Studying complex microbial communities in their real settings can provide unique information that cannot be gathered from conducting experiments with single cultures in idealized laboratory settings. Here, a model colon simulating the lower human intestine with a microbial community developed from a human donor is used to study the effects of numerous contaminants that may be ingested by a human.  Specifically, a model human bacteria pathogen, Escherichia coli O157:H7 and three common used metal oxide nanoparticles have been tested with the colon microbial community to determine changes in the community's phenotype and genotype, and how these changes may potential human health impacts. The waste from the colon is then the contributor of the microbial community that enters a model septic system.  Because 20% of the American population uses a septic system to treat household waste, and due to an estimated 40% of these systems not functioning properly, studying how contaminants, such as nanoparticles and E. coli O157:H7, influence the treatment of waste by the microbial community will give important information on how to better manage septic systems and wastewater treatment in general. Results to date indicate that the three metal oxide nanoparticles caused significant phenotypic changes to the microbial community inside of the model colon. The phenotype and genotype of the microbial community with E. coli O157:H7 were found to be significantly different from the cell properties of E. coli O157:H7 when studied as a single isolate, which suggests that the behavior of the organism in the environment is different from that previously conceived when studied in the lab under ideal situations. These engineered systems can provide further insight into the sensitivity of critical microbial populations involved in maintaining and protecting human and environmental health.

From ideal to real: Utilizing a model colon and septic system to elucidate the impacts of bacterial and nanoparticle contamination

248th National Meeting (2014)

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