Discipline: Ecology Environmental and Earth Sciences
Subcategory: Microbiology/Immunology/Virology
Session: 2
Room: Park Tower 8206
Folasade T. Adedoyin - Texas Southern University
Co-Author(s): Jason A. Rosenzweig, Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas.
Studies have evaluated the impact of microorganisms, such as bacteria, on different sources of water and soil. Assessing the watershed area in Houston for the level of bacteria is essential since it has been previously shown that some water bodies are prone to bacterial contamination. The proximity of watersheds to farmlands, industries, construction sites, shipping channels, etc. have increased the loads of microorganism in various watersheds, leading to loss of species and amenities that these natural water bodies once possessed.
In this study, four bayous ranging from rural to suburban areas were sampled three times a week for a period of one month. Each bayou sampled had three to four locations from which soil and water samples were collected. The assessment of the microbiological loads was done using selective and differential media as well as the identification of isolated colonies using Sanger DNA sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA, metabolomics and metagenomics analysis. Bacterial enumeration was carried out using the standard spread plate technique. It was observed that the lower the concentration factor of the dilution, the lower the bacteria population. Bayous closer to activities of animals, humans and plants have a higher concentration of fecal bacteria compared to those with less activity. Future research includes the isolation of a specific E-coli mutant, testing it for growth in biofilm production in the presence of toxin identified in the water and also to evaluate the reaction with gut epithelia cells
Funder Acknowledgement(s): This Research is primarily supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through Texas Southern University (TSU) under the award numbers HRD-1829184; NSF HRD 1622993; HRD-1345173.
Faculty Advisor: Jason A. Rosenzweig, Jason.Rosenzweig@tsu.edu
Role: I sampled bayous ranging from rural to suburban areas three times a week for a period of one month. They each had three/four locations from which samples were collected from. Assessment of the microbiological loads of soil was done using selective and differential media as well as the identification of isolated colonies. Bacterial enumeration was carried out using the standard spread plate technique. The low concentration factors had the lower bacteria population and also those bayous closer to high activities have a higher concentration of fecal bacteria compared to those with less activity.