Whole-genome analysis of the methyl tert-butyl ether-degrading beta-proteobacterium Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1

Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1 is a methylotroph distinguished by its ability to completely metabolize the fuel oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Strain PM1 also degrades aromatic (benzene, toluene, and xylene) and straight-chain (C(5) to C(12)) hydrocarbons present in petroleum products. Whole-genome analysis of PM1 revealed an approximately 4-Mb circular chromosome and an approximately 600-kb megaplasmid, containing 3,831 and 646 genes, respectively. Aromatic hydrocarbon and alkane degradation, metal resistance, and methylotrophy are encoded on the chromosome. The megaplasmid contains an unusual t-RNA island, numerous insertion sequences, and large repeated elements, including a 40-kb region also present on the chromosome and a 29-kb tandem repeat encoding phosphonate transport and cobalamin biosynthesis. The megaplasmid also codes for alkane degradation and was shown to play an essential role in MTBE degradation through plasmid-curing experiments. Discrepancies between the insertion sequence element distribution patterns, the distributions of best BLASTP hits among major phylogenetic groups, and the G+C contents of the chromosome (69.2%) and plasmid (66%), together with comparative genome hybridization experiments, suggest that the plasmid was recently acquired and apparently carries the genetic information responsible for PM1's ability to degrade MTBE. Comparative genomic hybridization analysis with two PM1-like MTBE-degrading environmental isolates (approximately 99% identical 16S rRNA gene sequences) showed that the plasmid was highly conserved (ca. 99% identical), whereas the chromosomes were too diverse to conduct resequencing analysis. PM1's genome sequence provides a foundation for investigating MTBE biodegradation and exploring the genetic regulation of multiple biodegradation pathways in M. petroleiphilum and other MTBE-degrading beta-proteobacteria.     

Isolate PM1 populations are dominant and novel methyl tert-butyl ether-degrading bacterial in compost biofilter enrichments

The gasoline additive MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether, is a widespread and persistent groundwater contaminant. MTBE undergoes rapid mineralization as the sole carbon and energy source of bacterial strain PM1, isolated from an enrichment culture of compost biofilter material. In this report, we describe the results of microbial community DNA profiling to assess the relative dominance of isolate PM1 and other bacterial strains cultured from the compost enrichment. Three polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based profiling approaches were evaluated: denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of 230 bp 16S rDNA fragments; thermal gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) analysis of 575 bp 16S rDNA fragments; and non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of 300-1,500 bp fragments containing 16S/23S ribosomal intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Whereas all three DNA profiling approaches indicated that PM1-like bands predominated in mixtures from MTBE-grown enrichments, ITS profiling provided the most abundant and specific sequence data to confirm strain PM1's presence in the enrichment. Moreover, ITS profiling did not produce non-specific PCR products that were observed with T/DGGE. A further advantage of ITS community profiling over other methods requiring restriction digestion (e.g. terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms) was that it did not require an additional digestion step or the use of automated sequencing equipment. ITS bands, excised from similar locations in profiles of the enrichment and PM1 pure culture, were 99.9% identical across 750 16S rDNA positions and 100% identical across 691 spacer positions. BLAST comparisons of nearly full-length 16S rDNA sequences showed 96% similarity between isolate PM1 and representatives of at least four different genera in the Leptothrix subgroup of the beta-Proteobacteria (Aquabacterium, Leptothrix, Rubrivivax and Ideonella). Maximum likelihood and parsimony analyses of 1,249 nucleotide positions supported isolate PM1's position in a separate lineage within the Leptothrix subgroup.     

Detection and Quantification of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether-Degrading Strain PM1 by Real-Time TaqMan PCR

The fuel oxygenate methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a widely distributed groundwater contaminant, shows potential for treatment by in situ bioremediation. The bacterial strain PM1 rapidly mineralizes and grows on MTBE in laboratory cultures and can degrade the contaminant when inoculated into groundwater or soil microcosms. We applied the TaqMan quantitative PCR method to detect and quantify strain PM1 in laboratory and field samples. Specific primers and probes were designed for the 16S ribosomal DNA region, and specificity of the primers was confirmed with DNA from 15 related bacterial strains. A linear relationship was measured between the threshold fluorescence (C_T) value and the quantity of PM1 DNA or PM1 cell density. The detection limit for PM1 TaqMan assay was 2 PM1 cells/ml in pure culture or 180 PM1 cells/ml in a mixture of PM1 with Escherichia coli cells. We could measure PM1 densities in solution culture, groundwater, and sediment samples spiked with PM1 as well as in groundwater collected from an MTBE bioaugmentation field study. In a microcosm biodegradation study, increases in the population density of PM1 corresponded to the rate of removal of MTBE.     

肠球菌TaqMan实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及初步应用

目的利用TaqMan荧光定量PCR方法,建立肠球菌实时荧光PCR检测方法,并初步应用于粪便中肠球菌的检测。方法根据GenBank发表的肠球菌23S rRNA基因序列的保守区域参考国外文献设计合成特异性的引物和探针[1];利用构建的质粒标准品优化Mg2 的浓度和引物探针浓度,并考核检测体系的保守性、灵敏性和重复性;初步应用于粪便标本的检测分析。结果Mg2 终浓度为4.5 mmol/L,上下游引物终浓度为0.4μmol/L,灵敏度为6拷贝数/反应;绘制两种标准曲线,构建了基因拷贝数、细菌数为分析指标的定量分析模型,检测粪便标本结果显示TaqMan荧光定量PCR方法较平板计数法敏感、快捷、简便。结论本研究建立了一种灵敏、特异、简便易行的肠球菌定量检测方法。     

Degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether by gel immobilized Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1

Cells of Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1 were immobilized in gel beads to degrade methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE). Calcium alginate, agar, polyacrylamide and polyvinvyl alcohol were screened as suitable immobilization matrices, with calcium alginate demonstrating the fastest MTBE-degradation rate. The rate was accelerated by 1.8-fold when the beads had been treated in physiological saline for 24h at 28 degrees C. MTBE degradation in mineral salts medium (MSM) was accompanied by the increase of biomass. The half-life of MTBE-degradation activity for the encapsulated cells stored at 28 degrees C was about 120 h, which was obviously longer than that of free cells (approximately 36 h). Efficient reusability of the beads up to 30 batches was achieved in poor nutrition solution as compared to only 6 batches in MSM. The immobilized cells could be operated in a packed-bed reactor for degradation of 10 mg L(-1) MTBE in groundwater with more than 99% removal efficiency at hydraulic retention time of 20 min. These results suggested that immobilized cells of PM1 in bioreactor might be applicable to a groundwater treatment system for the removal of MTBE.     

Detection and quantification of cultured marine Alexandrium species by real-time PCR

The occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) throughout the world has increased and poses a large threat to human health, fishery resources and tourism industries. The genus Alexandrium includes a number of toxic species associated with HABs. Therefore, it is very important to rapidly detect and monitor the harmful algae, such as Alexandrium genus. In this study, a standard curve of plasmid containing 18S rDNA-28S rDNA region from Alexandrium catenella was constructed and 5.8S rDNA sequence served as the primer of the real-time PCR. Cultured A. catenella, Alexandrium affine, Alexandrium lusitanicum and Alexandrium minutum samples were analyzed by real-time PCR using the same set of primers simultaneously. Using microscopy cells counts, 5.8S rDNA copies per cell and total DNA per cell were estimated. This assay method is promising for rapid detection of large number of Alexandrium samples.     

Detection and quantification of Prymnesium parvum (Haptophyceae) by real-time PCR

Aims: The ichthyotoxic species Prymnesium parvum (Haptophyceae) is difficult to quantify in a microscopy‐based monitoring programme, because the cells are very small, fragile and their morphology can be distorted by the use of fixatives. In the attempt to overcome these problems, a real‐time PCR‐based method for the rapid and sensitive identification and quantification of P. parvum was developed. Methods and Results: A quantitative real‐time PCR assay was optimized with primers designed on the internal transcribed spacer 2 rDNA region of P. parvum. This PCR assay was specific, showing no amplification of DNA extracted from closely related species, and sensitive. Moreover, this method was able to detect and reliably quantify P. parvum cells in preserved environmental samples artificially spiked with known amounts of cultured cells. Conclusions: Considering the specificity, sensitivity and applicability to preserved environmental samples, this method may be a useful tool for the monitoring of this toxic species. Significance and Impact of the Study: The real‐time PCR method described in this study may represent a progress towards the rapid detection and quantification of P. parvum cells in water‐monitoring programmes, allowing the early application of strategies to control bloom events, such as the use of clay minerals.     

Anaerobic methyl tert-butyl ether-degrading microorganisms identified in wastewater treatment plant samples by stable isotope probing

Anaerobic methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) degradation potential was investigated in samples from a range of sources. From these 22 experimental variations, only one source (from wastewater treatment plant samples) exhibited MTBE degradation. These microcosms were methanogenic and were subjected to DNA-based stable isotope probing (SIP) targeted to both bacteria and archaea to identify the putative MTBE degraders. For this purpose, DNA was extracted at two time points, subjected to ultracentrifugation, fractioning, and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP). In addition, bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were constructed. The SIP experiments indicated bacteria in the phyla Firmicutes (family Ruminococcaceae) and Alphaproteobacteria (genus Sphingopyxis) were the dominant MTBE degraders. Previous studies have suggested a role for Firmicutes in anaerobic MTBE degradation; however, the putative MTBE-degrading microorganism in the current study is a novel MTBE-degrading phylotype within this phylum. Two archaeal phylotypes (genera Methanosarcina and Methanocorpusculum) were also enriched in the heavy fractions, and these organisms may be responsible for minor amounts of MTBE degradation or for the uptake of metabolites released from the primary MTBE degraders. Currently, limited information exists on the microorganisms able to degrade MTBE under anaerobic conditions. This work represents the first application of DNA-based SIP to identify anaerobic MTBE-degrading microorganisms in laboratory microcosms and therefore provides a valuable set of data to definitively link identity with anaerobic MTBE degradation.     

用基于TaqMan探针的Real-time PCR技术定量检测副溶血弧菌

副溶血弧菌是一种引起食源性疾病的重要病原菌,传统的鉴定方法费时费力且容易出现假阴性,建立一种定量检测副溶血弧菌基因的方法尤为重要。根据GenBank公布的副溶血弧菌的gyrB基因序列设计一对引物和TaqMan探针,建立了基于TaqMan探针的RealtimePCR方法。通过对9种细菌(12株菌株)的DNA进行扩增,结果所有4株副溶血弧菌均可产生扩增曲线,其他8株非副溶血弧菌均不产生扩增曲线,证明了引物和探针具有很高的特异性。细菌纯培养物品和人工布菌的检测敏感度分别为1CFUPCR反应体系和10CFUPCR反应体系,相关系数均为0.99(r2=0.99),整个试验可在1h内完成。建立的方法可用于海产品中副溶血弧菌的快速定量检测。     

Detection and quantification of Enterococcus gilvus in cheese by real-time PCR

The objective of this work was to investigate the occurrence of Enterococcus gilvus in cheese. For this purpose, a real-time PCR protocol using phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase (pheS) as a target gene was optimized to evaluate the presence and abundance of this microorganism in Italian artisan cheeses. The real-time assay unequivocally distinguished E. gilvus from 25 non-target LAB and non-LAB species, demonstrating its absolute specificity. The assay performed well not only with purified DNA but also with DNA extracted from cheese samples artificially contaminated with E. gilvus. The dynamic range of target determination of the method in the cheese matrix (from 10⁷ to 10⁴ cfu/ml, covering three orders of magnitude) was lower and the detection limit higher than in vitro conditions, but still high enough to obtain an excellent quantification accuracy in cheese. Twenty commercially available cheeses were analyzed by real-time PCR and approximately 40% of the cheese samples contained E. gilvus at levels ranging from 4.17±0.10 to 6.75±0.01 log cfu/g. Such levels represented 0.1–10% of the total enterococci counted on kanamycin aesculin azide agar (KAA) from the corresponding cheeses. The successful isolation of E. gilvus from cheeses containing high loads of this species, as detected by real-time PCR, provided definitive proof on both assay specificity and presence of this organism in cheeses. Despite the relatively low sensitivity in cheese (≥4 log cfu/g), the real-time PCR described here may, however, be useful to detect E. gilvus rapidly when present at (sub)dominant levels within the enterococcal cheese microflora. The assay may be helpful to detect and quantify E. gilvus strains from food, thus enabling a better understanding of technological role, ecological and safety aspects in cheeses and other fermented food products of this infrequent species.     

Detection and quantification of mitochondrial DNA deletions in individual cells by real-time PCR

Defects of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are an important cause of disease and play a role in the ageing process. There are multiple copies of the mitochondrial genome in a single cell. In many patients with acquired or inherited mtDNA mutations, there exists a mixture of mutated and wild type genomes (termed heteroplasmy) within individual cells. As a biochemical and clinical defect is only observed when there are high levels of mutated mtDNA, a crucial investigation is to determine the level of heteroplasmic mutations within tissues and individual cells. We have developed an assay to determine the relative amount of deleted mtDNA using real-time fluorescence PCR. This assay detects the vast majority of deleted molecules, thus eliminating the need to develop specific probes. We have demonstrated an excellent correlation with other techniques (Southern blotting and three- primer competitive PCR), and have shown this technique to be sensitive to quantify the level of deleted mtDNA molecules in individual cells. Finally, we have used this assay to investigate patients with mitochondrial disease and shown in individual skeletal muscle fibres that there exist different patterns of abnormalities between patients with single or multiple mtDNA deletions. We believe that this technique has significant advantages over other methods to quantify deleted mtDNA and, employed alongside our method to sequence the mitochondrial genome from single cells, will further our understanding of the role of mtDNA mutations in human disease and ageing.     

Detection and quantification of hepatopancreatic parvovirus in penaeid shrimp by real-time PCR assay

As one of the major pathogens, hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV) can cause severe diseases in penaeid shrimp. We developed a TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay for the HPV detection in China. A pair of primers (HPVF and HPVR) and a TaqMan probe were designed according to the HPV genomic sequence of Chinese isolate (GenBank: GU371276). Our data showed that the primers and TaqMan probe were specific for HPV, and they exhibited no cross-reaction with infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV), white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) and specific pathogen free (SPF) shrimp DNA. The assay had a detection limit of four plasmid HPV DNA copies per reaction. Furthermore, HPV was detected in 16 of 21 Fenneropenaeus Chinensis, 3 of 52 Litopenaeus vannamei and 2 of 2 Marsupenaeus japonicus penaeid shrimp samples. In addition, HPV was also detected in crabs. Therefore, this assay could be successfully used as a sensitive and rapid molecular-based diagnostic method to screen HPV-free animals and survey the prevalence of HPV in cultured populations of penaeid shrimp in China.     

Detection of human adenoviruses with real-time PCR assay using TaqMan fluorescent probes

Infections with human adenoviruses are common worldwide and cause a wide range of signs and symptoms. Nowadays in current diagnostics procedures older virological methods, such virus isolation in a cell cultures, are replaced with molecular biology tests. The aim of the study was development of real-time PCR assay for detection of human adenoviruses. DNA isolated from A549 cell line infected with five different HAdV strains was used for development of a qualitative real-time PCR assay for detection of all human adenoviruses using primers targeting a conserved region of the hexon gene and a specific TaqMan probe. The analytical sensitivity of real-time PCR assay was tested using serial dilutions of HAdV7 DNA in range between 10(0) and 10(-6). For comparison typical end-point detected PCR for adenovirus detection with the same DNA dilutions was made. The sensitivity of novel method; was about thousand-fold higher than older one. The conclusion is that real-time PCR is very advisable in diagnostics of diseases caused with adenoviruses. The high level of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and rapidity provided by this assay are favorable for the use in the detection of adenoviral DNA in clinical specimens, especially from neuroinfections or immunocompromised hosts.     

Detection of human enteroviruses with real-time PCR assay using TaqMan fluorescent probe

Infections with human enteroviruses are common worldwide and cause a wide range of signs and symptoms. Nowadays in current diagnostics procedures older virological methods, such virus isolation in a cell cultures and seroneutralisation assay, are replaced with molecular biology tests. The aim of the study was development of real-time PCR assay for detection of human adenoviruses. DNA isolated from MK2 cell line infected with nineteen different enterovirus strains was used for development of a qualitative real-time PCR assay using primers targeting a conserved region of the 5'UTR region and a specific TaqMan probe. The analytical sensitivity of real-time PCR assay was tested using serial dilutions of Coxackie A9 cDNA in range between 10 degrees and 10(-8). For comparison typical end-point detected RT-PCR for enterovirus detection with the same cDNA dilutions was made. The sensitivity of novel method was about ten thousand-fold higher than older one. The conclusion is that real-time PCR is very advisable in diagnostics of diseases caused with enteroviruses. The high level of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and rapidity provided by this assay are favorable for the use in the detection of enteroviral RNA in clinical specimens, especially from neuroinfections.     

Detection and quantification of Wallemia sebi in aerosols by real-time PCR, conventional PCR, and cultivation

Wallemia sebi is a deuteromycete fungus commonly found in agricultural environments in many parts of the world and is suspected to be a causative agent of farmer's lung disease. The fungus grows slowly on commonly used culture media and is often obscured by the fast-growing fungi. Thus, its occurrence in different environments has often been underestimated. In this study, we developed two sets of PCR primers specific to W. sebi that can be applied in either conventional PCR or real-time PCR for rapid detection and quantification of the fungus in environmental samples. Both PCR systems proved to be highly specific and sensitive for W. sebi detection even in a high background of other fungal DNAs. These methods were employed to investigate the presence of W. sebi in the aerosols of a farm. The results revealed a high concentration of W. sebi spores, 10(7) m(-3) by real-time PCR and 10(6) m(-3) by cultivation, which indicates the prevalence of W. sebi in farms handling hay and grain and in cow barns. The methods developed in this study could serve as rapid, specific, and sensitive means of detecting W. sebi in aerosol and surface samples and could thus facilitate investigations of its distribution, ecology, clinical diagnosis, and exposure risk assessment.     

Development of real-time PCR (TaqMan) assays for the detection and quantification of Botrytis cinerea in planta.

Real-time PCR assays based on TaqMan chemistry have been developed for the detection and quantification of Botrytis cinerea, suitable for a wide range of different host plant species. Assays were designed to the beta-tubulin gene, the intergenic spacer (IGS) region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA and also to a previously published, species-specific sequence characterised amplified region (SCAR) marker; the assays were compared to a published method based on SYBR Green I technology. The assays designed to the IGS region and SCAR marker proved to be highly specific for B. cinerea but assays designed to the beta-tubulin gene and the previously published assay designed to the cutinase-A gene both cross-react with B. fabae. The assay designed to the IGS region was the most sensitive and was able to reliably detect and quantify as little as 20 fg of B. cinerea DNA. The method incorporates the detection of a gene from the plant host to compensate for variations in extraction efficiency and size of sample tested. The assays designed were used to follow the progression of infection of B. cinerea in plant material inoculated with spores to the point of symptom induction. They should be ideally suited to investigating infection processes in-planta and could be used to investigate aspects of infection/plant pathogenesis, by B. cinerea and are particularly suited to the detection and quantification of the pathogen prior to the development of symptoms.     

Detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shellfish by use of multiplexed real-time PCR with TaqMan fluorescent probes

We developed a multiplexed real-time PCR assay using four sets of gene-specific oligonucleotide primers and four TaqMan probes labeled with four different fluorophores in a single reaction for detection of total and pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus, including the pandemic O3:K6 serotype in oysters. V. parahaemolyticus has been associated with outbreaks of food-borne gastroenteritis caused by the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood and therefore is a concern to the seafood industry and consumers. We selected specific primers and probes targeting the thermostable direct hemolysin gene (tdh) and tdh-related hemolysin gene (trh) that have been reported to be associated with pathogenesis in this organism. In addition, we targeted open reading frame 8 of phage f237 (ORF8), which is associated with a newly emerged virulent pandemic serotype of V. parahameolyticus O3:K6. Total V. parahaemolyticus was targeted using the thermolabile hemolysin gene (tlh). The sensitivity of the combined four-locus multiplexed TaqMan PCR was found to be 200 pg of purified genomic DNA and 10(4) CFU per ml for pure cultures. Detection of an initial inoculum of 1 CFU V. parahaemolyticus per g of oyster tissue homogenate was possible after overnight enrichment, which resulted in a concentration of 3.3x10(9) CFU per ml. Use of this method with natural oysters resulted in 17/33 samples that were positive for tlh and 4/33 samples that were positive for tdh. This assay specifically and sensitively detected total and pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus and is expected to provide a rapid and reliable alternative to conventional detection methods by reducing the analysis time and obviating the need for multiple assays.     

Detection and quantification of infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus in penaeid shrimp by real-time PCR

A real-time PCR method using a fluorogenic 5' nuclease assay and a PE Applied Biosystems GeneAmp 5700 sequence detector was developed to detect infectious hypodermal and hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHHNV) in penaeid shrimp. A pair of PCR primers to amplify an 81 bp DNA fragment and a fluorogenic probe (TaqMan probe) were selected from ORF1 (open reading frame 1) of the IHHNV genome. The primers and TaqMan probe used in this assay were shown to be specific for IHHNV and did not react with either hepatopancreatic parvovirus (HPV), white-spot syndrome virus (WSSV), or shrimp DNA. A plasmid, pIHHNV-P4, containing the target IHHNV sequence was constructed and used as a positive control. The concentration of pIHHNV-P4 was determined through spectrophotometric analysis and the plasmid was used for quantitative studies. This real-time PCR assay had a detection limit of 10 copies and a log-linear range up to 5 x 10(7) copies of IHHNV DNA. The assay was then used to quantify IHHNV in infected shrimp collected from 5 locations: Hawaii, Panama, Mexico, Guam, and the Philippines. The quantitative analysis showed that wild-caught, large juvenile Penaeus stylirostris collected from the Gulf of California (Mexico) in 1996 were naturally infected with IHHNV and contained up to 10(9) copies of IHHNV microg(-1) of DNA. Similar quantities of IHHNV were detected in hatchery-raised, small juvenile P. stylirostris collected from Guam in 1995 and in farm-raised, post-larval P. monodon from the Philippines in 1996. Laboratory-infected P. stylirostris contained approximately 10(8) copies of IHHNV 31 d after being fed with IHHNV-infected shrimp tissue. In contrast, individuals of Super Shrimp, a line of P. stylirostris selected for IHHNV resistance, showed no signs of infection 32 d after ingesting IHHNV-infected shrimp tissue. Laboratory-infected P. vannamei also contained approximately 10(8) copies of IHHNV 30 d after being fed infected shrimp tissue. A time-course study of IHHNV replication in juvenile P. vannamei showed that the doubling time in the exponential growth phase was approximately 22 h.     

Detection and quantification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli using real-time multiplex PCR

Aims: We describe a real‐time quantitative multiplex polymerase chain reaction (qmPCR) assay to identify and discriminate between isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Methods and Results: Two novel sets of primers and hydrolysis probes were designed to amplify the unique DNA sequences within the hipO, ccoN and cadF genes that are specific to Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli. Using the designed optimized qmPCR assay conditions, the amplification efficiency is in range from 108 to 116%. These qmPCR assays are highly specific for Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli, as seen through testing of 40 Campylobacter strains and 17 non‐Campylobacter strains. In chicken juice and tap water models spiked with known quantities of Camp. jejuni, qmPCR detected 10²–10³ CFU ml^?1 within 4 h. Conclusions: The qmPCR assays developed in this study provide reliable and simultaneous detection and quantification of Camp. jejuni and Camp. coli, with good amplification reaction parameters. Significance and Impact of the Study: Following further validation, the qmPCR assay reported here has the potential to be applied to various sample types as an alternative and rapid methodology.     

Naturally occurring bacteria similar to the methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)-degrading strain PM1 are present in MTBE-contaminated groundwater

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is a widespread groundwater contaminant that does not respond well to conventional treatment technologies. Growing evidence indicates that microbial communities indigenous to groundwater can degrade MTBE under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Although pure cultures of microorganisms able to degrade or cometabolize MTBE have been reported, to date the specific organisms responsible for MTBE degradation in various field studies have not be identified. We report that DNA sequences almost identical (99% homology) to those of strain PM1, originally isolated from a biofilter in southern California, are naturally occurring in an MTBE-polluted aquifer in Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Lompoc, California. Cell densities of native PM1 (measured by TaqMan quantitative PCR) in VAFB groundwater samples ranged from below the detection limit (in anaerobic sites) to 10(3) to 10(4) cells/ml (in oxygen-amended sites). In groundwater from anaerobic or aerobic sites incubated in microcosms spiked with 10 microg of MTBE/liter, densities of native PM1 increased to approximately 10(5) cells/ml. Native PM1 densities also increased during incubation of VAFB sediments during MTBE degradation. In controlled field plots amended with oxygen, artificially increasing the MTBE concentration was followed by an increase in the in situ native PM1 cell density. This is the first reported relationship between in situ MTBE biodegradation and densities of MTBE-degrading bacteria by quantitative molecular methods.