A Metagenomic Investigation of Potential Health Risks and Element Cycling Functions of Bacteria and Viruses in Wastewater Treatment Plants.

The concentration of viruses in sewage sludge is significantly higher (10-1000-fold) than that found in natural environments, posing a potential risk for human and animal health. However, the composition of these viruses and their role in the transfer of pathogenic factors, as well as their role in the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycles remain poorly understood. In this study, we employed a shotgun metagenomic approach to investigate the pathogenic bacteria and viral composition and function in two wastewater treatment plants located on a campus. Our analysis revealed the presence of 1334 amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) across six sludge samples, with 242 ASVs (41.22% of total reads) identified as pathogenic bacteria. Arcobacter was found to be the most dominant pathogen accounting for 6.79% of total reads. The virome analysis identified 613 viral genera with Aorunvirus being the most abundant genus at 41.85%. Approximately 0.66% of these viruses were associated with human and animal diseases. More than 60% of the virome consisted of lytic phages. Host prediction analysis revealed that the phages primarily infected Lactobacillus (37.11%), Streptococcus (21.11%), and Staphylococcus (7.11%). Furthermore, our investigation revealed an abundance of auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) involved in carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling within the virome. We also detected a total of 113 antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), covering major classes of antibiotics across all samples analyzed. Additionally, our findings indicated the presence of virulence factors including the clpP gene accounting for approximately 4.78%, along with toxin genes such as the RecT gene representing approximately 73.48% of all detected virulence factors and toxin genes among all samples analyzed. This study expands our understanding regarding both pathogenic bacteria and viruses present within sewage sludge while providing valuable insights into their ecological functions.

Additive-Free Gold Nanoparticles Induced by Gamma Ray Irradiation for Voltammetric Detection of Dopamine.

In this paper, gold nanoparticles were obtained by gamma-ray irradiation in aqueous solution containing HAuCl4 as the precursor. The reaction generated particles that contained no foreign stabilizer. The additive-free gold nanoparticles were employed to modify glassy carbon electrode for the detection of dopamine in phosphate buffer solution. Electrochemical properties of the modified electrode were examined by cyclic voltammertry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Linear analytical curves were obtained in the range from 2 to 120 µM for dopamine by differential pulse voltammetry, with the detection limit of 0.13 µM (signal-to-noise ratio of 3). The relatively simple synthetic method of the gold nanoparticles and excellent electrochemical performance with high reproducibility and stability of the detection were promising for further applications.

Syntheses, structures, spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of two 1D organic-inorganic CuII-LnIII heterometallic germanotungstates.

Two organic-inorganic hybrid copper-lanthanide heterometallic germanotungstates KNa2H7[enH2]3[Cu(en)2(H2O)]2[Cu(en)2]2{Cu(en)2[Eu(α-GeW11O39)2]2}·13H2O (1) and Na2H4[Cu(en)2(H2O)]2[Cu(en)2]6[Cu(en)2]{Cu(en)2[La(α-GeW11O39)2]2}·12H2O (2) have been hydrothermally synthesized by reaction of K8Na2[A-α-GeW9O34]·25H2O with CuCl2·2H2O and EuCl3/LaCl3 in the presence of en (en=ethylenediamine) and structurally characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectra and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 1 exhibits the 1D chain motif built by tetrameric {[Cu(en)2(H2O)]2[Cu(en)2]2{Cu(en)2[Eu(α-GeW11O39)2]2}}(16-) moieties through square antiprismatic K(+) cations while 2 displays the 1D architecture made by tetrameric [[Cu(en)2]6[Cu(en)2]{Cu(en)2[La(α-GeW11O39)2]2}](10-) units via octahedral [Cu(en)2](2+) cations. Furthermore, the solid-state electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties of 1 have been investigated and 1 indicates the good electrocatalytic activity for nitrite reduction. In addition, the photoluminescence property of 1 has been investigated.