Ohio Water Microbiology Lab
Research Topics
Internal Information
Ohio Water Science Center
USGS In Your State
USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.
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OWML: QA/QC
Quality Assurance/Quality Control Manual: Ohio Water Microbiology
Laboratory
Compliance and Official Methods
Actinomycetes
The Actinomycetes are a large group of filamentous
gram-positive bacteria that resemble fungi because they produce mycelium and dry
spores, called conidia. (Madigan and others, 2000). They are considered nuisance
organisms for those in the water industry, as they are one of two types of
organisms that impart an earthy-musty odor to waters. The odors are caused by
two compounds formed during normal actinomycete development, geosmin and
2-methylisoborneol (American Public Health Association, 2005).
The method used for isolation of Actinomycetes from water in the Ohio Water
Microbiology Laboratory (OWML) is based on a published method (American Public
Health Association, 2005) and a method provided by a commercial supplier of
Actinomycetes medium (Difco, Detroit Michigan, The Difco Manual, 2001). A double
agar layer method is used (Appendix S). Stock cultures of Streptomycetes albus
are used as positive controls. The stock culture is transferred every two months
and transfers are recorded in the LIMS. |