Rapid direct methods for enumeration of specific, active bacteria in water and biofilms

Conventional methods for detecting indicator and pathogenic bacteria in water may underestimate the actual population due to sublethal environmental injury, inability of the target bacteria to take up nutrients and other physiological factors which reduce bacterial culturability. Rapid and direct methods are needed to more accurately detect and enumerate active bacteria. Such a methodological advance would provide greater sensitivity in assessing the microbiological safety of water and food. The principle goal of this presentation is to describe novel approaches we have formulated for the rapid and simultaneous detection of bacteria plus the determination of their physiological activity in water and other environmental samples. The present version of our method involves the concentration of organisms by membrane filtration or immunomagnetic separation and combines an intracellular fluorochrome (CTC) for assessment of respiratory activity plus fluorescent-labelled antibody detection of specific bacteria. This approach has also been successfully used to demonstrate spatial and temporal heterogeneities of physiological activities in biofilms when coupled with cryosectioning. Candidate physiological stains include those capable of determining respiratory activity, membrane potential, membrane integrity, growth rate and cellular enzymatic activities. Results obtained thus far indicate that immunomagnetic separation can provide a high degree of sensitivity in the recovery of seeded target bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7) in water and hamburger. The captured and stained target bacteria are then enumerated by either conventional fluorescence microscopy or ChemScan(R), a new instrument that is very sensitive and rapid. The ChemScan(R) laser scanning instrument (Chemunex, Paris, France) provides the detection of individual fluorescently labelled bacterial cells using three emission channels in less than 5 min. A high degree of correlation has been demonstrated between results obtained with the ChemScan and traditional plate counts of mixed natural bacterial populations in water. The continuing evolution of these methods will be valuable in the rapid and accurate analysis of environmental samples.     

云南兰坪铅锌尾矿区可培养细菌的分离及其酶活筛选

对云南兰坪铅锌尾矿区样品中的可培养细菌进行分离及初步鉴定, 同时挖掘具有酶活性功能的菌株。

从兰坪铅锌尾矿区及周边农田采集了20份样品, 运用10种培养基进行细菌分离, 对分离菌株的16S rRNA基因测序以鉴定其分类地位, 再以平板透明圈法检测分离菌株的淀粉酶、纤维素酶、蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性。

从20份样品中分离获得了320株细菌, 隶属于6个纲、14个目、26个科、39个属, 有5个潜在新分类单元。其中链霉菌属的菌株数最多, 高达102株, 占菌株总数的31.88%, 为优势种群; 其次为芽胞杆菌属菌株40株, 肠杆菌属菌株17株。去重后对165株菌进行酶活检测, 有41株菌具有淀粉酶活性, 占筛选菌株总数的24.70%, 主要为链霉菌属和芽胞杆菌属; 有40株菌对纤维素酶具有活性, 占筛选菌株总数的24.10%, 主要为链霉菌属和芽胞杆菌属; 有14株菌对蛋白酶具有活性, 占筛选菌株总数的8.43%, 主要为链霉菌属和芽胞杆菌属; 有12株菌对脂肪酶具有活性, 占筛选菌株总数的7.23%, 主要为链假单胞菌属。

兰坪铅锌尾矿区可培养细菌的种类丰富, 且蕴藏着大量具有酶活性的菌株。研究结果为了解兰坪铅锌尾矿细菌多样性提供了数据参考, 同时也为酶工业的研究开发提供了更多的菌种资源。

     

Monitoring of fecal pollution in coastal waters by use of rapid enzymatic techniques.

Enzyme assays for 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranosidase and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronidase activities were used for rapid detection (25 min) of fecal water pollution and to determine the impact of sewage discharge in coastal waters. Two coastal areas were investigated: (i) an estuary characterized by a high degree of contamination downstream of a discharge from a sewage treatment plant and a low degree of water renewal and (ii) a fjord with a low degree of pollution and a high degree of water renewal. Statistical analysis showed that a global correlation curve could be used to estimate concentrations of culturable fecal coliform bacteria in the two coastal areas, although environmental factors important for cell physiology (e.g., salinity) varied at different sampling locations. The sensitivity limit for detection of 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronidase activity corresponded to bacterial concentrations on the order of 10 to 100 CFU/100 ml. The 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranosidase assay was less sensitive because of a higher rate of substrate autohydrolysis. The detection limit corresponded to bacterial concentrations on the order of 100 to 1,000 fecal coliforms per 100 ml.     

广西三种真红树植物可培养细菌多样性及其生物活性初筛

为了挖掘真红树植物潜在细菌新物种和生物活性物质,丰富红树林微生物多样性,为新型活性产物开发提供菌株资源。该文从秋茄、木榄和红海榄三种广西来源的真红树植物及其生境中,按根、茎、叶、花、果实和泥土分成22份样品,选用8种不同培养基分离可培养细菌,通过16S rRNA基因序列鉴定,分析其多样性,采用纸片法筛选细菌发酵粗提物的抑菌活性,点植法测试其酶活性。结果表明：(1)共分离获得可培养细菌35株,隶属于23个科28个属,芽孢杆菌属占细菌总数的14.3%,为优势菌属,同时发现11株潜在的新细菌资源。(2)活性筛选获得4株细菌具有抑菌活性,16株细菌具有酶活性,芽孢杆菌属是酶活性优势菌属。综上所述,广西真红树植物可培养细菌多样性丰富,部分细菌具有抑菌活性和酶活性,在新型抗生素和酶应用方面具有一定的开发潜力。     

Detection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) by selective amplification of invA, viaB, fliC-d and prt genes by polymerase chain reaction in mutiplex format

AIMS: Development of a PCR assay that can target multiple genes for rapid detection of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) from water and food samples. METHODS AND RESULTS: PCR primers for invasion, O, H and Vi antigen genes, invA, prt, fliC-d and viaB were designed and used for the rapid detection of S. Typhi by multiplex PCR. Internal amplification control, which co-amplified with prt primers, was also included in the assay. The results showed that all cultures of Salmonella were accurately identified by the assay with no nonspecific amplification in other cultures. The assay had 100% detection probability when a cell suspension of 10(4) CFU ml(-1) (500 CFU per reaction) was used. Salmonella Typhi bacteria were artificially inoculated in the water and food (milk and meat rinse) samples and detected by mPCR after overnight pre-enrichment in buffered peptone water. No Salmonella bacteria could be detected from water samples collected from the field by mPCR or standard culture method. CONCLUSIONS: The developed mPCR assay provides specific detection of S. Typhi. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Rapid methods for detection of S. Typhi from complex environmental matrices are almost nonexistent. The mPCR assay reported in this study can be useful to identify S. Typhi bacteria in field environmental samples.     

Application of the fluorogenic probe technique (TaqMan PCR) to the detection of Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli in water samples

A recent PCR detection technique (TaqMan) based on the 5'-3'-exonuclease activity of the Taq DNA polymerase was applied to the detection of indicator organisms in water samples. In this technique, an increasing fluorescence signal is measured online which enables direct assessment of results after PCR without additional detection steps. The test is completed within about 5 h. Two sets of primers and probes were designed and tested: a genus-specific assay for the detection of Enterococcus spp. based on 23S rRNA sequence and an Escherichia coli-specific assay based on the uidA gene sequence. Specificity of the assays was confirmed by testing strains of target bacteria and potential interfering microorganisms. Application of the tests to 55 natural water samples showed the need of an overnight enrichment step to achieve compliance with detection limits of existing regulations. Compared with a parallel microbiological examination of the samples, agreement was 96% with the Enterococcus assay and 98% with the E. coli assay. The rapidity and feasibility of the method point to benefits in drinking water analysis, particularly in emergency situations and, thus, to improved public health management.     

茅尾海红树根际土壤可培养细菌多样性及抑菌活性研究

为挖掘茅尾海红树植物根际土壤可培养细菌资源,研究其抑菌活性,该文使用培养基对茅尾海5种红树植物(红海榄、黄槿、无瓣海桑、桐花树、阔苞菊)的7份根际土壤进行富集培养,选用6种不同分离培养基对富集样品进行可培养细菌的分离纯化,基于菌株16S rRNA基因序列信息进行物种多样性分析,并采用纸片法筛选具有抑制表皮葡萄球菌、耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌、铜绿假单胞菌活性的菌株。结果表明:(1)从7份红树植物根际土壤样品中分离到120种可培养细菌,隶属于35科47属,其中链霉菌属(Streptomyces sp.)占菌种总数的 14.2%,同时发现5种潜在新菌株。(2)通过抑菌活性初筛,发现9种细菌的发酵粗提物对至少一种致病菌具有抑菌活性。综上表明,茅尾海红树植物根际土壤可培养细菌多样性丰富,并且部分菌株具有抑制人类致病菌活性。该研究结果为新型抗生素的开发与利用提供了菌种资源。     

西南地区高山湖泊中可培养细菌多样性及其所产胞外活性物质的特性

【目的】研究西南不同地区的高山湖泊中可培养细菌的多样性及其产胞外蛋白酶、纤维素酶和胞外多糖的能力。【方法】以西南4个不同地区的高山湖泊:雷波的马湖(LB)、中缅边境的凯邦亚湖(ZM)、沙德的莲花湖(SD)、腾冲的青海湖(TC)的水样为研究对象,利用稀释涂布平板方法对可培养细菌进行分离筛选,然后通过对可培养细菌的生理生化指标和16S r RNA基因序列进行分析,初步确定细菌属别;对分离得到的菌株进行产胞外蛋白酶和纤维素酶活性测定和产胞外多糖能力检测。【结果】从西南地区4个湖泊中共分离筛选得到41株细菌,其中LB 15株、ZM 13株、SD 7株、TC 6株。根据16S r RNA基因序列的系统进化分析,4个地区可培养细菌的组成和丰度存在明显差异,其中LB和ZM的优势菌属是芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),其次是气单胞菌属(Aeromonas)和假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas),分离的TC菌株全部属于芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus),分离的SD菌株特异性较强。进一步酶活性和胞外多糖检测表明,分离得到的41株细菌中有28株菌的发酵产物具有蛋白酶活性,6株具有纤维素酶活性,17株可产胞外多糖(Exopolysaccharides,EPS)。其中有2株细菌同时产蛋白酶、纤维素酶和胞外多糖,10株细菌同时产蛋白酶和胞外多糖,2株细菌同时产蛋白酶和纤维素酶,1株细菌同时产纤维素酶和胞外多糖。【结论】西南4个高山湖泊中存在丰富的微生物菌种资源,且4个湖泊中筛选的可培养细菌受所处环境的影响大。其中莲花湖由于高海拔和较偏僻等特点,人为干扰小,分离得到的细菌类群与其他湖泊相比明显不同;而马湖、凯邦亚湖和青海湖3个湖泊的海拔相对较低,受人类活动影响较大,分离得到的细菌均较常见。此外高山湖泊中的可培养细菌具有分泌多种胞外活性物质特性,为工业化应用奠定了资源基础,极具更深入的开发和研究价值。     

Input of protein to lake water microcosms affects expression of proteolytic enzymes and the dynamics of Pseudomonas spp.

The objective of this study was to determine how an input of protein to lake water affects expression of a proteolytic potential and influences the abundance and composition of a specific group of bacteria. Pseudomonas spp. were chosen as a target group that can be recovered on selective growth media and contain both proteolytic and nonproteolytic strains. Amendment with 2 mg of casein per liter increased total proteinase activity (hydrolysis of [(3)H]casein) by 74%, leucine-aminopeptidase activity (hydrolysis of leucine-methyl-coumarinylamide) by 133%, bacterial abundance by 44%, and phytoplankton biomass (chlorophyll a) by 39%. The casein amendment also increased the abundance of culturable Pseudomonas spp. by fivefold relative to control microcosms but did not select for proteolytic isolates. Soluble proteins immunochemically related to the Pseudomonas fluorescens alkaline proteinase, AprX, were detected in amended microcosms but not in the controls. The expression of this class of proteinase was confirmed exclusively for proteolytic Pseudomonas isolates from the microcosms. The population structure of Pseudomonas isolates was determined from genomic fingerprints generated by universally primed PCR, and the analysis indicated that casein amendment led to only minor shifts in population structure. The appearance of AprX-like proteinases in the lake water might thus reflect a general induction of enzyme expression rather than pronounced shifts in the Pseudomonas population structure. The limited effect of casein amendment on Pseudomonas population structure might be due to the availability of casein hydrolysates to bacteria independent of their proteinase expression. In the lake water, 44% of the total proteinase activity was recovered in 0.22-microm-pore-size filtrates and thus without a direct association with the bacteria providing the extracellular enzyme activity. Since all Pseudomonas isolates expressed leucine-aminopeptidase in pure culture, proteolytic as well as nonproteolytic pseudomonads were likely members of the bacterial consortium that metabolized protein in the lake water.     

安徽定远盐矿可培养嗜盐微生物多样性

【背景】嗜盐微生物多生活于高盐环境,具有独特的生理代谢特征,是一类重要的极端环境微生物资源。【目的】为更好地认识我国陆相盐矿的嗜盐微生物多样性组成,更好地开发利用嗜盐微生物资源积累丰富的微生物菌种。【方法】对安徽定远盐矿盐芯样品进行嗜盐微生物的纯培养分离,并对所分离菌株进行基于16SrRNA基因的测序和序列相似性分析,并对所分离菌株进行物种多样性分析。在此基础上,对代表菌株进行菌落形态和耐盐度及酶活测定。【结果】通过纯培养共分离获得了嗜盐微生物264株,其中嗜盐古菌150株,占56.8%;嗜盐细菌114株,占43.2%。嗜盐古菌物种分别来自于Halorubrum、 Halopenitus、 Haloterrigena、 Natrinema、 Natronoarchaeum和Natronomonas等6个属;嗜盐细菌物种分别来自于Pseudomonas、Aliifodinibius、Halobacillus、Halomonas和Halospina等5个属。通过代表菌株的酶活平板检测,发现产胞外蛋白酶菌株1株,酯酶1株,淀粉酶2株;能液化明胶菌株2株。在物种多样性组成方面,发现嗜盐古菌的物种多样性指数高于嗜盐细菌。【结论】本研究对我国安徽定远陆相盐矿的可培养嗜盐微生物多样性进行探究,积累了丰富的嗜盐微生物菌株资源。     

Competitive polymerase chain reaction for quantification of nonculturable Enterococcus faecalis cells in lake water

Among the survival strategies developed by bacteria when faced with adverse environmental conditions, the viable but nonculturable (VNC) state has been described. In this state, bacteria are unable to form colonies but are still alive and capable of metabolic activity. The VNC state has been described in numerous Gram-negative species, but recently also in Enterococcus faecalis, a Gram-positive species which can be found in the environment. In this study we describe a competitive PCR (cPCR) protocol to detect and quantify a specific sequence of DNA from culturable and nonculturable E. faecalis cells present in water samples. The protocol was found to be specific and capable of detecting amounts of DNA up to 0.1 pg corresponding to approximately 2 cells ml(-1). Moreover, it allows an internal standard to be used to quantify the amount of specific DNA present in samples from different environments. The application of this cPCR method to water samples from Lake Garda enabled us to demonstrate the presence of nonculturable forms of E. faecalis in lake water and to quantify their DNA and the corresponding concentration of nonculturable cells.     

Rapid detection and enumeration of Legionella pneumophila in hot water systems by solid-phase cytometry

A new method for the rapid and sensitive detection of Legionella pneumophila in hot water systems has been developed. The method is based on an IF assay combined with detection by solid-phase cytometry. This method allowed the enumeration of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 and L. pneumophila serogroups 2 to 6, 8 to 10, and 12 to 15 in tap water samples within 3 to 4 h. The sensitivity of the method was between 10 and 100 bacteria per liter and was principally limited by the filtration capacity of membranes. The specificity of the antibody was evaluated against 15 non-Legionella strains, and no cross-reactivity was observed. When the method was applied to natural waters, direct counts of L. pneumophila were compared with the number of CFU obtained by the standard culture method. Direct counts were always higher than culturable counts, and the ratio between the two methods ranged from 1.4 to 325. Solid-phase cytometry offers a fast and sensitive alternative to the culture method for L. pneumophila screening in hot water systems.     

Enumeration of water-borne bacteria using viability assays and flow cytometry: a comparison to culture-based techniques

Maintaining optimal conditions in catchments or distribution systems relies heavily on water authorities having access to rapid and accurate water quality data, including an indication of bacteriological quality. In this study, the BacLight bacterial viability kit and carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) were coupled with flow cytometry (FCM) for rapid detection of physiologically active bacteria from raw and potable waters taken from various locations around South Australia. Results were compared to the direct viable count (DVC) and quantitative DVC (qDVC), in addition to the culture-based methods of the heterotrophic plate count (HPC) and a commercial SimPlate technique. Raw and potable water analysis revealed that DVC and culture-based techniques reported significantly fewer viable bacteria compared to the number of physiologically active bacteria detected using the rapid FCM assays, where this difference appeared to be nonlinear across different samples. Inconclusive results were obtained using qDVC as a viability assay. In particular, HPC results were 2-4 log orders of magnitude below that reported by the FCM assays for raw waters. Few bacteria in potable waters examined were culturable by HPC, even though FCM assays reported between 5.56 x 10(2) and 3.94 x 10(4) active bacteria ml(-1). These differences may be attributed to the presence of nonheterotrophic bacteria, sublethal injury or the adoption of an active but nonculturable (ABNC) state.     

Application of laser scanning for the rapid and automated detection of bacteria in water samples

It is widely accepted that the heterotrophic plate count method may not support the growth of all viable bacteria which may be present within a water sample and that alternative procedures using 'viability markers' may yield additional information. In this study, ChemChrome B (CB), which is converted to a fluorescent product by esterase activity, was used to stain viable bacteria (captured by membrane filtration) from potable water samples. The labelled bacteria from each sample were subsequently enumerated using a novel laser scanning instrument (ChemScan). Analysis of 107 potable water samples using this procedure demonstrated the presence of a significantly greater number of bacteria than were detected by culture (z-test, P < 0.05). The mean number of bacteria isolated by culture on R2A agar incubated at 22 degrees C for 7 d was only 25.2% of the total number of viable bacteria detected using the CB/ChemScan viability assay. Further analysis of 81 water samples using a 5-cyano-2,3,4-tolyl-tetrazolium chloride (CTC) viability assay also demonstrated the presence of many viable bacteria which were not capable of growth under the culture conditions employed in this study. However, the results indicate that ChemChrome B has the ability to stain a significantly greater number of heterotrophs than CTC (z-test, P < 0.05). In contrast, six potable waters were identified in which the CTC viability assay resulted in counts greater than those obtained using CB. The ChemScan instrument was successfully used for rapid and accurate enumeration of labelled micro-organisms, allowing information on the total viable microbial load of a water sample to be determined within 1 h. Furthermore, the ChemScan system has the potential for use in detecting specific organisms labelled with fluorescently-labelled antibodies or nucleic acid probes.     

Profiling bacterial survival through a water treatment process and subsequent distribution system

AIMS: To profile fractions of active bacteria and of bacteria culturable with routine heterotrophic plate count (HPC) methods through a typical water treatment process and subsequent distribution system. In doing so, investigate how water treatment affects both bacterial abundance and diversity, and reveal the identities of active bacteria not detected by traditional HPC culture. METHODS AND RESULTS: Profiling active fractions was performed by flow cytometric cell sorting of either membrane-intact (BacLight kit) or enzymatically active (carboxyfluorescein diacetate, CFDA) bacteria, followed by eubacterial 16S rDNA-directed PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Water treatment significantly reduced active bacterial numbers detected by the BacLight kit and CFDA assay by 2.89 and 2.81 log respectively. Bacterial diversity was also reduced from > 20 DGGE bands in the active fractions of reservoir water to only two bands in the active fractions of finished water. These two bands represented Stenotrophomonas maltophila, initially culturable by HPC, and a Burkholderia-related species. Both species maintained measurable traits of physiological activity in distribution system bulk water but were undetected by HPC. CONCLUSIONS: Flow cytometric cell sorting with PCR-DGGE, to assess water treatment efficacy, identified active bacteria from a variety of major phylogenetic groups undetected by routine HPC. Following treatment S. maltophila and a Burkholderia-related species retained activity and entered distribution undetected by HPC. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Methods used here demonstrate how water treatment operators can better monitor water treatment plant efficacy and assess distribution system instability by the detection and identification of active bacteria recalcitrant to routine HPC culture.     

Solid phase cytometry as a tool to detect viable but non-culturable cells of Campylobacter jejuni

Solid phase cytometry (SPC) in conjunction with fluorescent viability staining has been investigated as a tool to detect viable but non-culturable Campylobacter jejuni in drinking water. Inoculated water samples were filtered over a polyester membrane filter and the retained cells were stained using a carboxyfluorescein ester as a substrate for intracellular esterases. The number of green fluorescent bacteria was automatically counted by an Ar laser scanning device (ChemScan) in 3 min. In parallel, the plate count was determined on Columbia Blood Agar. The number of culturable cells decreased below the detection limit of plate counting in less than 50 days. In contrast, the number of fluorescent bacteria remained at its initial level for at least 85 days. The discrepancy between the two results can be attributed to the transition of culturable C. jejuni cells into VBNC C. jejuni cells. Furthermore, as SPC can distinguish between low numbers of dividing and non-dividing cells of Campylobacter it has the potential to monitor attempts to resuscitate VBNC cells.     

Phenanthrene degradation by estuarine surface microlayer and bulk water microbial populations

Paired surface microlayer and bulk water samples from five sites in the Great Bay Estuary, New Hampshire, were examined with regard to numbers of bacteria,¹⁴C-phenanthrene biodegradation potentials, and organic and inorganic chemical characteristics. Microlayer samples were generally enriched in nutrients (N and P), dissolved organic matter, and culturable heterotrophic bacteria compared with their corresponding bulk waters. Microlayer samples from marina environments were also enriched in aromatic hydrocarbons, as determined by UV spectrophotometric and fluorometric analyses, and demonstrated substantial phenanthrene biodegradation activity in the assay employed. Biodegradation activity of marina bulk water samples ranged from nil to levels exceeding those exhibited by microlayer samples. No diminution of biodegradation activity was observed after filtration (1.2 m effective retention) of microlayer water, indicating that the responsible organisms were not particle-associated. Phenanthrene-degrading bacteria, enumerated by counting clearing zones in a crystalline phenanthrene overlay after colony development on a phenanthrene/toluene agar (PTA) medium, were superior to epifluorescence direct counts or standard plate counts on PTA or estuarine nutrient agar in predicting¹⁴C-phenanthrene biodegradative activity.     

A simple bioluminescence procedure for early warning detection of coliform bacteria in drinking water

Traditional cultivation-dependent tests for coliform bacteria in food and drinking water take 18–24 h to complete. Bioluminescence-based enzyme assays can potentially reduce analysis time for indicator bacteria such as coliforms. In the present study, we developed a simple presence/absence (P/A) bioluminescence procedure for rapid detection of coliform bacteria in groundwater-based drinking water. The bioluminescence procedure targeting β-d-galactosidase activity in coliform bacteria was based on hydrolysis of 6-O-β-galactopyranosyl-luciferin. Bacteria immobilized on membrane filters were enriched for 6–8 h in selective media containing isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) to induce β-d-galactosidase activity in coliform bacteria. The equivalent of approximately 300 E. coli cells was required for bioluminescence detection of β-d-galactosidase activity. In comparison, PCR based detection of E. coli in drinking water required approximately 30 target cells. Analysis of contaminated drinking water samples showed comparable results for coliform bacteria using traditional multiple-tube fermentation, Colilert-18, and the bioluminescence procedure. Aeromonas hydrophila or indigenous groundwater bacteria did not interfere with the procedure. The bioluminescence procedure can be combined with commercial substrates such as Fluorocult or Colilert-18, and will allow the detection of one coliform in 100 ml drinking water within one working day. The results suggest the bioluminescence assays targeting β-d-galactosidase activity may be used for or for early warning screening of drinking water and/or rapid identification of contaminated drinking water wells.     

Effect of seawater on Escherichia coli β-galactosidase activity

An investigation of β-galactosidase activity of Escherichia coli strain H10407, under different physiological and environmental conditions, e.g. induced and uninduced osmotic stress, light, etc., was undertaken. In this study E. coli was employed as a model for faecal coliforms in waste water. β-Galactosidase activity was induced by isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG). Enzyme activity (U cell^-1)/cell for sewage bacteria and for induced E. coli was similar, i.e. log U cell^-1= -8.5 whereas uninduced E. coli yielded log U cell^-1= -12.1. Initial enzyme activity was not dependent on phase of growth of the cell (exponential vs stationary phase) or whether marine or fresh water at the time of initial dilution. However, osmotic change resulted in a decrease in culturable cells, even though enzyme activity remained constant. A significant decrease in the number of culturable bacteria, followed by a decrease in β-galactosidase activity, was observed after exposure of cells to visible light radiation. It is concluded that β-galactosidase enzyme is retained in viable but non-culturable E. coli. Furthermore, β-galactosidase appears to offer a useful and rapid (25 min) measure of the viability of faecal coliforms, and therefore, of the water quality of bathing and shellfishing areas.     

Rapid detection and identification of biological and chemical agents by immunoassay, gene probe assay and enzyme inhibition using a silicon-based biosensor

A rapid biosensor assay procedure that utilizes biotin streptavidin mediated filtration capture onto nitrocellulose membrane, in conjunction with a silicon-based light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) was developed for detection and identification of biological and chemical threat agents. Sandwich immunoassays, nucleic acid hybridization assays and enzyme inhibition assays are described. For immunoassays, the lower limits of detection (LOD) per 100-microl sample were approximately 5 pg/ml for protein (Staphylococcal enterotoxin B), 2 ng/ml for virus (Newcastle disease virus), and 20 ng/ml for vegetative bacteria (Brucella melitensis). In a dual gene probe assay format, the LOD was 0.30 fmol (1.8 x 10(8) copies per 60-microl) of single stranded target DNA. Enzyme inhibition assays on the LAPS using acetylcholinesterase were able to detect soman and sarin in aqueous samples at 2 and 8 pg (100 and 600 pM), respectively. The assays were easy to perform and required a total time equal to the reaction period plus about 15 min for filtering, washing and sensing. The assay format is suitable for detection of a wide range of infectious and toxic substances. New assays can be developed and optimized readily, often within 1 or 2 days.