A luciferase-based method for assessing chlorine-susceptibility of Mycobacterium avium.
A rapid and quantitative assay for the disinfection of the water-borne pathogen, Mycobacterium avium, was developed using firefly luciferase as a reporter gene. There was a correlation between the quantity of light produced and the number of colony-forming units. In chlorine-disinfection studies of a luciferase-carrying derivative of M. avium, there was a strong correlation (r2=0.96) between colony forming units and relative light units. It was discovered that chlorine was rapidly lost from suspensions containing 10(6) M. avium cells/ml. The luciferase-based test can be used to rapidly measure susceptibility of M. avium to different disinfectants used in water treatment.
Cowan
H E
HE
Department of Biology and Fralin Biotechnology Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0346, USA. hcowam@rmwc.edu
Falkinham
J O
JO
D002713:Chlorine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D008156:Luciferases / Q000235:genetics*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D015269:Mycobacterium avium Complex / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D010957:Plasmids; D014871:Water Microbiology
D004202:Disinfectants; D002713:Chlorine; D008156:Luciferases