Biocere verkörpern eine neue Klasse von keramischen Funktionswerkstoffen, deren Eigenschaften entscheidend von den konkreten Herstellungsbedingungen beeinflusst werden. Am Beispiel ausgewählter Biocere mit immobilisierten vegetativen Zellen und Sporen von Bacillus sphaericus JG-A12 wurden im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit Zusammenhänge zwischen Gefügeausbildung und Funktionalität, besonders unter dem Gesichtspunkt metallbindender Eigenschaften, untersucht. Mit Hilfe von Fluoreszenzfarbstoffen konnte die räumliche Verteilung der Biokomponente in der Matrix, die Überlebensfähigkeit der immobilisierten vegetativen Zellen und das Verhalten von Bakteriensuspensionen in Gegenwart von verschiedenen Metallionen untersucht werden. Mit ionensensitiven Fluoreszenzfarbstoffen wurde die Aufnahme von Kupfer(II) und Nickel(II) in lebende Bakterien unter Kontrolle des physiologischen Status der Zellen verfolgt. Es wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Aufnahme von Metallionen von der Erhöhung des intrazellulären Ca2+-Spiegels begleitet und die Aufnahmeraten sowie die Ca2+-abhängige Zellantwort stammspezifisch und von der Konzentration der Metallsalzlösung abhängig sind. Durch Immobilisierung bakterieller Sporen in dünnen Sol-Gel-Schichten konnten langzeitlagerfähige Biokeramiken erzeugt werden, die sich durch die Aktivierung mit einem 1:1 Komplex aus Ca2+ und Dipicolinsäure gezielt aus Ruhephasen in biologisch aktive Zustände schalten ließen. Im Durchschnitt führt die vorherige Aktivierung der Sporen mit Ca2+-DPA zu einer fünf- bis achtfach erhöhten Keimungsrate. Mit Hilfe einer kapazitiven Messanordnung wurden darüber hinaus an diesen Schichten während der Keimung auftretende mechanische Spannungszustände nachgewiesen und quantifiziert. Biocere unterliegen während ihrer Nutzung als Filtermaterialien überwiegend durch mikrobielle Einflüsse hervorgerufenen Materialveränderungen, die mit licht- und rasterelektronenmikroskopischen Untersuchungen nachgewiesen wurden. Diese Untersuchungen sind als Teil eines Monitoring-Systems zur kontinuierlichen Überwachung von Filtersystemen denkbar. / Biocers embody a new class of ceramic functional materials in which the properties are mainly determined by the specific production conditions. The interplay between structure formation and functionality of selected biocers containing immobilised vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus sphaericus JG-A12 was investigated under special consideration of metal binding properties. Spatial distribution of the bio-component inside the matrix, the viability of the immobilised vegetative cells, as well as the behaviour of cell suspensions in the presence of different metal ions were examined using fluorescence dyes. The uptake of copper(II) and nickel(II) ions into the living cells while monitoring of their physiological state were detected using different ion-sensitive fluorescence dyes. As expected, the uptake of metal ions was thereby accompanied by an increase of the intracellular Ca2+ level. Further, the uptake rate of metal ions and the Ca2+ dependent cellular reaction are strain-specific and depend on the metal ion concentration. Bioceramics suitable for long-term storage were produced through immobilisation of bacterial spores in thin sol-gel layers. The switch from the metabolic inactive to the active state of the bio-component was achieved by the activation with a 1:1 ratio of the chelate of Ca2+ and dipicolinic acid. The average germination rate after activation with Ca2+-DPA was increased by five- to eightfold. The mechanical stress conditions during the germination of spores inside these silica layers were measured and quantified using a capacitive deflection measurement. As filter materials, biocers are affected by microbial determined degrading impacts. Material alterations could be detected by light and scanning electron microscopic methods. Such investigations should be considered part and parcel of monitoring systems required for continuous checks of filter systems.

No description available.

To assist in developing a more precise understanding of past climatic changes in southern Africa, further pollen analytical research is required. In the past, pollen sites in the subregion have been restricted to swampy areas such as permanent springs and peat deposits. While such sites are often rare as a consequence of the aridity of the country, rich polliniferous deposits can be found in the peatlands surrounding coastal lakes in the Maputaland Coastal Plain. The Mfabeni peatland, situated on the eastern shores of St. Lucia, contains relatively old sediments dating back to >45000 years bp at a depth of 7.80m. A multi-proxy approach, comprising radiocarbon, stable carbon isotope (513C) and palynological analysis, was applied in the investigation of Late Quaternary climatic conditions and vegetation changes along the Maputaland Coastal Plain. A single 10 m sediment core, dating back to >45000 years bp, was extracted from the Mfabeni Peatland. A detailed fossil pollen analysis of Mfabeni sediments indicated the existence of extensive Podocarpus-abundant coastal forests before ca. 44500 years bp. The onset of wetter local conditions after this time is inferred from forest retreat and the development of swampy conditions, which prevailed until ca. 25000 Cal years BP. Conditions during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 18000 years BP) are inferred to have been generally colder and drier, as evidenced by forest retreat and replacement of swampy reed/sedge communities by dry grassland. A significant depletion in 813C values at ca. 18200 Cal years BP indicates the dominance of C3 vegetation during the LGM, reflecting considerably colder conditions. This is in agreement with palaeoenvironmental indications from elsewhere in the Transvaalian Ecozone, although conditions at Mfabeni were more moderated in their manifestation, which can be attributed to the proximity of this site to the ocean. Cool, relatively moist conditions are inferred for the Holocene Altithermal (ca. 8000-6000 years BP), as evidenced by forest growth and expansion during this time. Warm, dry conditions are inferred for the Late Holocene, with the establishment of grassland/savanna type vegetation in the area after ca. 2000 Cal years BP. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2005.

Les microfossiles non-polliniques, des restes de divers organismes préservés dans les sédiments lacustres ou tourbeux, sont de plus en plus couramment employés en paléoécologie. Parmi ces microrestes, les spores de champignons coprophiles sont privilégiées dans les reconstructions des activités humaines telles que les activités pastorales. L'aptitude de ces spores à refléter la présence ou l'abondance des troupeaux n'est pas encore complètement comprise. Des analogues modernes ont été collectés dans deux zones d'estive, dans les montagnes du Pays Basque et d'Ossau. Des analyses de gradients contraintes par des variables environnementales ont permis d'identifier des assemblages non-polliniques associés à diverses conditions environnementales en contexte humide et terrestre. Un cortège d'ascospores de groupes coprophiles liées aux activités pastorales a pu être isolé. Les référentiels ont également fourni des informations sur la portée spatiale de l'information non-pollinique.Les microfossiles non-polliniques ont été étudiés dans quatre séquences tourbeuses en complément d'autres sources d'informations paléoenvironnementales (pollen, signal incendie). Ils ont fourni les informations sur les dynamiques des quatre sites durant l'Holocène et les périodes historiques. Les résultats des référentiels sont appliqués à l'interprétation des dynamiques pastorales. Les résultats modernes et fossiles montrent que la charge pastorale n'est pas le seul paramètre qui influence les signaux coprophiles ; ces spores pourraient avoir un potentiel d'indicateurs paléoenvironnementaux et pastoraux plus étendu qu'attendu.Les ascospores de groupes coprophiles sont décrites et illustrées ainsi que d'autres microfossiles fongiques, algaux et indéterminés.

Concern regarding the health effects of indoor air quality has grown in recent years, due to the increased prevalence of many diseases, as well as the fact that many people now spend most of their time indoors. While numerous studies have reported on the dynamics of aerosols indoors, the dynamics of bioaerosols in indoor environments are still poorly understood and very few studies have focused on fungal spore dynamics in indoor environments. Consequently, this work investigated the dynamics of fungal spores in indoor air, including fungal spore release and deposition, as well as investigating the mechanisms involved in the fungal spore fragmentation process. In relation to the investigation of fungal spore dynamics, it was found that the deposition rates of the bioaerosols (fungal propagules) were in the same range as the deposition rates of nonbiological particles and that they were a function of their aerodynamic diameters. It was also found that fungal particle deposition rates increased with increasing ventilation rates. These results (which are reported for the first time) are important for developing an understanding of the dynamics of fungal spores in the air. In relation to the process of fungal spore fragmentation, important information was generated concerning the airborne dynamics of the spores, as well as the part/s of the fungi which undergo fragmentation. The results obtained from these investigations into the dynamics of fungal propagules in indoor air significantly advance knowledge about the fate of fungal propagules in indoor air, as well as their deposition in the respiratory tract. The need to develop an advanced, real-time method for monitoring bioaerosols has become increasingly important in recent years, particularly as a result of the increased threat from biological weapons and bioterrorism. However, to date, the Ultraviolet Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (UVAPS, Model 3312, TSI, St Paul, MN) is the only commercially available instrument capable of monitoring and measuring viable airborne micro-organisms in real-time. Therefore (for the first time), this work also investigated the ability of the UVAPS to measure and characterise fungal spores in indoor air. The UVAPS was found to be sufficiently sensitive for detecting and measuring fungal propagules. Based on fungal spore size distributions, together with fluorescent percentages and intensities, it was also found to be capable of discriminating between two fungal spore species, under controlled laboratory conditions. In the field, however, it would not be possible to use the UVAPS to differentiate between different fungal spore species because the different micro-organisms present in the air may not only vary in age, but may have also been subjected to different environmental conditions. In addition, while the real-time UVAPS was found to be a good tool for the investigation of fungal particles under controlled conditions, it was not found to be selective for bioaerosols only (as per design specifications). In conclusion, the UVAPS is not recommended for use in the direct measurement of airborne viable bioaerosols in the field, including fungal particles, and further investigations into the nature of the micro-organisms, the UVAPS itself and/or its use in conjunction with other conventional biosamplers, are necessary in order to obtain more realistic results. Overall, the results obtained from this work on airborne fungal particle dynamics will contribute towards improving the detection capabilities of the UVAPS, so that it is capable of selectively monitoring and measuring bioaerosols, for which it was originally designed. This work will assist in finding and/or improving other technologies capable of the real-time monitoring of bioaerosols. The knowledge obtained from this work will also be of benefit in various other bioaerosol applications, such as understanding the transport of bioaerosols indoors.

La maîtrise du développement des moisissures retrouvées dans le contexte agro-alimentaire parmi les flores microbiennes d'altération ou technologiques répond à des enjeux économiques et sanitaires importants. Le développement des moisissures peut être affecté par des facteurs abiotiques comme la température, l'activité de l'eau (aw) ou la composition gazeuse. L'évaluation de l'effet de ces facteurs via des outils de mycologie prévisionnelle vise à prévoir l'altération fongique des aliments. Ce travail a pour objectif d'explorer l'impact des conditions environnementales sur la physiologie de moisissures d'intérêt pour l'industrie agro-alimentaire.L'effet de la température, de l'aw ajustée par du glycérol ou du chlorure de sodium (NaCl) du pH et de la composition gazeuse a été évalué sur la germination des spores et/ou la croissance radiale de cinq moisissures: Paecilomyces niveus, Mucor lanceolatus, Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium expansum et Penicillium roqueforti. Au niveau appliqué, ces travaux ont montré que l'effet du NaCl ou de la composition gazeuse peuvent être inclus dans une approche de mycologie prévisionnelle. Le choix des souches représentatives d'une espèce fongique et l'état physiologique des spores utilisées comme inoculum ont un impact significatif sur les modèles prédictifs.Au niveau fondamental, des marqueurs ont été recherchés pour évaluer l'effet des facteurs abiotiques sur la physiologie des spores. La température et l'aw ont un effet significatif sur l'état physiologique des spores et leur germination. La recherche de marqueurs moléculaire, contribuera aux connaissances de l'effet des facteurs abiotiques sur la physiologie des moisissures. / In the food processing industry, controlling the development of filamentous fungi encountered as spoilers or technological cultures address significant economic and sanitary issues. Fungal development in foods is mainly determined by abiotic factors including temperature, water activity (aw) or the headspace gas composition. The quantification of these respective effects through a predictive mycology approach aims at preventing fungal food spoilage. The present work aims at exploring the effect of environmental conditions on the physiology of filamentous fungi of interest in the food processing industry.The effect of temperature, aw (adjusted with glycerol of sodium chloride), pH and headspace gas composition was evaluated on conidial germination and/or radial growth of five fungi isolated from dairy products: Paecilomyces niveus, Mucor lanceolatus, Penicillium brevicompactum, Penicillium expansum and Penicillium roqueforti. The present work suggests that the specific effects of sodium chloride or gas composition could be included in predictive mycology approaches. It was also demonstrated that the selection of strains representative of a fungal species and the physiological state of conidia utilized as inoculum have a significant effect on the final predictive models.At the fundamental level, markers were investigated to study the effect of abitoic factors on the physiological state of spores. The temperature and aw significantly affected the physiological state of spores and their germination kinetics. The investigation of markers at the molecular level could provide better knowledges on the effect of abiotic factors on the physiology of filamentous fungi.

O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores mundiais de suco de laranja, da mesma forma que a produção é elevada, a geração de resíduos também é significativa. Sabe-se que estes resíduos, os quais incluem sementes, cascas e restos de polpa são ricos em nutrientes que poderiam ser utilizados como substrato por micro-organismos, seja para o crescimento ou para a obtenção de subprodutos. Esporos de Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC 9372 são utilizados como indicadores biológicos, IBs, em processos térmicos por formarem esporos termorresistentes. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de resíduos do processamento de suco de laranja como um meio de cultura alternativo para obtenção de esporos de B. atrophaeus, para serem aplicados em processos industriais. Ao bagaço de laranja (de 1,0 g a 20,0 g), obtido por processamento em centrífuga de frutas, foram adicionados 100 mL de água, e incubados a 150 rpm / 37 ºC por até 6 dias. Evidenciada a viabilidade de crescimento celular (µmáx = 0,0238 h-1 e Px = 0,0787 g/L.h, para 5,0 g de bagaço) procedeu-se ao estudo de planejamento experimental fatorial 22 em formato estrela com 6 pontos centrais, considerando a concentração de bagaço e o volume de meio. Foram determinados os valores de pH, de biomassa, de esporos viáveis e a resistência térmica dos mesmos a 102 ºC. Observou-se que houve aumento nos valores de pH após o cultivo e que as maiores concentrações de esporos foram de 1,73 x 109 esporos /mL e 5,75 x 109 esporos /mL após 3 e 6 dias de cultivo e os tempos de redução decimal determinados variaram de D102C = 0,92 min a D102C = 2,71 min e de D102C = 1,34 min a D102C = 3,98 min após 3 e 6 dias de cultivo, respectivamente. Com base no planejamento proposto e a análise de regressão, o desenvolvimento de esporos em bagaço segue a relação: Esporos = {-1,15 + 0,0303* [bagaço (g)] - 0,00611* [volume (mL)] + 0,611* [tempo (dias)]}, p=0,000, R2 =0,452, sendo o tempo (p=0,000) o fator de maior influência na formação de esporos. Os meios preparados com bagaço de laranja apresentaram-se viáveis para a produção de esporos de B. atrophaeus termorresistentes, produto de interesse farmacêutico e industrial, agregando valor ao resíduo que seria descartado. / Brazil is one of the world´s largest producers of oranges juice, in the same way that the production is high the amount of generated waste is also significant. It is well known that these residues, which include seeds, peel and pulp, are rich in nutrients that could be used as substrate by microorganisms whether for growth or for obtaining by-products. Bacillus atrophaeus ATCC 9372 spores are used as biological indicators, BIs, in thermal processes due to their ability to form heat-resistant spores. This study aimed to evaluate the use of orange juice processing waste as an alternative culture media to obtain B. atrophaeus spores, to be applied in industrial processes. To orange\'s bagasse (from 1.0 g to 20.0 g), obtained by processing in a fruit\'s centrifuge, 100 mL of water was added, and sterilized at 121 ºC. An aliquot of 0.1g/L of Bacillus atrophaeus spores was inoculated to bagasses\'s media and incubated at 150 rpm / 37 ºC up to 6 days. As cells (µmáx = 0.0238 h-1 and Px = 0.0787 g/L.h, for 5.0 g of bagasse) were obtained, a factorial experimental design 22, with star-shaped model and 6 central points, was performed considering the bagasse concentration and the media volume used. Values of pH, biomass, viable spores and their thermal resistance at 102 ºC were determined. It was observed that pH increased after cultivation and major values of spore concentration achieved were 1.73 x 109 spores /mL and 5.75 x 109 spores /mL after 3 and 6 days, respectively. Decimal reduction times determined ranged from D102C = 0.92 min to D102C = 2.71 min and from D102C = 1.34 min to D102C = 3.98 min after 3 and 6 days of incubation, correspondingly. The regression analysis showed that the development of spores in bagasse can be defined by the equation: Spores = , p=0.000, R2 =0.452 and time has a positive influence in the spore formation. Results demonstrated media prepared with oranges\' bagasse were capable to grow and to develop B. atrophaeus heat-resistant spores, being an alternative to add value to a waste that would be discarded, generating a product of great importance in the pharmaceutical field.

No description available.

Biocere verkörpern eine neue Klasse von keramischen Funktionswerkstoffen, deren Eigenschaften entscheidend von den konkreten Herstellungsbedingungen beeinflusst werden. Am Beispiel ausgewählter Biocere mit immobilisierten vegetativen Zellen und Sporen von Bacillus sphaericus JG-A12 wurden im Rahmen der vorliegenden Arbeit Zusammenhänge zwischen Gefügeausbildung und Funktionalität, besonders unter dem Gesichtspunkt metallbindender Eigenschaften, untersucht. Mit Hilfe von Fluoreszenzfarbstoffen konnte die räumliche Verteilung der Biokomponente in der Matrix, die Überlebensfähigkeit der immobilisierten vegetativen Zellen und das Verhalten von Bakteriensuspensionen in Gegenwart von verschiedenen Metallionen untersucht werden. Mit ionensensitiven Fluoreszenzfarbstoffen wurde die Aufnahme von Kupfer(II) und Nickel(II) in lebende Bakterien unter Kontrolle des physiologischen Status der Zellen verfolgt. Es wurde nachgewiesen, dass die Aufnahme von Metallionen von der Erhöhung des intrazellulären Ca2+-Spiegels begleitet und die Aufnahmeraten sowie die Ca2+-abhängige Zellantwort stammspezifisch und von der Konzentration der Metallsalzlösung abhängig sind. Durch Immobilisierung bakterieller Sporen in dünnen Sol-Gel-Schichten konnten langzeitlagerfähige Biokeramiken erzeugt werden, die sich durch die Aktivierung mit einem 1:1 Komplex aus Ca2+ und Dipicolinsäure gezielt aus Ruhephasen in biologisch aktive Zustände schalten ließen. Im Durchschnitt führt die vorherige Aktivierung der Sporen mit Ca2+-DPA zu einer fünf- bis achtfach erhöhten Keimungsrate. Mit Hilfe einer kapazitiven Messanordnung wurden darüber hinaus an diesen Schichten während der Keimung auftretende mechanische Spannungszustände nachgewiesen und quantifiziert. Biocere unterliegen während ihrer Nutzung als Filtermaterialien überwiegend durch mikrobielle Einflüsse hervorgerufenen Materialveränderungen, die mit licht- und rasterelektronenmikroskopischen Untersuchungen nachgewiesen wurden. Diese Untersuchungen sind als Teil eines Monitoring-Systems zur kontinuierlichen Überwachung von Filtersystemen denkbar. / Biocers embody a new class of ceramic functional materials in which the properties are mainly determined by the specific production conditions. The interplay between structure formation and functionality of selected biocers containing immobilised vegetative cells and spores of Bacillus sphaericus JG-A12 was investigated under special consideration of metal binding properties. Spatial distribution of the bio-component inside the matrix, the viability of the immobilised vegetative cells, as well as the behaviour of cell suspensions in the presence of different metal ions were examined using fluorescence dyes. The uptake of copper(II) and nickel(II) ions into the living cells while monitoring of their physiological state were detected using different ion-sensitive fluorescence dyes. As expected, the uptake of metal ions was thereby accompanied by an increase of the intracellular Ca2+ level. Further, the uptake rate of metal ions and the Ca2+ dependent cellular reaction are strain-specific and depend on the metal ion concentration. Bioceramics suitable for long-term storage were produced through immobilisation of bacterial spores in thin sol-gel layers. The switch from the metabolic inactive to the active state of the bio-component was achieved by the activation with a 1:1 ratio of the chelate of Ca2+ and dipicolinic acid. The average germination rate after activation with Ca2+-DPA was increased by five- to eightfold. The mechanical stress conditions during the germination of spores inside these silica layers were measured and quantified using a capacitive deflection measurement. As filter materials, biocers are affected by microbial determined degrading impacts. Material alterations could be detected by light and scanning electron microscopic methods. Such investigations should be considered part and parcel of monitoring systems required for continuous checks of filter systems.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Spore photoproduct lyase (SPL) is a radical SAM (S-adenosylmethionine) enzyme that is responsible for the repair of the DNA UV damage product 5-thyminyl-5,6-dihydrothymine (also called spore photoproduct, SP) in the early germination phase of bacterial endospores. SPL initiates the SP repair process using 5'-dA• (5'-deoxyadenosyl radical) generated by SAM cleavage to abstract the H6proR atom which results in a thymine allylic radical. These studies provide strong evidence that the TpT radical likely receives an H atom from an intrinsic H atom donor, C141 in B. subtilis SPL. I have shown that C141 can be alkylated in native SPL by iodoacetamide treatment indicating that it is accessible to the TpT radical. Activity studies demonstrate a 3-fold slower repair rate of SP by C141A which produces TpTSO2 - and TpT simultaneously with no lag phase observed for TpTSO2- formation. Additionally, formation of both products shows a Dvmax kinetic isotope effect (KIE) of 1.7 ± 0.2 which is smaller than the DVmax KIE of 2.8 ± 0.3 for the WT SPL reaction. Removal of the intrinsic H atom donor by this single mutation disrupts the rate-limiting process in the enzyme catalysis. Moreover, C141A exhibits ~0.4 turnover compared to the > 5 turnovers in the WT SPL reaction. In Y97 and Y99 studies, structural and biochemical data suggest that these two tyrosine residues are also crucial in enzyme catalysis. It is suggested that Y99 in B. subtilis SPL uses a novel hydrogen atom transfer pathway utilizing a pair of cysteinetyrosine residues to regenerate SAM. The second tyrosine, Y97, structurally assists in SAM binding and may also contribute to SAM regeneration by interacting with radical intermediates to lower the energy barrier for the second H-abstraction step.