An alternative method to quantify 2-MIB producing cyanobacteria in drinking water reservoirs: Method development and field applications.
2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB) is a commonly detected cyanobacterial odorant in drinking water sources in many countries. To provide safe and high-quality water, development of a monitoring method for the detection of 2-MIB-synthesis (mibC) genes is very important. In this study, new primers MIBS02F/R intended specifically for the mibC gene were developed and tested. Experimental results show that the MIBS02F/R primer set was able to capture 13 2-MIB producing cyanobacterial strains grown in the laboratory, and to effectively amplify the targeted DNA region from 17 2-MIB-producing cyanobacterial strains listed in the literature. The primers were further coupled with a TaqMan probe to detect 2-MIB producers in 29 drinking water reservoirs (DWRs). The results showed statistically significant correlations between mibC genes and 2-MIB concentrations for the data from each reservoir (R2=0.413-0.998; p<0.05), from all reservoirs in each of the three islands (R2=0.302-0.796; p<0.01), and from all data of the three islands (R2=0.473-0.479; p<0.01). The results demonstrate that the real-time PCR can be an alternative method to provide information to managers of reservoirs and water utilities facing 2-MIB-related incidents.
Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, ROC.
Yi-Ting
YT
Chiu
Department of Biological Science and Technology, Meiho University, Pingtung 91202, Taiwan, ROC.
Hung-Kai
HK
Yen
Department of Environmental Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 70101, Taiwan, ROC. Electronic address: tflin@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
Tsair-Fuh
TF
Lin
D001892:Camphanes / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014871:Water Microbiology / Q000592:standards*; D062066:Water Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*
D001892:Camphanes; D060766:Drinking Water; C005536:2-methylisoborneol
2-MIB-synthesis gene (mibC gene); 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB); Cyanobacteria; Real-time PCR; Taste and odor