Pollution Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Pollution, including details on effects of air pollution, respiratory illness, industry.

Novel detection of Escherichia coli beta-D: -glucuronidase activity using a microbially-modified glassy carbon electrode and its potential for faecal pollution monitoring.

Togo CA, Wutor VC, Limson JL, Pletschke BI

Departments of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Biotechnology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa, B.Pletschke@ru.ac.za.

The electrochemical detection of Escherichia coli beta-D: -glucuronidase activity as a means of monitoring water pollution by faecal material was investigated using separate Moraxella- and Pseudomonas putida-modified glassy carbon electrodes. The former was more sensitive and selective. The Moraxella-modified biosensor was 100 times more rapid and sensitive than the spectrophotometric detection of beta-D: -glucuronidase activity. The experimental limit of detection of the biosensor was two c.f.u. per 100 ml polluted water sample within 20 min. The biosensor gave a linear response to commercial beta-D: -glucuronidase concentration between 0.2 ng and 2 mug ml(-1). The biosensor detected activity of beta-D: -glucuronidase from viable but non-culturable (VBNC) cells and can therefore serve as a presence or absence device for rapid water quality monitoring.

Published 7 March 2007 in Biotechnol Lett, 29(4): 531-7.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Pollution Research Today. All Rights Reserved.