Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Charles W. Rice / Gretchen F. Sassenrath / Soil microorganisms are a critical component of ecosystem services provided by soil. Soil management drives soil physical, chemical, and biological properties. Pedogenesis and management interact to change microbial structure and function in the soil profile. Soil microbial properties may vary temporally with crop development and crop species. The objective of this study was to explore the pedogenetic and anthropogenic controls on key soil microbial properties by (i) assessing the profile of a claypan soil under conventional tillage (CT), no-till (NT), and hay meadow (HM); (ii) assessing seasonal changes of soil microbial properties in a corn/winter wheat/soybean rotation under CT and NT; and (iii) assessing vertical changes of soil microbial properties in response to long-term (28 yrs) tillage and mineral and organic fertilization. Selected microbial properties included extracellular enzyme activity, microbial structure as measured by phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA), as well as soil chemical properties. Soil C, enzyme activities, and microbial biomass were greatest in HM soils, followed by NT and then CT in the claypan soil. Wheat in the rotation increased hydrolase activity and bacterial biomass more than corn, while microbial activities were stable during soybean growth. Increased enzyme activities in the claypan layer resulted from the combination of clay-enzyme interaction and impacts from management practices. In a Mollisol soil, an increase in C-acquiring enzyme activity and microbial PLFAs in a buried A horizon was a result of root growth under no-till practice and mineral fertilization. Surprisingly, long-term mineral fertilizer applications had little effect on enzyme activities and microbial biomass. Long-term organic fertilization increased soil C, enzyme activities, and PLFAs but decreased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) throughout the soil profile to a depth of 90 cm. Microbial properties are controlled by crop and soil management at the soil surface and by the interaction of management and pedogenetic properties deeper in the soil profile. Incorporating grasses in the crop rotation may allow nutrients to be extracted from deeper within the soil profile, enhancing the utilization of the entire soil profile and providing additional nutrient resources to cash crops. Incorporating wheat in the crop rotation supports greater microbial activity and biomass after corn harvest, especially in no-till management. Additional research is required to delineate further causative factors impacting enzyme activity in the claypan layer, a finer resolution in soil microbial community at the species level to explore the linkage between ecological function and microbiome structure, and a network analysis for the soil-plant-microbe interactions.

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Orientador: Kleber Gomes Franchini / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T16:52:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Marin_RodrigoMiguel_D.pdf: 1749179 bytes, checksum: 025af214a1c78761be008c2a30ea5596 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: A adenosina quinase tem um papel crítico no controle da disponibilidade tecidual de adenosina. Sua inibição provoca aumento da concentração local de adenosina, que, por sua vez, exerce efeitos em múltiplos aspectos da função celular. O desenvolvimento de bloqueadores farmacológicos da atividade da adenosina quinase tem, portanto, amplo potencial de aplicação terapêutica. O presente estudo foi planejado para caracterizar os efeitos inibitórios de derivados de 4-anilinoquinazolinas, DMA - cloridrato de 6,7-dimetóxi-4-N-(N,N¿-3¿-dimetilfenil)aminoquinazolina e PD153035 - Cloridrato de 6,7-dimetóxi-4-N-(3¿-bromofenil) aminoquinazolina na atividade da adenosina quinase, bem como sua ação sistêmica sobre a concentração de adenosina em órgãos e tecidos. Para avaliar a hipótese de inibição da adenosina quinase pelos compostos 4-anilinoquinazolínicos foram feitos ensaios in vitro com adenosina quinase recombinante (~42 kDa) clonada de fígado de camundongos. O ensaio para avaliar a atividade e a cinética da adenosina quinase recombinante constou de determinação do consumo de adenosina, obtido através de medidas da concentração de adenosina no meio com técnica de HPLC. Os estudos iniciais de cinética enzimática foram realizados sob condições saturantes, em realação ao substrato ATP, adicionado-se concentrações variadas de adenosina ao meio de reação Nestas condições a reação foi ajustada ao modelo de Michaelis-Menten e os parâmetros Km (Constante de dissociação que caracteriza a especificidade do substrato pela enzima) e Vmax (Velocidade máxima da reação enzimática sob concentrações saturantes de substrato) utilizados para análise da cinética. Considerando-se o consumo de adenosina, os valores de Km e Vmax da adenosina quinase foram de 2,5 ± 0,28 µM e 38 ± 1,26 nmols /min/µg de proteína, respectivamente. Experimentos realizados com o inibidor clássico de adenosina quinase, 5-Iodotubercidina, produziram inibição com IC50 de 100nM. Em seguida foram feitos experimentos in vitro para verificar os efeitos inibitórios dos compostos 4-anilinoquinazolínicos DMA e PD153035 na atividade da adenosina quinase. A avaliação da cinética enzimática na presença de várias concentrações de DMA e PD153035 permitiu confirmar a atividade inibitória desses compostos na adenosina quinase recombinante. Os valores de IC50 (a concentração do inibidor que exibe a metade do efeito inibitório máximo) foram de 0,8 nM e 1,2 pM para o PD153035 e DMA, respectivamente. Os valores de Ki (Constante de inibição) calculados com base nos valores de IC50 através da equação de Cheng-Prusoff foram estimados em 0,24 pM e 160 pM, para o DMA e o PD153035, respectivamente. Confirmada a hipótese de que os compostos 4-anilinoquinazolínicos inibem a atividade da adenosina quinase in vitro, realizamos experimentos in vivo para avaliar se o DMA aumenta a disponibilidade de adenosina em coração, fígado e cérebro de ratos, bem como em corações isolados de ratos, em preparações de Langendorff. As dosagens de adenosina tecidual foram obtidas através de método baseado em HPLC. A análise revelou um aumento médio de 47% e 30% nos níveis de adenosina no coração e fígado, respectivamente, de ratos tratados por gavagem com DMA em relação aos controles. Nos experimentos de corações isolados, a análise das amostras mostrou um aumento médio de 64% da concentração de adenosina nos corações perfundidos com o composto em relação aos controles. Conclusões: Com base nos achados do presente estudo podemos concluir que 1) a adenosina quinase recombinante apresenta atividade enzimática in vitro; 2) os compostos derivados de 4-anilinoquinazolinas DMA e PD153035 inibem a atividade da adenosina quinase recombinante em baixas concentrações, sugerindo um efeito específico e 3) a administração sistêmica de DMA provocou aumento da disponibilidade de adenosina em tecidos e em órgão isolado de ratos, possivelmente em decorrência de inibição da atividade de adenosina quinase tecidual. Tendo em vista a importância dos efeitos da adenosina sobre o sistema biológico e a confirmação da potência e seletividade de compostos 4-anilinoquinazolínicos como inibidores de adenosina quinase, pode-se sugerir o potencial uso terapêutico desses compostos em doenças, cuja origem esteja relacionada com alterações da concentração de adenosina celular / Abstract: Adenosine kinase has a critical role in the control of bioavailability of tissue adenosine. Its inhibition increases the local concentration of adenosine that affects several aspects of cellular functions. The development of pharmacological agents with adenosine kinase inhibitory properties has attracted interest as a promising strategy for therapeutic application. The aim of the present work was to characterize the inhibition effects of 4-anilinoquinazolines derivatives, DMA ¿ -N-(N,N-3'-dimethylphenylamino) -6,7-dimethoxyquinazoline hydrochloride and PD153035 - -N-(3'-bromophenylamino) -6,7- dimethoxyquinazoline hydrochloride on adenosine kinase activity as well as its systemic actions on adenosine levels in tissues. To evaluate the hypothesis of adenosine kinase inhibition by 4-anilinoquinazoline compounds, we performed in vitro assays with recombinant adenosine kinase cloned from mouse liver (~42 KDa). The activity and enzymatic kinetic assay of recombinant adenosine kinase involved monitoring adenosine levels in the reaction mixture by HPLC. Adenosine kinase activity was assayed using saturated concentration of ATP and different concentrations of adenosine. Under these conditions, the reaction was adjusted for the Michaellis-Menten model and kinetics parameters (Km and Vmax) were determined. Considering the adenosine contents, the Km and Vmax values were 2.5 ± 0.28 µM and 38.0 ± 1.26 nmols /min/µg of protein, respectively. Different concentrations of the standard inhibitor 5-iodotubercidin were used and the IC50 value obtained was 100 nM. In vitro enzymatic reactions were carried out to confirm DMA and PD153035 inhibitory effects on adenosine kinase activity. The kinetic reaction evaluation in presence of different DMA and PD153035 concentrations confirmed the inhibitory activity of these compounds on adenosine kinase. The IC50 values determined by the non-linear curve fitting program PRISM were 0.8 nM and 1.2 pM for PD153035 and DMA, respectively. The Cheng-Prusoff equation was used to calculate the Ki values from IC50 values, and they were estimated at 160.0 pM and 0.24 pM for PD153035 and DMA, respectively. We confirmed the hypothesis that the 4-anilinoquinazoline compounds have in vitro inhibitory effects on adenosine kinase activity. Then, we performed in vivo experiments to evaluate if DMA increases the adenosine levels in rat tissues such as heart, brain and liver as well as in the Langendorff preparations of isolated rat heart. An HPLC-based method was used to detect and quantify purine nucleoside adenosine and nucleosides derivatives in rat tissue samples. Adenosine levels in the heart and liver of rats treated with DMA increased average of 47% and 30%, respectively, relative to controls. In experiments using isolated hearts, the sample analysis showed an average 64% increase of adenosine concentrations in the rat hearts perfused with DMA relative to control. Conclusions: We conclude that 1) recombinant adenosine quinase presents enzymatic activity in vitro, 2) 4-anilinoquinazoline derivatives PD153035 and DMA inhibit the activity of recombinant adenosine quinase at low concentrations, suggesting a specific effect and 3) the systemic administration of DMA increases adenosine levels in tissues and isolated rat hearts, possibly due to inhibition of adenosine quinase activity. Considering the importance of adenosine effects on biological systems and adenosine kinase inhibition by 4-anilinoquinazoline compounds, a potential therapeutic use of these compounds in diseases related to cellular alterations of the adenosine levels is suggested. / Doutorado / Ciencias Basicas / Doutor em Clínica Médica

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a inclusão de enzimas exógenas nas rações sobre o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e cortes, digestibilidade de nutrientes, peso relativo do pâncreas, atividade endógena de enzimas e expressão de RNA mensageiro de enzimas pancreáticas de frangos de corte alimentados com dietas contendo enzimas exógenas, no período de 1 a 42 dias de idade. Para tanto, foram conduzidos dois experimentos, o primeiro com a utilização da protease e o segundo, com o uso da α-amilase exógenas. No primeiro experimento, foram utilizados quatro tratamentos com níveis crescentes de inclusão da protease monocomponente à dieta: 0,50%, 100%, 150% da inclusão recomendada pelo fornecedor. As formulações foram a base de milho e farelo de soja e formuladas de acordo com as recomendações nutricionais sugeridas por Rostagno et al. (2011). Não foram observados efeitos significativos da adição da enzima sobre os parâmetros de desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e de cortes, digestibilidade de nutrientes e sobre o peso relativo do pâncreas de frangos de corte. O uso da protease exógenas não alterou (P>0,05) a atividade da tripsina pancreática nas idades avaliadas (21 e 42 dias), porém observou-se o aumento (P<0,05) da expressão de RNA mensageiro da tripsina pancreática em aves aos 42 dias de idade, em função do aumento da inclusão da enzima na dieta. A produção da tripsina pancreática foi maior (P<0,05) nas aves aos 42 dias do que nas aves jovens (21 dias de idade). No segundo experimento, foram utilizados quatro tratamentos com o uso da -amilase exógena, sendo o controle sem o uso de enzimas, 2 tratamentos com a inclusão de α-amilase (50% e 100% da dosagem recomendada pelo fornecedor) e um tratamento com a inclusão da amilase exógena (100% da dosagem recomendada) combinada com o uso de 500 FTU de fitase por quilograma de ração. As formulações foram a base de milho e farelo de soja e formuladas de acordo com as recomendações nutricionais sugeridas por Rostagno et al. (2011). Não foram observados efeitos significativos da adição da α-amilase sobre os parâmetros de desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e de cortes, digestibilidade de nutrientes e sobre o peso relativo do pâncreas de frangos de corte. A suplementação de -amilase nas rações aumentou (P<0,05) a atividade da amilase pancreática e reduziu (P<0,05) a atividade da tripsina endógena em frangos na fase inicial (1 a 21 dias de idade). A expressão de RNA mensageiro da amilase e tripsina pancreática não foram alteradas com o uso das enzimas nas rações. Com o avançar da idade, observou-se o aumento significativo da atividade e da expressão do RNA mensageiro da amilase pancreática, sendo maior aos 42 dias do que aos 21 dias de idade da ave. / The objective of the study was evaluate the inclusion of exogenous enzymes on performance, carcass yield and commercial cuts, nutrient digestibility, relative weight of pancreas, endogenous activity of enzymes and mRNA expression of pancreatic enzymes of broilers fed with diets containing exogenous enzymes, from 1 to 42 days of age. To this end, two experiments were conducted, the first with the use of protease and the second, with the use of exogenous α-amylase. In the first experiment, four treatments with increasing levels of inclusion of single-component protease were used in the diet: 0,50%, 100%, 150% of the inclusion recommended by the supplier. The formulations were based on corn and soybean meal and formulated according to the nutritional recommendations suggested by Rostagno et al. (2011). Significant effects were not observed on the addition of enzyme on performance, carcass yield and commercial cuts, digestibility of nutrients and on the relative weight of the pancreas of broilers. The use of exogenous protease did not change (P>0.05) the activity of pancreatic trypsin in evaluated ages (21 and 42 days), however the increase was observed (P<0.05) in mRNA expression of pancreatic trypsin in 42-days-old birds, due to the increased inclusion of the enzyme in the diet. Pancreatic trypsin production was higher (P<0.05) in 42-days birds than the young birds (21 days of age). In the second experiment, four treatments with the use of exogenous α-amylase were used, being the control without the use of enzymes, 2 treatments with the inclusion of α-amylase (50% and 100% of the dosage recommended by the supplier) and a treatment with the inclusion of exogenous amylase (100% of recommended dosage) combined with the use of 500 FTU of phytase per kilogram of feed. The formulations were based on corn and soybean meal and formulated according to the nutritional recommendations suggested by Rostagno et al. (2011). Significant effects were not observed on the addition of -amylase on performance, carcass yield and commercial cuts, digestibility of nutrients and on the relative weight of the pancreas of broilers. The -amylase supplementation in feed increased (P<0.05) the activity of amylase and reduced (P<0.05) the activity of endogenous trypsin in initial phase chickens (1 to 21dias). mRNA expression of amylase and pancreatic trypsin have not changed with the use of enzymes in feed. As the age increased, there was a significant increase in activity and expression of mRNA of pancreatic amylase, being higher at 42 days than at 21 days of age of the bird.

Duas enzimas do clone PL14.H10 de biblioteca metagenômica de consórcio microbiano degradador de óleo diesel, EST3, da família IV, e EST5, da família V das enzimas lipolíticas, foram caracterizadas. Os modelos estruturais mostraram cap-domínio e grande cavidade interna. A EST3 hidrolisou pNP-ésteres de até 12 carbonos, com Kcat/Km para pNP-acetato foi 1533,27 s-1.mM-1. Já a EST5 hidrolisou pNP-ésteres de 2 a 14 átomos de carbono, com maior atividade em pNP-valerato, e Kcat/Km de 1732,3 s-1.mM-1. Ambas apresentaram o fenômeno da ativação térmica. A atividade máxima da EST5 se deu a 45°C e em pH 7,5. A EST3 exibiu atividade máxima em pH 6,0, a 41°C. A atividade das enzimas aumentou na presença de quase todos os íons testados, e a EST5 quase não foi influenciada por detergentes. Foram relativamente estáveis em solventes orgânicos. Um dos cristais da proteína EST5 difratou a 2,311 Å e espera-se resolver a estrutura desta proteína. Os resultados deste trabalho revelaram interessantes características da EST3 e EST5 para possíveis aplicações biotecnológicas. / Two enzymes of PL14.H10 clone from a metagenomic fosmid library from a microbial consortium specialized for diesel oil degradation, EST3, from family IV, and EST5, from the V of lipolytic enzymes were characterized. Structural models showed cap-domain and large internal cavity. EST3 hydrolyzed pNP-esters of up to 12 carbons, with Kcat/Km in pNP-acetate of 1533.27 s-1.mM-1. EST5 hydrolyzed pNP-esters from 2 to 14 carbon atoms, with greater activity on pNP-valerate, and Kcat/Km of 1732.3 s-1.mM-1. Both showed the thermal activation phenomenon. EST5 activity was optimal at 45°C and pH 7.5. EST3 exhibited maximum activity at pH 6.0, 41°C. The esterases activity increased in the presence of almost all ions tested, and EST5 was not influenced by detergents. They were relatively stable in organic solvents. One of the crystals of EST5 protein diffracted at 2.311 Å and is expected to solve the structure of this protein. The results of this study revealed interesting features of the EST3 and EST5 proteins for possible biotechnological applications.

O fósforo (P) é limitante tanto na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) quanto na atividade da microbiota do solo. Em solos de regiões tropicais, devido à elevada saturação por óxidos de ferro e alumínio, o P se encontra normalmente indisponível às plantas. Portanto, o manejo da adubação de P, baseado no uso de microrganismos capazes de promover uma melhor ciclagem do P, se faz necessário. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi avaliar as mudanças na microbiota do solo e na produtividade da cana-de-açúcar, em condições de campo, em resposta ao manejo orgânico associado à inoculação de bactérias solubilizadoras de fosfato (BSF). Para tanto, foi utilizado um composto, obtido previamente por meio da compostagem de subprodutos da indústria sucroenergética (torta de filtro e cinzas), enriquecido com fosfatos de rocha (fosfato de Araxá-FA ou fosfato de Bayóvar-FB). No campo foram estabelecidos sete tratamentos, sendo um destes o tratamento controle, adubado com superfosfato triplo. Seis tratamentos compreendiam áreas adubadas com composto, sendo duas com composto que continha FA, duas com FB e duas somente com composto sem enriquecimento com P (C). A metade dessas áreas recebeu também inoculação com BSF, contendo os tratamentos FA+I, FB+I e C+I. A inoculação foi feita com Bacillus simplex BACBR04, Bacillus sp. BACBR06 e Rhizobium sp. RIZBR0. As avaliações foram realizadas durante o primeiro ano de cultivo (cana planta) em dois períodos (aos seis e 12 meses). As mudanças na microbiota foram acessadas por meio da atividade das enzimas fosfatases (ácida e alcalina), fitases e β-glucosidase. Mudanças na estrutura da comunidade bacteriana e fúngica foram acessadas por meio do T-RFLP. A abundância dos genes 16S RNAr, phoD (relacionado à solubilização de P) e ITS foram avaliadas por meio de PCR quantitativo. A atividade das fosfatases e β-glucosidase aumentaram com a inoculação na cana adubada com composto enriquecido com fosfato de Araxá (FA+I) e também no solo adubado com composto sem enriquecimento (C+I). Nos tratamentos FA+I e C+I houve incremento do fósforo disponível e aumento de 10% na produtividade, em relação ao tratamento controle (M). As comunidades bacteriana e fúngica do tratamento C+I se estruturaram de forma distinta em relação ao tratamento controle (M). Nos solos inoculados houve menor abundância do gene ITS aos seis meses, enquanto que, para o gene 16S RNAr, os solos inoculados apresentaram menor abundância no período de 12 meses. Verificou-se que o consórcio bacteriano inoculado, associado com a aplicação de composto, superou, no primeiro ano de cultivo, o manejo rotineiramente utilizado em cana-de-açúcar (adubação com superfosfato triplo). É possível que haja efeito residual no decorrer dos ciclos da cana-de-açúcar, o que ainda reforçaria a importância do manejo orgânico associado à inoculação com BSF. / Phosphorus (P) is limiting both the yield of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and the activity of the soil microbiota. In tropical soils, due to the high saturation of iron and aluminum oxides, P is normally unavailable to plants. Therefore, the management of P fertilization, based on the use of microorganisms that promote better P cycling is necessary. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the soil microbiota and in sugarcane yield under field conditions, in response to the organic management associated with the inoculation of phosphate solubilizing bacteria (PSB). In our field experiment, our fertilizer was an organic compost, previously obtained by the composting process of by-products of the sugarcane industry (filter cake and ashes), enriched with rock phosphates (Araxá phosphate-AP or Bayóvar phosphate-BP). Seven treatments were established in the field, one of which was the control treatment, fertilized with triple superphosphate. Six treatments comprised compost fertilized areas, two with compost containing AP, two with BP, and two only with compost, and without any enrichment with P (C). Half of these areas were also inoculated with PSB, containing the treatments AP+I, BP+I and C+I. Field inoculation was done with Bacillus simplex BACBR04, Bacillus sp. BACBR06 and Rhizobium sp. RIZBR0. We performed evaluations during the first year of cultivation at two periods (at six and twelve months after planting). We accessed the changes in the microbiota through the activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases, phytases and β-glucosidase. Changes in bacterial and fungal community structure were accessed through T-RFLP. We evaluated the abundance of the 16S RNAr, phoD (related to P solubilization) and ITS genes by quantitative PCR. The phosphatases and β-glucosidase activity increased with the inoculation in sugarcane fertilized with compost and enriched with Araxá phosphate (AP+I) and in the soil fertilized with compost, but without any enrichment (C+I). In these treatments (AP+I and C+I), we found an increase in available phosphorus and a 10% increase in productivity, in relation to the control treatment (M). The bacterial and fungal communities of the treatments C+I presented a different structure in relation to the control treatment (M). In the soils that received bacterial inoculations, there was a lower abundance of the ITS gene at six months, whereas for the 16S RNAr gene the inoculated soils presented lower abundance at 12 months. We verified that the inoculated bacterial consortium, associated with the application of compost, overcame the conventional management in sugarcane (triple superphosphate fertilizer) in the first year of cultivation. In addition, it is possible residual effect during the sugarcane cycles, which would further reinforce the importance of organic management associated with BSF inoculation.

This research explores Isothermal Titration Calorimetry as a method for measuring beta-galactosidase activity directly and continuously in milk, sweet whey, sweet whey permeate, acid whey, and acid whey permeate. Beta-galactosidase in various concentrations was injected into each of the liquid dairy products spiked with lactose to verify if the heat rate from the enzymatic reaction could be observed. In addition, a consistent concentration of beta-galactosidase was injected into various concentrations of lactose in the products, to observe the heat rates from the enzymatic reaction. There was exothermic activity that never returned to baseline demonstrated in milk, sweet whey, and sweet whey permeate with beta-galactosidase from Kluyveromyces lactis in runs done in the isothermal titration calorimeter. The baseline was approximately 3-9 uJ/s above the control's baseline at the end of the runs. The exothermic activity ranged from approximately 2-10 uJ/s and did not return to baseline when beta-galactosidase concentrations were varied and lactose concentrations remained the same. The exothermic heat rate was approximately 3-7 uJ/s when lactose concentrations were varied and enzyme concentrations remained the same. With runs with increasing lactose concentrations, there was no corresponding increase in the exothermal reaction indicating saturation of the enzyme. There was a short exothermic reaction(s), ranging from approximately 3-26 uJ/s, demonstrated when varying concentrations of beta-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae in acid whey and acid whey permeate were injected into a consistent concentration of lactose in acid whey and acid whey permeate. There was a pattern of increasing heat with increasing concentrations of enzyme, with some of these differences being statistically significant. There was also a short exothermic reaction(s), ranging from approximately 2-17 uJ/s, demonstrated when a consistent concentration of beta-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae was injected into varying concentrations of lactose. There was a pattern of increasing heat rate with increasing concentrations of lactose, with some of these differences being statistically significant. This research demonstrates that ITC is a useful method for measuring residual beta-galactosidase and/or residual lactose in liquid dairy products. This research leads to further understanding of how enzymes and substrates interact directly in the food matrix, rather than in an isolated environment.

abstract: Soil organic carbon (SOC) is a critical component of the global carbon (C) cycle, accounting for more C than the biotic and atmospheric pools combined. Microbes play an important role in soil C cycling, with abiotic conditions such as soil moisture and temperature governing microbial activity and subsequent soil C processes. Predictions for future climate include warmer temperatures and altered precipitation regimes, suggesting impacts on future soil C cycling. However, it is uncertain how soil microbial communities and subsequent soil organic carbon pools will respond to these changes, particularly in dryland ecosystems. A knowledge gap exists in soil microbial community responses to short- versus long-term precipitation alteration in dryland systems. Assessing soil C cycle processes and microbial community responses under current and altered precipitation patterns will aid in understanding how C pools and cycling might be altered by climate change. This study investigates how soil microbial communities are influenced by established climate regimes and extreme changes in short-term precipitation patterns across a 1000 m elevation gradient in northern Arizona, where precipitation increases with elevation. Precipitation was manipulated (50% addition and 50% exclusion of ambient rainfall) for two summer rainy seasons at five sites across the elevation gradient. In situ and ex situ soil CO2 flux, microbial biomass C, extracellular enzyme activity, and SOC were measured in precipitation treatments in all sites. Soil CO2 flux, microbial biomass C, extracellular enzyme activity, and SOC were highest at the three highest elevation sites compared to the two lowest elevation sites. Within sites, precipitation treatments did not change microbial biomass C, extracellular enzyme activity, and SOC. Soil CO2 flux was greater under precipitation addition treatments than exclusion treatments at both the highest elevation site and second lowest elevation site. Ex situ respiration differed among the precipitation treatments only at the lowest elevation site, where respiration was enhanced in the precipitation addition plots. These results suggest soil C cycling will respond to long-term changes in precipitation, but pools and fluxes of carbon will likely show site-specific sensitivities to short-term precipitation patterns that are also expected with climate change. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Biology 2019

Membrane-based filtration technologies have seen rapid inclusion in a variety of industrial processes, especially production of drinking water by desalination. Biological fouling of membranes is a challenge that leads to increased costs from efficiency reductions, membrane damage, and ultimately, membrane replacement over time. Such costs can be mitigated by monitoring and optimizing cleaning processes for better prognosis. A fluorescence-based sensor for early biofouling detection capable of measuring extracellular enzyme activity was developed. The selected fluorogen and fluorogen-substrate were characterized and down selected by in vitro screening for compatibility in seawater and profiled over relevant Red Sea desalination parameters (pH and temperature). ATP measurements are currently regarded as start-of-the-art when assessing biomass accumulation in membrane-based filtration systems Therefore, the fluorescence sensor response was measured for a range of bacterial concentrations and validated using an ATP assay. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach for the quantitative assessment of bacteria activity in seawater rapidly and sensitively. Following in vitro testing, the method was employed in a lab-scale seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) system for suitability in monitoring biofouling formation. The sensor successfully measured bacterial biomass accumulation rapidly and non-invasively using exogenously applied fluorogen-substrates. The sensor response was corroborated with real-time in situ non-destructive imaging of the membrane surface. This approach demonstrates the practicality of prototyping an early-detection biofouling sensor in membrane based processes using extracellular enzyme activity as a measure of bacterial abundance.