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Title: DNA Persistence in a Sink Drain Environment

Abstract

Biofilms are organized structures composed mainly of cells and extracellular polymeric substances produced by the constituent microorganisms. Ubiquitous in nature, biofilms have an innate ability to capture and retain passing material and may therefore act as natural collectors of contaminants or signatures of upstream activities. To determine the persistence and detectability of DNA passing through a sink drain environment, Bacillus anthracis strain Ames35 was cultured (6.35 x 107 CFU/mL), sterilized, and disposed of by addition to a sink drain apparatus with an established biofilm. The sink drain apparatus was sampled before and for several days after the addition of the sterilized B. anthracis culture to detect the presence of B. anthracis DNA. Multiple PCR primer pairs were used to screen for chromosomal and plasmid DNA with primers targeting shorter sequences showing greater amplification efficiency and success. PCR amplification and detection of target sequences indicate persistence of chromosomal DNA and plasmid DNA in the biofilm for 5 or more and 14 or more days, respectively.

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
  2. Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Sequim, WA (United States)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE; Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program
OSTI Identifier:
1209864
Report Number(s):
PNNL-SA-101318
Journal ID: ISSN 1932-6203; 400470000
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC05-76RL01830
Resource Type:
Journal Article: Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
PLoS ONE
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 7; Journal ID: ISSN 1932-6203
Publisher:
Public Library of Science
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

Citation Formats

Winder, Eric M., and Bonheyo, George T. DNA Persistence in a Sink Drain Environment. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0134798.
Winder, Eric M., & Bonheyo, George T. DNA Persistence in a Sink Drain Environment. United States. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134798
Winder, Eric M., and Bonheyo, George T. 2015. "DNA Persistence in a Sink Drain Environment". United States. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0134798. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1209864.
@article{osti_1209864,
title = {DNA Persistence in a Sink Drain Environment},
author = {Winder, Eric M. and Bonheyo, George T.},
abstractNote = {Biofilms are organized structures composed mainly of cells and extracellular polymeric substances produced by the constituent microorganisms. Ubiquitous in nature, biofilms have an innate ability to capture and retain passing material and may therefore act as natural collectors of contaminants or signatures of upstream activities. To determine the persistence and detectability of DNA passing through a sink drain environment, Bacillus anthracis strain Ames35 was cultured (6.35 x 107 CFU/mL), sterilized, and disposed of by addition to a sink drain apparatus with an established biofilm. The sink drain apparatus was sampled before and for several days after the addition of the sterilized B. anthracis culture to detect the presence of B. anthracis DNA. Multiple PCR primer pairs were used to screen for chromosomal and plasmid DNA with primers targeting shorter sequences showing greater amplification efficiency and success. PCR amplification and detection of target sequences indicate persistence of chromosomal DNA and plasmid DNA in the biofilm for 5 or more and 14 or more days, respectively.},
doi = {10.1371/journal.pone.0134798},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1209864}, journal = {PLoS ONE},
issn = {1932-6203},
number = 7,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2015},
month = {Fri Jul 31 00:00:00 EDT 2015}
}

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Free Publicly Available Full Text
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Cited by: 2 works
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Works referenced in this record:

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Works referencing / citing this record:

Sink-Related Outbreaks and Mitigation Strategies in Healthcare Facilities
journal, August 2018