Monitoring of biodegradative Pseudomonas putida strains in aquatic environments using molecular techniques

• Published in: Microbial ecology 1997-03, Vol.33 (2), p.124-133
• Main Authors: Wand, H, Laht, T, Peters, M, Becker, P.M, Stottmeister, U, Heinaru, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: AMBIENTE ACUATICO; ANALYTICAL METHODS; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT; Bacteria; Bacteriological methods and techniques used in bacteriology; Bacteriology; BIODECONTAMINACION; Biodegradation; Biological and medical sciences; BIOREMEDIATION; Biotechnology; CONTROLE CONTINU; Environment and pollution; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Microbial ecology; Microbiology; Microorganisms; MILIEU AQUATIQUE; Miscellaneous; MONITORING; Phenols; Plasmids; Polymerase chain reaction; Product category rules; PSEUDOMONAS PUTIDA; Sewage; TECHNIQUE ANALYTIQUE; TECNICAS ANALITICAS; Transposons; Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water); VIGILANCIA
• ISSN: 0095-3628; 1432-184X
• DOI: 10.1007/s002489900014

Monitoring strategies were developed to track non-genetically engineered Pseudomonas putida strains in the open environment. The strain E1 was used for four years for the biodegradation of phenolic compounds in industrial wastewater in Polva, Estonia. In this study we used the strain E2 which is a non-carbenicillin-resistant variant of the strain E1. Both strains have a deletion of approximately 34 kb in the TOL plasmid pWW0 which served as a basis for discrimination from indigenous bacteria by molecular analyses. Other targets used for PCR and DNA hybridization were the xylE gene and a sequence located in the left-handed region of to the transposon Tn4652. In laboratory tests we demonstrated that two cells inoculated into 20 ml of river water could be detected against a background of more than 10(7) colony forming units (CFUs) by a combination of growth on selective media and molecular analysis. Using the same combination of methods in a deliberate release experiment, detection of the released strain was possible only to 32 h after release. It is assumed that the released strains did not survive in the aquatic ecosystem, mainly due to the high dilution rate. The combination of cultivation on selective media and molecular analyses proved useful for tracking Pseudomonas putida strain E2 in an aquatic environment