Bacteria are currently being evaluated as agents of bioremediation in improving the environment. If bacteria bearing genes which can detoxify toxic elements in the environment can survive in contaminated environments, these human hazardous elements can be eliminated efficiently and economically. There is considerable concern, however, about the fate of organisms used for the purpose. This project focuses on identifying genes and their products which are linked to the survival and persistence of microbial organisms. The model is soil pseudomonades in a soil environment, since pseudomonades are currently being considered for release in to the environment and because genetics and genetic techniques are not well established and feasible in this organism. The work aims to identify important traits which can be manipulated (increased, decreased or inactivated) so as to control bacterial survival. Besides the practical applications of this work, the knowledge of those traits needed for bacterial survival and persistence will be of tremendous insight to bacterial ecologic systems elsewhere.
