Are Plant Root-Mycobacterium Interactions Beneficial in Remediation of Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons?

植物根与分枝杆菌的相互作用对多芳烃的修复有益吗？多环芳烃污染的土壤对环境和健康构成危害。植物修复是一种经济有效的现场净化方法。它非常适合于大面积的地表区域，如那些被指定为城市环境中的棕地或土壤挖掘和清除困难的地点。这一建议侧重于更多地了解具有多环芳烃降解潜力的分枝杆菌群的生态学。目前尚不清楚此类分枝杆菌如何与植物根系相互作用，以及这种相互作用是否对植物和/或微生物的代谢产生积极影响，从而促进生物修复。需要验证的假设是：1)由降解多环芳烃的分枝杆菌定殖的根的存在提高了一种模型，顽固性多环芳烃，芘的生物利用度。2)根与分枝杆菌的相互作用增强了芘的矿化。3)根的定植需要分枝杆菌与根表面之间的离散相互作用。4)根的定植允许分枝杆菌中编码参与多环芳烃降解的第一个酶——双加氧酶的基因表达。5)根酚氧化酶可能参与多环芳烃的重塑，在分枝杆菌定殖的根中活性发生变化。该项目将涉及犹他州立大学的工程师和生物学家的共同努力。参与的本科生、研究生和教师将接触到这两个科学学科的理论和实践。该项目将通过与犹他州立大学的ADVANCE项目（该项目最近获得了美国国家科学基金会和GAANN的资助）相结合来支持少数族裔对该项目的积极参与，“增加犹他州立大学环境工程博士生的数量，重点是加强多样性。”在这两所学院已经活跃的是通过工程和生物技术暑期学院为高中生提供的暑期实习项目。本科参与将通过向USU本科研究合作计划申请协助，该计划将协助参加会议，包括国家级别的会议，以展示数据。研究生指导将包括定期的小组会议和USU研究生院提供的学费和参加全国会议的旅费援助。研究信息将通过大学出版物、同行评议的期刊以及在国家和国际会议上的报告来传达。这些发现将提高我们预测和管理多环芳烃现场植物修复的能力，并将在国内和国际上产生影响。

PIs: AndersonAre plant root-mycobacterium interactions beneficial in remediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons? PAH-contaminated soils pose environmental and health hazards. Phytoremediation is a cost effective method for on-site clean-up. It is well suited for large surface areas such as those designated as Brownfields within urban settings or sites where soil excavation and removal is difficult. This proposal focuses on understanding more of the ecology of the group of mycobacterium that has PAH-degrading potential. Currently there is little knowledge of how such mycobacteria interact with plant roots and whether this association has positive impacts on the metabolism of the plant and/or the microbe to promote bioremediation. The hypotheses to be tested are: 1) The presence of roots colonized by PAH-degrading mycobacteria improves the bioavailability of a model, recalcitrant PAH, pyrene.2) The mineralization of pyrene is enhanced by the interaction of the roots with the mycobacterium. 3) Colonization of the root requires discrete interactions between the mycobacterium and root surface.4) Colonization of the root permits the expression of the gene in the mycobacterium encoding the first enzyme involved in PAH degradation, dioxygenase. 5) Root phenoloxidases, which may participate in PAH-remodeling, are changed in activity in the roots colonized by mycobacterium.The project will involve the collaborative efforts of engineers and biologists at Utah State University. The undergraduates, graduates and faculty involved will be exposed to the theories and practices of both scientific disciplines. Strong involvement of minorities in the program will be supported through integration with the ADVANCE program at Utah State University recently awarded to Utah State University from NSF and GAANN grant, "Increasing the number of environmental engineering Ph.D. students at Utah State University with an emphasis on strengthening diversity." Already active in both colleges are summer placement programs for high-school students through engineering and the Biotechnology Summer Academy. Undergraduate involvement will be assisted by application to the USU Undergraduate Research Cooperative Program that will assist travel to meetings including national level conferences for presentation of data. Graduate mentorship will include regular group meetings and assistance from the USU Graduate School for tuition and for travel to national meetings. Research information will be conveyed through university publications, peer-reviewed journals and by presentations at national and international meetings. The findings will improve our abilities to predict and manage on-site phytoremediation of PAHs and will have national and international impact.