Screening of Water for Fecal Contamination Using Human Fecal Anaerobe DNA as an Indicator
Location
CSU North Ballroom
Start Date
25-4-2006 10:00 AM
End Date
25-4-2006 12:00 PM
Student's Major
Biological Sciences
Student's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Mentor's Name
Timothy Secott
Mentor's Department
Biological Sciences
Mentor's College
Science, Engineering and Technology
Description
Fecal contamination of inland waters is a serious environmental problem across the United States and worldwide. Fecal pollution is associated with numerous negative impacts including human diseases and economic losses in industries using inland water sources. A reliable and efficient identification of sources of contamination is essential for resource management and elimination of fecal contamination in water. The use of members of the genera Bacteroides and Prevotella, obligate anaerobes belonging to the order Bacteroidetes that are abundant in the feces of warm-blooded animals, as indicators of fecal contamination may lead to the development of methods that rapidly, inexpensively and accurately identify the sources of fecal contamination. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) specific for Bacteroidetes as indicators of fecal contamination. 45 water samples collected from May through August 2005 were filtered, and DNA was extracted from material retained on the filter. DNA was amplified by PGR using Bacteroidetes-specific primers and a primer pair reported to be specific for Bacteroidetes of human origin. 18 out of 45 water samples yielded PGR products consistent with that predicted for Bacteroidetes. These results will be compared with those obtained from fecal coliform analysis. Potential correlation of these results with source temperature, flow rate, and time of sample collection will also be presented.
Screening of Water for Fecal Contamination Using Human Fecal Anaerobe DNA as an Indicator
CSU North Ballroom
Fecal contamination of inland waters is a serious environmental problem across the United States and worldwide. Fecal pollution is associated with numerous negative impacts including human diseases and economic losses in industries using inland water sources. A reliable and efficient identification of sources of contamination is essential for resource management and elimination of fecal contamination in water. The use of members of the genera Bacteroides and Prevotella, obligate anaerobes belonging to the order Bacteroidetes that are abundant in the feces of warm-blooded animals, as indicators of fecal contamination may lead to the development of methods that rapidly, inexpensively and accurately identify the sources of fecal contamination. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCRs) specific for Bacteroidetes as indicators of fecal contamination. 45 water samples collected from May through August 2005 were filtered, and DNA was extracted from material retained on the filter. DNA was amplified by PGR using Bacteroidetes-specific primers and a primer pair reported to be specific for Bacteroidetes of human origin. 18 out of 45 water samples yielded PGR products consistent with that predicted for Bacteroidetes. These results will be compared with those obtained from fecal coliform analysis. Potential correlation of these results with source temperature, flow rate, and time of sample collection will also be presented.
Recommended Citation
Weeramantri, Lakmini and Masahiro Kakizaki. "Screening of Water for Fecal Contamination Using Human Fecal Anaerobe DNA as an Indicator." Undergraduate Research Symposium, Mankato, MN, April 25, 2006.
https://cornerstone.lib.mnsu.edu/urs/2006/poster-session-D/7
