PARENT SESSION
MP6 - Transgenic Organisms as Environmental Biosensors
Chair: Jackson, David1, 1 568 Doughten Drive, Ft. Detrick, MD, USA
Co-chair: van der Schalie, William2, 2 568 Doughten Drive, Ft. Detrick, MD
2:10 PM to 5:30 PM - Monday, 18 November 2002
Room Ballroom B
(296) Green alert! Toxicity assessment of dye effluent treatment methods using a eukaryotic biosensor.
Keenan, Patrick*,1, Barker, Michael1, Billinton, Nicholas1, Cahill, Paul1, Hawkyard, Chris1, Knight, Andrew1, Stratton-Campbell, Duncan2, Walmsley, Richard1, 1 UMIST, Manchester, UK2 Capenhurst.tech Ltd., Chester, UK
ABSTRACT- In recent years, several laboratories have developed new bacterial genotoxicity tests. This was in response to the European Community identifying a need for novel biosensors in environmental monitoring. We have addressed this challenge by exploiting the "awesome power of yeast..." and developed the first eukaryotic microbial genotoxicity test. The biosensor utilises a modified strain of yeast, incorporating a gene encoding green fluorescent protein linked to the promoter of the DNA damage inducible RAD54 gene. Upon exposure to a genotoxin, the production of GFP is upregulated in parallel with RAD54 and the resulting fluorescence provides a measure of genotoxicity. In addition to genotoxicity, general toxicity is assessed by measuring the effect of a toxin on cell proliferation. Following proof of principal with purified chemicals we have gone onto demonstrate its utility with environmental samples. We shall present the results of a model study on the effect of electro-oxidative and ozone treatments on dye effluent toxicity. Our aim was to find out whether effluents treated by these methods actually became safe as colour was removed. The data identifies a variety of toxic responses resulting from treatment as well as the presence of toxic intermediates. The study not only illustrates the importance of monitoring the treatment process but also demonstrates the feasibility of this biosensor as a multianalyte tool for effluent toxicity monitoring.
Key words: biosensor, effluent, toxicity, yeast