This award will support Professor Dennis D. Focht of the University of California in collaboration with Dr. Blanca Hernandez of the University of Panama, for the purpose of isolating bacteria that metabolize biphenyl compounds. Bacteria will be isolated from the untreated industrial and domestic waste canals of Panama City, Panama, where a great diversity of such organisms has been found. Isolation of a wide variety of biphenyl-metabolizing bacteria may lead to efficient combinations capable of degrading even polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the environment. Polychlorinated biphenyls are widespread contaminants in the global ecosystem and represent a potential hazard in dump sites in industrialized countries. Biodegradation represents an alternative strategy to incineration of PCB-contaminated soils. To date, bacteria using PCBs as growth substrates have not been isolated and probably do not exist in nature. Nevertheless, considerable progress has been made in selectively isolating bacteria that use biphenyl as a growth substrate. These bacteria partially metabolize PCBs by isolating part of the enzyme system while growing on biphenyl, the non-chlorinated analog. By combining Professor Focht's expertise with biodegradation, with access to a rich and varied sample of microorganisms, this project enhances the capability of research scientists in a developing country and is of mutual benefit, thus fulfilling an important criterion of the Science in Developing Countries Program.
