Joint U.S. - European Union Theoretical and Practical Course on Molecular Approaches for in situ Biodegradation; Rutgers University; Summer 1998

作为四机构生物修复联合计划（NSF， EPA， DOE和ONR）的一部分，ONR的官员鼓励罗格斯大学的Gerben Zylstra博士与欧洲同事合作开发一个夏季短期课程，该课程将教授新的分子生物学方法，主要与DNA方法有关，用于微生物取样和鉴定高级研究生和博士后助理。Zylstra博士组建了一个由美国和欧盟（EU）科学家组成的令人印象深刻的团队，为大约24名学生进行了为期两周的实验室和实地课程，其中一半来自美国，一半来自欧洲机构。本课程旨在为年轻科学家提供现代生物技术方法的实践经验，用于分析微生物及其代谢活动，以修复环境中的污染物。在侧重于恢复微生物种群的健康生态系统动态的生物修复框架内，教授分类学鉴定和分类以及生态组合和功能的基本原则。具体的主题包括土壤微生物的分子遗传学分析，污染物（如甲苯）的生物有效性，分类群特异性或活性特异性基因的PCR扩增和鉴定，以及污染物降解途径的酶分析。学生申请通过有针对性的邮件发送到大学院系和科学协会以及互动网站。水和土壤中的环境污染问题使人们更加需要对自然和人类主导的生态系统中的微生物组成和活动进行基本的科学了解。新的分子和基于dna的探针已经彻底改变了科学家识别具有理想代谢功能的特定微生物的能力，或者靶向和增强存在于许多微生物中但通常处于次要地位的代谢途径。微生物生态学和进化的基础和应用方面都在迅速发展，像这样的有针对性的课程是传播新思想和新方法的有效手段。

9803831 Zylstra As part of the four-agency Joint Program on Bioremediation (NSF, EPA, DOE, and ONR), officials in ONR encouraged Dr. Gerben Zylstra at Rutgers University to collaborate with European colleagues in developing a summer short-course that would teach new molecular-biological methods, mostly relating to DNA methodologies, for microbial sampling and identification to advanced graduate students and postdoctoral associates. Dr. Zylstra has assembled an impressive team of U.S. and European Union (EU) scientists to conduct a two-week laboratory and field course for approximately 24 students, half from the U.S. and half from European institutions. The course is designed to give young scientists hands-on experience with modern biotechnological methods for the analysis of microbes and their metabolic activities in the remediation of pollutants in the environment. Basic principles of taxonomic identification and classification, and of ecological assembly and functioning, are taught within a bioremediation framework that focuses on restoration of healthy ecosystem dynamics of microbial populations. Specific topics include molecular-genetic analyses of soil microbes, bioavailability of contaminants such as toluene, PCR amplification and identification of taxon-specific or activity-specific genes, and enzyme assays for pathways of contaminant degradation. Student applications are solicited through targeted mailings to university departments and science associations as well as interactive Web sites. The problems of environmental pollution in water and soils have intensified the need for basic scientific understanding of microbial composition and activity in natural and human-dominated ecosystems. New molecular and DNA-based probes have revolutionized scientists' ability to identify particular microbes with desirable metabolic functions or to target and enhance metabolic pathways present in numerous microbes but usually of secondary status. Advances in both basic and applied aspects of microb ial ecology and evolution are happening rapidly, and targeted courses like this one are an effective means of dissemination of new ideas and methodologies.