title: Application of fingerprinting molecular methods in bioremediation studies.
abstract: Bioremediation has been identified as a beneficial and effective strategy for the removal of recalcitrant environmental contaminants. Bioaugmentation of polluted environments with exogenous degrading microorganisms constitutes a major strategy of bioremediation. However, the ecological role of these strains and their impact on the endogenous microbial community of the micro-ecosystems where they are released should be known. Fingerprinting PCR-based methods, like denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), could be used in studies exploring the ecology of pollutant-degrading microorganisms and their effects on the structure of the soil microbial community. This chapter provides a brief outline of the technical details involved in the application of DGGE and TRFLP fingerprinting in soil microbial ecology, with particular reference to bioremediation studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry & Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Karpouzas
authors.forename: Brajesh K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Singh
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004586:Electrophoresis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012988:Soil Microbiology