9361116 Koh Microorganisms are primarily responsible for the degradation of toxic chemicals that enter the environment. Successful isolation and exploitation of these microbes for bioremediation requires identifying the physico-chemical conditions under which detoxification activity is maximized. This work proposes to develop an analytical diffusion gradient chamber that mimics the diffusive processes that prevail in the microbial world. This system can be used to separate, enrich for, and isolate detoxifying microorganisms, as well as study the behavior of , and detoxification processes mediated by, these organisms. The proposed system will consist of a gradient chamber for culturing microorganisms in multiple, continuous diffusion gradients of small soluble molecules. In addition there will be an effluent chamber for consolidating effluent flow from the system, an environmental control unit of maintaining constant temperature, and an imaging unit to monitor and quantify microbial growth and movement. These components will be developed by Koh Development, Inc. The system will be tested and evaluated by Koh Development with help from researchers at Michigan State University (MSU). The scientists at MSU will also use the system to evaluate the chemotactic response of an individual bacterial species to multiple chemical cues. In addition, gradients of salt and toluene will be used to evaluate the response of a natural community from a soil site contaminated with oil brine. Mathematical models will also be developed that aid in optimizing the performance of the system.
