Investigating the Potential of Fusarium solani and Phanerochaete chrysosporium in the Removal of 2,4,6-TNT.

Past and recent applications of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in military and civilian industries have led to contamination of soil and marine ecosystems. Among various TNT remediation techniques, biological remediation is widely accepted for its sustainability, low cost, and scalable applications. This study was designed to isolate a fungus strain from a TNT-contaminated soil to investigate its tolerance to and potential for removal of TNT. Thus, a soil column with a history of periodic TNT amendment was used to isolate dominant strains of fungi Fusarium solani isolate, which is not commonly reported for TNT mineralization and was found predominant in the subsurface layer of the TNT-amended soil. F. solani was investigated for TNT concentration tolerance at 30, 70, and 100 mg/L on agar plates and for TNT removal in liquid cultures at the same given concentrations. F. solani activity was compared with that of a reference soil-born fungus that has been intensively studied for TNT removal (Phanerochaete chrysosporium) obtained from the American Type Culture Collection. On agar media, F. solani showed a larger colony diameter than P. chrysosporium at similar TNT concentrations, indicating its high potential to tolerate toxic levels of TNT as found in contaminated sites. In the liquid culture medium, F. solani was able to significantly produce higher biomass than P. chrysosporium in all TNT concentrations. The TNT removal percentage from the liquid culture at the highest TNT concentration of 100 mg/L reached about 85% with F. solani, while P. chrysosporium was no better than 25% at the end of an 84-h incubation period. Results indicate a significant potential of using F. solani in the bioremediation of polluted TNT soils that overcome the high concentration barrier in the field. However, further investigation is needed to identify enzymatic potential and the most effective applications and possible limitations of this method on a large scale.

Detection, genotyping, and phylogenetic analysis of Leishmania isolates collected from infected Jordanian residents and Syrian refugees who suffered from cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Leishmania is a parasitic protozoan which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia sand flies. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), caused by Leishmania major and L. tropica, is an endemic disease in many areas of Jordan and considered as a major public health problem. The political instability in the Syrian Arab Republic has resulted in the immigration of large number of refugees into Jordan where most of them resided in camps near the Syrian borders. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to inspect Leishmania species/genotypes which are responsible for CL infections among Syrian refugees and compare them with the recovered species/genotypes isolated from Jordanian patients. Three molecular-based assays (ITS1-PCR-RFLP, Nested ITS1-5.8S rDNA PCR, and Kinetoplast DNA PCR) followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis were undertaken and compared for their efficiency to confirm CL diagnosis and genotype the infecting Leishmania species. Thereafter, the evolutionary relationships among various Leishmania isolates from Syrian and Jordanian CL patients were elucidated. Results from the present study indicated that 20 and 9 out of the inspected 66 patients (39 Jordanian and 27 Syrian) were infected with L. major and L. tropica respectively. ITS1-PCR RFLP typing proved to be more sensitive in the detection of Leishmania species (positive in 44% of the isolates) compared to both ITS1-5.8S rDNA gene and Kinetoplast DNA PCR which were successful in identifying Leishmania species only in 23% and 33% of the isolates respectively. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of ITS1 and ITS1-5.8S rDNA genes revealed high levels of heterogeneity among the sequenced isolates. One sample typed as L. tropica from Jordanian patient showed high similarity with L. tropica sample isolated from a Syrian patient in a Lebanon refugee camp; therefore, the need for comprehensive studies to confirm if any new L. tropica strains might be introduced to Jordan by Syrian refugees is urgently indicated. These observations highlighted the need for further studies to clarify the risk status of species and strains which might be introduced from Syria to Jordan.

Spatial and temporal characteristics of cancer in the period from 2004 to 2013 in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Cancer in Jordan is a major public health problem and the second leading cause of death after heart disease. This study aimed at studying the spatial and temporal characteristics of cancer in Jordan and its 12 governorates for the period 2004-2013 to establish a baseline for future research and identification of cancer risk factors paving the way for developing a cancer control plan in the country. Numerical and graphical summaries, time-series additive seasonal decomposition, the method of least squares, and spacetime scan statistics were applied in a geographic information systems environment. Although the results indicate that the cancer incidence in Jordan is comparatively low, it is increasing over time. In the 10-year study period, a total of 44,741 cases was reported with a mean annual crude incidence rate of 68.4 cases/100,000, mean annual age-adjusted incidence rate of 111.9 cases/100,000, and a monthly rate increase of 1.2 (cases/100,000)/month. This study also revealed that the spatial and temporal characteristics of cancer vary among the governorates. Amman, which includes the capital city and hosts more than one-third of the population of the country, reported 61.0% of the total number of cases. Amman also reported the highest annual crude incidence rate (105.3 cases/100,000), the highest annual age-adjusted incidence rate (160.6 cases/100,000), and the highest rate of increase (0.7 (cases/100,000)/month) forming a high-rate cluster. Excluding the three governorates Amman, Balqa, and Ma'daba, low-rate clusters were found with regard to the remaining governorates. All governorates, except Irbid and Mafraq, showed significant rates of increase of cancer incidence. However, no clear seasonality pattern with respect to cancer incidence was discerned.

Exploring recent spatial patterns of cutaneous leishmaniasis and their associations with climate in some countries of the Middle East using geographical information systems.

This study explores the spatial trends of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and characterises the relationships between the observed spatial patterns and climate in Jordan, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia in 2009. Areal interpolation revealed the presence of four major hotspots of relatively high incidence rates covering most parts of Syria, central parts of Iraq, and north-western, central, south-eastern and south-western parts of Saudi Arabia. The severity of these hotspots was seen to decrease from high to low latitudes. The spatial patterns could be partly linked to precipitation (the higher the precipitation, the higher the incidence rates) and to a lesser degree to temperature (the lower the temperature, the higher the incidence rates). No significant relationship was deduced between the observed spatial patterns of incidence rates and humidity. However, these three climatic factors could be used jointly as explanatory variables (ceteris paribus) to explain part of the spatial variations of the CL incidence rates in the study area by applying geographically weighted regression.

Phytoremediation in education: textile dye teaching experiments.

Phytoremediation, the use of plants to clean up contaminated soil and water, has a wide range of applications and advantages, and can be extended to scientific education. Phytoremediation of textile dyes can be used as a scientific experiment or demonstration in teaching laboratories of middle school, high school and college students. In the experiments that we developed, students were involved in a hands-on activity where they were able to learn about phytoremediation concepts. Experiments were set up with 20-40 mg L(-1) dye solutions of different colors. Students can be involved in the set up process and may be involved in the experimental design. In its simplest forms, they use two-week-old sunflower seedlings and place them into a test tube of known volume of dye solution. Color change and/or dye disappearance can be monitored by visual comparison or with a spectrophotometer. Intensity and extent of the lab work depends on student's educational level, and time constraints. Among the many dyes tested, Evan's Blue proved to be the most readily decolorized azo dye. Results could be observed within 1-2 hours. From our experience, dye phytoremediation experiments are suitable and easy to understand by both college and middle school students. These experiments help visual learners, as students compare the color of the dye solution before and after the plant application. In general, simple phytoremediation experiments of this kind can be introduced in many classes including biology, biochemistry and ecological engineering. This paper presents success stories of teaching phytoremediation to middle school and college students.