A SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE, AND RAPID METHOD TO DETERMINE TOXICITY USING A BACTERIAL INDICATOR ORGANISM

摘要

A simple, inexpensive and rapid method to determine the toxicity of compounds, isolated chemicals, soilrnsamples, and water samples has been developed. The test uses the bacterium, Rhizobium meliloti, as thernindicator organism. Toxicity values obtained with this test are complarable to those obtained with more familiarrntests like the sand flea Daphnia magna, MicrotoxTM, and tests using animal and human cells grown in culture.rnNo specialized equipment is required, only a spectrophotometer and a water bath. No specialized training isrnrequired. Only rudimentary chemical skills are required to perform the assay which takes less than an hour. Therntest could be adopted in developing nations without sophisticated laboratories, with very modest budgets andrnwith relatively unskilled personnel. It could be included as an alternative test for toxicity in sophisticatedrnlaboratories. A patent has been obtained and we are seeking a firm to market the assay. However, the test couldrnbe used by any laboratory able to grow bacteria. Detailed information is available in the published literature.