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This paper demonstrates significant effects on phenanthrene degradation in diesel contaminated soil by the addition of organic amendments such as whey and fermented whey. Both amount of amendment added and mode of administration was shown to be decisive. There was a strong positive effect on the (14)C-mineralization of phenanthrene by multiple (bi-weekly) additions of fermented whey 210 mg dw kg(-1) soil dw (FW multi) and also by single dose addition of 2100 mg dw sweet whey kg(-1) soil dw (SW high). The most prominent effects on phenanthrene degradation kinetics were a five to fifteen fold increase in the linear growth term (k(2)) and a 23-27% increase in bioavailability factor S(0) for SW high and FW multi respectively. Also, total mineralization at the end of the experiment increased from 46% in the control to 66 and 71% respectively and the lag time was reduced from 21 to 15 days by multiple addition of fermented whey. The most significant stimulating effects on phenanthrene degradation kinetics could be attributed to lactate and vitamins. This study demonstrates a more complex dependence of carbon sources and growth factors for an aromatic compound such as phenanthrene in comparison to hexadecane.

The objective of this work has been to investigate the possibility of using fermented whey as an organic growth supplement in order to enhance the aerobic degradation of n-hexadecane in soil. Ferme ...

Fermented whey has previously been shown to stimulate biodegradation of n -hexadecane in diesel contaminated soils. The proposed explanation for the stimulatory effect is that fermented whey provides easily accessible carbon and micronutrients, which give rise to an increased degrading biomass. The objective of this work has been to investigate the role of the different carbon sources and vitamins in fermented whey on the microbial degradation of n -hexadecane in soil. The effects of lactose, lactate, vitamins and free amino acids were tested in combinations according to a full factorial design experiment, at concentrations corresponding to those present in fermented whey. The target substance was 14 C-labeled n -hexadecane in nutrient amended soil microcosms contaminated with 5000 mg diesel fuel kg −1 dw. Biodegradation was monitored by determination of evolved 14 CO 2 . Significant effects on the biodegradation of n -hexadecane were observed for lactate and amino acids additions in a sandy soil. Lactate showed both an inhibitory effect in the early phase of the experiment and a stimulatory effect in the later phase. The effect of amino acids was slightly stimulatory, mainly evident as a shortening of the lag time. The degree of n -hexadecane degradation at the end of the experiment was correlated with the total concentration of organic compounds added to the soil. Scientific relevance There are a handful papers describing the potential of using organic amendments (often industrial by-products) with a content of both easily accessible carbon and micronutrients, to enhance the bioremediation of polluted soils. Enhanced biodegradation is often reported and the proposed explanations are that the combination of easily accessible carbon and micronutrients increases the degrading biomass. In this paper, we examine the effect of fermented whey on the degradation of n -hexadecane and correlate the observed effects on the biodegradation with the main components lactate, amino acids, lactose and B-vitamins. This has to our knowledge never been done before.

The effect of fermented whey on the aerobic degradation of n -alkanes by a microbial consortium was investigated in an aqueous system. Microbial degradation of 100 mg n -alkanes l −1 (C 12 , C 14 , C 16 and C 18 ) in mineral nutrient medium was assessed by measuring the decrease in n -alkanes, production of CO 2 and increase in biomass. The addition of fermented whey at a concentration of 5 mg dry weight l −1 to a nutrient medium receiving a small-sized inoculum (10 3.4 CFU ml −1 ) shortened the lag phase from 8 to 3 days, but the degradation rate during the degradation phase was not enhanced. The shortened lag phase at low initial concentration of microorganisms indicates that the fermented whey stimulates growth in the initial phase, without reducing the consortium's capacity for n -alkane degradation.

A human monoclonal anti-hepatitis B antibody preparation (TUVIRUMAB) was administered 6 times over a 2-week period in a dose-escalating scheme to chronic hepatitis B patients pre-treated with lamivudine. The capacity of the TUVIRUMAB antibody to "neutralize" hepatitis B surface antigen in the circulation was investigated by means of experimental enzyme-immunoassays. Monoclonal antibody conjugates enabled the detection of HBsAg, TUVIRUMAB, and HBsAg/TUVIRUMAB complexes. The results showed that (1) TUVIRUMAB was able partially to "neutralize" in vitro and in vivo, (2) HBsAg/TUVIRUMAB complexes can be traced by assays that capture the complex at either its HBsAg or its TUVIRUMAB component, (3) the final concentration of TUVIRUMAB at the end of therapy varied greatly but seemed to be related to HBsAg production at the start of therapy, (4) for at least 14 days after discontinuation of therapy, a minimal HBsAg level could be maintained in the presence of a declining TUVIRUMAB titer in patients with less than 3 microg/ml HBsAg before the start of therapy, (5) three months after therapy, all HBsAg levels had returned to pre-treatment levels and TUVIRUMAB had disappeared.

The feasibility to raise nonhuman primate antibodies against selected components of the human immune system was tested. The immunogens were whole cells (human T lymphocytes) or purified, recombinant human proteins (cytokines: TNF alpha or GM-CSF; soluble forms of cell surface antigens: sCD4 or sCD25). Significant immunizations, yielding functionally relevant antibodies, were readily achieved in rhesus monkeys, but, not surprisingly, may be less frequent in chimpanzees. The results suggest a general strategy for production of therapeutically useful MAB.

Animal cell technology is attracting considerable interest because of the capacity of animal cell cultures to synthesize or transform complex compounds such as virus vaccines, immunochemicals, hormones or enzymes. For the growth of surface-dependent cells, microcarrier technology is gaining importance. Here, we have attempted to immobilize surface-independent cells, normally grown in suspension, by entrapping them in polymer microbeads. Such entrapment should give increased stability to the normally fragile animal cells, allow for high cell densities to be achieved within the beads and make such preparations suitable for continuous operation. At the same time, the need for separation of the desired product from the cells is obviated. With the model systems studied, we showed that hybridoma, as well as other cell lines entrapped in agarose microbeads, remained viable. Both immunoglobulins and lymphokines were exported through the microbeads into the medium for 1-3 weeks, at levels corresponding well to those produced with free cells.