Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund Final Report

Bacteria exhibit the ability to metabolize a wide array of contaminants and, as a result, reduce their toxicity to wildlife and humans. The general goal of this project was to design and evaluate, as a proof-of concept, a DNA microarray assay to evaluate bacterial detoxification mechanisms in contaminated sediments. The assay consists of 100 probes that measure activity of bacterial remediation genes in environmental samples. The utility of the assay on control bacterial strains has been demonstrated and experimental parameters are being optimized. Bacterial community DNA has been extracted from surface sediments associated with the Maumee River Area of Concern (AOC). Upon optimization of the assay, levels of bacterial remediation genes in polluted and relatively unpolluted sediments will be compared. This novel diagnostic tool will provide an indicator of the potential for microbial communities to remediate industrial organochlorines, heavy metals, and pesticides from contaminated sediments. The application of such indicators to contaminated sediments would be valuable in prioritizing contaminated sediments most in need of more traditional means of contaminant remediation.