A Diffusion Gradient System for Isolating Microorganisms and Studying Microbial Processes Related to Detoxification of Hazardous Chemicals

9361116 Koh微生物主要负责进入环境的有毒化学物质的降解。成功地分离和利用这些微生物进行生物修复需要确定解毒活性最大化的物理化学条件。这项工作提出了发展一个分析扩散梯度室，模仿扩散过程，普遍存在于微生物世界。该系统可用于分离、富集和分离解毒微生物，以及研究这些微生物的行为和解毒过程。所提出的系统将包括一个梯度室，用于培养微生物在多个连续扩散梯度的小可溶性分子。此外，将有一个污水室，用于整合从系统流出的污水，一个保持恒温的环境控制单元，以及一个成像单元，用于监测和量化微生物的生长和运动。这些组件将由Koh Development， Inc.开发。该系统将由Koh开发公司在密歇根州立大学（MSU）研究人员的帮助下进行测试和评估。密歇根州立大学的科学家们还将使用该系统来评估单个细菌物种对多种化学线索的趋化反应。此外，还将利用盐和甲苯的梯度来评价受油盐污染的土壤中自然群落的反应。还将开发有助于优化系统性能的数学模型。

9361116 Koh Microorganisms are primarily responsible for the degradation of toxic chemicals that enter the environment. Successful isolation and exploitation of these microbes for bioremediation requires identifying the physico-chemical conditions under which detoxification activity is maximized. This work proposes to develop an analytical diffusion gradient chamber that mimics the diffusive processes that prevail in the microbial world. This system can be used to separate, enrich for, and isolate detoxifying microorganisms, as well as study the behavior of , and detoxification processes mediated by, these organisms. The proposed system will consist of a gradient chamber for culturing microorganisms in multiple, continuous diffusion gradients of small soluble molecules. In addition there will be an effluent chamber for consolidating effluent flow from the system, an environmental control unit of maintaining constant temperature, and an imaging unit to monitor and quantify microbial growth and movement. These components will be developed by Koh Development, Inc. The system will be tested and evaluated by Koh Development with help from researchers at Michigan State University (MSU). The scientists at MSU will also use the system to evaluate the chemotactic response of an individual bacterial species to multiple chemical cues. In addition, gradients of salt and toluene will be used to evaluate the response of a natural community from a soil site contaminated with oil brine. Mathematical models will also be developed that aid in optimizing the performance of the system.