Mark;
One suggestion for tagging bacteria would be to use an antibiotic resistance
marker. Since they cannot be "genetically engineered", I would suggest
taking several isolates and growing them on some media containing
antibiotics. Spontaneous mutants (which arise naturally) could then be
reintroduced to the aquifer.
Hope this is helpful,
Bob McLean
At 02:43 PM 4/18/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Collegues,
>>I am attempting to "tag" bacteria for subsequent injection into both
>sediment cores and an aquifer. I want to be able to detect the injected
>bacteria in groundwater samples taken at set distances from the
>injection point. The bacteria will most likely not be growing in the
>first use, but may be in other instances. Of course, for the field
>injections, we cannot use radioactive materials, nor can the organisms
>be genetically engineered (but may be later on). There is also a
>background of indigenous organisms at the site (about 10^5 CFU/ml).
>>My question is what could be used to tag the bacteria without killing
>them and that would last for up to 20 days in the cells? Of the
>following, what recent experience/literature is available:
>>immunoassay
>DNA-probes
>fluorescent staining of cells (non-nucleic acid)
>>>Any and all advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
>>>Mark Fuller
>fuller at envirogen.com>>>>___________________________________________________________________________
R.J.C. (Bob) McLean, Ph.D.
Dept. Biology
Southwest Texas State University
San Marcos, Tx 78666
USA
(512)245-3365 phone
(512)245-8713 FAX
Email: RM12 at swt.edu
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