The Development and Application of a Quantitative Molecular Tool for Sulphate- Reducing Bacteria

硫酸盐还原细菌(SRB)与一系列工业中的有害影响有关，包括金属腐蚀、有毒硫化氢(H_2S)的产生和微生物系统效率降低。在管道工业中，它们每年造成数十亿美元的直接损失，另一方面，它们与其他微生物群落的竞争性相互作用，除了与用作生物肥料的消化液有关的难闻气味外，还会显著减少厌氧消化厂的沼气产量。监测SRB水平的常规方法涉及标准的微生物方法，但结果通常需要长达4周的时间才能产生。这项市场研究的证据将评估对SRB和其他相关微生物污染物进行快速、高灵敏度分子诊断的机会。重点将放在仔细和快速监测SRB将增加重大价值的行业(例如厌氧消化行业)，以及拟议的检测可以作为SRB具体干预措施的决策支持工具，而不是非特定杀生剂的应用。

Sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB’s) are associated with deleterious effects in a range ofindustries, including metal corrosion, the production of toxic hydrogen sulphide (H2S) andreduced efficiency of microbial systems. They contribute to billions of dollars of direct lossesper annum in pipeline industries and at the other end of the spectrum, their competitiveinteractions with other microbial communities can significantly reduce the biogas output ofanaerobic digestion plants, in addition to being associated with unpleasant odours associatedwith digestates used as biofertilsers. The routine method of monitoring SRB levels involvesstandard microbiological approaches but the results often take up to 4 weeks to be generated.This Proof of Market study will assess the opportunities for a rapid, highly sensitivemolecular diagnostic for SRB’s and other associated microbial contaminants. Focus will be onindustries where careful and rapid monitoring of SRB’s will add significant value (e.g. theanaerobic digestion industry) and for which the proposed assay can act as a decision-supporttool in terms of specific SRB interventions, as opposed to non-specific biocide application.