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

9803831 Zylstra作为由四个机构组成的生物修复联合计划(美国国家科学基金会、美国环保署、美国能源部和国家生物修复研究所)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暑期短期课程，向高级研究生和博士后伙伴教授新的分子生物学方法，主要是与DNA方法学相关的方法，用于微生物采样和鉴定。Zylstra博士组建了一支由美国和欧盟(EU)科学家组成的令人印象深刻的团队，为大约24名学生开展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。该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，以分析环境中污染物修复过程中的微生物及其代谢活动。在侧重于恢复微生物种群健康生态系统动态的生物修复框架内，教授分类鉴定和分类以及生态组装和功能的基本原则。具体主题包括土壤微生物的分子遗传分析、甲苯等污染物的生物可利用性、聚合酶链式反应扩增和识别特定分类群或活动特定基因，以及污染物降解途径的酶分析。学生的申请通过有针对性的邮寄到大学系和科学协会以及互动网站来征集。水和土壤中的环境污染问题加剧了对自然和人类主导的生态系统中微生物组成和活动的基本科学了解的必要性。新的分子和DNA探针彻底改变了科学家的能力，使他们能够识别具有理想代谢功能的特定微生物，或针对和加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的进展正在迅速发生，像这样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.