|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
|
||||||
|
|
Environmental Microbiology - Research ActivitiesBioremediation of Contaminated Soil Molecular Techniques to Monitor Environmental Effects and Characterize Microbial Diversity Evaluation of the Potential for Natural Attenuation at Canadian Forces Bases
Environmental Genomics
The Environmental Microbiology group actively participate in the NRC Genomics and Health Initiative (GHI) Program on Environmental Genomics, entitled "A Genomics-Based Approach to Enhancing Bioremediation Through Microbial Identification and Community Profiling". This program which includes researchers from the NRC-Biotechnology Research Institute, the NRC-Plant Biotechnology Institute and the NRC-Institute for Marine Biosciences, has seen significant progress during its 3 year mandate. The main objectives of the Program on environmental genomics were to develop an expanded and more readily available database for an important bacterial phylogenetic marker gene (cpn60), to design and develop functional gene and taxonomic microarrays for microbial community characterization and profiling, and most importantly to demonstrate a "proof-of-concept" for the application of microarrays to environmental monitoring. The expanded database and its public release were accomplished in 2004 by our collaborators at PBI. In the meanwhile, a collaborative effort between the Microbiology group and other research groups from BRI, has led to the successful development and application of two types of microarrays to monitor and profile indigenous microbial populations. The functional gene microarray has been used to monitor a bioremediation project in the high Arctic, and has provided data that supports the results of parallel microbial activity assessments. These results represent the first successful application of microarrays for the direct analysis of environmental materials. The group is also working on projects with Environment Canada under the STAGE and EMBRR programs to develop and optimize the use of microarrays for environmental effects monitoring.
Bioremediation of Contaminated Soil
Bioremediation uses microorganisms to remove harmful or hazardous substances from a site. As a cost-effective and green technology, bioremediation is increasingly being applied to environmental contamination problems. In one bioremediation project, the group is collaborating with several other government departments (Public Works and Government Services Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada) to bioremediate a hydrocarbon contaminated soil in Eureka, Ellesmere Island, in Nunavut, Canada. The implemented biotreatment plan has successfully reduced the level of hydrocarbon contamination at the site, despite the challenging conditions encountered in the Canadian Arctic.
Molecular Techniques to Monitor Environmental Effects and Characterize Microbial Diversity
Molecular techniques are powerful tools for monitoring environmental effects and characterizing microbial diversity. The Environmental Microbiology group is undertaking a series of projects using such molecular techniques. The research team has undertaken a project to apply gene arrays for environmental effects monitoring (EEM), which is vital to ecosystem protection. Molecular tools such as rRNA probes, DNA extraction and analyses, i.e., denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and microarrays, can effectively monitor changes in, and improve the understanding of microbial communities involved in vital ecosystem processes. In addition, the Enivronmental Microbiology group is performing research using molecular techniques to characterize microbial diversity in the Arctic. The group has developed total microbial community genome (metagenome) libraries that are unique. These microarray-based libraries will provide more comprehensive knowledge about microbial diversity in Arctic ecosystems, and may also lead to the discovery of new biotechnology products, such as cold active enzymes. These libraries represent the first tools of this kind for the analysis of complex microbial environments. In addition, another project is exploring microbial diversity in various Arctic environments characterized as unique and extreme. This work is a preliminary step to understanding the drilling and sampling conditions that might be encountered on Mars, where geology and climate are expected to be very similar to those in the Arctic's polar deserts.
Evaluation of the Potential for Natural Attenuation at Canadian Forces Bases
This project has made it possible to demonstrate the successful biotreatment of chlorinated solvents in groundwater by means of natural attenuation - naturally occurring physical, chemical or biological processes that make it possible to break down contaminants, and detailed monitoring of the responsible microorganisms. The research work involves a complete microbial, ecotoxicological, physico-chemical and hydrogeological characterization of sites at several Canadian Forces Bases in order to assess bioremediation potential and to identify any sensitive receptors. Following complete evaluation, various options are explored for on site pilot scale treatment and for methods to enhance the rate of in situ bioremediation. This work is being performed in collaboration with Defence Construction Canada and the Department of National Defence. Particularly noteworthy is the project at Trenton, which involved the installation of an in situ pilot system for treating groundwater contaminated with the chlorinated solvent, 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), and conducting a groundwater monitoring program during bioremediation. Through biostimulation of the indigenous microbial population, the concentrations of TCA have been reduced dramatically in the contaminated source area (from ~20 ppm to ~50 ppb), and a specific microorganism known to be instrumental in the degradation of chlorinated solvents, has been detected near the source in the contaminant plume and not in an adjacent uncontaminated area.
Other Research Activities
The group is also involved in several R&D; collaborations with Canadian as well as international partners. Following are some representative ongoing projects of the group.
|
|
