Ask the Expert Question:
Why is it when one performs sequencing or some other form of biological identification of a fungus, that the fungus identifies as some sort of "teleomorph"? For example, if I'm growing up a yeast that I suspect is Cryptococcus neoformans, and I sequence it to be sure, why is it that the sequence becomes homologous to "Filobasidiella neoformans"? I will then search Filobasidiella neoformans, and all searches will tell me that Filobasidiella IS Cryptococcus! Why are there multiple names for the same thing? Another example: Arthroderma benhamiae and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Blastomyces dermatitidis and Ajellomyces dermatitidis. It is SO CONFUSING!
TestAmerica Expert: Ariunaa Jalsrai
Expert's Response:
Phylogenetic methods require sufficient quantities of biological materials (spores or fresh specimens) that are from pure (i.e., uncontaminated) fungal cultures, for many asexual species their exact relationship with other fungal species has yet to be determined. Under the current system of fungal nomenclature, teleomorph (the sexual reproductive stage of fungi, typically a fruiting body) names cannot be applied to fungi that lack sexual structures. Classifying and naming asexually reproducing fungi is the subject of ongoing debate in the mycological community. The DNA sequences derived from teleomorphic materials will not always be identical to those sequences derived from anamorphic materials of the same species, due to the recombination of DNA in teleomorphs as one possible reason for DNA sequence divergence. Thus, it is important to first investigate the nucleotide sequence diversity between the DNA derived from teleomorphic and anamorphic materials in order to study the phylogenetic relationships of fungi.
Cryptococcus neoformans, the agent of cryptococcosis, had been considered a homogeneous species until 1949 when the existence of four serotypes was revealed based on the antigenic properties of its polysaccharide capsule. Such heterogeneity of the species, however, remained obscure until the two morphologically distinct teleomorphs of C. neoformans (Filobasidiella neoformans and Filobasidiella bacillispora) were discovered during the mid 1970s. Based on the genetic characteristics and serologic properties of capsular polysaccharides, three varieties and four nonhybrid serotypes have been defined, namely, C. neoformans var. neoformans (serotype D), C. neoformans var. grubii (serotype A), and C. neoformans var. gattii (serotypes B and C). Serotypes correspond to different sexual teleomorphs, namely, Filobasidiella neoformans and Filobasidiella bacillispora for serotypes A and D and serotypes B and C, respectively.
In your case, I think you are dealing with Cryptococcus neoformans hybrid serotype AD, which is teleomorph Filobasidiella neoformans.
TestAmerica is pleased to announce the availability of Spanish language analytical lab reports. Supporting both domestic and international demand for analytical data reports in Spanish, TestAmerica now offers a Spanish version of analytical reports that meets the requirements of regulatory entities throughout the Americas and Caribbean.
With a client base spanning over 100 countries worldwide, TestAmerica Laboratories, The Leader in Environmental Testing, now offers a fully indexed and formatted report that will eliminate the hassles and errors of translated documents and English as a second language interpretations. Clients can request Spanish reports directly from their Project Manager and even access them on TestAmerica's TotalAccess online data access portal. With TotalAccess, the reports are available anywhere in the world via the internet.
"We are delighted to now offer Spanish language reports to our clients, particularly those in Central and South America. This capability reflects our commitment to making our services easier to use and accessible internationally," adds James E. Hyman, President and CEO, TestAmerica Laboratories, Inc.
Additional information on the Spanish reports is available at http://www.testamericainc.com/services/spanish-reports/
About TestAmerica
TestAmerica is the leading environmental testing lab in the United States, with over 90 locations providing innovative technical expertise and comprehensive analytical testing services. Specialty analyses include source, ambient and indoor air, water quality and aquatic toxicity, compliance, desalination, shale gas, specialty organics, emergency response, industrial hygiene, dioxins, drinking water, sediments and tissues, PPCPs and emerging contaminants, explosives, Federal/DoD, and radiochemistry and mixed waste testing.
TestAmerica affiliate companies include EMLab P&K, the leader in analytical microscopy and indoor air quality; QED Environmental Systems, Inc., the leading supplier of groundwater sampling equipment and remediation pumping systems; and TestAmerica Air Emissions Corp. (METCO Environmental), specializing in air emissions testing. TestAmerica currently employs nearly 2,800 professionals dedicated to exceptional service and solutions for our clients’ environmental testing needs.
Current air quality regulations in the United States require SO2 scrubbing for most coal fired plants, which results in the formation of Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) wastewaters. These wastewaters often contain significant concentrations of a variety of metals and anions causing interferences with current analytical methods for toxic metals analysis by ICP/MS.
TestAmerica Laboratories, working in conjunction with Agilent Technologies, developed a new SOP for the Analysis of Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewaters for the US EPA. This presentation will provide an understanding of the analytical challenges to this wastewater matrix and the analytical method developed to overcome the interferences.
Topics the presentation will cover:
- What is Flue Gas Desulfurization?
- Why is it an issue?
- Interferences to existing analytical methods
- New SOP Method highlights
- Data Quality
Who should attend?
- Coal Industry stakeholders
- Consultants
- Engineers
- Regulators
Register for this free Flue Gas Desulfurization webinar
TestAmerica's Ask the Experts Webinar Series is a Winner of the 2011 EBJ Industry Leadership Award!
About TestAmerica
TestAmerica is the leading environmental testing firm in the United States, with over 90 locations providing innovative technical expertise and comprehensive analytical testing services. Specialty analyses include source, ambient and indoor air, water quality and aquatic toxicity, compliance, desalination, shale gas, specialty organics, emergency response, industrial hygiene, dioxins, drinking water, sediments and tissues, PPCPs and emerging contaminants, explosives, Federal/DoD, and radiochemistry and mixed waste testing.
TestAmerica affiliate companies include EMLab P&K, the leader in analytical microscopy and indoor air quality; QED Environmental Systems, Inc., the leading supplier of groundwater sampling equipment and remediation pumping systems; and TestAmerica Air Emissions Corp. (METCO Environmental), specializing in air emissions testing. TestAmerica currently employs nearly 2,800 professionals dedicated to exceptional service and solutions for our clients’ environmental testing needs.
Visit TestAmerica at the Waste Management (WM) 2012 Conference
February 26 - March 1, 2012
Phoenix Convention Center
Phoenix, Arizona
http://www.wmsym.org
Visit Booth # 500 to learn more about TestAmerica's:
- Largest network of radiological and mixed waste testing laboratories. TestAmerica is a DOECAP participant and ICPT contract holder (DOE), ELAP (DoD), and NELAC accredited!
- AIHA certified methods to determine asbestos and metals, including Beryllium in radioactive materials
- TotalAccess 4.0 - the industry's latest real-time online data management tool
Enter our drawing at booth # 500 to win a Kindle e-Reader!
About TestAmerica
TestAmerica is the leading environmental testing lab in the United States, with over 90 locations providing innovative technical expertise and comprehensive analytical testing services. Specialty analyses include source, ambient and indoor air, water quality and aquatic toxicity, compliance, desalination, shale gas, specialty organics, emergency response, industrial hygiene, dioxins, drinking water, sediments and tissues, PPCPs and emerging contaminants, explosives, Federal/DoD, and radiochemistry and mixed waste testing.
TestAmerica affiliate companies include EMLab P&K, the leader in analytical microscopy and indoor air quality; QED Environmental Systems, Inc., the leading supplier of groundwater sampling equipment and remediation pumping systems; and TestAmerica Air Emissions Corp. (METCO Environmental), specializing in air emissions testing. TestAmerica currently employs nearly 2,800 professionals dedicated to exceptional service and solutions for our clients’ environmental testing needs.
Ask the Expert Question:
In studying the effect of sewage water disposal on groundwater by soil infiltration (when sewage water is discharged to soil), what parameters can I use to measure the groundwater contamination by sewage? What are the compounds formed from mixing between native groundwater and sewage?
TestAmerica Expert: Mark Bruce
Expert's Response:
There are a variety of sewage components that could potentially contaminate groundwater. This issue has been studied by those working on the issue of leaking sewage pipes and those addressing sewage overflows in addition the fertilizer issue you have been studying.
An internet search will find discussions about bacterial contamination and the varieties of bacteria that might be relevant. Other sewage components to consider would be organic compounds such as detergents, pesticides, cleaning solvents and pharmaceutical drugs. You should also consider common metals such as copper, tin and zinc. Other toxic metals should also be considered based on what is present in the sewage as determined by the industries that contribute to the sewage system.
Here are few websites that have information on this topic. A more comprehensive search will turn up even more details.
Virginia Tech (Department of Agronomy): Agricultural Use of Sewage Sludge: A Literature Review
University of Arizona: Pharmaceuticals In Our Water Supplies
Google ebooks: Potential Groundwater Contamination from Intentional and Nonintentional Stormwater Infiltration
ScienceDirect: Identification of persistent anionic surfactant-derived chemicals in sewage effluent and groundwater
British Columbia's Ministry of Environment (Water Stewardship Division): Sodium in Groundwater
Visit TestAmerica at the
2012 Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME) Annual Meeting: "Mine to Market: Now It's Global"
February 19–22, 2012
Washington State Convention and Trade Center
800 Convention Place
Seattle, WA 98101
www.smenet.org
TestAmerica currently has over 90 locations nationwide to support our clients, including facilities to support mining operations and environmental projects throughout the U.S. and British Columbia, Canada. TestAmerica also provides logistical support for contractor field teams, when arrangements are made prior to sampling.
Visit TestAmerica at Booth # 231 to learn more about:
- ISO 17025 Accreditation
- Fully certified in Canada and all States where certification is available, including AK, AZ, CA, NM, NV, UT and WA, as well as regional specialty requirements
- Extensive testing experience and logistical services supporting mining operations and environmental program
- Large network capacity for conventionals, organics, metals, and radiochemical analyses of groundwater, sediments, tissues
- Specialized and conventional analytical techniques for the Pacific Northwest Region including low level metals analysis for limited tissue availability
- TotalAccess 4.0 – the environmental industry's latest real-time online data management tool
To learn more about TestAmerica's technical expertise and capabilities in mining and exploration, contact your Account Executive today!
About TestAmerica
TestAmerica is the leading environmental testing firm in the United States, with over 90 locations providing innovative technical expertise and comprehensive analytical testing services. Specialty analyses include source, ambient and indoor air, water quality and aquatic toxicity, compliance, desalination, shale gas, specialty organics, emergency response, industrial hygiene, dioxins, drinking water, sediments and tissues, PPCPs and emerging contaminants, explosives, Federal/DoD, and radiochemistry and mixed waste testing.
TestAmerica affiliate companies include EMLab P&K, the leader in analytical microscopy and indoor air quality; QED Environmental Systems, Inc., the leading supplier of groundwater sampling equipment and remediation pumping systems; and TestAmerica Air Emissions Corp. (METCO Environmental), specializing in air emissions testing. TestAmerica currently employs nearly 2,800 professionals dedicated to exceptional service and solutions for our clients’ environmental testing needs.
Ask the Expert Question:
How long does it take to analyze Radium-226, Radium-228, and Gross Alpha for a water sample? Is there some dependency on the sample?
We have been experiencing high turnaround times for these tests in other labs and a search online indicates that the tests can take anywhere from 5 days to 8 weeks, which seems very broad for a specific test.
TestAmerica Expert: Terry Romanko
Expert's Response:
Let me first say that 8 weeks is rather long for a turnaround time (TAT) for these methods. A standard TAT would probably be more in the 4-week time period. 5-business days (7 calendar days) is possible for some (see below), but definitely expect surcharges for Rush services.
Radium-226 in groundwater samples can be analyzed by a couple of different methods. The two main methods are based upon EPA 903.0 and EPA 903.1. Both methods require some amount of waiting time in order to provide actual Ra-226 results.
A summary from method 903.0 (Alpha-Emitting Radium Isotopes in Drinking Water):
The radium in the drinking water sample is collected by coprecipitation with barium and lead sulfate, and purified by reprecipitation from EDTA solution. Citric acid is added to the drinking water sample to assure that complete interchange occurs before the first precipitation step. The final BaSO4 precipitate which includes radium-226, radium-224 and radium-223 is alpha counted to determine the total disintegration rate of the radium isotopes.
A summary from method 903.1 (Radon Emanation Technique):
The radium-226 in the drinking water sample is concentrated and separated by coprecipitation on barium sulfate. The precipitate is dissolved in EDTA reagent, placed in a sealed bubbler and stored for ingrowth of radon-222. After ingrowth, the gas is purged into a scintillation cell. When the short-lived radon-222 daughters are in equilibrium with the parent (4h), the scintillation cell is counted for alpha activity.
As you may notice, both methods utilize the barium sulfate co-precipitation. 903.1 speaks of "ingrowth" – this is the process of the parent (Ra-226) decaying to the shorter-lived daughters (Rn-222, etc) where the daughters increase in activity until eventually they reach equilibrium with the parent. The method in step 8.6 calls for 4-8 days of ingrowth – the more ingrowth, the lower the detection limit you can hit for a given sample. This method is somewhat glassware intensive (need specialty glassware), and this can cause a "pinch-point" for analyses, possibly causing longer TAT. However, a 14-day TAT is possible (expect surcharges for Rush services), but a 28-day TAT would be more standard. Longer TAT would be due to lack of capacity (either due to lack of glassware or measurement instrumentation, or due to a spike in sample load).
TestAmerica's Richland, WA laboratory can supply the 903.1 analysis.
903.0 was written as a screening technique for alpha-emitting radium. It could be considered as written as a potential high-biased Ra-226 result. If the Total Alpha-emitting radium result is less than the action level, you know the Ra-226 result has to be. The advantage to this is that no waiting time is needed, thus a 7-day TAT is possible (again, expect surcharges for RUSH). 14-21 days would be more standard for this method.
TestAmerica's St. Louis laboratory utilized a modification to this method to report Ra-226. The method mentions Ra-226, Ra-224, and Ra-223 as alpha-emitting radium isotopes. Ra-223 (a daughter of Th-227) is not normally present, as the parent decay chain is not considered "naturally-occurring." It is possible it might be found at isolated sites (mainly DOE sites). Ra-224 is a short-lived daughter in the Th-232 decay chain. As it is short-lived, after the initial radium separation/co-precipitation, the lab waits for decay of the Ra-224. Waiting 14 days allows for 93% of any Ra-224 present to decay out; 21 days allows for 98% to decay out. The laboratory thus can report Ra-226 using 903.0, with a decay/waiting period of 14 or 21 days (depending upon client need/confidence). An intercomparison of the 903.1 vs 903.0 results was performed between the St. Louis and Richland laboratories with showing comparable results. 21-28 days (depending upon decay period) is typical TAT provided by the St. Louis lab.
Gross alpha is a quick screening test. A 7 day TAT or shorter is possible, but not standard.
Radium-228 has a short ingrowth period built into the method, but a 7-day TAT is possible (but not standard). In St. Louis, these are typically "piggy-backed" with the Ra-226 analysis, so expect a similar TAT.
