Fuzzy liquid analysis by an array of nonspecifically interacting reagents: the taste of fluorescence.

Complex or unknown liquid analysis requires extensive instrumentation and laboratory work; simple field devices usually have serious limitations in functionality, sensitivity, and applicability. This communication presents a novel, effective, and simple approach to fingerprinting liquids. The method is based on nonspecific interactions of the sample liquid, a long lifetime luminescent europium label, and various surface modulators in an array form that is readily converted to a field analysis µTAS system. As compared to existing e-nose or e-tongue techniques, the method is unique both in terms of sensitivity and usability, mainly due to the well-known unique properties of the europium label. This communication demonstrates the use of this new method in distinguishing different wines, waters, alcohols, and artificially modified berry juices.

Sphingobium sp. HV3 degrades both herbicides and polyaromatic hydrocarbons using ortho- and meta-pathways with differential expression shown by RT-PCR.

Sphingobium sp. HV3 described as an herbicide degrader harbours the pSKY4 plasmid, encoding an aromatic meta-pathway. The function of the plasmid was studied by Tn5 transposon mutagenesis and plasmid isolation and the degradation capacities of the HV3 strain were re-evaluated. Transcription of the tfdC from ortho-pathway was contrasted to the xylE and bphC of meta-pathway using real-time PCR. Cloning of the Tn5-insertion sites from the megaplasmid revealed genes for both aromatic and polyaromatic degradation. In the mutant Km24 strain the transposon was inserted to an ORF similar to the large subunit of ring hydroxylating dioxygenase, in the Km383 to a cis-biphenyl dihydrodiol dehydrogenase and in the Km187 and Km42 to a reductase component of a dioxygenase. A chlorocathecol ortho-pathway (10 kb) was amplified from the HV3 strain. The transcription of the tfdC was induced by 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide and m-xylene caused highest induction of both upper and lower aromatic meta-pathway genes. The detected novel degradation capacities (m-xylene, toluene, biphenyl, fluorene and phenanthrene) can be explained by the presence of functional meta-pathway genes in the pSKY4 megaplasmid. The characterization of the Sphingobium sp. HV3 improves our understanding of versatile catabolic bacteria unveiling roles of degradation pathways and plasmids in biodegradation.