2021 EXPO Poster Vargas (Biology, Honors)
Emerging contaminants are chemicals that are not commonly monitored or regulated in the environment. The existence of these contaminants in marine ecosystems is prevalent, and their effects and fate in the environment are unknown. Previous studies demonstrated that certain strains of the bioluminescent, Gram-negative marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri can serve as a biosensor of emergent contaminants. We propose to develop a biosensor utilizing V. fischeri in Ulvan aerogels to detect emerging contaminants in marine aquatic systems. To determine the viability of this biosensor, we quantified V. fischeri ability to colonize and survive in Ulvan aerogels. Preliminary results suggest that V. fischeri is able to colonize and survive for at least 24 hours in the aerogel in the absence of nutrients. These results provide evidence of the viability of V. fischeri and Ulvan aerogels for the development of emergent contaminant biosensors.
Presentation (Zoom 10:30 - 11:30, Breakout #8)
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