Detection of an Introduced Bacterial Culture in Greywater Treatment Reactors

This research describes overall bacterial community structure within a greywater wastewater treatment reactor, and identifies one specific bacterial inoculum. Biological samples were removed from both the unattached (planktonic) and surface-adherent (biofilm) populations in several inoculated reactors. Nucleic acids were isolated and community structure investigated using molecular tools. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed community profiles of the dominant bacterial species. Species and strainspecific primers targeting either the 16S rRNA gene or the intergemc spacer (ITS) between the 16S and 23S rRNA genes were developed to detect the inoculum strain and to distinguish it from closely related organisms, present m the reactors. PCR-DGGE analyses indicated differences between planktonic and biofilm populations in the reactors. Sequence-based analyses from the DGGE gel identified seven community members, which may not have been detected by conventional culturing approaches. However, neither DGGE nor PCR with specific primers were able to detect the original inoculum strain in the reactors suggesting that it did not survive or was a minor, undetectable community member following inoculation.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Grantor

Texas State University-San Marcos

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Welsh, Allana K.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• McLean, Robert J. C.

• sewage
• bacteriology
• nucleic acids

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/10877/12755

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digital.library.txst.edu:10877/12755