2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is a toxic and recalcitrant pollutant contaminating soils and groundwater. Therefore, characterization of microbial populations of TNT-contaminated soils and isolation of bacteria degrading this pollutant are of primordial importance. Comparison of hybridizations of 16S rRNA derived from uncontaminated and TNT-contaminated soil samples required the development of a functional ANOVA model. Specifically, a statistical tool was necessary to compare dissociation curves obtained from thermal dissociation analysis of RNA hybridizations to DNA microarrays, and to determine if the dissociation curves significantly differed. To test and validate the model, we used dissociation curves from in vitro transcribed 16S rRNA amplified from two environmental samples hybridized to a phylogenetic microarray. Detection and rejection of outlier curves was important for appropriate discrimination between curves. The identification of significantly different curves was more efficient with the model than approaches relying on measurements at a single temperature. This functional ANOVA analysis was used to improve discrimination between hybridizations of two soil microbial communities. Following hybridization of in vitro transcribed 16S rRNA derived from an uncontaminated and a TNT-contaminated soil sample to an oligonucleotide microarray containing group- and species-specific perfect match (PM) probes and mismatch (MM) variants, thermal dissociation was used to analyze the nucleic acid bound to each PM-MM probe set. Functional ANOVA of the dissociation curves generally discriminated PM-MM probe sets when values of Td (temperature at 50% probe-target dissociation) could not. Maximum discrimination for many PM and MM probes often occurred at temperatures greater than Td. Comparison of signal intensities measured prior to dissociation analysis from hybridizations of the two soil samples revealed significant differences in domain-, group-, and species-specific probes. Functional ANOVA showed significantly different dissociation curves for 11 PM probes when hybridizations from the two soil samples were compared, even though initial signal intensities for 3 of the 11 did not vary. These differences in hybridizations between the two soil samples were likely the result from the presence of TNT. The effect of TNT on soil microbial communities was further investigated with additional uncontaminated and TNT-contaminated soil samples using 16S rRNA PCR-DGGE and cultivation-dependent techniques. In all contaminated soil samples, the amount of DNA extracted was lower than in the uncontaminated ones. Analysis of bacterial diversity by DGGE showed a predominance of Pseudomonadaceae and Xanthomonadaceae in the TNT-contaminated soil samples compared to the uncontaminated ones. Caulobacteraceae were also present in several contaminated soil samples. The culturable microflora of these soils was studied by plate counts on agar supplemented with dilute nutrient broth. The number of CFUs was lower in a TNT-contaminated soil inoculum than in an uncontaminated one. In the former, most of the CFUs belonged to Pseudomonadaceae, and to a lesser extent, to Caulobacteraceae. In addition to the above contaminated soil samples, a pristine soil was artificially contaminated with different concentrations of TNT and incubated for 4 months. The amount of DNA extracted decreased in the highly contaminated soil samples (1.4 and 28.5 g TNT/kg soil). After 7 days of incubation of these soil samples, there was a clear shift of their original flora to a population dominated by Pseudomonadaceae, Xanthomonadaceae, Comamonadaceae and Caulobacteraceae. When the TNT concentration was lower (140 mg TNT/kg soil), a moderate shift in the bacterial population was observed. These results indicate that TNT affects soil bacterial diversity and richness by selecting for a narrow range of bacterial species that belong mostly to Pseudomonadaceae and Xanthomonadaceae. TNT-contaminated soil samples probably contained TNT-degrading bacteria. In order to isolate bacteria that can denitrate TNT, enrichment cultures were carried out with TNT as sole nitrogen source and in the absence of oxygen. These cultures were established starting with an uncontaminated or a TNT-contaminated soil inoculum, in the presence or absence of ferrihydrite. A significant release of nitrite was observed in the liquid culture containing TNT, ferrihydrite and inoculum from a TNT-contaminated soil. Under these conditions, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the predominant bacterium in the enrichment, leading to the isolation of P. aeruginosa ESA-5 as a pure strain. The isolate had TNT denitration capabilities as confirmed by nitrite release in oxygen-depleted cultures containing TNT and ferrihydrite. Concomitantly, TNT-reduced compounds were detected as well as unidentified polar metabolites. The concentration of nitrite released from TNT was proportional to the concentration of ferrihydrite in the medium. The release of nitrite was lower when the concentration of initially spiked TNT was reduced by one order of magnitude. Under these conditions, the concentration of nitrite peaked and then its concentration slowly decreased and production of ferrous ions was detected. A decrease of nitrite concentration and production of ferrous ion were observed when TNT was omitted and nitrite and ferrihydrite were provided. These results suggest that nitrite-reducing conditions were initially achieved, followed by iron-reducing conditions. When grown aerobically on a chemically defined medium, P. aeruginosa strain ESA-5 produced a greenish extracellular compound. This product was identified as phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA). When purified PCA was incubated with TNT in the presence of NADH, nitrite was released. The concentration of nitrite released was dependent on the concentration of NADH and PCA. Denitration also occurred with two TNT-related molecules, 2,4,6-trinitrobenzaldehyde and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzyl alcohol. The release of nitrite was coupled with the formation of two polar metabolites and mass spectrometry analyses indicated that each of these compounds had lost two nitro groups from the trinitroaromatic parent molecule. The results obtained with the PCA mediated denitration of TNT in the presence of inhibitors of oxygen reactive species suggested the involvement of superoxide (O2.-). When exogenous PCA was added to a P. aeruginosa ESA-5 liquid culture containing TNT as sole nitrogen source, bacterial growth was significantly enhanced compared to cultures containing TNT without PCA.

No description available.

Current models for predicting the environmental fate of munitions constituents (MC) in soils are based mostly on chemical distribution parameters and neglect the larger considerations of other soil parameters. We are working towards a new approach based on the whole soil activity for predicting the long-term residence time and fate of MC in soils with connection to agronomic soil fertility concepts. These relationships are demonstrated by correlating experiments involving full physical and chemical characterization of eight taxonomically distinct soils, with batch reactor studies determining MC degradation potential. Soils were incubated in a slurry for 10 days in a closed reactor system with temperature, pH, and Eh readings recorded every 24 h. Air and slurry samples were taken eight times within the 168 h incubation period. Carbon dioxide, TNT, and nutrient solution concentrations were assessed to obtain a full picture of soil chemistry changes associated with microbial activity in response to additions of TNT. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the main factors impacting degradation rate. Principle Components Analysis (PCA) statistically classified the soils based on the variance of their soil property data. Partial Least Squares Analysis (PLS) showed that TNT degradation was possibly correlated with soil fertility characteristics. Although this is an exploratory study, results show promise in moving towards a more effective way of predicting TNT environmental fate in soils.

Methods for rapid, safe and effective detection of unmapped buried ordnance are vital to the protection of humans and environmental quality throughout the world. This study aimed to investigate the use of phytosensing and to understand the physiological response of woody plants to 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) contamination. Baccharis halimifolia were potted in soils containing various concentrations of TNT and physiological responses were observed over a 9-week experimental period. Measurements included the collection of remotely sensed data, such as hyperspectral reflectance and chlorophyll fluorescence, and traditional plant-level physiological data. In accordance with the hypothesis, low levels of TNT improved physiological response in plants due to the slight increase in nitrogen, while high levels of TNT induced stress. Key markers in stress responses were identified, specifically with reflectance indices and derivatives, which may separate TNT-contaminated plants from naturally stressed plants and would allow for accurate detection of buried ordnance at the landscape level.

No description available.