Center for Biofilm Engineering

News Update: 

October, 2005

Volume 8, Issue 10

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Research Highlights

Paper Spotlight

by Jeanne Olsen

Biofilms and biofouling in the oil industry

The chapter ‘Biofouling in the Oil Industry’ from Petroleum Microbiology provides an excellent introduction to biofilms including the formation, maturation, and interactions within the biofilm itself and presents an overview of the complexity of biofilms associated with the oil industry. The oil industry relies on biofilms for several important processes including microbially enhanced oil recovery (MEOR), oil spill degradation, bioremediation, and bacterial production of chemicals such as xanthan gums, biosurfactants, and enzymes. However, biofilms can also be detrimental to the oil industry causing corroded pipelines, reservoir souring and plugging, as well as produced-water-injection-well plugging. Problems also exist with current methods of biofilm control resulting from inappropriate antimicrobial dosing protocols, development of antimicrobial tolerance and resistance, and inadequate testing and monitoring. The oil industry poses several research challenges including applying laboratory studies to field situations. Developing laboratory reactors that accurately represent field conditions is challenging, as each industrial site has unique configurations. However, research has been providing new solutions such as biochemical pathway inhibition, inorganic compound inhibition, interspecies resource competition, and improved dispersant technologies to minimize the impact of biofilms in the oil industry.

“Biofouling in the Oil Industry”, Sanders, Peter F. and Paul J. Sturman
In: Petroleum Microbiology, Bernard Ollivier and Michel Magot (eds), Washington D.C., ASM Press, 2005. 171-198
 

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New Grant Awards

Thermal Biology Institute

Brent Peyton and Robin Gerlach have been awarded a grant through the Thermal Biology Institute at Montana State University. The proposal “Thermoalkaline Hydrolysis: Biotransformation of Organic Compounds at High Temperature and pH,” was awarded $68,000/1yr, September 2005 − 2006. The practical application of this work will address the many compounds of military, national security, agricultural, and environmental significance that are more reactive at high temperature and may be biodegradable under thermophilic conditions. The overall goal of the project will be to look at both the fundamental and applied aspects of organic biotransformation in geothermal systems.

AwwaRF and NSF

Anne Camper and her research team have been awarded three grants from the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF), and a fourth grant was awarded from NSF.

Synthesis Document on the State of Science of Molecular Techniques for Application to the Drinking Water Industry. AwwaRF. $98,000/18 months Anne Camper, PI, with Mark Burr and Andreas Nocker.

Microbiological Degradation of Haloacetic Acids (HAAs) in Distribution Systems. Ray Hozalski, PI, University of Minnesota and Anne Camper, co-PI, Montana State University. AwwaRF. $400,000/3 yrs.

Investigation of the Mode of Action of Stannous Chloride as an Inhibitor of Lead Corrosion. Ray Hozalski, PI, University of Minnesota and Anne Camper, co-PI, Montana State University. AwwaRF. $192,351/3 yrs.

Investing in People: Valuing a More Diverse Engineering Workforce. Susan Capalbo, PI, and Anne Camper, Co-PI, Montana State University. NSF/Gender in Science and Engineering (GSE)/ Small Grants for Exploratory Research (SGER). $191,422/1 yr.
 

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New Industrial Associate Member

We are pleased to announce that NovaCal Pharmceuticals has joined the Center’s Industrial Associate program. The designated representative is Ron Najafi, Chairman and Executive Officer. Based in Emeryville, CA, NovaCal Pharmaceuticals develops topical anti-infective products that are safe for use when no other anti-infective products should be used, such as for people with diabetes and other disorders. Learn more about NovaCal Pharmceuticals at their website: http://www.novacal.com/index.html

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Recent CBE Publications

“Prevention of Staphylococcal Biofilm-Associated Infections by the Quorum Sensing Inhibitor RIP”
Balaban, N., P. Stoodley, C.A. Fux, S. Wilson, J.W. Costerton, and G. Dell'acqua
Clin Orthop Relat Res., (437):48-54 (2005)

“Impact of Ferrihydrite and Anthraquinone-2,6-Disulfonate on the Reductive Transformation of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by a Gram-Positive Fermenting Bacterium”
Borch, T., W.P. Inskeep, J.A. Harwood, and R. Gerlach
Environmental Science & Technology 39(18):7126-7133 (2005) http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es0504441

“Ultrasonically Controlled Release of Ciprofloxacin from Self-Assembled Coatings on Poly(2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate) Hydrogels for Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm Prevention”
Norris, P., M. Noble, I. Francolini, A. M. Vinogradov, P. S. Stewart, B. D. Ratner, J. W. Costerton, and P. Stoodley
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 49(10):4272–4279 (2005)


To read paper abstracts or to order paper copies see:
http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/pubs/Database/PD_DisplayScript.asp

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Education

Student Awards

Abbie Richards, a PhD candidate in Chemical and Biological Engineering, received 3rd place and $250 at the INRA Subsurface Science Symposium student poster competition. There were 34 posters and 6 finalists. Erin Field, a PhD candidate in Microbiology was also a finalist. Congratulations!

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CBE People in Action

Darla Goeres presented "Anti-bacterial Efficacy Against Surface Bacteria Depends on the Method Used to Establish Bacteria on the Surface" and Marty Hamilton presented "Surrogate Spore Study: Statistical Results" to the Antimicrobials Division (AD), US-EPA, in Arlington, VA, September 14, 2005. Darla and Marty met with AD science teams and with the AD contract officer to discuss progress, planning, and reporting for CBE projects funded by the AD, US-EPA.

Marty Hamilton also presented "Surrogate Spore Study: Statistical Results" to the EPA Office of Pesticide Programs Microbiology Lab, in Ft. Meade, MD, September 15, 2005, at a joint meeting of EPA scientists and their collaborators from the US Army's Edgewood Chemical Biological Center where the surrogate spore laboratory experiments were conducted.

Phil Stewart as an invited speaker presented "Controlling Microbial Biofilms," in the Seminar Series at Center for Genomic Sciences, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, September 19, 2005.

Robin Gerlach presented “Bacterial Transport and Biofilm Formation in Porous Media,” Platform Presentation, INRA Environmental and Subsurface Science Symposium, Big Sky, MT, September 19-21, 2005. Co-authors: J.P. Gage, M. Adgie, J.D. Seymour, S.L. Codd, R.S. Sharp, A.B. Cunningham.

Erin Field presented a poster, “Influence of Carbon Source, Iron Minerals, and Electron Shuttling Compounds on the Bacterial Reduction of Chromate,” INRA Environmental and Subsurface Science Symposium, Big Sky, MT, September 19-21, 2005. Co-authors: L.K. Jennings, A.B. Cunningham, B.M. Peyton, R. Gerlach and W.A. Apel.

Abbie Richards presented a poster, “Characterization of a Siderophore Produced by the Halo – Alkaliphile Halomonas campisalis,” INRA Environmental and Subsurface Science Symposium, Big Sky, MT, September 19-21, 2005. Co-authors: B.M. Peyton (MSU), W.A. Apel (INL), A.K. Camper (MSU) and J.N. Petersen (WSU).

Brent Peyton presented “Multiple Mechanisms of Uranium Immobilization by Cellulomonas,” INRA Environmental and Subsurface Science Symposium, Big Sky, MT, September 19-21, 2005. Co-authors: V. Sivaswamy, S. Viamajala, R. Gerlach, W. Apel, R. Sani, and A. Dohnalkova.
 

Phil Stewart as an invited speaker presented "Diffusion, Dormancy, and Detachment in Biofilms," to DuPont in Wilmington, DE, September 27, 2005.

Paul Sturman presented “In Vitro Reactor Systems for the Validation of Anti-Biofilm Claims in Medical Devices," to the FDA, Washington, DC, September 29, 2005.

 
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Biofilm Education Resources

Upcoming CBE Workshops

“Biofilm Methods Workshop,” organized by the CBE
Montana State University, February 1, 2006. See the sample 2005 agenda at: http://www.erc.montana.edu/CBEssentials-SW/whats_new/sTAC05_Wrkshp.pdf

For more information about the Biofilm Methods Workshops, go to: http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/Workshops/
 

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Web Watch

BiofilmsOnline.com

See the BiofilmsOnline.com October issue at http://www.BiofilmsOnline.com.

Subscribe to the bi-weekly newsletter by registering at: http://www.biofilmsonline.com/cgi-bin/biofilmsonline/newsletter_signup.html

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Newsletter Listserve

The CBE News Update is a listserve newsletter. If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe from the listserve, follow the directions at the following CBE website.

http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/subscribe.htm

An alternative to subscribing to the listserve is to view the CBE News Update on our web page at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Ind-Col99-SW/Current_Newsletter/default.htm. Newsletter archives can be found at http://www.erc.montana.edu/Res-Lib99-SW/newsarchives/index.htm.

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