Occurrence of cop-like copper resistance genes among bacteria isolated from a water distribution system

The occurrence of cop-like copper resistance determinants homologous to the cop genes of Pseudomonas syringae among bacteria isolated from a water distribution system experiencing copper corrosion was investigated in this study. It was found that at least 49% of the copper-resistant bacteria and less than 15% of the copper-sensitive isolates possessed a cop homolog. The occurrence of this determinant in the copper-resistant population correlated with the degree of copper tolerance exhibited by the bacteria. The effect of organic substances present in the culture media on the empirical degree of bacterial copper tolerance is also discussed.Key words: copper resistance genes, water distribution system, cop.

[1]  O. Ogunseitan,et al.  Varied resonses in gene expression of culturable heterotrophic bacteria isolated from the environment , 1992, Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology.

[2]  H. Paradies,et al.  Copper deterioration in a water distribution system of a county hospital in Germany caused by microbially induced corrosion – I. Description of the problem , 1992 .

[3]  N. Bird,et al.  A note on the use of metal species in microbiological tests involving growth media. , 1985, The Journal of applied bacteriology.

[4]  Trevors Jt.  Copper resistance in bacteria. , 1987 .

[5]  C. -. Yang,et al.  Role of copper resistance in competitive survival of Pseudomonas fluorescens in soil , 1993, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[6]  T. Tetaz,et al.  Plasmid-controlled resistance to copper in Escherichia coli , 1983, Journal of bacteriology.

[7]  S. Garde,et al.  DNA probes for detection of copper resistance genes in Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria , 1991, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[8]  David J. Schiffrin,et al.  THE EFFECT OF POLLUTANTS AND BACTERIAL MICROFOULING ON THE CORROSION OF COPPER BASE ALLOYS IN SEAWATER , 1985 .

[9]  M. Failla,et al.  Plasmid-encoded copper resistance and precipitation by Mycobacterium scrofulaceum , 1987, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[10]  S. Silver,et al.  Plasmid-determined metal resistance mechanisms: range and overview. , 1992, Plasmid.

[11]  B. Little,et al.  Microbiologically influenced corrosion of metals and alloys , 1991 .

[12]  N. Brown,et al.  Copper resistance determinants in bacteria. , 1992, Plasmid.

[13]  C. Bender,et al.  Indigenous plasmids in Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato: conjugative transfer and role in copper resistance , 1986, Journal of bacteriology.

[14]  C. Lim,et al.  Copper Resistance Gene Homologs in Pathogenic and Saprophytic Bacterial Species from Tomato , 1990, Applied and environmental microbiology.