Graduate Training in Environmental and Marine Microbiology

摘要

The goals of this research were to (1) provide a basic understanding of PCB dechlorination extant in marine and estuarine environments, and (2) train graduate students in the theoretical and practical applications of environmental and anaerobic microbiology. In the course of the ONR (AASERT) funded research, the P.I. and the students have effectively identified potential PCB dechlorinating microbes without isolation. Milestones of this research include: (1) discovery of ortho dechlorination of PCBs, (2) development of the first defined microbial population that reproducibly ortho-dechlorinates PCB congeners in the absence of sediment, (3) the 16S rDNA fingerprinting of PCB dechlorinating communities by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, and (4) 16s rDNA based phylogenetic characterization of individual species in ortho, para, and meta PCB dechlorinating cultures. In addition, two students received training in environmental microbiology over the course of this grant. They have or soon will graduate (one Masters and one Ph.D.) and have received awards based on their work. Due to these efforts the laboratory of the PI is now very close to isolating PCB dechlorinating microorganisms. This will enable the PI and collaborators to: (1) determine physiological parameters that enhance or limit PCB dechlorination; and (2) design species specific molecular probes to screen for PCB dechlorinating potential in situ.