Microcosm Assessment of a DNA Probe Applied to Aerobic Degradation of cis-1,2-Dichloroethene by Polaromonas sp. Strain JS666

A molecular biological tool based on an organism-specific DNA sequence does not necessarily indicate in situ activity but serves important functions of evaluating the potential for biodegradation and mapping the distribution of an organism. Currently, DNA-based probes are accepted as evaluative tools for site assessment. However, these techniques are far from standardized, and information on precision is usually lacking. Here, we present the development and evaluation of a DNA probe for Polaromonas sp. strain JS666, a bacterium that couples growth to aerobic oxidation of cis-1,2-dichloroethene (cDCE), and is therefore a promising candidate for bioaugmentation at sites where cDCE has accumulated in aerobic zones. The DNA probe was used in conjunction with quantitative polymerase chain reaction to track the abundance of JS666 in microcosms. This series of studies has allowed explicit resolution of the accuracy and precision of the probe and its correlation with variations in microcosm performance. We determined that the method is sufficient to monitor distribution of JS666 at bioaugmented sites. We found within environmental, mixed cultures, that the DNA target does not persist long after cell death, demonstrating that positive result from the probe is a strong indicator that degradation can occur in suitable environmental conditions. Finally, in the absence of suspected predation, the probe accurately and precisely tracks growth. Collectively, the studies appear to validate the utility of the molecular probe for site assessment in a bioaugmentation context.