Using biological metaldehyde degradation for bioremediation and diagnostics

三乙醛是一种用于杀死鼻涕虫的软体动物杀菌剂，从而保护重要的经济作物，特别是土豆、小麦和油菜。使用后，三聚氰醛会从农田中流失，并在河流和水库水中积累，最终污染饮用水，在那里它不会降解。必须达到欧盟规定的饮用水中这种化合物的最高浓度为0.1g/L，但由于目前运行的乙醛通过大多数水处理厂相对未受影响。控制三醛污染是英国水务公司的优先事项(2012年英国水质测试232/253次失败的原因是三乙醛)。目前还没有一种具有成本效益且可靠的方法来降解三聚氰醛。这个由NERC资助的案例学生项目旨在通过开发自然发生的微生物降解作为一种新的解决三聚氰醛污染的解决方案来纠正这个问题。在该项目的第二部分，我们将利用生物甲醛降解机制来设计甲醛生物传感器，从而创造出一种新的甲醛现场测试方法。具有微生物学、生物技术和/或生物化学背景的学生，如果准备好以跨学科的方式工作，将很好地准备参与这个项目，该项目将建立在约克大学早先关于三乙醛生物降解的研究成果的基础上。该项目的主要目标是：(I)改进现有的能够降解三聚氰醛的细菌分离株，以改善它们在饮用水处理中的性能；(Ii)鉴定降解三聚氰醛的酶系统，为菌种改进和传感器技术的发展提供信息；(Iii)开发使用生物成分作为生物传感器的电子和光学检测方法。该项目是约克大学(生物系的James Moir博士领导，电子系Steven Johnson博士共同监督)与泰晤士水务公司和食品和环境研究署(FERA Science Limited)的合作项目。该项目将涉及约克大学费拉(位于约克市郊外)的工作，以及泰晤士水务公司的一个重要工业安置项目(使用他们在伦敦的水处理研究设施)。

Metaldehyde is a molluscicide used to kill slugs, thus protecting economically important crops, particularly potatoes, wheat and oil-seed rape. Following its use, metaldehyde runs off agricultural land and can accumulate in river and reservoir water, ultimately contaminating drinking water where it is recalcitrant to degradation. An EU defined maximum concentration in drinking water for this compound of 0.1 g/L has to be achieved, yet as currently operated metaldehyde passes through most water treatment works relatively untouched. Control of metaldehyde contamination is a priority issue for Water Companies in the UK (metaldehyde was responsible for 232/253 failures in water quality tests in England in 2012). There is currently no cost effective and reliable process for metaldehyde degradation. The difficult situation is exacerbated by a reliance on laborious laboratory-based chromatographic procedures required for metaldehyde measurement.This NERC-funded CASE studentship aims to rectify this problem by developing the application of naturally occurring microbiological degradation as a new solution for metaldehyde contamination. In a second strand of the project, we will exploit biological metaldehyde degradation mechanisms to design metaldehyde biosensors, thus leading to the creation of a new approach for field-testing of metaldehyde. A student with a background in microbiology, biotechnology and/or biochemistry who is prepared to work in an interdisciplinary way will be well equipped to take on this project, which will build upon earlier findings at York with respect to biological degradation of metaldehyde. Major objectives of the project are to: (i) improve existing bacterial isolates that can degrade metaldehyde to improve their properties for drinking water treatment, (ii) characterise the enzyme system for metaldehyde degradation to inform strain improvement and develop of sensor technology, (iii) develop electronic and optical methods for metaldehyde detection using biological components as biosensors.This project is a collaboration between the University of York (led by Dr. James Moir in the Department of Biology, with Dr. Steven Johnson, Department of Electronics as a co-supervisor) and Thames Water and the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA Science Limited). The project will involve work at the University of York, at FERA (situated just outside York) and a significant industrial placement with Thames Water (using their water treatment research facilities in London).