Title: Rapid and Quantitative Detection of Helicobacter pylori and Escherichia coli O157 in Well Water Using a Nano-Wired Biosensor and QPCR
Funding Organization: USEPA STAR Grant
Project Duration: 2006-2009
Description: This project is comparing new and sensitive gene and antibody-based biosensors with QPCR for detection of important pathogenic bacteria in water. The hypothesis of this proposal is that a disposable biosensor and QPCR can be combined seamlessly to develop a unique biosensor-QPCR as a tool for near real-time determination of contaminant occurrence in drinking water. The specific objectives are: (1) Develop a protocol for processing water samples for the biosensor and QPCR; (2) Assess the performance of the biosensor and QPCR for sensitivity, specificity, recovery, and false positives/negatives of detection and enumeration for E. coli O157:H7 and H. pylori in groundwater samples from the field; (3) Develop a method for detecting and enumerating E. coli O157:H7 and H. pylori by QPCR using bacteria isolated and screened by the biosensor system; and (4) Validate a method for testing viability of E. coli O157:H7.
Title: Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment (CAMRA)
Funding Organization: USEPA/Department of Homeland Security
Project Duration: 2005-2010
Website: http://www.camra.msu.edu/
Description: CAMRA is a consortium of scientists who have extensive expertise in quantitative microbial risk assessment (MRA) methods, bio-security, and infectious disease transmission through environmental exposures. CAMRA has two main goals. The first is a technical mission to develop critically reviewed and interpreted sets of models, tools, and information that will be used in a credible risk assessment framework to reduce or eliminate health impacts from deliberate use of biological agents of concern as bioterrorist agents in the indoor and outdoor environment. The second mission is to build a national MRA network for knowledge management, learning, and transfer for scientists, students, and professionals in the field and in our communities. There are five major research projects which will define the objectives and activities of CAMRA. Each project objective has been developed through collaborative efforts of scientists and will be integrated via a management structure that facilitates interaction. These research projects address exposure, methods and models; dose-response; population outcomes; risk frameworks; and knowledge management, transfer and learning.
Title: Fellowship Program in Microbial Risk Assessment for Public Security, Safety, and Health
Funding Organization: Department of Homeland Security
Project Duration: 2007-2010
Website: http://www.camra.msu.edu/
Description: The fellowship program will integrate academic coursework resulting in a Master’s degree with a graduate certificate in Microbial Risk Assessment, research at the Center for Advancing Microbial Risk Assessment, an Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Homeland Security Research Center of Excellence based at Michigan State University and Drexel University, and two, 6-month professional internships at Homeland Security Science Technology Engineering Mathematics sites. Appropriate sites for completion of the internship include government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and Environmental Protection Agency, national laboratories, and university-based Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence.
Title: Center for Water Sciences (CWS)
Funding Organization: Michigan State University
Project Duration: 2005-2010
Website: http://cws.msu.edu/index.html
This center addresses collaborative studies by MSU faculty to study human and ecosystem health associated with water quality/quantity. The mission of the Center for Water Sciences (CWS) at MSU is to advance scientific research and knowledge for understanding, protecting, and restoring water resources and their sustainable use by humans and ecosystems around the Great Lakes and the world. Our interdisciplinary scientific teams of MSU faculty and students investigate and provide solutions to current, emerging, and future environmental problems that face our local, national, and global water systems. CWS investigators are addressing a variety of research topics including antibiotics in water and development of microbial resistance, viral pathogens and waterborne disease, the complexity of natural and human influences on biodiversity and valued attributes of aquatic ecosystems within watersheds, and the effects of contaminants with global origins. The CWS is dedicated to promoting the integration of traditional fields of science to address water-related issues and research that focus on ecosystems and human health.
Title: Transport and Survival of Escherichia coli within Soil Aggregates
Funding Organization: USDA
Project Duration: 2008-2011
Presently, the fate of Escherichia coli in soils in rural agricultural settings is still not completely understood. It is clear that filtration, adsorption and die-off are the processes which impact the transport of these bacteria, however, differential survival, desorption and regrowth are occurring as well and likely are dependent on the micro environment within soil aggregates. Without improved assessment of the mechanisms associated with E. coli transport and survival in the soil, the ability to develop best management practices for manure application to minimize E. coli transport to surface and ground waters will be limited. Understanding the influence of the within aggregate micro environments on E. coli transport and survival can now be greatly facilitated by recent advances in X-ray computer tomography allowing obtaining high resolution images of interiors structure of undisturbed soil aggregates. The main objective of the proposed project is to relate E. coli transport and survival in soil aggregates to the aggregate’s pore networks and structures as delineated through X-ray computer topography. Three-dimensional pore structures of soil aggregates representing soils under widely used in Midwest agricultural practices and native forests obtained with 3-15 micron resolution will be related to E. coli adsorption and desorption, transport and survival within aggregate interiors.
Title: Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Summer Institute
Funding Organization: Department of Energy
Project Duration: 2008-2009
Website: http://www.camra.msu.edu/
This week-long institute for 30 students, which is held on the MSU campus, aims to teach participants the tools and skills needed to quantitatively assess microbial risk to human health in various situations in the indoor and outdoor environment. Participants will learn how to use risk assessment for assuring safety and health goals using scientific data and computer analysis. The Institute is designed for graduate students and professionals in fields such as engineering, microbiology, epidemiology, medicine, public health, nursing, veterinary medicine, and emergency preparedness, students will gain hands-on experience with risk assessment software and work on real-world case studies.
Title: Integrated Assessment of Human Health Risks Associated with Fecally-Contaminated Benthic Algal Mats
Funding Organization: NOAA/CILER University of Michigan
Project Duration: 2007-2009
Description: This research focuses on the monitoring of coastal beaches with algal mats impacting the shores, and how bacterial contamination from fecal sources may influence the health of humans living and engaging in activities at the shoreline and on the water. The fecal bacteria are found in sewage, septic tank effluent and septage, manure and animal waste lagoons, as well as bird and animal droppings. The fecal indicators are used to indicate the potential presence of pathogens that are associated with bacteria occur in high numbers in fecal material. Heavy rainfall can wash the fecal material and associated indicator bacteria into water bodies, influencing the composition of the algal mats. The integrated assessment aims to determine the risk to human health of the exposure to the algal mats contaminated with fecal pollution.