Recipient Organization
STATE UNIV OF NEW YORK
(N/A)
SYRACUSE,NY 13210
Performing Department
Chemistry
Non Technical Summary
Research over the last decade has demonstrated bacteria that co-occur in theenvironment with toxic cyanobacteria blooms have the ability to break down cyanobacterialtoxins: sometimes using these toxins as sole carbon sources. The University of Tennessee hasisolated such organisms from Lake Erie, and acquired the original Australian isolate to degrademicrocystins. This proposal will identify new microcystin-degrading species and characterizetheir decomposition of microcystins, a class of cyanotoxins that have been detected annually inthe Laurentian Great Lakes since 1995. Field samples will be collected from, western Lake Erie,embayments of Lake Ontario, and obtained from international locations via ongoing researchprograms (e.g., Lake Tai (aka Taihu) in eastern China). The rates of biological microcystindecomposition will be determined along with the identity of end products and factorsconstraining this process (temperature, inorganic nutrient availability). Biologicalcharacterizations (growth rate, growth efficiency, ability to use as sole carbon source vs.biological "doping" with stimulatory organic and inorganics, and genetic identity) will becoupled with chemical measurements of toxin and breakdown product concentrations. These arethe essential first steps for development of a biological filter for toxin removal. Specificobjectives of this proposal include:(1) Isolate microcystin-degrading bacteria from blooms in Lakes Erie, Ontario and Tai.(2) Identify bacteria (from 1) capable of using microcystins as a sole carbon source.(3) Characterize bacteria and their growth rates under different ·conditions of temperature,nutrients and available carbon.(4) Characterize degradation rates of microcystins under different physiological conditions.(5) Identify the degradation products formed by these bacteria, including estimates of toxicity.(6) Identifying a physical infrastructure (filter support, type, etc) that can be used in abioreactor for the degradation of microcystins.(7) Identify and address the NEPA requirements for application of a biofilter to removemicrocystins from an external body of water.The information on their rates of toxin degradation, byproducts and other metabolites producedby the degrading organism as well as microbial growth (both in lab or on the potential platform)will be used select a subset of bacteria for further study and testing in the bioreator. The endgoalof this phase I study is to develop and deploy a biological "digester" under "pilot plant"conditions, similar to those currently used for the removal of other persistent organic pollutants.This process is now constrained from moving forward due to the lack basic information on thegrowth of the organisms, process rates and the nature of the resulting end products. This effort isan essential first step for preparation of a scalable biological filtration system to mitigate andprevent microcystins from passing into water distribution systems. Potential end users includeresource managers and water providers, but may also include aquaculture, recreational waterbody managers or agricultural providers. To help address the engineering and. regulatorychallenges for incorporation of this technology into existing water infrastructure, this project hasestablished an advisory team that includes a representative from a large water engineering firmand NEPA experts to help guide the early development of the technology.Awarded Start Date: 9/1/11Sponsor: University of Tennessee
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
100%
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Many of the aspects of the research proposed here could justifiably fit under the ECOHAB orMERHAB parts of the US Harmful Algal Bloom Program. However the end goal of this projectis to actually construct a biological filtration unit capable of removing microcystins from thewater column.
Project Methods
(1) Isolate microcystin-degrading bacteria from blooms in Lakes Erie, Ontario and Tai.(2) Identify bacteria (from 1) capable of using microcystins as a sole carbon source.(3) Characterize bacteria and their growth rates under different ·conditions of temperature,nutrients and available carbon.(4) Characterize degradation rates of microcystins under different physiological conditions.(5) Identify the degradation products formed by these bacteria, including estimates of toxicity.(6) Identifying a physical infrastructure (filter support, type, etc) that can be used in abioreactor for the degradation of microcystins.(7) Identify and address the NEPA requirements for application of a biofilter to removemicrocystins from an external body of water.