Pathogenic Bacteria in Tidal Oakdale Creek on Sapelo Island
Abstract
This research focuses on the detection and quantification of pathogenic bacteria in Tidal Oakdale Creek along the Sapelo Island National Estuary Research Reserve on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Previous studies revealed the Hog Hammock settlement as the main source of biological contamination to the above creek. Three sampling station were established. The first station received runoffs from the settlement, whereas the second and the third are farther downstream from Hog Hammock and only receive contaminants that have gone through the previous site. Both water and sediment samples were collected approximately every four weeks between March 16th and August 7th of 2014. Community DNA was then extracted using MoBio DNA extraction kits within six hours of being sampled and stored at -4¡C. To evaluate the presence and abundance of Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia Coli, and E. coli 0157 H7, Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) targeting signatures for the above organism's specific genes are being used. Obtained data will allow for the evaluation of the sources of these above pathogens, their environmental mobility, and to correlate the presence and abundance of pathogens to human activities (dredging road ditches and culverts occurred in the time of study), habitat (sediments vs. water column), and their spatial distribution between headwater and mouth of the creek.
Session Name:
Poster Presentation Session #1 - Poster #17
Start Date
10-4-2015 11:30 AM
End Date
10-4-2015 12:15 PM
Location
HSB 3rd Floor Student Commons
Pathogenic Bacteria in Tidal Oakdale Creek on Sapelo Island
HSB 3rd Floor Student Commons
This research focuses on the detection and quantification of pathogenic bacteria in Tidal Oakdale Creek along the Sapelo Island National Estuary Research Reserve on Sapelo Island, Georgia. Previous studies revealed the Hog Hammock settlement as the main source of biological contamination to the above creek. Three sampling station were established. The first station received runoffs from the settlement, whereas the second and the third are farther downstream from Hog Hammock and only receive contaminants that have gone through the previous site. Both water and sediment samples were collected approximately every four weeks between March 16th and August 7th of 2014. Community DNA was then extracted using MoBio DNA extraction kits within six hours of being sampled and stored at -4¡C. To evaluate the presence and abundance of Shigella, Salmonella, Campylobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia Coli, and E. coli 0157 H7, Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) targeting signatures for the above organism's specific genes are being used. Obtained data will allow for the evaluation of the sources of these above pathogens, their environmental mobility, and to correlate the presence and abundance of pathogens to human activities (dredging road ditches and culverts occurred in the time of study), habitat (sediments vs. water column), and their spatial distribution between headwater and mouth of the creek.