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

美国托莱多大学的Deborah Neher和英国卡迪夫大学的Stephen Sturzenbaum开展了一个美英合作研究项目，研究土壤线虫（蛔虫）作为土壤健康和环境污染的生物指标。Neher和她的同事进行了基础实验，以测试用于环境监测的线虫群落指数的可靠性、成本效益、效用和质量保证。他们计划利用线虫DNA的变化作为生物标记物，快速检测对多种化合物或特定外源药物敏感的基因型。该研究将证明：(1)利用xml - pcr可以可靠地鉴定和定量模型线虫，秀丽隐杆线虫（Caenorhabditis elegans）的DNA加合物，并对现场相关物种进行验证；然后(2)量化污染物浓度与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（有机化学物质）作为土壤微动物的外源物质，并将现有的生物标志物DNA加合物用于生态分析。这项技术可以作为土壤线虫基因型对长期暴露于环境压力源和污染物的相对敏感性的相对快速和明确的测量。目的是建立一种独立的经验评估，以确定可以被分子探针靶向的群落指数和敏感基因型（序列）的分配。更广泛的方面：世界上许多土壤受到重金属污染。相比之下，被工业废弃的污染场地充满了有机化学物质，如多环芳烃或金属和有机物的混合物。目前，在美国的国家生态系统报告中，线虫群落被提议作为土壤健康的国家生物指标。提议的研究将开发环境工具，可用于监测土壤质量；量化废物场地和污染沉积物的修复进展。非专业人员可能会发现这是在水生和陆地生态系统的大规模环境监测计划中实施线虫生物指标的有用且成本有效的工具。此外，该方法可能适用于研究土壤群落的群体遗传和进化变化。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评估土壤生态学的工具。

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.