Project Page

Biodegradation of "Hidden" High Molecular Weight Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Closing Critical Research Gaps

Implementing Organization

University of Central Florida

Overview

DWH Project Funding

$369,645

Known Leveraged Funding

$0

Funding Organization

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI)

Funding Program

Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative GoMRI Grant Program

Details

Project Category

Science

Project Actions

Physical Aspects Research

Targeted Resources

Microbial Communities

Project Description

The objectives of the proposed study are to (1) determine the ability of known PAH-degrading bacterial species to degrade HMW-PAH MW ? 302 compounds in pure cultures and identify the metabolic degradation products using fluorescence spectroscopy with emphasis on PAH-metabolites that are known to be carcinogenic; and (2) identify new, environmentally relevant bacteria capable of degrading HMW-PAH MW ? 302 compounds through sediment enrichment incubations using both culture-dependent isolation techniques and culture-independent techniques (i.e., metagenomics). These objectives will be achieved through an integrated research program coupling microbiological and state-of-the-art analytical techniques in order to investigate the microbial degradation of recalcitrant HMW-PAH organic compounds with a goal to better understand the microbial response to oil spills.

Contact

Melanie J. Beazley
None
melanie.beazley@ucf.edu
Project Website
Project Partners

None

Affiliated Institutions

None

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