Project 4 Update Archive
2014
Project 4 of the UC Berkeley Superfund Research Program during the period of 2011-2016, led by Prof. Lisa Alvarez-Cohen (CEE Dept., UC Berkeley) focuses on advancing our fundamental understanding of microbial communities involved in bioremediation. To pursue this goal, we have been analyzing a variety of bioremediation communities using systems biology approaches to study metabolite exchanges that support bioremediation. In this project, we are focusing on anaerobic microbial communities that degrade trichloroethene, one of the most widespread groundwater contaminants at Superfund sites, as well a aerobic communities that biodegrade 1,4-dioxane, en emerging contaminant also found associated with solvent contamination at Superfund sites. Our systems-level approach to understanding metabolic interdependencies and interspecies interactions that govern the degradation processes involves analysis of metabolite exchanges and electron transfer with simplified microbial communities. For example, the dechlorinating bacteria in the TCE degrading community has an obligate requirement for specific co-factors (vitamin B-12) for trichloroethene respiration, but can’t generate this compound itself. Thus, we applied a newly developed detection method to examine relationships among vitamin B-12 generating members of the community and the dechlorinator. We have also applied advanced meta-genomics and metabolomics techniques to identify microbial community interactions and to describe a novel carbon fixation mechanism and an unusual syntrophic association never previously described.
2013
We have developed a holistic and extremely sensitive approach to studying the life cycle of anaerobic microbial bacteria communities of organisms in toxics remediation to both define the life cycle and determine what affects their ability to dechlorinate, including identifying mutually beneficial cross-feeding interactions. Technological advances in fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques combined with fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and whole genome amplification (WGA) have enabled the development of single-cell genomic approaches for application to low-abundance key elements of complex microbial communities within natural environments. We established and applied this approach to specifically target Dehalococcoides (Dhc) that are present in trichloroethene (TCE)-dechlorinating communities. The results show that coupling FACS with WGA and a custom-designed Dhc-targeted microarray is a valuable way to study complex microbial communities.
We applied mass isotopomer distribution analysis of amino acids in conjunction with isotopic fractionation analysis of gas phase metabolites to gain a better understanding of the incomplete Wood-Ljungdahl pathway in Dhc195. We demonstrated that the generation and accumulation of carbon monoxide (CO) as a by-product from the process inhibits the effectiveness of the remediation. Our understanding of anaerobic dechlorinating bacteria, especially of their functional metabolic genes, has been hampered by the lack of tools for making direct chromosomal manipulations. Our research identified two metabolic genes from Dhc195 encoding a R-type citramalate synthase and a Re-type citrate synthase and we obtained a systems-level understanding of metabolic interdependencies and interspecies interactions that govern the dechlorination process.
Corrinoids are essential co-factors of Dhc, and identifying them in dechlorinating communities is significant in developing novel biomarkers for monitoring bioremediation. To further elucidate interspecies corrinoid exchanges within dechlorinating communities, we used illumina shotgun sequencing to analyze metagenomes and metatranscriptomes of the TCE-dechlorinating communities HiTCEB12 and HiTCE.
The cyclic ether 1,4-dioxane (DIOX) was commonly used as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents and is often a co-contaminant in groundwater solvent plumes. Failure to initially recognize this compound’s presence in TCA- and TCE-contaminated groundwater necessitated additional remediation of several sites that were presumed to be clean. We analyzed the complete genome sequence of Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans strain CB1190 that is able to grow on DIOX as the sole source of carbon and energy. Because the DIOX metabolizers grow slowly and the DIOX cometabolizers require a primary substrate, it is unclear what operational strategies would prove effective for promoting in situ bioremediation of DIOX and beneficial interactions with indigenous microbial communities in contaminated groundwater. We investigated the effects of biostimulation (butane and n-butanol) and CB1190-based bioaugmentation on the biodegradation of DIOX using site-specific samples obtained from a contaminated industrial plant. The results showed that only a combined approach using (i) biostimulation with n-butanol, oxygen and nutrients and (ii) bioaugmentation with CB1190 cells effectively removed DIOX our tests.
Significance
Our work focuses on advancing our fundamental understanding of microbial communities involved in bioremediation. We have applied a systems biology approach to study biodegradation abilities and interactions within microbial communities that remediate two water contaminants, trichloroethene (TCE) and 1,4-dioxane (dioxane) common to Superfund sites. Our use of sulfur-reducing anaerobic bacterium with the recently developed vector system (pMO9075) to transform, express and identify functions of genes from Dhc195 is a valuable tool for understanding the metabolism of anaerobic dechlorinating bacteria in bioremediation at Superfund sites.
Future Plans
The coupling of FACS with WGA and a custom-designed, Dhc-targeted microarray will be combined with high-depth sequencing to provide new insights into the eco-physiology of low-abundance community members with particular phenotypic traits. We will model reductive dechlorination kinetics to predict bioremediation. Genome reconstruction will be used to better understand phylogeny-function relationships in TCE dechlorinating communities to bring new insights into the syntrophic relationship among different phylogenetic groups within these communities.
2012
Currently under review.
2011
Currently under review.
2010
Professor Alvarez-Cohen is a leader in understanding how microbes break down contaminants and what can be done to make bioremediation work for contaminants found at hazardous waste sites. She was elected to the National Academy of Engineering because of her discoveries of new organisms that can contribute to bioremediation. She has been involved for many years in providing advice through service on many committees at the National Academy of Sciences.
Overall goals
Investigators are working with microbes that can break down compounds that are common contaminants of groundwater at Superfund sites (and other hazardous sites). They are focusing on chlorinated compounds that are difficult to break down to non-toxic forms. Microbes that can break down these contaminants tend to act very slowly, so such bioremediation takes a long time. Based on their research on the biology and ecology of the micro-organisms, investigators are trying to determine how to speed-up this process. They are looking at adding other organisms to the mix and making changes in conditions. They hope to find better ways to remediate sites contaminated with TCE, the most common Superfund groundwater contaminant, which was formerly used as a solvent in everything from dry cleaning to white-out.
The micro-organisms they are using are bacteria of the genus Dehalococcoides (Deha). These bacteria degrade chloroethenes like TCE into a nontoxic form. Using these methods, the water stays within the contaminated aquifer during bioremediation, without pump and treat technologies. This is cost-effective and minimizes human and ecological exposure. The project uses cutting-edge molecular biological techniques to identify the bioprocesses responsible for efficient degradation of chloroethene compounds. The goal is to engineer the conditions to optimize dechlorination activities during bioremediation and to develop the tools needed to monitor conditions throughout this process.
Important discoveries so far
Investigators have developed molecular tools that allow them to study both the fundamental and applied aspects of Dehalococcoides, a bacterium capable of bioremediating chloroethenes. These tools have led to new discoveries about the growth of this organism, leading to optimization strategies that promote more successful bioremediation.
Accomplishments for the last year
One specific strategy of this research is to identify the enzymes of the Deha bacteria that contribute to robust growth and to degradation of TCE. Previous studies demonstrated that when Deha is grown with another kind of bacteria, the Deha grows to higher densities more rapidly, and TCE is broken down to ethene more quickly. (The other bacteria were a type that ferments lactate, known as Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough (DVH))
Over the past year, investigators compared the proteins produced when the two bacteria were grown together to the proteins produced when Deha was grown by itself. This was to find out what biological pathways were contributing to the greater growth of the bacteria and greater remediation of the TCE when the two bacteria were grown together.
When the two bacteria were grown together, proteins that were significantly regulated were involved in functions such as electron transfer and coenzyme acquisition for TCE degradation. This indicates that the greater growth for the two bacteria occurred because DVH produces compounds that help to meet metabolic requirements of Deha, known as syntrophy. This is an application of proteomics methods.
Work last year also dealt with the RNA responses of Deha to environmentally relevant parameters. We applied a custom-designed genus-wide microarray to a Dehalococcoides-containing microbial community (referred to as ANAS) that was enriched from a local Superfund site. Characterization of Deha DNA in ANAS revealed a unique collection of functional genes that differ from any currently sequenced Dehalococcoides strains. RNA was collected and analyzed at three time-points throughout the ANAS growth cycle in order to study Dehalococcoides under feast and famine growth conditions. Microarray analysis revealed that under feast conditions, the dominant functions represented by abundant RNA are associated with protein synthesis. On the other hand, under the famine condition, abundant RNA is dominantly related to stress response genes, such as chaperones, heat shock proteins, antioxidant genes and transcriptional regulation genes. These insights into the transcriptomes of Dehalococcoides under different environmental parameters will improve our understanding of the physiology of these bacteria in the environment. This is essential in the development of more effective strategies for in situ bioremediation of chloroethenes. On-going studies are also being conducted to compare the RNA profiles of unknown Dehalococcoides strains in other Superfund site enrichments grown under environmental conditions favoring methanogenesis and/or vitamin B12 availability.
What we plan to do next
This work has far-reaching significance because we have developed molecular tools that allow us to study both the fundamental and the applied aspects of Dehalococcoides, a bacterium capable of bioremediating chloroethenes. These tools have allowed us to make new discoveries about the growth of this organism, leading to optimization strategies that promote more successful in situ bioremediation.
2009
This project seeks to develop and apply advanced tools based on molecular biology to analyze and optimize the In situ bioremediation of common Superfund groundwater pollutants, such as trichloroethene (TCE). In situ bioremediation, the use of microorganisms to convert hazardous pollutants to benign substances directly within the contaminated groundwater site, is one of the most promising and cost-effective strategies for cleaning up contaminated aquifers. Our research focuses on understanding the DNA, RNA, proteins and cellular metabolites of Dehalococcoides, the only known group of bacteria that can completely convert TCE to non-toxic ethene. The knowledge developed here will be used to design and optimize the engineering processes necessary to maximize the abundance and activity of these organisms for more efficient in situ remediation of TCE at Superfund sites.
Reductive dehalogenases, the enzymes responsible for destroying toxic chlorinated ethenes, use cobalamin (vitamin B12) as a crucial cofactor for achieving the catalytic function. Our previous research established the importance of cobalamin for the growth and TCE degradation activity of Dehalococcoides. This year we further investigated the cobalamin physiology of these organisms in order to identify the functional genes responsible for the uptake and utilization of cobalamin, given that Dehalococcoides are unable to synthesize cobalamin themselves. The total mRNA profiles of a model Dehalococcoides strain were examined during its growth with limited or excess concentrations of vitamin B12, as well as with cell-free spent medium from a chloroethene-degrading microbial community that is known to produce large amounts of vitamin B12. Both excess B12 and culture spent medium resulted in lower mRNA expression of the genes that are likely regulated by a cobalamin-sensing mechanism. In addition, only excess vitamin B12 triggered the lower mRNA copies of the genes encoding a cobalamin transport system. The environmental implication of these results is an improved strategy for encouraging the growth of Dehalococcoides both in situ and in laboratory cultures that can be applied for bioaugmentation of challenging remediation sites.
This year we initiated studies to identify and quantify genes and their expression profiles related to nitrogen and carbon metabolism in Dehalococcoides strain 195. Strain 195 is known to have the capability of using atmospheric nitrogen when there is no other ready-to-use or “fixed” nitrogen source available. Although this trait allows strain 195 to survive in broader environments, the growth rate and TCE degradation activity under nitrogen deficiency are significantly decreased. Our results show that the lack of fixed nitrogen causes significant increases in mRNA levels of the nitrogen-fixing genes. On-going experiments are being conducted to determine the total protein profile for strain 195 grown under nitrogen-fixing conditions, which will provide a holistic understanding on its physiological stress induced by nitrogen limitation. Finally, in order to understand the carbon metabolism of strain 195, we employed stable isotopomer tracer experiments to map out the amino acid biosynthesis pathways of strain 195. Several uncommon and novel pathways in isoleucine and citrate biosynthesis were identified from 13C labeling profiles of relevant amino acids in these pathways. On-going experiments focus on identification and characterization of genes encoding these pathways.
2008
This project seeks to develop new tools to optimize the application of microorganisms to biodegrade common Superfund pollutants such as trichloroethene (TCE) within contaminated groundwater aquifers, a process called in situ bioremediation. In situ bioremediation is a promising and cost effective method for cleaning these contaminants up without bringing them to the surface and risking human exposure. The work of Drs. Lisa Alvarez-Cohen and Gary Anderson focuses on Dehalococcoides, the only known bacteria that can completely convert TCE to non-toxic ethane gas. A better understanding of the DNA, RNA and proteins of Dehalococcoides will greatly improve the understanding of how to effectively grow these finicky organisms, so that their abundance and activity at bioremediation sites can be maximized.
Onc of the research group’s objectives is to study the growth of Dehalococcoides in complex microbial communities such as one that they enriched from a local Superfund site (ANAS) that is capable of rapid and complete conversion of TCE to ethene. The researchers compared the DNA and RNA of strains of Dehalococcoides in the ANAS microbial community with that of a well-studied isolate in the laboratory, and confirmed that the genes associated with central metabolism, including an apparently incomplete carbon fixation pathway, vitamin B12 salvaging system, nitrogen fixation pathway, and central respiratory enzymes are present and active in both. Also, although one gene known to be responsible for TCE conversion was detected, 13 of the 19 other potential genes that could carry out this reaction were not detected, suggesting the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer. Application of a high-density phylogenetic microarray to study the microbial population in the ANAS culture identified the dominant and active members, including fermentors, sulfate reducers and methane generators. Understanding the microbial community that composes this stable and efficient bioremediating culture furthers understanding of microbial community dynamics. Extensive examination of this model community is planned.
Some of the researchers’ work this year dealt with exploring mechanisms to grow Dehalococcoides more rapidly and to a higher density. Current studies are underway that evaluate the effects of degradation products vinyl chloride and ethene on cell growth. They also tested the effects of nitrogen stress on the culture and showed that the isolate can actually obtain its nitrogen from atmospheric nitrogen gas. However, this reaction causes stress to the cells, resulting in slower growth and biodegradation. In contrast, when the isolate is grown in co-culture with a sulfate-reducing bacterium, it grows more rapidly and robustly to higher densities. Analysis of the RNA and proteins generated by the co-culture confirm that there are important interrelationships between the organisms, allowing them to grow more effectively together than alone.
The significance of this work is that the research group has developed molecular tools that allow them to study both the fundamental and the applied aspects of Dehalococcoides, a bacterium capable of bioremediating chlorinated solvents. These tools have allowed the researchers to make new discoveries about the growth of this organism, so that engineering processes may be designed for more successful in situ bioremediation.
2007
This project seeks to optimize the microbial detoxification of common Superfund pollutants, perchloroethene (PCE) and trichloroethene (TCE) by focusing on the only genus of bacteria, Dehalococcoides, known to completely reduce PCE and TCE to ethene. A better understanding of the genome, transcriptome and proteome of Dehalococcoides will greatly improve the scientific communities understanding of the physiology of these difficult to grow organisms, so that their abundance and activity at bioremediation sites can be maximized. Chlorinated solvents are the most common groundwater contaminants at Superfund sites. In situ bioremediation is a promising and cost effective method for remediation of these contaminants. The aim of The Application of Comparative Genomics, Transcriptomics, and Proteomics to Optimize Microbial Reductive Dehalogenation project is to improve prediction and monitoring which will ultimately optimize system performance at remediation sites.
One of the main goals involved an enriched anaerobic microbial community (ANAS) that reductively dechlorinates TCE to ethene. Dr. Lisa Alvarez-Cohen and Dr. Gary Andersen compared the strains of Dehalococcoides in the ANAS community with the genome of D. ethenogenes 195. The analysis confirmed that the genes associated with central metabolism including an apparently incomplete carbon fixation pathway, cobalamin salvaging system, nitrogen fixation pathway, and five hydrogenase complexes are present in both 195 and ANAS. Although the gene encoding the TCE reductase tceA was detected, 13 of the 19 reductive dehalogenase genes present in 195 were not detected in ANAS. Additionally, 88% of the genes in predicted integrated genetic elements in strain 195 were not detected in ANAS, suggesting the occurrence of horizontal gene transfer. Interestingly, sections of the tryptophan operon and an operon encoding an ABC transporter in 195 were also not detected in ANAS.
Alvarez-Cohen and Anderson measured the transcriptomic effects of cobalamin (vitamin B12)-limited growth conditions and identified a cobalamin regulon in 195. In addition to cobalamin stress, the investigators tested the effects of nitrogen stress on strain 195. The research group established that strain 195 is capable of fixing atmospheric dinitrogen and the nitrogenase operon is stringently regulated according to the availability of the fixed nitrogen source ammonium. Physiologically, the lack of a fixed nitrogen source caused strain 195 to make an early transition into stationary phase characterized by decoupled growth and dechlorination activity and resulting in reduced overall dechlorination activity and cell density.
The researchers characterized the proteome of Dehalococcoides ethenogenes strain 195 during the transition period between the exponential-growth and stationary phases. The proteome was characterized by analyzing trypsin-digested peptides with two-dimensional liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. In total, both peptides and transcripts were detected for 790 unique genes, which is 52% of the total non-redundant protein-coding genome. Of these, high expression was measured for three reductive dehalogenases, two hydrogenases, and a formate dehydrogenase. Also notable was the high expression measured for corrinoid ABC-type transport and salvage systems.
As part of the expanded scope with emerging contaminants, Alvarez-Cohen and Anderson studied anaerobic debromination of the flame retardants polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). Studies with the ANAS culture and two other anaerobic species Dehalobacter restrictus and Desulfitobacterium hafniense demonstrated similar PBDE degradation capabilities across different species. Two-dimensional chromatography was then used to identify the specific debromination products for seven environmentally-relevant PBDEs.
2005
This project is improving the ability to cleanup groundwater contamination using naturally occurring microorganisms with a process called in situ bioremediation. In situ bioremediation is an effective and desirable approach since contaminants are destroyed directly in the ground, rather than transferred to the surface where human exposure may occur. The specific objectives of this study are to develop new tools to reliably monitor the in situ bioremediation of chlorinated solvents and emerging groundwater contaminants. The focus is on advanced molecular tools and isotopic analyses that can be applied quantitatively. Reliable monitoring methods will decrease the uncertainty and cost of bioremediation while enabling the application of more effective risk assessment and risk management techniques.
Over the past year the research teams of Drs. Alvarez-Cohen and Conrad have made significant progress on both molecular biology and stable isotopic approaches. During this year they have developed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques to track the specific bacterial strains and their specific proteins involved in in situ bioremediation. The practical application of this work is that a simple, rapid test can be used to determine whether key bacteria and the appropriate enzymes are present at a contaminated groundwater site for in situ bioremediation to be successfully applied. Because this technique is more accurate and faster than previous alternatives, it should greatly facilitate site assessment, application design, and bioremediation monitoring. This year the researchers have also substantially expanded their molecular capabilities to include the use of whole-genome microarrays to apply genomics and transcriptomics to track not only the presence, but also the activities of the bacteria involved in in situ bioremediation.
Beyond their work with chlorinated solvent degrading bacteria, they have also studied the biodegradation of emerging water contaminants N-nitrosodimethylamine, 1,4 dioxane and most recently, polybrominated diphenyl ethers. They have successfully identified naturally-occurring bacteria that are capable of degrading each of these compounds, and are currently working out the biochemical pathways for their degradation. These studies should result in the development of methods for the in situ bioremediation of these compounds in the environment.
2004
This project is improving the project investigators’ ability to reliably monitor the in situ bioremediation of groundwater contaminants by developing advanced molecular tools and isotopic analyses that can be applied quantitatively. Reliable monitoring methods will decrease the uncertainty and cost of bioremediation while enabling the application of more effective risk assessment and risk management techniques.
Over the past year project investigators have continued improving tools based upon both molecular biology and stable isotopic signatures. Molecular techniques have been applied to monitor the degradation of trichloroethene (TCE) and perchloroethene (PCE) at two large-scale field sites. Previously, the researchers had shown that one of the sites lacked a key species necessary for complete bioremediation and that subsequent introduction of that species had been successful. Over the last year they have tracked the spread of the key species and shown that its presence correlates well with areas where PCE is completely degraded. The practical application of this study is that a simple molecular test for the presence of a key organism has been successfully used both to identify the limiting factors for bioremediation and to monitor the progress of the adopted solutions. Because this technique is more accurate and faster than previous alternatives, it should greatly facilitate site assessment, application design, and bioremediation monitoring.
This year project investigators have also substantially expanded their molecular toolkit for tracking microorganisms and their activity by developing quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for application to both gene copy numbers and for quantification of expression. The investigators have developed an internal standard technique that uses luciferase genes from fireflies to allow them to quantify gene expression in an absolute sense. In addition, the investigators have begun to study the transcriptomics of bacteria that reductively dechlorinate PCE, TCE, and VC. To this end they have designed a full genome microarray for quantitative analysis in comparative genomics and transcriptomics.
During this past year the investigators have also continued their studies of the mechanisms and kinetics of NDMA and 1,4 dioxane degradation by oxygenase-expressing microorganisms. Both of these contaminants are water-soluble carcinogens that are becoming prevalent drinking water contaminants. NDMA finds its way into drinking waters as contamination associated with aerospace facilities and as a byproduct of the chlorination of wastewaters; 1,4 dioxane is a solvent stabilizer that is found co-mingled in solvent plumes. Over the past year the investigators have shown that a common strain of laboratory bacteria that normally cannot degrade NDMA gains degradation activity when a specific monooxygenase enzyme is engineered into it. In addition, they have used radioactive labeling to show that an organism they have designated Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans uses dioxane as a growth substrate, and likely uses monooxygenases to convert more than 50% of the dioxane to CO2. The practical application of this study is to identify and characterize species that will be useful for the future bioremediation of these and similar toxins.
2003
This project is making major contributions towards improving our ability to reliably monitor the in situ bioremediation of groundwater contaminants by developing molecular and isotopic analyses that can be applied quantitatively. Reliable monitoring methods will decrease the uncertainty and cost of bioremediation while enabling the application of more effective risk assessment and risk management techniques.
Over the past year, project investigators have made significant progress toward improving and applying tools based upon both molecular biology and stable isotopic signatures. Molecular techniques were applied to compare the effect of lactate injection at two large-scale field sites contaminated with TCE and PCE. These techniques diagnosed a difference in the indigenous microbial community that resulted in successful bioremediation occurring at only one of the two sites. Subsequently, molecular analyses showed that a pilot bioaugmentation study undertaken to overcome the microbial limitation was successful. The practical application of these findings is that a simple molecular test for the presence of key organisms can predict whether biostimulation or bioaugmentation processes are more suitable, improving application design and potentially decreasing remediation time by months.
Over the past year, these researchers have also made significant progress in applying stable isotope analysis for monitoring, assessing, and validating bioremediation processes. They have succeeded in measuring the carbon isotopic fractionations associated with the aerobic biodegradation of vinyl chloride (VC), trichloroethylene (TCE), and cis-1,2-dichloroethylene (cDCE) by both metabolic and cometabolic processes. For all three of the tested chlorinated ethenes, isotopic fractionation associated with aerobic degradation was significantly smaller than that reported for anaerobic reductive dechlorination, suggesting that analysis of compound-specific isotopic fractionation could be useful for determining whether aerobic or anaerobic degradation of VC and DCE predominates in field applications of in situ bioremediation.
Finally, Dr. Alvarez-Cohen’s team has achieved notable progress in the expanded goal of elucidating the mechanisms and kinetics of NDMA and 1,4 dioxane degradation by oxygenase-expressing microorganisms. Both of these contaminants are water-soluble carcinogens that are becoming prevalent drinking water contaminants. NDMA finds its way into drinking waters as contamination associated with aerospace facilities and as a byproduct of the chlorination of wastewaters; 1,4 dioxane is a solvent stabilizer that is found co-mingled in solvent plumes. A strong case has been made that monooxygenase enzymes are responsible for the degradation of these two compounds. The investigators found five dissimilar bacterial strains that, under conditions that encourage monooxygenase enzyme production, are capable of biodegrading NDMA. In addition, several monooxygenase-expressing cultures were found to degrade 1,4 dioxane. Also, it was shown that acetylene gas, known to inhibit monooxygenase enzymes, completely inhibits the degradation of NDMA or 1,4 dioxane in most strains. Kinetic measurements, biochemical studies, and experiments to identify degradation intermediates are underway for both molecules.
2002
Chlorinated solvents are the most common groundwater contaminants at Superfund sites. In situ bioremediation is a promising and cost effective method of remediation. One major limitation is the difficulty associated with predicting and monitoring progress over time. This project is making major contributions towards reliably monitoring this method by developing molecular and isotopic analyses that can be applied quantitatively. Reliable bioremediation monitoring methods will decrease the uncertainty and cost of this method while enabling the application of more effective risk assessment and risk management techniques. Isotope measurements were used to track and control the potential generation of harmful biological intermediates. This success will result in approximately $15 million cost savings for the cleanup of the field site, and will open the door for the emerging technique of stable isotope analysis to be applied more widely at a variety of groundwater contaminated sites. Two specific approaches are being used. The molecular biology approach aims to apply a suite of cutting-edge molecular tools in a quantitative manner to evaluate the relative contribution of different physiological groups of bacteria to the degradation of chlorinated solvents such as perchloroethylene (PCE) and trichloroethylene (TCE). The second approach is to quantify the fractionation of chlorine and carbon stable isotopes caused by microbial degradation processes to facilitate the identification of dominant pathways and redox conditions for specific contaminant biodegradation reactions.
Over the past year, the investigators made significant progress toward each project goal. The scope of the original goals has been expanded to reflect an increase in analytical capabilities within the UC-Berkeley laboratory. Work continues with an enriched anaerobic microbial community. The practical implication of Dr. Alvarez-Cohen’s findings is that enhanced bioremediation strategies that rely on electron donor addition have a high potential for success. Project investigators have also begun to apply these molecular techniques in the field, to evaluate microbial community shifts caused by enhanced bioremediation strategies conducted at large-scale field sites. Two field sites contaminated with TCE and PCE were chosen to test the efficacy of lactate injection to promote reductive dechlorination. A pilot study to test bioaugmentation at this site is planned for spring 2003.
Finally, a variety of techniques have been applied to elucidate the mechanisms and kinetics of NDMA and 1,4 dioxane degradation by oxygenase-expressing microorganisms. NDMA is a potent carcinogen and 1,4 dioxane is a carcinogen with a health advisory level of 3 parts per billion. NDMA, a component of rocket fuel, is also produced by the chlorination of wastewaters; 1,4 dioxane is a solvent stabilizer that is found co-mingled in solvent plumes. Three dissimilar bacterial strains were found that generate monooxygenase enzymes for growth on toluene and are each capable of biodegrading NDMA when induced with toluene. In addition, several monooxygenase-expressing cultures were found to degrade 1,4 dioxaney. Acetylene gas completely inhibits the degradation of NDMA or 1,4 dioxane in at least one strain each. Kinetic measurements and experiments to identify degradation intermediates are underway for both molecules.
2001
Project investigators have made major progress in applying techniques that were developed in laboratory experiments to large-scale field studies. Changes in subsurface microbial communities at two field sites undergoing enhanced in-situ bioremediation of trichloroethylene (TCE) have been examined using molecular techniques. The two sites differ in that partially dechlorinated intermediates were present at one prior to enhanced bioremediation while no such intermediates were observed at the other. Major differences were observed in microbial community structure between the two sites, including the absence of a major known dechlorinating bacterium, Dehalococcoides ethenogenes, at the site where bioremediation was not successful. Current work involves the quantification of functional gene expression for TCE dechlorination. In addition, studies were initiated to evaluate the potential for aerobic biodegradation of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a newly emerging carcinogenic water contaminant. From the literature on the activation mechanism of this compound in mammalian systems, we hypothesized that monooxygenase-expressing bacteria would degrade it. Preliminary studies have supported this hypothesis.