Detection and enumeration of haloacetic acid-degrading bacteria in drinking water distribution systems using dehalogenase genes.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a PCR-based tracking method for the detection of a subset of bacteria in drinking water distribution systems capable of degrading haloacetic acids (HAAs).


RESULTS
Published degenerate PCR primers were used to determine that 54% of tap water samples (7/13) were positive for a deh gene, indicating that drinking water distribution systems may harbour bacteria capable of HAA degradation. As the published primer sets were not sufficiently specific for quantitative PCR, new primers were designed to amplify dehII genes from selected indicator strains. The developed primer sets were effective in directly amplifying dehII genes from enriched consortia samples, and the DNA extracted from tap water provided that an additional nested PCR step for detection of the dehII gene was used.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that drinking water distribution systems harbour microbes capable of degrading HAAs. In addition, a quantitative PCR method was developed to detect and quantify dehII genes in drinking water systems.


CONCLUSIONS
The development of a technique to rapidly screen for the presence of dehalogenase genes in drinking water distribution systems could help water utilities determine if HAA biodegradation is occurring in the distribution system.
Leach
L H
LH
Montana State University, Center for Biofilm Engineering, Bozeman, MT 59717 , USA.
Zhang
P
P
Lapara
T M
TM
Hozalski
R M
RM
Camper
A K
AK
D020622:Afipia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics*; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D006867:Hydrolases; C034507:2-haloacid dehalogenase