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Biological chromium (VI) reduction by chromium-resistant Ochrobactrum anthropi isolated from tannery effluent
New Biotechnology · Volume 25S · September 2009
ABSTRACTS
5.0.05 Discovery of a novel crystal protein from Pakistani Bacillus thuringiensis strain toxic to Tribolium casteneum (Hebst) (coleoptera: tenebrionidae) M. Kausar Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
The biotoxicity analysis of crystal protein of some Bacillus thuringiensis strains has been carried out against the larvae of red flour beetle Tribolium casteneum (Hebst), previously. Seven isolates were found highly active against T. casteneum. The most toxic isolate SG31.11 has calculated LC50 value of 0.2 g/mg of artificial diet. Presently, the active protein of isolate SG31.11was sequenced and data showed that it resembles with a novel Cry3 protein. doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2009.06.909
home gardens, temple gardens, cultivated areas and wild areas in Valikamam region and grown in pots with garden soil:sand:cow dung (1:1:1) kept inside the green house (herbs) and outside the garden (shrubs, climbers and trees). These medicinal plants were identified, classified, photographed after they mature and a checklist was prepared (Medicinal plants. Jayaweera 1978, Checklist of some medicinal plants of botanical and general interest with brief description, Mr K.S. Kugathasan, 2004). doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2009.06.910
5.0.07 Biological chromium (VI) reduction by chromiumresistant Ochrobactrum anthropi isolated from tannery effluent S. Sultan ∗ , S. Hasnain University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
5.0.06 Ex situ conservation of medicinal plants in Valikamam area of the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka J. Nandakumar University of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is blessed with over 1400 medicinal plant species comprising nearly 24% of the Islands flowering plants. These plants have been identified as having a wide array of medicinal properties for one or more of over 300 different ailments and diseases. Associated with them are rich tradition and a wealth of indigenous knowledge on their use either alone or in mixture against a wide range of diseases and ailments. Knowledge of such plants is useful. The objectives of this preliminary study are to explore the possibility of ex situ conservation of medicinal plants in Valikamam. The objectives of the ex situ conservation unit at Department of Botany are threefold, to make an awareness for the students and public about the species richness and availability of medicinal plants in Valikamam, Jaffna; to continue future study of development of rapid and simple propagation techniques to overcome the short supply of planting material which is one of the most serious constraints to the wide spread cultivation of medicinal plants that can earn foreign exchange in Jaffna, Sri Lanka (propagation and sustainable use of medicinal plants) and expanding and increasing ex situ and in situ conservation units in the hope to ease the pressure on wild stocks of medicinal plants because over exploitation from the natural habitat causes habitat degradation and substantial reduction of wild population; to serve as a unit of conservation of Biodiversity medicinal plants of Valikamam, Jaffna. Information about the local names of medicinal plants in Valikamam region was gathered from local people, Siddha doctors and Mr K.S. Kugathasan (Ecologist, President, Field Work Centre, Jaffna) and these plants were collected as seeds, seedlings and cuttings from various places in Valikamam area and conserved as ex situ conservation in green house, Department of Botany, University of Jaffna. This study was carried out from March 2004 to October 2004. Nearly 150 medicinal plants were collected from S370
www.elsevier.com/locate/nbt
Widespread use of chromium compounds in different industries has resulted in extensive environmental contamination of water and soil systems. Chromium-resistant bacteria isolated from industrial wastes can be used to detoxify/remove toxic chromium from contaminated sources. From the effluent of Shafiq Tannery, Kasur, Pakistan, four bacterial strains STCr-1, STCr-2, STCr-3 and STCr-4 which could endure 40 mg ml−1 of potassium chromate in nutrient agar medium were isolated. All of them were gram negative, aerobic and motile rods. One strain STCr-1, identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi by 16S rRNA gene sequence homology, demonstrated substantial Cr(VI) reduction at pH 7 and temperature 37◦ C. It reduced Cr(VI) to 100%, 71.2% and 42.8% at concentrations of 200, 500 and 1000 g ml−1 , respectively. Rate of Cr(VI) reduction increased with increase in cell and Cr(VI) concentration. The presence of Cu2+ , Co2+ and Mn2+ significantly stimulated Cr(VI) reduction. Assay with cell free extracts clearly indicated that Cr(VI) reduction was solely associated with the soluble fraction of the cell. High Cr(VI) resistance as well as high Cr(VI) reduction capacity makes it an appropriate candidate for the bioremediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated wastes. doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2009.06.911
5.0.08 Effect of pesticide exposure in erythrocyte membrane bound acetylcholinesterase P. Sathishkumar ∗ , T. Palvannnan, R.V. Rajesh, R. Boopathy Periyar University, Salem, India
Thirty-eight blood samples were collected from pesticide affected subjects (showing abnormal symptoms) in Enmakaje Grama Panchayath at Kasaragod district in Kerala, India. Samples collected were analysed for their cholinesterases activity and further to confirm the alteration in the levels, the normal persons living in Kasaragod and Coimbatore were also studied. The hemoglobin levels from pesticide affected subjects did not show significant dif-
ABSTRACTS
5.0.05 Discovery of a novel crystal protein from Pakistani Bacillus thuringiensis strain toxic to Tribolium casteneum (Hebst) (coleoptera: tenebrionidae) M. Kausar Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan
The biotoxicity analysis of crystal protein of some Bacillus thuringiensis strains has been carried out against the larvae of red flour beetle Tribolium casteneum (Hebst), previously. Seven isolates were found highly active against T. casteneum. The most toxic isolate SG31.11 has calculated LC50 value of 0.2 g/mg of artificial diet. Presently, the active protein of isolate SG31.11was sequenced and data showed that it resembles with a novel Cry3 protein. doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2009.06.909
home gardens, temple gardens, cultivated areas and wild areas in Valikamam region and grown in pots with garden soil:sand:cow dung (1:1:1) kept inside the green house (herbs) and outside the garden (shrubs, climbers and trees). These medicinal plants were identified, classified, photographed after they mature and a checklist was prepared (Medicinal plants. Jayaweera 1978, Checklist of some medicinal plants of botanical and general interest with brief description, Mr K.S. Kugathasan, 2004). doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2009.06.910
5.0.07 Biological chromium (VI) reduction by chromiumresistant Ochrobactrum anthropi isolated from tannery effluent S. Sultan ∗ , S. Hasnain University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
5.0.06 Ex situ conservation of medicinal plants in Valikamam area of the Jaffna Peninsula, Sri Lanka J. Nandakumar University of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is blessed with over 1400 medicinal plant species comprising nearly 24% of the Islands flowering plants. These plants have been identified as having a wide array of medicinal properties for one or more of over 300 different ailments and diseases. Associated with them are rich tradition and a wealth of indigenous knowledge on their use either alone or in mixture against a wide range of diseases and ailments. Knowledge of such plants is useful. The objectives of this preliminary study are to explore the possibility of ex situ conservation of medicinal plants in Valikamam. The objectives of the ex situ conservation unit at Department of Botany are threefold, to make an awareness for the students and public about the species richness and availability of medicinal plants in Valikamam, Jaffna; to continue future study of development of rapid and simple propagation techniques to overcome the short supply of planting material which is one of the most serious constraints to the wide spread cultivation of medicinal plants that can earn foreign exchange in Jaffna, Sri Lanka (propagation and sustainable use of medicinal plants) and expanding and increasing ex situ and in situ conservation units in the hope to ease the pressure on wild stocks of medicinal plants because over exploitation from the natural habitat causes habitat degradation and substantial reduction of wild population; to serve as a unit of conservation of Biodiversity medicinal plants of Valikamam, Jaffna. Information about the local names of medicinal plants in Valikamam region was gathered from local people, Siddha doctors and Mr K.S. Kugathasan (Ecologist, President, Field Work Centre, Jaffna) and these plants were collected as seeds, seedlings and cuttings from various places in Valikamam area and conserved as ex situ conservation in green house, Department of Botany, University of Jaffna. This study was carried out from March 2004 to October 2004. Nearly 150 medicinal plants were collected from S370
www.elsevier.com/locate/nbt
Widespread use of chromium compounds in different industries has resulted in extensive environmental contamination of water and soil systems. Chromium-resistant bacteria isolated from industrial wastes can be used to detoxify/remove toxic chromium from contaminated sources. From the effluent of Shafiq Tannery, Kasur, Pakistan, four bacterial strains STCr-1, STCr-2, STCr-3 and STCr-4 which could endure 40 mg ml−1 of potassium chromate in nutrient agar medium were isolated. All of them were gram negative, aerobic and motile rods. One strain STCr-1, identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi by 16S rRNA gene sequence homology, demonstrated substantial Cr(VI) reduction at pH 7 and temperature 37◦ C. It reduced Cr(VI) to 100%, 71.2% and 42.8% at concentrations of 200, 500 and 1000 g ml−1 , respectively. Rate of Cr(VI) reduction increased with increase in cell and Cr(VI) concentration. The presence of Cu2+ , Co2+ and Mn2+ significantly stimulated Cr(VI) reduction. Assay with cell free extracts clearly indicated that Cr(VI) reduction was solely associated with the soluble fraction of the cell. High Cr(VI) resistance as well as high Cr(VI) reduction capacity makes it an appropriate candidate for the bioremediation of Cr(VI)-contaminated wastes. doi:10.1016/j.nbt.2009.06.911
5.0.08 Effect of pesticide exposure in erythrocyte membrane bound acetylcholinesterase P. Sathishkumar ∗ , T. Palvannnan, R.V. Rajesh, R. Boopathy Periyar University, Salem, India
Thirty-eight blood samples were collected from pesticide affected subjects (showing abnormal symptoms) in Enmakaje Grama Panchayath at Kasaragod district in Kerala, India. Samples collected were analysed for their cholinesterases activity and further to confirm the alteration in the levels, the normal persons living in Kasaragod and Coimbatore were also studied. The hemoglobin levels from pesticide affected subjects did not show significant dif-