Microbiology and Molecular Ecology studies
Bacterial Source Tracking
The objective of the fecal source-tracking project is to develop a technique to determine the source of fecal contamination in surface and ground waters. Current methods used to identify the source of fecal contamination, culture fecal indicator organisms [fecal coliforms, E. coli, or fecal streptococci (enterococci)] and group them based on physiological or genomic profiles. The approach of this study is to use a community DNA fingerprinting technique, t-RFLP (terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism) to identify unique DNA fingerprints for different possible sources of fecal material (human, cattle, seagulls, etc.). Results of this study will improve our understanding of the fecal bacteria community and aide in determining the sources of fecal contamination.
Presentations
Fecal Indicators and Helicobacter (PowerPoint presentation)
Source Tracking Poster (as presented at the American Society for Microbiology General Meeting, 2003, Washington D.C.)
