US-UK Cooperative Research: DNA Adducts A Novel and Quantitative Biomarker for Soil Nematodes

美英合作研究：DNA 加合物成为土壤线虫的新型定量生物标志物

• 批准号: 0436786
• 负责人: Deborah Neher
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: University of Toledo
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2004
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2004-08-01 至 2004-10-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0436786&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: US; UK; Cooperative; Research; DNA

0436786NeherThis U.S.-U.K. cooperative research project between Deborah Neher of the University of Toledo and Stephen Sturzenbaum of Cardiff University in the United Kingdom involves investigations of soil nematodes (roundworms) as bioindicators of soil health and environmental contamination. Neher and her colleagues have conducted fundamental experiments to test the reliability, cost-effectiveness, utility and quality assurance of nematode community indices for environmental monitoring. They plan to use changes in nematode DNA as biomarker for rapid detection of sensitive genotypes to broad classes of chemical compounds or specific xenobiotics. The will demonstrate that (1) DNA adducts can be identified and quantified reliably using XL-PCR in a model nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans with validation on field-relevant species, and then (2) quantify concentration-response relationships between contaminant concentration and DNA adduct formation. Intellectual Merit: The project applies PAHs (organic chemicals) as xenobiotics on soil microfauna and an existing biomarker, DNA adducts, to ecological analysis. This technology can serve as a relatively quick and definitive measure of relative sensitivity of soil nematode genotypes to chronic exposure to environmental stressors and contaminants. The objectives are to establish an independent empirical evaluation of assignments for community indices and sensitive genotypes (sequences) that could be targeted by molecular probes. Broader Aspects: Many soils are contaminated with heavy metals worldwide. In contrast, contaminated sites abandoned by industry are laden with organic chemicals such as PAHs or a mixture of metals and organics. Currently, nematode communities are proposed as a national bioindicator of soil health in the State of the Nation's Ecosystems Report in the U.S. The proposed study will develop environmental tools that can be used both to monitor soil quality; and quantify progress of remediation of waste sites and contaminated sediments. The non-specialist may find this a useful and cost effective tool for implementing nematode bioindicators within large-scale environmental monitoring programs of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Furthermore, the approach may be appropriate for studying population genetics and evolutionary change in soil communities.The project takes advantage of Dr. Stephen Sturzenbaum's expertise in quantitative PCR and handling extra-long fragments of DNA, two skills essential to the proposed project. The U.S. PI will master this approach and then U.S. train graduate students in these tools for evaluating soil ecology.

0436786 NeherThis美国-英国托莱多大学的Deborah Neher和联合王国卡迪夫大学的Stephen Sturzenbaum合作开展了一个研究项目，对作为土壤健康和环境污染的生物指示剂的土壤线虫（蛔虫）进行调查。 Neher和她的同事进行了基础实验，以测试环境监测线虫群落指数的可靠性，成本效益，实用性和质量保证。他们计划利用线虫DNA的变化作为生物标志物，用于快速检测对广泛类别的化合物或特定外源性物质敏感的基因型。将证明：（1）在模式线虫秀丽隐杆线虫中使用XL-PCR可以可靠地鉴定和定量DNA加合物，并对田间相关物种进行验证，然后（2）定量污染物浓度和DNA加合物形成之间的浓度-响应关系。 智力优势：该项目将多环芳烃（有机化学品）作为土壤微型动物的外源物，并将现有的生物标志物DNA加合物用于生态分析。这项技术可以作为一个相对快速和明确的措施相对敏感性的土壤线虫基因型慢性暴露于环境压力和污染物。 目的是建立一个独立的经验评估分配的社区指数和敏感的基因型（序列），可以通过分子探针。更广泛的方面：世界各地的许多土壤都受到重金属污染。相比之下，工业废弃的污染场地充满了有机化学品，如多环芳烃或金属和有机物的混合物。目前，线虫群落在美国国家生态系统报告中被提议作为土壤健康的国家生物指标。拟议的研究将开发可用于监测土壤质量的环境工具;并量化废物场地和污染沉积物的修复进展。 非专业人士可能会发现这是一个有用的和成本效益的工具，用于实施线虫生物指示剂在大规模的水生和陆地生态系统的环境监测计划。此外，该方法可能适用于研究种群遗传学和土壤群落的进化变化。该项目利用了Stephen Sturzenbaum博士在定量PCR和处理超长DNA片段方面的专业知识，这两项技能对拟议的项目至关重要。 美国PI将掌握这种方法，然后美国培训研究生使用这些工具来评估土壤生态。