure of key soil micro-organisms, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). The ecological ramifications of increasing levels of ENM exposure of terrestrial micro-organisms are not clearly understood, but a growing body of research has investigated the toxicity of ENMs to various soil bacteria using a myriad of toxicity end-points and experimental procedures. This review explores what is known regarding ENM toxicity to important soil bacteria, with a focus on ENMs which are expected to accumulate in terrestrial ecosystems at the highest concentrations and pose the greatest potential threat to soil micro-organisms having potential indirect detrimental effects on plant growth. Knowledge gaps in the fundamental understanding of nanotoxicity to bacteria are identified, including the role of physicochemical properties of ENMs in toxicity responses, particularly in agriculturally relevant micro-organisms. Strategies for improving the impact of future research through the implementation of in-depth ENM characterization and use of necessary experimental controls are proposed. The future of nanotoxicological research employing microbial ecoreceptors is also explored, highlighting the need for continued research utilizing bacterial isolates while concurrently expanding efforts to study ENM-bacteria interactions in more complex environmentally relevant media, e.g. soil. Additionally, the particular importance of future work to extensively examine nanotoxicity in the context of bacterial ecosystem function, especially of plant growth-promoting agents, is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricky W Lewis
- a Rhizosphere Science Laboratory, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- a Rhizosphere Science Laboratory, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA.,b CSIRO Land and Water , Ecosciences Precinct , Brisbane , Australia.,c Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT) , Duke University , Durham , NC , USA
| | - David H McNear
- a Rhizosphere Science Laboratory, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences , University of Kentucky , Lexington , KY , USA
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Bertsch
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory; University of Georgia; Aiken South Carolina
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17
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paul M. Bertsch
- University of Georgia; Savannah River Ecology Laboratory; Aiken South Carolina
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18
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Wang P, Menzies NW, Dennis PG, Guo J, Forstner C, Sekine R, Lombi E, Kappen P, Bertsch PM, Kopittke PM. Silver Nanoparticles Entering Soils via the Wastewater-Sludge-Soil Pathway Pose Low Risk to Plants but Elevated Cl Concentrations Increase Ag Bioavailability. Environ Sci Technol 2016; 50:8274-81. [PMID: 27380126 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b01180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) results in their movement into wastewater treatment facilities and subsequently to agricultural soils via application of contaminated sludge. On-route, the chemical properties of Ag may change, and further alterations are possible upon entry to soil. In the present study, we examined the long-term stability and (bio)availability of Ag along the "wastewater-sludge-soil" pathway. Synchrotron-based X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) revealed that ca. 99% of Ag added to the sludge reactors as either Ag-NPs or AgNO3 was retained in sludge, with ≥79% of this being transformed to Ag2S, with the majority (≥87%) remaining in this form even after introduction to soils at various pH values and Cl concentrations for up to 400 days. Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), chemical extraction, and plant uptake experiments indicated that the potential (bio)availability of Ag in soil was low but increased markedly in soils with elevated Cl, likely due to the formation of soluble AgClx complexes in the soil solution. Although high Cl concentrations increased the bioavailability of Ag markedly, plant growth was not reduced in any treatment. Our results indicate that Ag-NPs entering soils through the wastewater-sludge-soil pathway pose low risk to plants due to their conversion to Ag2S in the wastewater treatment process, although bioavailability may increase in saline soils or when irrigated with high-Cl water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Wang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University , Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China
| | | | | | | | | | - Ryo Sekine
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia
| | - Enzo Lombi
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia , Mawson Lakes, South Australia 5095, Australia
| | - Peter Kappen
- Australian Synchrotron , Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- CSIRO Land and Water , 41 Boggo Road, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park Queensland 4102, Australia
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19
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Judy JD, Kirby JK, McLaughlin MJ, McNear D, Bertsch PM. Symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and Medicago truncatula is not significantly affected by silver and silver sulfide nanomaterials. Environ Pollut 2016; 214:731-736. [PMID: 27149150 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 04/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Silver (Ag) engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) are being released into waste streams and are being discharged, largely as Ag2S aged-ENMs (a-ENMs), into agroecosystems receiving biosolids amendments. Recent research has demonstrated that biosolids containing an environmentally relevant mixture of ZnO, TiO2, and Ag ENMs and their transformation products, including Ag2S a-ENMs, disrupted the symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes. However, this study was unable to unequivocally determine which ENM or combination of ENMs and a-ENMs was responsible for the observed inhibition. Here, we examined further the effects of polyvinylpyrollidone (PVP) coated pristine Ag ENMs (PVP-Ag), Ag2S a-ENMs, and soluble Ag (as AgSO4) at 1, 10, and 100 mg Ag kg(-1) on the symbiosis between the legume Medicago truncatula and the nitrogen-fixing bacterium, Sinorhizobium melliloti in biosolids-amended soil. Nodulation frequency, nodule function, glutathione reductase production, and biomass were not significantly affected by any of the Ag treatments, even at 100 mg kg(-1), a concentration analogous to a worst-case scenario resulting from long-term, repeated biosolids amendments. Our results provide additional evidence that the disruption of the symbiosis between nitrogen-fixing bacteria and legumes in response to a mixture of ENMs in biosolids-amended soil reported previously may not be attributable to Ag ENMs or their transformation end-products. We anticipate these findings will provide clarity to regulators and industry regarding potential unintended consequences to terrestrial ecosystems resulting from of the use of Ag ENMs in consumer products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Judy
- Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064 South Australia, Australia.
| | - Jason K Kirby
- Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064 South Australia, Australia
| | - Mike J McLaughlin
- Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064 South Australia, Australia
| | - David McNear
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40546 Kentucky, United States
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40546 Kentucky, United States; Center for the Environmental Implications for Nanotechnology, Duke University, Durham, 27708 North Carolina, USA; Commonwealth Science and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water, Ecosciences Precinct, 41 Boggo Road, Dutton Park, 4102, Queensland, Australia
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20
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Starnes DL, Lichtenberg SS, Unrine JM, Starnes CP, Oostveen EK, Lowry GV, Bertsch PM, Tsyusko OV. Distinct transcriptomic responses of Caenorhabditis elegans to pristine and sulfidized silver nanoparticles. Environ Pollut 2016; 213:314-321. [PMID: 26925754 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Manufactured nanoparticles (MNP) rapidly undergo aging processes once released from products. Silver sulfide (Ag2S) is the major transformation product formed during the wastewater treatment process for Ag-MNP. We examined toxicogenomic responses of pristine Ag-MNP, sulfidized Ag-MNP (sAg-MNP), and AgNO3 to a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Transcriptomic profiling of nematodes which were exposed at the EC30 for reproduction for AgNO3, Ag-MNP, and sAg-MNP resulted in 571 differentially expressed genes. We independently verified expression of 4 genes (numr-1, rol-8, col-158, and grl-20) using qRT-PCR. Only 11% of differentially expressed genes were common among the three treatments. Gene ontology enrichment analysis also revealed that Ag-MNP and sAg-MNP had distinct toxicity mechanisms and did not share any of the biological processes. The processes most affected by Ag-MNP relate to metabolism, while those processes most affected by sAg-MNP relate to molting and the cuticle, and the most impacted processes for AgNO3 exposed nematodes was stress related. Additionally, as observed from qRT-PCR and mutant experiments, the responses to sAg-MNP were distinct from AgNO3 while some of the effects of pristine MNP were similar to AgNO3, suggesting that effects from Ag-MNP is partially due to dissolved silver ions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Starnes
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40546, United States
| | - Stuart S Lichtenberg
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40546, United States; Center for Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), P.O. Box 90287, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0287, United States
| | - Jason M Unrine
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40546, United States; Center for Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), P.O. Box 90287, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0287, United States
| | - Catherine P Starnes
- Department of Statistics, University of Kentucky, 725 Rose Street, MDS Building 305, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - Emily K Oostveen
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40546, United States
| | - Gregory V Lowry
- Center for Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), P.O. Box 90287, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0287, United States; Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40546, United States; Center for Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), P.O. Box 90287, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0287, United States; Division of Land and Water, CSIRO, Ecosciences Precinct, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Olga V Tsyusko
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, 1100 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40546, United States; Center for Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), P.O. Box 90287, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0287, United States.
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Judy JD, Kirby JK, Creamer C, McLaughlin MJ, Fiebiger C, Wright C, Cavagnaro TR, Bertsch PM. Effects of silver sulfide nanomaterials on mycorrhizal colonization of tomato plants and soil microbial communities in biosolid-amended soil. Environ Pollut 2015; 206:256-263. [PMID: 26196315 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2015] [Revised: 06/29/2015] [Accepted: 07/01/2015] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We investigated effects of Ag2S engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coated Ag ENMs (PVP-Ag), and Ag(+) on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), their colonization of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and overall microbial community structure in biosolids-amended soil. Concentration-dependent uptake was measured in all treatments. Plants exposed to 100 mg kg(-1) PVP-Ag ENMs and 100 mg kg(-1) Ag(+) exhibited reduced biomass and greatly reduced mycorrhizal colonization. Bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi were inhibited by all treatment classes, with the largest reductions measured in 100 mg kg(-1) PVP-Ag ENMs and 100 mg kg(-1) Ag(+). Overall, Ag2S ENMs were less toxic to plants, less disruptive to plant-mycorrhizal symbiosis, and less inhibitory to the soil microbial community than PVP-Ag ENMs or Ag(+). However, significant effects were observed at 1 mg kg(-1) Ag2S ENMs, suggesting that the potential exists for microbial communities and the ecosystem services they provide to be disrupted by environmentally relevant concentrations of Ag2S ENMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Judy
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064, South Australia, Australia.
| | - Jason K Kirby
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064, South Australia, Australia
| | - Courtney Creamer
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Agriculture Flagship, Sustaining Agriculture Soil and Landscapes Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064, South Australia, Australia
| | - Mike J McLaughlin
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064, South Australia, Australia
| | - Cathy Fiebiger
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064, South Australia, Australia
| | - Claire Wright
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water Flagship, Environmental Contaminant Mitigation and Technologies Research Program, Waite Campus, Waite Road, Urrbrae, 5064, South Australia, Australia
| | - Timothy R Cavagnaro
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Waite Campus, PMB 1, Glen Osmond, 5064, South Australia, Australia
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Land and Water Flagship, 41 Boggo Road, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park, 4102, Queensland, Australia; Center for the Environmental Implications for Nanotechnology, Duke University, Durham, 27708, NC, USA; Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, 40546, KY, United States
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23
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Judy JD, McNear DH, Chen C, Lewis RW, Tsyusko OV, Bertsch PM, Rao W, Stegemeier J, Lowry GV, McGrath SP, Durenkamp M, Unrine JM. Nanomaterials in Biosolids Inhibit Nodulation, Shift Microbial Community Composition, and Result in Increased Metal Uptake Relative to Bulk/Dissolved Metals. Environ Sci Technol 2015; 49:8751-8. [PMID: 26061863 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b01208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We examined the effects of amending soil with biosolids produced from a pilot-scale wastewater treatment plant containing a mixture of metal-based engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) on the growth of Medicago truncatula, its symbiosis with Sinorhizobium meliloti, and on soil microbial community structure. Treatments consisted of soils amended with biosolids generated with (1) Ag, ZnO, and TiO2 ENMs introduced into the influent wastewater (ENM biosolids), (2) AgNO3, Zn(SO4)2, and micron-sized TiO2 (dissolved/bulk metal biosolids) introduced into the influent wastewater stream, or (3) no metal added to influent wastewater (control). Soils were amended with biosolids to simulate 20 years of metal loading, which resulted in nominal metal concentrations of 1450, 100, and 2400 mg kg(-1) of Zn, Ag, and Ti, respectively, in the dissolved/bulk and ENM treatments. Tissue Zn concentrations were significantly higher in the plants grown in the ENM treatment (182 mg kg(-1)) compared to those from the bulk treatment (103 mg kg(-1)). Large reductions in nodulation frequency, plant growth, and significant shifts in soil microbial community composition were found for the ENM treatment compared to the bulk/dissolved metal treatment. These results suggest differences in metal bioavailability and toxicity between ENMs and bulk/dissolved metals at concentrations relevant to regulatory limits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Judy
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- §Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
- ∥CSIRO Land and Water, Waite Campus, Urrbrae, South Australia 5064, Australia
| | - David H McNear
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
| | - Chun Chen
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- §Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ricky W Lewis
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
| | - Olga V Tsyusko
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- §Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- §Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
- ⊥CSIRO Land and Water, 41 Boggo Road, Ecosciences Precinct, Dutton Park Queensland, 4102, Australia
| | - William Rao
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
| | - John Stegemeier
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- §Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Gregory V Lowry
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- §Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Steve P McGrath
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ∇Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Durenkamp
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ∇Department of Sustainable Soils and Grassland Systems, Rothamsted Research, West Common, Harpenden Hertfordshire, AL5 2JQ, United Kingdom
| | - Jason M Unrine
- †Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- ‡Transatlantic Initiative for Nanotechnology and the Environment (TINE), University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States
- §Center for Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology (CEINT), Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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Starnes DL, Unrine JM, Starnes CP, Collin BE, Oostveen EK, Ma R, Lowry GV, Bertsch PM, Tsyusko OV. Impact of sulfidation on the bioavailability and toxicity of silver nanoparticles to Caenorhabditis elegans. Environ Pollut 2015; 196:239-46. [PMID: 25463719 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2014] [Revised: 09/26/2014] [Accepted: 10/02/2014] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Sulfidation is a major transformation product for manufactured silver nanoparticles (Ag-MNPs) in the wastewater treatment process.We studied the dissolution, uptake, and toxicity of Ag-MNP and sulfidized Ag-MNPs (sAg-MNPs) to a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results show that reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint tested for both Ag-MNPs and sAg-MNPs. We also demonstrate that sulfidation not only decreases solubility of Ag-MNP, but also reduces the bioavailability of intact sAg-MNP. The relative contribution of released Ag(+) compared to intact particles to toxicity was concentration dependent. At lower total Ag concentration, a greater proportion of the toxicity could be explained by dissolved Ag, whereas at higher total Ag concentration, the toxicity appeared to be dominated by particle specific effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Starnes
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
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25
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Rathnayake S, Unrine JM, Judy J, Miller AF, Rao W, Bertsch PM. Multitechnique investigation of the pH dependence of phosphate induced transformations of ZnO nanoparticles. Environ Sci Technol 2014; 48:4757-4764. [PMID: 24693856 DOI: 10.1021/es404544w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
In order to properly evaluate the ecological and human health risks of ZnO manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) released to the environment, it is critical to understand the likely transformation products in various environments, such as soils, surface and ground waters, and wastewater treatment processes. To address this knowledge gap, we examined the transformation of 30 nm ZnO MNMs in the presence of different concentrations of phosphate as a function of time and pH using a variety of orthogonal analytical techniques. The data reveal that ZnO MNMs react with phosphate at various concentrations and transform into two distinct morphological/structural phases: a micrometer scale crystalline zinc phosphate phase (hopeite-like) and a nanoscale phase that likely consists of a ZnO core with an amorphous Zn3(PO4)2 shell. The P species composition was also pH dependent, with 82% occurring as hopeite-like P at pH 6 while only 15% occurred as hopeite-like P at pH 8. These results highlight how reactions of ZnO MNMs with phosphate are influenced by environmental variables, including pH, and may ultimately result in structurally and morphologically heterogeneous end products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sewwandi Rathnayake
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky , Lexington, Kentucky 40546-0312, United States
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26
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Whitley AR, Levard C, Oostveen E, Bertsch PM, Matocha CJ, von der Kammer F, Unrine JM. Behavior of Ag nanoparticles in soil: effects of particle surface coating, aging and sewage sludge amendment. Environ Pollut 2013; 182:141-9. [PMID: 23911623 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 06/05/2013] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
This study addressed the relative importance of particle coating, sewage sludge amendment, and aging on aggregation and dissolution of manufactured Ag nanoparticles (Ag MNPs) in soil pore water. Ag MNPs with citrate (CIT) or polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) coatings were incubated with soil or municipal sewage sludge which was then amended to soil (1% or 3% sludge (w/w)). Pore waters were extracted after 1 week and 2 and 6 months and analyzed for chemical speciation, aggregation state and dissolution. Ag MNP coating had profound effects on aggregation state and partitioning to pore water in the absence of sewage sludge, but pre-incubation with sewage sludge negated these effects. This suggests that Ag MNP coating does not need to be taken into account to understand fate of AgMNPs applied to soil through biosolids amendment. Aging of soil also had profound effects that depended on Ag MNP coating and sludge amendment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annie R Whitley
- University of Kentucky, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Lexington, KY 40546, United States; Center for the Environmental Implications of Nanotechnology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
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27
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Judy JD, Unrine JM, Rao W, Bertsch PM. Bioaccumulation of gold nanomaterials by Manduca sexta through dietary uptake of surface contaminated plant tissue. Environ Sci Technol 2012; 46:12672-8. [PMID: 23083422 DOI: 10.1021/es303333w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the potential for bioaccumulation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) by tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) caterpillars resulting from the ingestion of plant tissue surface contaminated with ENMs. Caterpillars were fed tomato leaf tissue that had been surface contaminated with 12 nm tannate coated Au ENMs. After dosing was complete, bulk Au concentrations in individual caterpillars were measured after 0, 1, 4, and 7 days of elimination. Growth, mortality, and ingestion rate were monitored. This experiment revealed (1) no evidence that caterpillars were affected by ingestion of ENM contaminated plant tissue; (2) low bioaccumulation factors (BAF = 0.16) compared to a previous study where hornworm caterpillars were fed plants that had previously bioaccumulated Au ENMs (BAF = 6.2-11.6); (3) inefficient elimination of accumulated Au ENMs not associated with hornworm gut contents; and (4) regional differences in translocation of Au ENMs into tissues surrounding the hornworm gut, possibly the result of the interaction between ENM surface chemistry and regional differences in hornworm gut chemistry. These data, along with previous findings, indicate that although ENMs resuspended from soil onto plant surfaces by wind, water, biota, and/or mechanical disturbances are bioavailable to terrestrial consumers, bioaccumulation efficiency may be much lower via this pathway than through direct trophic exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Judy
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA
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28
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Unrine JM, Shoults-Wilson WA, Zhurbich O, Bertsch PM, Tsyusko OV. Trophic transfer of Au nanoparticles from soil along a simulated terrestrial food chain. Environ Sci Technol 2012; 46:9753-60. [PMID: 22897478 DOI: 10.1021/es3025325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
To determine if nanoparticles (NPs) could be transferred from soil media to invertebrates and then to secondary consumers, we examined the trophic transfer of Au NPs along a simulated terrestrial food chain. Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed to Au NPs in artificial soil media and fed to juvenile bullfrogs (Rana catesbeina). Earthworm Au concentrations were continuously monitored so that the cumulative dose to bullfrogs could be accurately estimated throughout the experiment. We exposed a second group of bullfrogs to equivalent doses of Au NPs by oral gavage to compare the bioavailability of NPs through direct exposure to trophic exposure. We observed accumulation of Au in liver, kidney, spleen, muscle, stomach, and intestine in both treatment groups. Tissue concentrations decreased on average of approximately 100-fold with each trophic-step. The total assimilated dose averaged only 0.09% of the administered dose for direct exposure (oral gavage), but 0.12% for the trophic exposure. The results suggest that manufactured NPs present in soil may be taken up into food chains and transferred to higher order consumers. They also suggest that Au NPs may be more bioavailable through trophic exposure than direct exposure and that trophic transfer may influence the biodistribution of particles once absorbed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Unrine
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States.
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29
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Judy JD, Unrine JM, Rao W, Wirick S, Bertsch PM. Bioavailability of gold nanomaterials to plants: importance of particle size and surface coating. Environ Sci Technol 2012; 46:8467-74. [PMID: 22784043 DOI: 10.1021/es3019397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
We used the model organisms Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Xanthi (tobacco) and Triticum aestivum (wheat) to investigate plant uptake of 10-, 30-, and 50-nm diameter Au manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) coated with either tannate (T-MNMs) or citrate (C-MNMs). Primary particle size, hydrodynamic size, and zeta potential were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and electrophoretic mobility measurements, respectively. Plants were exposed to NPs hydroponically for 3 or 7 days for wheat and tobacco, respectively. Volume averaged Au concentrations were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Spatial distribution of Au in tissue samples was determined using laser ablation ICP-MS (LA-ICP-MS) and scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy (μXRF). Both C-MNMs and T-MNMs of each size treatment bioaccumulated in tobacco, but no bioaccumulation of MNMs was observed for any treatment in wheat. These results indicate that MNMs of a wide range of size and with different surface chemistries are bioavailable to plants, provide mechanistic information regarding the role of cell wall pores in plant uptake of MNMs, and raise questions about the importance of plant species to MNM bioaccumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Judy
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA
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30
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Sabo-Attwood T, Unrine JM, Stone JW, Murphy CJ, Ghoshroy S, Blom D, Bertsch PM, Newman LA. Uptake, distribution and toxicity of gold nanoparticles in tobacco (Nicotiana xanthi) seedlings. Nanotoxicology 2012; 6:353-60. [PMID: 21574812 DOI: 10.3109/17435390.2011.579631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Understanding plant interactions with nanoparticles is of increasing importance for assessing their toxicity and trophic transport. The primary objective of this study was to assess uptake, biodistribution and toxicity associated with exposure of tobacco plants (Nicotiana xanthi) to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). We employed synchrotron-based X-ray microanalysis with X-ray absorption near-edge microspectroscopy and high resolution electron microscopy to localize AuNPs within plants. Results from these experiments reveal that AuNPs entered plants through the roots and moved into the vasculature. Aggregate bodies were also detected within root cell cytoplasm. Furthermore, AuNP uptake was size selective as 3.5 nm AuNP spheres were detected in plants but 18 nm AuNPs remained agglomerated on the root outer surfaces. Finally, leaf necrosis was observed after 14 days of exposure to 3.5 nm AuNPs. Overall, results of this work show the potential for AuNPs to enter plants through size-dependent mechanisms, translocate to cells and tissues and cause biotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Sabo-Attwood
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences and NanoCenter, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina, USA
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Tsyusko OV, Unrine JM, Spurgeon D, Blalock E, Starnes D, Tseng M, Joice G, Bertsch PM. Toxicogenomic responses of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans to gold nanoparticles. Environ Sci Technol 2012; 46:4115-24. [PMID: 22372763 DOI: 10.1021/es2033108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
We used Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs) as a model for studying particle-specific effects of manufactured nanomaterials (MNMs) by examining the toxicogenomic responses in a model soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans . Global genome expression for nematodes exposed to 4-nm citrate-coated Au-NPs at the LC(10) level (5.9 mg·L(-1)) revealed significant differential expression of 797 genes. The levels of expression for five genes (apl-1, dyn-1, act-5, abu-11, and hsp-4) were confirmed independently with qRT-PCR. Seven common biological pathways associated with 38 of these genes were identified. Up-regulation of 26 pqn/abu genes from noncanonical unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway and molecular chaperones (hsp-16.1, hsp-70, hsp-3, and hsp-4) were observed and are likely indicative of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Significant increase in sensitivity to Au-NPs in a mutant from noncanonical UPR (pqn-5) suggests possible involvement of the genes from this pathway in a protective mechanism against Au-NPs. Significant responses to Au-NPs in endocytosis mutants (chc-1 and rme-2) provide evidence for endocytosis pathway being induced by Au-NPs. These results demonstrate that Au-NPs are bioavailable and cause adverse effects to C. elegans by activating both general and specific biological pathways. The experiments with mutants further support involvement of several of these pathways in Au-NP toxicity and/or detoxification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga V Tsyusko
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, United States.
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Judy JD, Tollamadugu NVKVP, Bertsch PM. Pin Oak (Quercus palustris) Leaf Extract Mediated Synthesis of Triangular, Polyhedral and Spherical Gold Nanoparticles. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.4236/anp.2012.13011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Wiesner MR, Lowry GV, Casman E, Bertsch PM, Matson CW, Di Giulio RT, Liu J, Hochella MF. Meditations on the ubiquity and mutability of nano-sized materials in the environment. ACS Nano 2011; 5:8466-8470. [PMID: 22103257 DOI: 10.1021/nn204118p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A wide variety of nanomaterials can be found naturally occurring in the environment, although finding and characterizing these materials remains a challenge due to their size. Recent studies in the field have shown that natural nanomaterials are common in many geochemical systems. In this issue of ACS Nano, Hutchison and co-workers make us realize that manmade nanomaterials can often be practically identical to those that spontaneously form in the environment. This Perspective discusses the prevalence of nanomaterials in nature, including anthropogenic and naturally occurring nanomaterials, and the dynamic behavior of these materials in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Wiesner
- Center for the Environmental Implications of NanoTechnology (CEINT), Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA.
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34
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Ma H, Kabengi NJ, Bertsch PM, Unrine JM, Glenn TC, Williams PL. Comparative phototoxicity of nanoparticulate and bulk ZnO to a free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans: the importance of illumination mode and primary particle size. Environ Pollut 2011; 159:1473-1480. [PMID: 21470728 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2010] [Revised: 03/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/16/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The present study evaluated phototoxicity of nanoparticulate ZnO and bulk-ZnO under natural sunlight (NSL) versus ambient artificial laboratory light (AALL) illumination to a free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Phototoxicity of nano-ZnO and bulk-ZnO was largely dependent on illumination method as 2-h exposure under NSL caused significantly greater mortality in C. elegans than under AALL. This phototoxicity was closely related to photocatalytic reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by the ZnO particles as indicated by concomitant methylene blue photodegradation. Both materials caused mortality in C. elegans under AALL during 24-h exposure although neither degraded methylene blue, suggesting mechanisms of toxicity other than photocatalytic ROS generation were involved. Particle dissolution of ZnO did not appear to play an important role in the toxicity observed in this study. Nano-ZnO showed greater phototoxicity than bulk-ZnO despite their similar size of aggregates, suggesting primary particle size is more important than aggregate size in determining phototoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Ma
- Department of Environmental Health Science, College of Public Health, The University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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35
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Neal AL, Kabengi N, Grider A, Bertsch PM. Can the soil bacteriumCupriavidus necatorsense ZnO nanomaterials and aqueous Zn2+differentially? Nanotoxicology 2011; 6:371-80. [DOI: 10.3109/17435390.2011.579633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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36
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Shoults-Wilson WA, Zhurbich OI, McNear DH, Tsyusko OV, Bertsch PM, Unrine JM. Evidence for avoidance of Ag nanoparticles by earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Ecotoxicology 2011; 20:385-96. [PMID: 21229389 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-010-0590-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/28/2010] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Silver nanoparticles have been incorporated into a wide variety of consumer products, ideally acting as antimicrobial agents. Silver exposure has long been known to cause toxic effects to a wide variety of organisms, making large scale production of silver nanoparticles a potential hazard to environmental systems. Here we describe the first evidence that an organism may be able to sense manufactured nanoparticles in a complex, environmentally relevant exposure and that the presence of nanoparticles alters the organism's behavior. We found that earthworms (Eisenia fetida) consistently avoid soils containing silver nanoparticles and AgNO(3) at similar concentrations of Ag. However, avoidance of silver nanoparticles occurred over 48 h, while avoidance of AgNO(3) was immediate. It was determined that avoidance of silver nanoparticles could not be explained by release of silver ions or any changes in microbial communities caused by the introduction of Ag. This leads us to conclude that the earthworms were in some way sensing the presence of nanoparticles over the course of a 48 h exposure and choosing to avoid exposure to them. Our results demonstrate that nanoparticle interactions with organisms may be unpredictable and that these interactions may result in ecologically significant effects on behavior at environmentally relevant concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- W A Shoults-Wilson
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Agricultural Science Center North, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA
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37
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Abstract
Nanoparticles from the rapidly increasing number of consumer products that contain manufactured nanomaterials are being discharged into waste streams. Increasing evidence suggests that several classes of nanomaterials may accumulate in sludge derived from wastewater treatment and ultimately in soil following land application as biosolids. Little research has been conducted to evaluate the impact of nanoparticles on terrestrial ecosystems, despite the fact that land application of biosolids from wastewater treatment will be a major pathway for the introduction of manufactured nanomaterials to the environment. To begin addressing this knowledge gap, we used the model organisms Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Xanthi and Manduca sexta (tobacco hornworm) to investigate plant uptake and the potential for trophic transfer of 5, 10, and 15 nm diameter gold (Au) nanoparticles (NPs). Samples were analyzed using both bulk analysis by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as well as spatially resolved methods such as laser ablation inductively coupled mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and X-ray fluorescence (μXRF). Our results demonstrate trophic transfer and biomagnification of gold nanoparticles from a primary producer to a primary consumer by mean factors of 6.2, 11.6, and 9.6 for the 5, 10, and 15 nm treatments, respectively. This result has important implications for risks associated with nanotechnology, including the potential for human exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Judy
- Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA
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38
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Shoults-Wilson WA, Reinsch BC, Tsyusko OV, Bertsch PM, Lowry GV, Unrine JM. Effect of silver nanoparticle surface coating on bioaccumulation and reproductive toxicity in earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Nanotoxicology 2010; 5:432-44. [PMID: 21142839 DOI: 10.3109/17435390.2010.537382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of surface coating on the toxicity of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) soil. Earthworms (Eisenia fetida) were exposed to AgNO(3) and Ag NPs with similar size ranges coated with either polyvinylpyrrolidone (hydrophilic) or oleic acid (amphiphilic) during a standard sub-chronic reproduction toxicity test. No significant effects on growth or mortality were observed within any of the test treatments. Significant decreases in reproduction were seen in earthworms exposed to AgNO3, (94.21 mg kg(-1)) as well as earthworms exposed to Ag NPs with either coating (727.6 mg kg(-1) for oleic acid and 773.3 mg kg(-1) for polyvinylpyrrolidone). The concentrations of Ag NPs at which effects were observed are much higher than predicted concentrations of Ag NPs in sewage sludge amended soils; however, the concentrations at which adverse effects of AgNO(3) were observed are similar to the highest concentrations of Ag presently observed in sewage sludge in the United States. Earthworms accumulated Ag in a concentration-dependent manner from all Ag sources, with more Ag accumulating in tissues from AgNO(3) compared to earthorms exposed to equivalent concentrations of Ag NPs. No differences were observed in Ag accumulation or toxicity between earthworms exposed to Ag NPs with polyvinylpyrrolidone or oleic acid coatings.
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Unrine JM, Hunyadi SE, Tsyusko OV, Rao W, Shoults-Wilson WA, Bertsch PM. Evidence for bioavailability of Au nanoparticles from soil and biodistribution within earthworms (Eisenia fetida). Environ Sci Technol 2010; 44:8308-13. [PMID: 20879765 DOI: 10.1021/es101885w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Because Au nanoparticles (NPs) are resistant to oxidative dissolution and are easily detected, they have been used as stable probes for the behavior of nanomaterials within biological systems. Previous studies provide somewhat limited evidence for bioavailability of Au NPs in food webs, because the spatial distribution within tissues and the speciation of Au was not determined. In this study, we provide multiple lines of evidence, including orthogonal microspectroscopic techniques, as well as evidence from biological responses, that Au NPs are bioavailable from soil to a model detritivore (Eisenia fetida). We also present limited evidence that Au NPs may cause adverse effects on earthworm reproduction. This is perhaps the first study to demonstrate that Au NPs can be taken up by detritivores from soil and distributed among tissues. We found that primary particle size (20 or 55 nm) did not consistently influence accumulated concentrations on a mass concentration basis; however, on a particle number basis the 20 nm particles were more bioavailable. Differences in bioavailability between the treatments may have been explained by aggregation behavior in pore water. The results suggest that nanoparticles present in soil from activities such as biosolids application have the potential to enter terrestrial food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Unrine
- Department of Plant and Soil Science, Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA.
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Unrine JM, Tsyusko OV, Hunyadi SE, Judy JD, Bertsch PM. Effects of particle size on chemical speciation and bioavailability of copper to earthworms (Eisenia fetida) exposed to copper nanoparticles. J Environ Qual 2010; 39:1942-53. [PMID: 21284291 DOI: 10.2134/jeq2009.0387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the role of particle size on the oxidation, bioavailability, and adverse effects of manufactured Cu nanoparticles (NPs) in soils, we exposed the earthworm Eisenia ferida to a series of concentrations of commercially produced NPs labeled as 20- to 40-nm or < 100-nm Cu in artificial soil media. Effects on growth, mortality, reproduction, and expression of a variety of genes associated with metal homeostasis, general stress, and oxidative stress were measured. We also used X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scanning X-ray fluorescence microscopy to characterize changes in chemical speciation and spatial distribution of the NPs in soil media and earthworm tissues. Exposure concentrations of Cu NPs up to 65 mg kg(-1) caused no adverse effects on ecologically relevant endpoints. Increases in metallothionein expression occurred at concentrations exceeding 20 mg kg(-1) of Cu NPs and concentrations exceeding 10 mg kg(-1) of CuSO4. Based on the relationship of Cu tissue concentration to metallothionein expression level and the spatial distribution and chemical speciation of Cu in the tissues, we conclude that Cu ions and oxidized Cu NPs were taken up by the earthworms. This study suggests that oxidized Cu NPs may enter food chains from soil but that adverse effects in earthworms are likely to occur only at relatively high concentrations (> 65 mg Cu kg(-1) soil).
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Unrine
- Dep. of Plant and Soil Sciences, Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.
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41
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Ma H, Bertsch PM, Glenn TC, Kabengi NJ, Williams PL. Toxicity of manufactured zinc oxide nanoparticles in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Environ Toxicol Chem 2009; 28:1324-30. [PMID: 19192952 DOI: 10.1897/08-262.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2008] [Accepted: 01/07/2009] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Information describing the possible impacts of manufactured nanoparticles on human health and ecological receptors is limited. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential toxicological effects of manufactured zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs; 1.5 nm) compared to aqueous zinc chloride (ZnCl2) in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Toxicity of both types of Zn was investigated using the ecologically relevant endpoints of lethality, behavior, reproduction, and transgene expression in a mtl-2::GFP (gene encoding green fluorescence protein fused onto the metallothionein-2 gene promoter) transgenic strain of C. elegans. Zinc oxide nanoparticles showed no significant difference from ZnCl2 regarding either lethality or reproduction in C. elegans, as indicated by their median lethal concentrations (LC50s; p = 0.29, n=3) and median effective concentrations (EC50s; Z = 0.835, p = 0.797). Also, no significant difference was found in EC50s for behavioral change between ZnO-NPs (635 mg Zn/L; 95% confidence interval [CI], 477-844 mg Zn/L) and ZnCl2 (546 mg Zn/L; 95% CI, 447-666 mg Zn/L) (Z = 0.907, p = 0.834). Zinc oxide nanoparticles induced transgene expression in the mtl-2::GFP transgenic C. elegans in a manner similar to that of ZnCl2, suggesting that intracellular biotransformation of the nanoparticles might have occurred or the nanoparticles have dissolved to Zn2+ to enact toxicity. These findings demonstrate that manufactured ZnO-NPs have toxicity to the nematode C. elegans similar to that of aqueous ZnCl2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Ma
- Department of Environmental Health Science, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602, USA
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42
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Grider A, Kabengi NJ, Bertsch PM, Neal A. Bacterial Protein Expression is Altered by Treatment with Zinc Nanoparticles. FASEB J 2009. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.922.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Andrew Neal
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, Rothamsted ResearchHarpendenHertfordshireUnited Kingdom
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Van Nostrand JD, Arthur JM, Kilpatrick LE, Neely BA, Bertsch PM, Morris PJ. Changes in protein expression in Burkholderia vietnamiensis PR1 301 at pH 5 and 7 with and without nickel. Microbiology (Reading) 2009; 154:3813-3824. [PMID: 19047749 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.2008/017178-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Burkholderia vietnamiensis PR1(301) (PR1) exhibits pH-dependent nickel (Ni) tolerance, with lower Ni toxicity observed at pH 5 than at pH 7. The Ni tolerance mechanism in PR1 is currently unknown, and traditional mechanisms of Ni resistance do not appear to be present. Therefore, 2D gel electrophoresis was used to examine changes in protein expression in PR1 with and without Ni (3.4 mM) at pH 5 and 7. Proteins with both a statistically significant and at least a twofold difference in expression level between conditions (pH, Ni) were selected and identified using MALDI-TOF-MS or LC-MS. Results showed increased expression of proteins involved in cell shape and membrane composition at pH 5 compared with pH 7. Scanning electron microscopy indicated elongated cells at pH 5 and 6 compared with pH 7 in the absence of Ni. Fatty acid methyl ester analysis showed a statistically significant difference in the percentages of long- and short-chain fatty acids at pH 5 and 7. These findings suggest that changes in membrane structure and function may be involved in the ability of PR1 to grow at higher concentrations of Ni at pH 5 than at pH 7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy D Van Nostrand
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 221 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - John M Arthur
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, PO Box 250623, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
| | - Lisa E Kilpatrick
- NIST, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Benjamin A Neely
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 221 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Paul M Bertsch
- University of Kentucky, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, 1405 Veterans Drive, Lexington, KY 40546, USA.,Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 221 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Pamela J Morris
- National Ocean Service, Hollings Marine Laboratory, 331 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical University of South Carolina, PO 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.,Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, 221 Fort Johnson Rd, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
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Linkous DH, Flinn JM, Koh JY, Lanzirotti A, Bertsch PM, Jones BF, Giblin LJ, Frederickson CJ. Evidence that the ZNT3 protein controls the total amount of elemental zinc in synaptic vesicles. J Histochem Cytochem 2007; 56:3-6. [PMID: 17712179 PMCID: PMC2323120 DOI: 10.1369/jhc.6a7035.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The ZNT3 protein decorates the presynaptic vesicles of central neurons harboring vesicular zinc, and deletion of this protein removes staining for zinc. However, it has been unclear whether only histochemically reactive zinc is lacking or if, indeed, total elemental zinc is missing from neurons lacking the Slc30a3 gene, which encodes the ZNT3 protein. The limitations of conventional histochemical procedures have contributed to this enigma. However, a novel technique, microprobe synchrotron X-ray fluorescence, reveals that the normal 2- to 3-fold elevation of zinc concentration normally present in the hippocampal mossy fibers is absent in Slc30a3 knockout (ZNT3) mice. Thus, the ZNT3 protein evidently controls not only the "stainability" but also the actual mass of zinc in mossy-fiber synaptic vesicles. This work thus confirms the metal-transporting role of the ZNT3 protein in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Linkous
- NeuroBioTex, Inc., 101 Christopher Columbus Blvd., Galveston, TX 77550, USA
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45
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Van Nostrand JD, Khijniak TV, Gentry TJ, Novak MT, Sowder AG, Zhou JZ, Bertsch PM, Morris PJ. Isolation and characterization of four gram-positive nickel-tolerant microorganisms from contaminated sediments. Microb Ecol 2007; 53:670-82. [PMID: 17404787 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-006-9160-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2006] [Revised: 08/14/2006] [Accepted: 08/30/2006] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Microbial communities from riparian sediments contaminated with high levels of Ni and U were examined for metal-tolerant microorganisms. Isolation of four aerobic Ni-tolerant, Gram-positive heterotrophic bacteria indicated selection pressure from Ni. These isolates were identified as Arthrobacter oxydans NR-1, Streptomyces galbus NR-2, Streptomyces aureofaciens NR-3, and Kitasatospora cystarginea NR-4 based on partial 16S rDNA sequences. A functional gene microarray containing gene probes for functions associated with biogeochemical cycling, metal homeostasis, and organic contaminant degradation showed little overlap among the four isolates. Fifteen of the genes were detected in all four isolates with only two of these related to metal resistance, specifically to tellurium. Each of the four isolates also displayed resistance to at least one of six antibiotics tested, with resistance to kanamycin, gentamycin, and ciprofloxacin observed in at least two of the isolates. Further characterization of S. aureofaciens NR-3 and K. cystarginea NR-4 demonstrated that both isolates expressed Ni tolerance constitutively. In addition, both were able to grow in higher concentrations of Ni at pH 6 as compared with pH 7 (42.6 and 8.5 mM Ni at pH 6 and 7, respectively). Tolerance to Cd, Co, and Zn was also examined in these two isolates; a similar pH-dependent metal tolerance was observed when grown with Co and Zn. Neither isolate was tolerant to Cd. These findings suggest that Ni is exerting a selection pressure at this site for metal-resistant actinomycetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy D Van Nostrand
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Science Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
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Van Nostrand JD, Khijniak TJ, Neely B, Sattar MA, Sowder AG, Mills G, Bertsch PM, Morris PJ. Reduction of nickel and uranium toxicity and enhanced trichloroethylene degradation to Burkholderia vietnamiensis PR1301 with hydroxyapatite amendment. Environ Sci Technol 2007; 41:1877-82. [PMID: 17410778 DOI: 10.1021/es0616581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The use of hydroxyapatite (HA) to sequester metals at mixed waste sites may reduce metal toxicity and facilitate microbial degradation of cocontaminant organics. The constitutive trichloroethylene (TCE) degrader, Burkholderia vietnamiensis PR1301, grew at 34.1 and 1.7 mM Ni at pH 5 and 7, respectively, with 0.01 g mL(-1) HA compared to 17 and 0.85 mM Ni without HA. PR1 grew at 4.2 mM U at pH 5 and 7 with 0.01 g mL(-1) HA compared to 1.1 mM U without HA. A similar decrease in the toxicity of Ni and U in combination was observed with HA. The ability of PR1 to degrade TCE at 0.85, 1.7, and 3.4 mM Ni and at 0.42 and 1.1 mM U was examined. The presence of TCE resulted in a decreased tolerance of PR1 to Ni and U; however, HA facilitated TCE degradation in the presence of Ni and U, effectively doubling the metal concentrations at which TCE degradation proceeded. These studies suggest that metal sequestration via HA amendments may offer a feasible approach to reducing metal toxicity to microorganisms at mixed waste sites, thereby enhancing the degradation of cocontaminant organics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy D Van Nostrand
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA
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Jackson BP, Seaman JC, Bertsch PM. Fate of arsenic compounds in poultry litter upon land application. Chemosphere 2006; 65:2028-34. [PMID: 16899273 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.06.065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2006] [Revised: 06/21/2006] [Accepted: 06/22/2006] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The use of the organic As compound, roxarsone, as an antibiotic additive to poultry feed continues to raise concern over potential negative environmental impacts. Total As concentration in poultry litter can reach >40 mg kg(-1) and both roxarsone and its mineralization product As(V) have been identified in poultry litters (PL). To investigate the fate of these As species upon land application of PL we conducted two studies. In the first, an Orangeburg soil (Ultisol from the Atlantic Coastal Plain) was spiked with either 20 mg kg(-1) As(V) or roxarsone and incubated at 10% moisture content for 4 months. Exchangeable As was determined periodically by extraction with 0.1M PO(4). Both As(V) and roxarsone displayed similar desorption; initially, approximately 70% of added As was ligand exchangeable and this decreased to 35% after 4 months incubation, presumably due to either slow sorption reactions or a change in solid phase speciation of As to less exchangeable forms. In the second study, various manipulations of two PL samples were applied to the Orangeburg soil at realistic field application rates. The treatments were wet to 10% moisture content and water soluble As, Cu and organic carbon (DOC) was measured over 30 days. Arsenic and Cu solubility were highest from the dried litter samples. Ashing of the PLs decreased soluble As and Cu, presumably because of the loss of organic matter from the ashed litter and subsequent decrease in DOC. Application of leachates from either PL resulted in higher concentrations of soluble As and Cu than when the soil was amended with equivalent concentrations of soluble As and Cu dissolved in DI H(2)O. We hypothesize that the increased levels of DOC from the PL treatments enhance As and Cu solubility through competitive sorption and complexation, respectively. In fact, As and Cu solubility was correlated to DOC levels in the amended soil extracts. Even though land application of PL introduced relatively low concentrations of As and Cu to soil it appeared that other soluble constituents of PL significantly enhanced As and Cu solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- B P Jackson
- Departments of Earth Sciences and Chemistry, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
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Abstract
Phytic acid (inositol hexaphosphoric acid, IP6) has long been recognized as the predominant organic P form in soil and animal manure. Whereas many studies have investigated the wet chemistry of IP6, there is little information on the characterization of solid metal IP6 compounds. This information is essential for further understanding and assessing the chemical behavior of IP6 in diverse soil-plant-water ecosystems. As the first step in full characterization, we synthesized eight metal phytate compounds and investigated their structural features using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The absorption features from 900 to 1200 cm(-1) in FT-IR could be used to identify these phytates as: (i) light divalent metal (Ca and Mg) compounds with a sharp band and a broad band, (ii) heavy divalent metal (Cu and Mn) compounds with splitting broad bands, and (iii) trivalent metal (Al and Fe) compounds with a broad band and a shoulder band. Three different types of chemical structures of metal-phytate compounds were presented based on the FT-IR information. We further demonstrated that metal orthophosphates possessed different FT-IR spectral characteristics from their IP6 counterparts. The unique spectral features of metal phytates from 1000 to 700 cm(-1) could be used to distinguish phytate compounds from metal phosphate compounds. Thus, FT-IR analysis after fine tuning could provide an analytical tool to investigate the basic metal phytate chemistry in molecular levels, such as the competitive interactions between phosphate and phytate with a specific metal ion, and the conversion (or hydrolysis) of metal phytate to metal phosphate under various conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongqi He
- USDA-ARS, New England Plant, Soil, and Water Laboratory, Orono, ME 04469, USA.
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Powell BA, Duff MC, Kaplan DI, Fjeld RA, Newville M, Hunter DB, Bertsch PM, Coates JT, Eng P, Rivers ML, Serkiz SM, Sutton SR, Triay IR, Vaniman DT. Plutonium oxidation and subsequent reduction by Mn(IV) minerals in Yucca Mountain tuff. Environ Sci Technol 2006; 40:3508-14. [PMID: 16786687 DOI: 10.1021/es052353+] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Plutonium oxidation state distribution on Yucca Mountain tuff and synthetic pyrolusite (beta-MnO2) suspensions was measured using synchrotron X-ray micro-spectroscopy and microimaging techniques as well as ultrafiltration/solventextraction techniques. Plutonium sorbed to the tuff was preferentially associated with manganese oxides. For both Yucca Mountain tuff and synthetic pyrolusite, Pu(IV) or Pu(V) was initially oxidized to more mobile Pu(V/VI), but over time, the less mobile Pu(IV) became the predominant oxidation state of the sorbed Pu. The observed stability of Pu(IV) on oxidizing surfaces (e.g., pyrolusite), is proposed to be due to the formation of a stable hydrolyzed Pu(IV) surface species. These findings have important implications in estimating the risk associated with the geological burial of radiological waste in areas containing Mn-bearing minerals, such as at the Yucca Mountain or the Hanford Sites, because plutonium will be predominantly in a much less mobile oxidation state (i.e., Pu(IV)) than previously suggested (i.e., Pu(V/VI).
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian A Powell
- Department of Environmental Engineering and Science, Clemson University, Anderson, South Carolina 29630, USA.
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50
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Van Nostrand JD, Sowder AG, Bertsch PM, Morris PJ. Effect of pH on the toxicity of nickel and other divalent metals to Burkholderia cepacia PR1(301). Environ Toxicol Chem 2005; 24:2742-50. [PMID: 16398108 DOI: 10.1897/04-335r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) is a common cocontaminant at many waste sites where the soils and sediments often are acidic, thereby influencing metal availability. Growth of Burkholderia cepacia PR1(301) was not affected at 3.41 mM Ni at pH 5, but was inhibited by 73.2% at pH 6 and inhibited completely at pH 7 compared to growth without Ni. This pH effect was not observed in the Ni-resistant strains, Ralstonia metallidurans CH34 and 31A. Predicted Ni speciation did not explain the observed toxicity trends. Sorption of Ni to PR1 increased with increasing pH (1.49, 1.12, and 3.88 mg Ni/g dry weight at pH 5, 6, and 7, respectively), but was low at all three pH values, and most likely does not explain the observed pH effect. Growth inhibition of PRI with increasing pH also was observed for other divalent cations, with growth observed at 4.24 mM Co, 2.22 mM Cd, and 3.82 mM Zn at pH 5 and 6, but totally inhibited at pH 7. These studies suggest that, at circumneutral pH, PRI would be considered sensitive to Ni and other divalent cations, in spite of the ability to grow in higher concentrations at lower pH values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy D Van Nostrand
- Marine Biomedicine and Environmental Sciences Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA
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