Location
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Science and Education Building
Start Date
9-8-2011 10:15 AM
End Date
9-8-2011 12:00 PM
Description
Nitrifying bacteria play an important role in aquatic and terrestrial environments through the nitrogen cycle. Nitrification, one of the processes of the nitrogen cycle, refers to the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate. This process requires two types of chemoautotrophic bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). These bacteria are essential in maintaining an optimal environment for plants and aquatic organisms, such as fish. Current applications of nitrifiers include: inoculants for aquariums, biofertilizers, and nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants. This study wants to identify a consortium of nitrifers that can be used to produce sufficient nitrate for plants in a hydroponic system. Previous studies have shown that Fritz-zyme turbostart 700, a commercial freshwater inoculant has had success in a semi-hydroponic system, zeoponics. Our lab’s preliminary data has shown that Fritz-zyme contains more than the specific nitrifying bacteria. In order to create the optimal consortium, it would be mandatory that we know exactly what bacteria we are working with. Using 16s rDNA universal primers and PGEM-T easy vector cloning kit, this study will amplify the 16s rDNA present in different enrichment samples and clone it into the PGEM-T easy vector E. coli plasmid. The cloned plasmids are transformed into competent E. coli cells and sequenced to identify the bacteria present in each sample. This study will determine whether the current enrichment techniques being used are sufficient to eliminate the heterotrophic and sporeforming bacteria present in the original Fritz-zyme.
Keywords
Hydroponics; Microbial inoculants; Nitrification; Nitrifying bacteria
Disciplines
Environmental Microbiology and Microbial Ecology | Microbiology | Molecular Biology
Language
English
COinS
Identification of nitrifying bacteria contained in a commercial inoculant using molecular biology techniques
University of Nevada Las Vegas, Science and Education Building
Nitrifying bacteria play an important role in aquatic and terrestrial environments through the nitrogen cycle. Nitrification, one of the processes of the nitrogen cycle, refers to the oxidation of ammonia to nitrate. This process requires two types of chemoautotrophic bacteria, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). These bacteria are essential in maintaining an optimal environment for plants and aquatic organisms, such as fish. Current applications of nitrifiers include: inoculants for aquariums, biofertilizers, and nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment plants. This study wants to identify a consortium of nitrifers that can be used to produce sufficient nitrate for plants in a hydroponic system. Previous studies have shown that Fritz-zyme turbostart 700, a commercial freshwater inoculant has had success in a semi-hydroponic system, zeoponics. Our lab’s preliminary data has shown that Fritz-zyme contains more than the specific nitrifying bacteria. In order to create the optimal consortium, it would be mandatory that we know exactly what bacteria we are working with. Using 16s rDNA universal primers and PGEM-T easy vector cloning kit, this study will amplify the 16s rDNA present in different enrichment samples and clone it into the PGEM-T easy vector E. coli plasmid. The cloned plasmids are transformed into competent E. coli cells and sequenced to identify the bacteria present in each sample. This study will determine whether the current enrichment techniques being used are sufficient to eliminate the heterotrophic and sporeforming bacteria present in the original Fritz-zyme.