Isolation of sulfur reducing and oxidizing bacteria found in contaminated drywall.
Drywall from China has been reported to release sulfur producing products which are corrosive to metals, result in noxious odors, and represent a significant health risk. It has been reported that these emissions produce medical symptoms such as respiratory or asthma type problems, sinusitis, gastrointestinal disorders, and vision problems in home owners and their household pets. We report here a method of identifying a causative agent for these emissions by sampling affected gypsum wallboard and subjecting those samples to Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction [RT-PCR] studies. Specific DNA probes and primers have been designed and patented that detect a specific iron and sulfur reducing bacterium (i.e., Thiobacillus ferrooxidans). One hundred percent of affected drywall samples obtained from homes located in the southeastern United States tested positive for the presence of T. ferrooxidans. All negative controls consisting of unaffected wallboard and internal controls, Geotrichum sp., tested negative within our limits of detection.
Hooper
Dennis G
DG
RealTime Laboratories, LLC, Dallas, TX 79234, USA. mscmd@cox.net <mscmd@cox.net>
Shane
John
J
Straus
David C
DC
Kilburn
Kaye H
KH
Bolton
Vincent
V
Sutton
John S
JS
Guilford
Frederick T
FT
D015342:DNA Probes / Q000378:metabolism; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013455:Sulfur / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013855:Thiobacillus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D014934:Wood / Q000382:microbiology*
D015342:DNA Probes; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D013455:Sulfur; D007501:Iron
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