Center for Biofilm Engineering

News Update:

April, 2003

Volume 6, Issue 3-4

Research Highlights

Paper Spotlight by Thomas Borch

Volatile organic compounds, and in particular the chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAH) such as 1,1,1-trichloroethane (CH3CCl3), tetrachloromethane (CCl4), trichloroethene (C2HCl3) and tetrachloroethene (C2Cl4), are of major environmental concern since these contaminants are often found in the groundwater, the soil and the atmosphere. The degradation of chlorinated aliphatics in the environment is of particular interest, as many of the chlorinated compounds are of public health concern. Furthermore, these compounds were found to contribute to atmospheric photochemical reactions such as stratospheric ozone depletion.

Most studies have focused on biodegradation of the chlorinated solvents in saturated batches. Reducing, water saturated conditions are found in the deeper parts of the groundwater zones of many aquifers. However, the conditions in most topsoils are water unsaturated with dominating aerobic conditions although the presence of anaerobic microniches is well known. Knowledge about biodegradation of chlorinated aliphatics in water unsaturated topsoils is very limited.

Consequently, our research looked at the removal of atmospheric CHCl3, CH3CCl3, CCl4, C2HCl3 and C2Cl4 in unsaturated topsoil incubated under denitrifying conditions. The results suggest an apparent biodegradation of CCl4, C2HCl3 and C2Cl4 in the water unsaturated agricultural soil under denitrifying conditions. The amount of removal was in the order CCl4 >> C2HCl3 » C2Cl4 >> CHCl3 > CH3CCl3, where the removal of CH3CCl3 was not statistically significant. The removal of CHCl3 and CH3CCl3 was clearly lower than observed for the other compounds. Tetrachloromethane concentrations decreased in both sterile and active batches. No removal of CHCl3, CH3CCl3, and C2Cl4 was observed under abiotic conditions.

Previously, it was assumed that only aerobically degradable compounds would be biodegraded in water unsaturated topsoils and that most chlorinated solvents would consequently be naturally degraded only in the reducing parts of paddy fields, aquatic sediments, peat bogs and deep aquifers. The demonstration of a potential for degradation of CCl4, C2HCl3 and C2Cl4 in water unsaturated topsoils in our batch experiments challenges this assumption.

The environmental significance is that in the future we will have to consider a potential for natural attenuation of chlorinated solvents in unsaturated topsoils, investigating sites contaminated with these compounds. Furthermore, the inclusion of water unsaturated topsoils as an additional sink for atmospheric contamination with these contaminants might be necessary in accounting for their atmospheric budgets.

Borch, T., P. Ambus, F. Laturnus, B. Svensmark and C. Grøn, Biodegradation of Chlorinated Solvents in a Water Unsaturated Topsoil, Chemosphere 51(2): 143-152 (2003).

Grant Award

The Department of Defense has awarded the Center with $936,000 for a biofilm project. The project will advance the concept of a "biofilm trap" that will accumulate potential bioterrorist agents (organic toxins, viruses, pathogenic bacteria, and protozoa), and will be used to confirm sensor signals in systems under attack. The biofilm trap will also provide materials for analysis to determine exactly what agents were used and their points of origin.

New Industrial Associate Member

Edstrom Industries, Inc. designs sophisticated systems for animal research facilities. Their product line includes water purification systems, vivarium management software and hardware, and preventive maintenance service. Robert Curran, Water Quality Engineer, will be the designated company representative. The Edstrom website is http://www.edstrom.com

Education

W.G. Characklis Award

Congratulations to Thomas Borch and Stephen Hunt who were recipients of the W.G. Characklis Award. They were presented with the award at the February 2003 Technical Advisory Conference. Thomas is a Ph.D. candidate in Environmental Sciences and Stephen is a Ph.D. candidate in Chemical Engineering. See picture and article.

Peak Enrichment Program Tours Center

Jane McDonald, Director of the Peak Enrichment Program from the Helena, MT public schools brought 50 students (middle school level, grade 5) to visit the Center and the Department of Microbiology. Phil Stewart gave them an introduction about biofilm bacteria, John Neuman told them about the Center and Montana State University, and then the students toured the Center in small groups. CBE tour leaders were John Neuman, Mark Pasmore, Robin Gerlach, Linda Loetterle, Ivy Able, and Laura Purevdorj. Students also went to the microbiology department where Laura Jennings, Joe Menicucci and Allison Rhoads gave them some lab experience with bacteria. The following afternoon the students gave power point presentations to their parents, demonstrating what they had learned about bacteria and research. See pictures at:
http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/html/2003/PeakTour03.htm

CBE Students in the News

CBE undergraduates Alison Ziegler and Jeremy Mitchell were recently featured in their home town newspapers. You can find their stories at the following links.

Glendive student finds purpose in research lab
by Annette Trinity-Stevens
MSU Research Editor
http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/education/archives/Students%20in%20the%20News033103.htm


Whitefish student finds research intriguing after all
By Evelyn Boswell
MSU Research Office
http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/education/archives/Students%20in%20the%20News011503.htm

Art and Science

Articles recently published about the Bioglyphs exhibition in New York City are referenced below. NSF’s image library has also invited submission of some bioglyph images which will soon be published on their web site.

It's Not Just the Reviews that are Glowing
Science-Art Collaboration Uses Bioluminescent Bacteria to Create Paintings that Light Up Engineering Education
National Science Foundation's ENGINEERING NEWS
http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/html/2003/Bioglyphs_NSFEngNews.htm

Scientists Create Bonds with Artists
Analytical Chemistry, April 1, 2003, Vol 75(7):166A-173A
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/ancham-a/75/i07/toc/toc_i07.html
http://pubs.acs.org/subscribe/journals/ancham-a/75/i07/pdf/403focus.pdf

Visitor

Dirk de Beer, visiting scientist from the Max-Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany, presented “Transport and mineralization rates in intertidal sand plates" and "Physiology of big bacteria studied with microsensors" February 20-21, 2003, at Montana State University. Dirk is head of the Microsensors Division in the Department of Biogeochemistry at the Max Planck Institute for Marine Microbiology in Bremen, Germany. Several years ago as a CBE post doc working in the Structure and Functions group, Dirk used microsensors to investigate relationships between structure and mass transfer in bacterial biofilms. His work in this area was pivotal in linking functionality with the complex structures seen in many biofilms.

Announcements

Invitation for Abstracts

Biofilms 2003 is set for Victoria BC, Canada, from November 1 - 6, 2003. The Organizing Committee has invited 28 speakers. The deadline for abstract submission is July 30, 2003, but early abstracts are invited and will be considered for platform presentations by the appropriate session chairperson. The meeting will generally follow the format of Snowbird 1996 and Biofilms 2000. The middle day of the meeting (Tuesday Nov 4th) will be dedicated to workshops and demonstrations of biofilm-specific techniques. Early registration is strongly recommended because attendance will be capped at 1,000.

See the ASM web site for more information http://www.asm.org/mtgsrc/biofilms2003.htm

Upcoming CBE Workshops

Biofilm Image Analysis Workshop

July 10-11, 2003
Registration: see

http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/whats_new/workshops.htm

Microsensors Workshop

August 11-15, 2003
Registration: see http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/whats_new/workshops.htm

CBE People in Action

Thomas Borch presented “Biogenic Iron Mineralization by a Novel Gram-Positive Bacterium Isolated,” at the PNNL’s Hanford Site: Impact on the Transformation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene at the William R. Wiley Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, Washington, February 14, 2003. The EMSL is operated by PNNL for the DOE Office of Biological and Environmental Research.

Rick Veeh presented 'Molecular Techniques for Studying MTBE Biodegradation,” as part of the API Soil/Groundwater Technical Task Force (S/GTTF)-sponsored Oxygenates Biodegradation Research Review. This was a one-day event held at Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ,
February 19, 2003.

Thomas Borch presented “Biomineralization of Iron(III) Minerals by a Novel Gram-Positive Bacterium in the Presence and Absence of the Humic Analog AQDS: Impact on the Fate of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene,” Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, February 25, 2003.

Mark Shirtliff presented “Proteomic, Microarray, and Host-Pathogen Interaction Studies of Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms,” University of Maryland, Departments of Oral and Craniofacial Biological Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Center for Vaccine Development, February 26, 2002.

Mark Shirtliff presented “Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms” Genome Therapeutics, Boston, MA. February 20, 2002.

Bill Costerton has been a visiting professor in the Department of Pathology in the School of Medicine at St. George's University in Grenada, West Indies from March 2 to March 15, 2003.
He made several presentations including a microbiology department seminar “Biofilms in Nature and Disease”; a university seminar “Biofilms in Device-Related and Other Chronic Bacterial Infections,” and two medical school lectures in infectious diseases “Device-related Infections,” and “Chronic Infections.”

Anne Camper presented "Biofilm Trap for CW/BW Agents," at the Gordon Conference on Clinical and Biological Terrorism Defense, Buellton, CA, March 26-28, 2003.

Web Watch

BiofilmsOnline.com

See the BiofilmsOnline.com April issue at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com.

Biofilms Journal

Announcement and Call for Papers
See http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/Biofilms%20Journal/default.htm

Recent Web Updates

Check the Recent Web Updates link located on the CBE home page, to view the latest information posted on the CBE web.

See <http://www.erc.montana.edu/Recent%20Web%20Updates/default.htm>

Newsletter Listserve

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Diane Williams editor of the CBE News Update