SREL Reprint #1817

Microbial ecology of Thiothrix spp. in the Floridan aquifer

R.L. Brigmonl, H.W. Martin2, and S.G. Zam3

1Department of Physiological Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610
2Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia, Aiken, SC 29802
3Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610

Introduction: Immunocytochemical techniques utilizing monoclonal antibodies (MAb), electron microscopy (EM), and microbiological procedures have been developed for the study of Thiothrix spp. in aquatic systems. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed incorporating a Thiothrix-specific MAb. The ELISA utilizing the MAb is a useful tool to classify and help understand the complex nature of Thiothrix spp. The ELISA is fast, accurate, and results were not different from microscopy, staining, and biochemical procedures. The MAb was incorporated with EM cytochemical techniques using colloidal gold for further studies of Thiothrix ultrastructure and identification in natural and isolated cultures.

SREL Reprint #1817

Brigmon, R.L., H.W. Martin, and S.G. Zam. 1994. Microbial ecology of Thiothrix spp. in the Floridan aquifer. pp. 4-5 In: I.D. Sasowsky and M.V. Palmer (Eds.). Breakthroughs in Karst Geomicrobiology and Redox Geochemistry. Karst Waters Institute, Charles Town, WV. 

This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).