A5103057791- Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Plant Virus Research Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Agricultural pest management studies
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Enzyme Production and Characterization
- Wastewater Treatment and Nitrogen Removal
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
- Water Treatment and Disinfection
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- GABA and Rice Research
- Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Reproductive biology and impacts on aquatic species
ETH Zurich
2009-2022
Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology
2010-2022
University of Würzburg
2002
Wageningen University & Research
1990-1997
Graduate School Experimental Plant Sciences
1988-1995
Micropollutants (MPs) as individual compounds or in complex mixtures are relevant for water quality and may trigger unwanted ecological effects. MPs originate from different point diffuse sources enter bodies via flow paths. Effluents conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), which various not completely removed, is one major source. To improve the avoid potential negative effects by micropollutants, measures to reduce discharge should be taken. In this feature we discuss of these...
Pseudomonas sp. strain P51 contains two gene clusters located on catabolic plasmid pP51 that encode the degradation of chlorinated benzenes. The nucleotide sequence a 5,499-bp region containing chlorocatechol-oxidative cluster tcbCDEF was determined. contained five large open reading frames, which were all colinear. functionality these frames studied with various Escherichia coli expression systems and by analysis enzyme activities. first gene, tcbC, encodes 27.5-kDa protein chlorocatechol...
Multiple anthropogenic drivers are changing ecosystems globally, with a disproportionate and intensifying impact on freshwater habitats. A major of urbanization inputs from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Initially designed to reduce eutrophication improve water quality, WWTPs increasingly release multitude micropollutants (MPs; i.e., synthetic chemicals) microbes (including antibiotic-resistant bacteria) receiving environments. This pollution may have pervasive impacts biodiversity...
Abstract In this study, we assessed and compared the suitability of three in vitro screening tools for measurement estrogenic activity sewage treatment plant effluents (STPEs). These assays were yeast estrogen screen (YES), production zona radiata proteins (ZRPs) trout hepatocytes, induction reporter gene expression transfected rainbow gonad cell line RTG-2. Data obtained with YES additionally calculated estrogenicity, based on steroid analysis data effluents. For comparison purposes,...
An ecotoxicological test battery based on a mode-of-action approach was designed and applied to the hazard identification classification of modes action six pharmaceuticals (carbamazepine, diclofenac, ethinyl estradiol, ibuprofen, propranolol, sulfamethoxazole). The rationale behind design cover relevant interactions that compound may have with biological targets. It is thus not comprehensive but contains representative examples each category mode toxic including nonspecific, specific,...
The celB gene encoding the cellobiose-hydrolyzing enzyme beta-glucosidase from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus has been identified, cloned, and sequenced. transcription translation was overexpressed in Escherichia coli, resulting high-level (up to 20% of total protein) production that could be purified by a two-step purification procedure. produced E. coli had kinetic stability properties similar those P. furiosus. deduced amino acid sequence CelB showed high similarity with...
Human land uses and population growth represent major global threats to biodiversity ecosystem services. Understanding how biological communities respond multiple drivers of human-induced environmental change is fundamental for conserving ecosystems remediating degraded habitats. Here, we used a replicated 'real-world experiment' study the responses invertebrate wastewater perturbations across land-use intensity gradient in 12 Swiss streams. We different taxonomy trait-based community...
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae have been suggested as vertebrate model to complement or even replace mammals for rapidly assessing behavioral effects of psychoactive drugs. Yet, divergent responses reported in and fish despite the conservation many drug targets. Cocaine, eg, acts stimulant but no such response has documented zebrafish larvae. We hypothesized that differences exposure routes (inhalation injection vs waterborne fish) may be a reason responses. characterized cocaine...
Pesticides are used globally in agriculture and pose a threat to the health of farmers, communities, environment. Smallholder farmers low- middle-income countries have generally low socio-economic status educational level. Consequently, they particularly vulnerable negative impacts pesticides on their health, yields, or land. In Knowledge, Attitude, Practices study, we compared pest management practices between market-oriented farming system Zarcero County, Costa Rica, subsistence-based...
Effluents of wastewater treatment plants can impact microbial communities in the receiving streams. However, little is known about role microorganisms as opposed to other constituents, such nutrients and micropollutants. We aimed therefore at determining on diversity function periphyton, key used a flow-through channel system grow periphyton upon exposure mixture stream water unfiltered or ultra-filtered wastewater. Impacts were assessed biomass, activities tolerance micropollutants, well...
Baseline toxicity of a selection industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals is determined experimentally with new in vitro test system (Kinspec) using membrane vesicles isolated from photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodobacter sphaeroides. This selective more sensitive than other mechanistic systems for baseline toxicity. The only concomitantly mechanism uncoupling, which can be distinguished by pH-dependent measurements. Because the tests contains target site toxicants, biological membrane,...
From the hyperthermophilic archaebacterium Pyrococcus furiosus an oxygen-stable, extremely thermostable protease activity, which we designate pyrolysin, has been identified and characterized. Pyrolysin is a cell-envelope associated activity high thermo-activity stability. The temperature optimum 115°C half-life values in absence of substrate are: at least 96 h 80°C, 9 95°C, 4h 100°C, 20 min 105°C 3 110°C. active broad pH range between 6.5 10.5, was classified as serine-type activity....
Plasmid pP51 of Pseudomonas sp. strain P51 contains two gene clusters encoding the degradation chlorinated benzenes, tcbAB and tcbCDEF. A regulatory gene, tcbR, was located upstream divergently transcribed from chlorocatechol oxidative cluster The tcbR characterized by DNA sequencing expression studies with Escherichia coli pET8c appeared to encode a 32-kDa protein. activity product analyzed in putida KT2442, which it function as positive regulator tcbC expression. Protein extracts both E....
Pesticide use is increasing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including Costa Rica. This increase poses health risks to farm owners, workers, communities living near agricultural farms.We aimed examine the effects associated with occupational pesticide exposure owners workers from conventional organic smallholder farms Rica.We conducted a cross-sectional study involving 300 horticultural Zarcero County, During baseline visit, we administered structured, tablet-based questionnaire...