title: Diversity of Methylobacterium Species Associated with New Zealand Native Plants

authors: Jahan, Rowshan

subjects: Methylobacterium

abstract: The genus Methylobacterium are pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs), and are abundant colonizers of the phyllosphere, due to the availability of methanol, a waste product of pectin metabolism during plant cell division. Besides methanol cycling, Methylobacterium has important effects on plant health. The phyllosphere is an extreme environment with a landscape that is heterogeneous, continuously changing as the plant grows, and is exposed to very high ultra violet irradiation. Geographically, New Zealand has been isolated for over a million years, has a biologically diverse group of species, and is considered a biodiversity hotspot, with most of the native plants being endemic. We hypothesize that NZ native plants harbor diverse groups of Methylobacterium species, and to test this we aimed to isolate Methylobacterium species from the phyllosphere of native New Zealand plants. A leaf imprinting technique using methanol supplemented AMS agar media was used to isolate bacteria and diversity was determined using a combination of ARDRA, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Methylobacterium spp. were successfully isolated from 19 of the 21 plant species used in this study. Eleven Methylobacterium species have been identified in association with the phyllosphere of native NZ plants: M. adhaesivum, M. brachiatum, M. komagatae, M. marchantiae, M. mesophilicum, M. phyllosphaerae, M. fujisawaense, M. oryzae, M. radiotolerans, M. tardum and M. zatmanii, with the first six being the most frequently isolated from more plant species. In this study other α, β, γ-proteobacterial species were also isolated: Hyphomicrobium, Methylopila, Rhizobium, Achromobacter, Methylophilus, Ramlibacter and Xanthomonas; Janibacter melonis (Actinomycetes); Niastella populi (Bacteroidetes) and Paenibacillus lautus (Firmicutes), highlighting the presence of potential novel methanol utilizer within the ecosystem. Results from this study indicate that Methylobacterium are abundant and dominant members of the NZ phyllosphere environment, with species diversity and composition dependent on the host plant species.

text: Diversity of Methylobacterium Species Associated with New Zealand Native Plants The genus Methylobacterium are pink-pigmented facultative methylotrophs (PPFMs), and are abundant colonizers of the phyllosphere, due to the availability of methanol, a waste product of pectin metabolism during plant cell division. Besides methanol cycling, Methylobacterium has important effects on plant health. The phyllosphere is an extreme environment with a landscape that is heterogeneous, continuously changing as the plant grows, and is exposed to very high ultra violet irradiation. Geographically, New Zealand has been isolated for over a million years, has a biologically diverse group of species, and is considered a biodiversity hotspot, with most of the native plants being endemic. We hypothesize that NZ native plants harbor diverse groups of Methylobacterium species, and to test this we aimed to isolate Methylobacterium species from the phyllosphere of native New Zealand plants. A leaf imprinting technique using methanol supplemented AMS agar media was used to isolate bacteria and diversity was determined using a combination of ARDRA, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Methylobacterium spp. were successfully isolated from 19 of the 21 plant species used in this study. Eleven Methylobacterium species have been identified in association with the phyllosphere of native NZ plants: M. adhaesivum, M. brachiatum, M. komagatae, M. marchantiae, M. mesophilicum, M. phyllosphaerae, M. fujisawaense, M. oryzae, M. radiotolerans, M. tardum and M. zatmanii, with the first six being the most frequently isolated from more plant species. In this study other α, β, γ-proteobacterial species were also isolated: Hyphomicrobium, Methylopila, Rhizobium, Achromobacter, Methylophilus, Ramlibacter and Xanthomonas; Janibacter melonis (Actinomycetes); Niastella populi (Bacteroidetes) and Paenibacillus lautus (Firmicutes), highlighting the presence of potential novel methanol utilizer within the ecosystem. Results from this study indicate that Methylobacterium are abundant and dominant members of the NZ phyllosphere environment, with species diversity and composition dependent on the host plant species.

year: 2013

title: Novel polymeric microcapsules for targeted drug delivery

authors: Lin, Yuewen

subjects: polymer

abstract: Microencapsulation is a technology in which small particles or droplets are entrapped by a coating to give the particles with many useful properties. Microcapsules have been used to protect the encapsulated material from the environmental conditions or to release the active agent in a sustained and controlled manner into the surrounding medium. This thesis investigated how to develop a post-ruminal delivery system based on polymeric microencapsulation. A major criterion was to develop microcapsules with reversible switching in response to changes of pH in the in vivo environment so contents could be released. The microcapsules must have a thin shell strong enough to withstand harsh physical conditions and a large hollow centre, which will maximise drug-carrying capacity. Two processes were developed to manufacture pH-responsive microcapsules - conventional interfacial polymerisation with plasma-induced grafting and a novel phase-inversion technique with chemical grafting. This research demonstrated that microcapsules with a porous shell could be manufactured by interfacial polymerisation. Carboxyl groups introduced onto the pores in the microcapsule by plasma-induced graft polymerisation of acrylic acid allowed pore openings to be controlled by the pH change of the environment. Polyamide microcapsules made by interfacial polymerisation had a hollow core and a porous shell with smooth external and rough internal surfaces. Their average diameter of 28 µm decreased with increased stirring rate during polymerisation. Shell porosity could be changed by adjusting the ratio of amine monomers used to form the microcapsule shell. An argon plasma treatment was developed to graft acrylic acid onto the microcapsule surface. Plasma treatment with 90 seconds produced 0.56 mmol/g of grafting extent. The effect of pH on releasing contents from poly(acrylic acid)-grafted microcapsules was investigated using two different sized molecules (vitamin B12 and cytochrome c) to simulate model drugs. Release rate was not significantly affected by molecular size; contents were retained when pH was between 7 and 5.5 and released when pH was between 5 and 3.5. Full release occurred at pH below 3. Further studies showed that micron-sized microcapsules with a hollow core and a thick matrix wall could be made from polycaprolactone, polysulfone and polystyrene. A modified solvent evaporation process reduced shell thickness but the microcapsules still had a non-porous skin. Process parameters such as polymer concentration, temperature, surfactant, solvent composition, stirring speed, processing pressure, and co-polymer additives influenced structure and internal morphology of the microcapsules. Morphological characteristics of the microcapsules strongly depended on the way the coating polymer is precipitated, particularly the non solvent–polymer–solvent interactions. Chemical grafting was not successful for grafting acrylic acid onto the polycaprolactone and polysulfone microcapsules. Polystyrene microcapsules with a hollow core and porous micro-channel shell structure were successfully produced using a novel formulation in a phase-inversion process. The outer skin could be removed by re-dissolving the formed microcapsules in a suitable solvent. Open pores with inter-connected micro-channels on the microcapsule surface can be produced by carefully controlling the time the microcapsules are in the solvent. The microcapsule was functionalised using free radical polymerisation to graft acrylic acid onto its surface. However, these microcapsules did not completely retain their contents at pH 7 and had a slow release profile when pH was decreased. Recommendations are given on how to improve and optimise the process. Polystyrene microcapsules made with a simple and inexpensive phase-inversion technique have potential as a targeted drug delivery system. They could be re-usable, compared to most other systems that degrade or disintegrate, and may have other applications as a carrier to immobilise desired molecules onto the microcapsules. Further investigations to optimise manufacturing polystyrene microcapsules should include: larger scale trials; further investigations, using orthogonal tests with multi-variation analysis to optimise factors affection microcapsule porosity and extent of grafting; identifying an alternative, faster way to analyse pore size; and developing a mathematical model for the release rate.

text: Novel polymeric microcapsules for targeted drug delivery Microencapsulation is a technology in which small particles or droplets are entrapped by a coating to give the particles with many useful properties. Microcapsules have been used to protect the encapsulated material from the environmental conditions or to release the active agent in a sustained and controlled manner into the surrounding medium. This thesis investigated how to develop a post-ruminal delivery system based on polymeric microencapsulation. A major criterion was to develop microcapsules with reversible switching in response to changes of pH in the in vivo environment so contents could be released. The microcapsules must have a thin shell strong enough to withstand harsh physical conditions and a large hollow centre, which will maximise drug-carrying capacity. Two processes were developed to manufacture pH-responsive microcapsules - conventional interfacial polymerisation with plasma-induced grafting and a novel phase-inversion technique with chemical grafting. This research demonstrated that microcapsules with a porous shell could be manufactured by interfacial polymerisation. Carboxyl groups introduced onto the pores in the microcapsule by plasma-induced graft polymerisation of acrylic acid allowed pore openings to be controlled by the pH change of the environment. Polyamide microcapsules made by interfacial polymerisation had a hollow core and a porous shell with smooth external and rough internal surfaces. Their average diameter of 28 µm decreased with increased stirring rate during polymerisation. Shell porosity could be changed by adjusting the ratio of amine monomers used to form the microcapsule shell. An argon plasma treatment was developed to graft acrylic acid onto the microcapsule surface. Plasma treatment with 90 seconds produced 0.56 mmol/g of grafting extent. The effect of pH on releasing contents from poly(acrylic acid)-grafted microcapsules was investigated using two different sized molecules (vitamin B12 and cytochrome c) to simulate model drugs. Release rate was not significantly affected by molecular size; contents were retained when pH was between 7 and 5.5 and released when pH was between 5 and 3.5. Full release occurred at pH below 3. Further studies showed that micron-sized microcapsules with a hollow core and a thick matrix wall could be made from polycaprolactone, polysulfone and polystyrene. A modified solvent evaporation process reduced shell thickness but the microcapsules still had a non-porous skin. Process parameters such as polymer concentration, temperature, surfactant, solvent composition, stirring speed, processing pressure, and co-polymer additives influenced structure and internal morphology of the microcapsules. Morphological characteristics of the microcapsules strongly depended on the way the coating polymer is precipitated, particularly the non solvent–polymer–solvent interactions. Chemical grafting was not successful for grafting acrylic acid onto the polycaprolactone and polysulfone microcapsules. Polystyrene microcapsules with a hollow core and porous micro-channel shell structure were successfully produced using a novel formulation in a phase-inversion process. The outer skin could be removed by re-dissolving the formed microcapsules in a suitable solvent. Open pores with inter-connected micro-channels on the microcapsule surface can be produced by carefully controlling the time the microcapsules are in the solvent. The microcapsule was functionalised using free radical polymerisation to graft acrylic acid onto its surface. However, these microcapsules did not completely retain their contents at pH 7 and had a slow release profile when pH was decreased. Recommendations are given on how to improve and optimise the process. Polystyrene microcapsules made with a simple and inexpensive phase-inversion technique have potential as a targeted drug delivery system. They could be re-usable, compared to most other systems that degrade or disintegrate, and may have other applications as a carrier to immobilise desired molecules onto the microcapsules. Further investigations to optimise manufacturing polystyrene microcapsules should include: larger scale trials; further investigations, using orthogonal tests with multi-variation analysis to optimise factors affection microcapsule porosity and extent of grafting; identifying an alternative, faster way to analyse pore size; and developing a mathematical model for the release rate.

year: 2009

title: He huringa āhuarangi, he huringa ao: A changing climate, a changing world

authors: Awatere, S

subjects: climate change adaptation

abstract: Iwi/hapū (tribe/subtribe) governance institutions are increasingly asserting their rangatiratanga (autonomy) to manage climate change risks and meet the well-being of whānau (family)/ hapū/iwi. Howevere, there is a shortange of specific guidance for whānau/hapū/iwi with respect to climate change adaptation and mitigation. We provide a commentary about risk and uncertainty, knowledge gaps, and options for climate change mitigation and adaptation for whānau/hapū/iwi.

text: He huringa āhuarangi, he huringa ao: A changing climate, a changing world Iwi/hapū (tribe/subtribe) governance institutions are increasingly asserting their rangatiratanga (autonomy) to manage climate change risks and meet the well-being of whānau (family)/ hapū/iwi. Howevere, there is a shortange of specific guidance for whānau/hapū/iwi with respect to climate change adaptation and mitigation. We provide a commentary about risk and uncertainty, knowledge gaps, and options for climate change mitigation and adaptation for whānau/hapū/iwi.

year: 2021-10