Transport and survival of alginate-encapsulated and free lux-lac marked Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG2Lr cells in soil |
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Authors: | Bronagh M Hall Aidan J McLoughlin Kam Tin Leung Jack T Trevors Hung Lee |
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Institution: | Department of Industrial Microbiology, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland;Department of Environmental Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ont. N1G 2W1, Canada |
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Abstract: | Transport and survival of alginate-encapsulated and unencapsulated Pseudomonas aeruginosa UG2Lr through soil microcosms was examined. Bacterial cells encapsulated in alginate beads or mixed with soil were introduced into soil microcosms. Microbial cell survival and cell transport were monitored by destructive sampling and selective plating of the microcosms over a 9-week period. Survival rates were greatest when using encapsulated P. aeruginosa UG2Lr cells. Water flow increased microbial cell dispersal from the site of inoculation. After 3 weeks, encapsulated and free cells showed similar distribution patterns. However, after 9 weeks microbial cell distribution was more extensive throughout the soil in the encapsulated treatments under all conditions. Therefore, alginate encapsulation is a suitable method to enhance survival and distribution of microbial inocula in the soil environment. |
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Keywords: | Alginate Bacteria Microcosm Pseudomonas aeruginosa Reporter gene Soil Transport |
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