Research bacteria

Of course, the discovery of new structures is very important. Marine microbes are relatively new targets for such research. Bacteria and fungi isolated from marine environments, i.e., seawater, sediments, and marine organisms, often produce metabolites identical or similar to those from terrestrial species. 

Microscopists in every technical field use the microscope to characterize, compare, and identify a wide variety of substances, eg, protozoa, bacteria, vimses, and plant and animal tissue, as well as minerals, building materials, ceramics, metals, abrasives, pigments, foods, dmgs, explosives, fibers, hairs, and even single atoms. In addition, microscopists help to solve production and process problems, control quaUty, and handle trouble-shooting problems and customer complaints. Microscopists also do basic research in instmmentation, new techniques, specimen preparation, and appHcations of microscopy. The areas of appHcation include forensic trace evidence, contamination analysis, art conservation and authentication, and asbestos control, among others. 

Free-living bacteria are, however, used as the source of the enzyme nitrogenase, responsible for N2 fixation (1,4,26,80), for research purposes because these ate easier to culture. The enzyme is virtually identical to that from the agriculturally important thizobia. These free-living N2-fixets can be simply classified into aerobes, anaerobes, facultative anaerobes, photosynthetic bacteria, and cyanobacteria. 

Membrane filtration has been used in the laboratory for over a century. The earliest membranes were homogeneous stmctures of purified coUagen or 2ein. The first synthetic membranes were nitrocellulose (collodion) cast from ether in the 1850s. By the early 1900s, standard graded nitrocellulose membranes were commercially available (1). Their utihty was limited to laboratory research because of low transport rates and susceptibiUty to internal plugging. They did, however, serve a useflil role in the separation and purification of coUoids, proteins, blood sera, enzymes, toxins, bacteria, and vimses (2). 

A fermentation route to 1-butanol based on carbon monoxide employing the anaerobic bacterium, Butyribacterium methjlotrophicum has been reported (14,15). In contrast to other commercial catalytic processes for converting synthesis gas to alcohols, the new process is insensitive to sulfur contaminants. Current productivities to butanol are 1 g/L, about 10% of that required for commercial viabiUty. Researchers hope to learn enough about the bacteria s control mechanisms to be able to use recombinant DNA to make the cells produce more butanol. 

Biocorrosion of stainless steel is caused by exopolymer-producing bacteria. It can be shown that Fe is accumulated in the biofilm [2.62]. The effect of bacteria on the corrosion behavior of the Mo metal surface has also been investigated by XPS [2.63]. These last two investigations indicate a new field of research in which XPS can be employed successfully. XPS has also been used to study the corrosion of glasses [2.64], of polymer coatings on steel [2.65], of tooth-filling materials [2.66], and to investigate the role of surface hydroxyls of oxide films on metal [2.67] or other passive films. 

Over 100 years ago it had been demonstrated that ozone (Oj). the unstable triatomic allotrope of oxygen, could destroy molds and bacteria and by 1892 several experimental ozone plants were in operation in Europe. In the 1920s, however, as a result of wartime research, during World War I, chlorine became readily... 

There are concerns that land application of sludge will result in an increase of pathogenic bacteria, viruses, parasites, chemicals and metals in drinking water reservoirs, aquifers, and the food chain. This raises additional concerns of cumulative effects of metals in cropped soils. Research shows that if metals such as zinc, copper, lead, nickel, mercury, and cadmium are allowed to build up in soils due to many applications of sludges over the years, they could be released at... 

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