Life Sciences Seminar - Tracking microbial contamination sources into Lake Michigan

Tracking microbial contamination sources into Lake MichiganDr. Cindy H. NakatsuProfessor, Department of AgronomyPurdue UniversityAbstract:Restoration of polluted aquatic habitats is essential for preservation and maintenance of ecosystems, since degradation of water can directly impact human health as well the economy of a region. The objectives here are to determine potential sources and reservoirs of potential human pathogens originating from fecal contamination into Lake Michigan. Elevated contamination in the region studied leads to closure of recreational beaches. It is essential to identify these contaminant sources to implement effective mitigation plans. Traditionally fecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus) have been used to determine contamination levels but now characterization of the entire microbial community is being increasingly used. Here we use high throughput Illumina sequencing of 16S rRNA gene PCR amplicons to characterize bacterial communities. The three major potential sources of contamination examined were rivers, lake sediment and shoreline sand. Results collectively illustrate that characterization of microbial communities provides useful information that can aid in developing strategies to reduce contamination into aquatic habitats.Speaker Bio:Dr. Cindy H. Nakatsu is a Professor in the Department of Agronomy at Purdue University where she has been a member of the faculty since 1995. She received her Ph.D. from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, her M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees from the University of Toronto in Toronto, Canada, and did post-doctoral research at the Center for Microbial Ecology at Michigan State University. She is a molecular microbial ecologist and her research is focused towards gaining a greater understanding of the diversity of microbial communities (microbiomes) and the genetic mechanisms used by bacteria to adapt to their environment. Molecular genetics, traditional microbiology and ecology experiments are used in her research program. Major projects currently being investigated are (1) To determine the diversity and role of microbial populations and communities in various ecosystems and (2) To determine the impact of perturbations on indigenous microbiomes.Intended Audience:Beginners, undergraduates, graduates. Those with interest in the topic.