Introduction to Introduction to i lEnvironmental

Microbiologygy

Karlo Malave Llamas PhD(c)E i t l Mi bi l P fEnvironmental Microbiology Professor

CIEMICAM

IntroductionIntroduction

• In 1970 a new area of microbiology emerged and developed into the field ofand developed into the field of ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY.

• Environmental Microbiology roots are wide spread but are more closely related to microbial ecology.

Introduction (cont )Introduction (cont.)

• Environmental Microbiology vs MicrobialEnvironmental Microbiology vs. Microbial Ecology

• Environmental Microbiology is an applied field in witch the driving question is, how can we use ourwitch the driving question is, how can we use our understanding of microbes in the environment to benefit society.

» Thus, although related the fields are not synonymous because they emphasize and address different problemsbecause they emphasize and address different problems

Introduction (cont )Introduction (cont.)

• Because environmental microbes can affect so many aspects of life and are easily transported betweeneasily transported between environments, the field of

i t l i bi l i t fenvironmental microbiology interfaces with a number of subspecialties.p

Soil BioremediationIndustrial Food

Microbiology Bioremediation Microbiology Safety

AeromicrobiologyInfectionControl

EnvironmentalMicrobiology Controlgy

Aquatic Water Bi t h l DiagnosticAquaticMicrobiology

WaterQuality

Biotechnology ag ost cMicrobiology

What happened in 1970?What happened in 1970?

• Several events occurred simultaneously thatSeveral events occurred simultaneously that highlighted the need for a better understanding of environmental microorganismof environmental microorganism.

W t d F db th– Water and Foodborne pathogens

W di l d i i– Waste disposal and water contamination

– DNA discovery and the possibility of studying non cultivable microbes.

Historical PerspectiveHistorical Perspective

• The initial scientific focus on the field of environmentalthe field of environmental microbiology was on water gyquality (early 1900’s) and the fate of pathogens in the environment inof pathogens in the environment in the context of protection of public p phealth.

Historical Perspective (cont )Historical Perspective (cont.)

MMWR July 30, 1999 / 48(29);621-629

Historical Perspective (cont)Historical Perspective (cont)• Until 1960’s it was thought that waterborne diseases g

were eliminated. 10% - 50% of diarrhea associated illness is caused by unidentified microbial agents

– Did not count on virus (Norwalk) and protozoa (Giardia) resistance to disinfection .

• Water quality continues to be a major focus in environmental microbiology because water pathogens are discover daily.

400 000 sick and 100 died in Milwaukee from400,000 sick and 100 died in Milwaukee from waterborne outbreak caused by Cryptosporidium

(protozoa) in 1993

Historical Perspective: ConcernsHistorical Perspective: Concerns

• Imported Fruit and Vegetables also importImported Fruit and Vegetables also import microbes.

Cyclospora outbreak due to contaminated raspberriesCyclospora outbreak due to contaminated raspberries morbidity 1000 US citizens in 1996

Environmental Microbiologists Ask?Environmental Microbiologists Ask?

How do pathogens survive in the environment?

How can they be detected and eliminated fast?

How do microbes interact with chemical compounds?

Historical Perspective: CostHistorical Perspective: Cost

• The cost of cleanup or remediation ofThe cost of cleanup or remediation of contaminated sites in the USA alone exceeds $ 1 trillionexceeds $ 1 trillion.

Bi di di i t ff ti i bl• Bioremediadion is cost effective an viable.

1989 Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons crude oil, a combination of techniques (including bioremediation) were used to cleanup. This was the first (big scales) successful

bioremediation process.

Historical Perspective: BioremediationHistorical Perspective: Bioremediation

• Bioremediation open a new door forBioremediation open a new door for environmental microbiologists

• In order to be successful we must learn how the bi ti d bi ti f t bi i th t lbiotic and abiotic factors combine in the natural environment to stimulate the metabolic

th f d i bpathways of endogenous microbes.

PCR, Microarrays and other molecular techniques

Modern Environmental MicrobiologyModern Environmental Microbiology

• Modern environmental microbiology is:Modern environmental microbiology is:

Bi di ti– Bioremediation– Environmental pathogens

f– Discovery of new microbes and their products– Environmental protection– Food processing– other

Colors of BiotechnologyColors of Biotechnology

BiomedicinaBiofarmacia

T i G éti

VegetalNutrición

Ali t T

BiofábricaBiomateriales

Bi i í

BiodiversidadAmbiente

Bi di ióTerapia Genética Alimentos Trans Biominería Biorremediación

Rec. AcuáticosBioquímica

BioterrorismoBioensayos

BioéticaProp. Intelectual

Regulaciones

BioquímicaBioinformática

ChallengesChallenges

• Recover viable microbes from differentRecover viable microbes from different environments (including extreme environments)

• Once recovered, successful culture may not be th d l i f ll th i bthe case, and analysis of all the microbe characteristics may become a challenge

GRASGenerallyRegard as

GEM’sGeneticallyEngineer

MEORMicrobial

Enhanced OilRegard asSafe

Engineermicrobes

Enhanced OilRecovery

Questions?Questions?

Damas y caballeros los microorganismos tendrán la ultima palabraDamas y caballeros los microorganismos tendrán la ultima palabra

Pasteur

AssessmentAssessment

Environmental Microbiology recognizes the basic foundations and importance of microbesbasic foundations and importance of microbes

in the environment and the conventional microbiological techniques (which focusedmicrobiological techniques (which focused

greatly on culture-based studies), linking them with information from more recentwith information from more recent

nonconventional techniques.E l i (i 4 )Explain (in a 4 pages essay)