4th Annual WML Academic Symposium

In bioremediation, surfactants are used to emulsify hydrocarbon pollutants in water to make the hydrocarbons more accessible for breakdown by bacteria. Identification of bacterial species that have surfactant resistance is essential for the advancement of bioremediation techniques. One bacterial species, BGP-2 was isolated from Nereis succinea with the intention of being utilized for bioremediation due to its high surfactant resistance. Prior characterization of BGP-2 has shown that BGP-2 is a new species. To complete the classification of BGP-2, its GC content must be determined. Common methods for analyzing GC content include mass spectrometry and HPLC; both of which require training and access to equipment that are not readily present in biological laboratories. With increasing access to quantitative real time PCR thermocyclers, applications such as determining GC content have been devised. To assist in the classification of BGP-2, a standard curve of bacteria with well-known GC contents was generated using a Step One real time PCR thermocycler. We expect that experimental data from BGP-2 can be applied to the standard curve in order to determine its GC content. With knowledge of BGP-2's GC content, it will be possible to place BGP-2 into a taxonomic rank.