Bacterial bioluminescence in marine pollution assessment

Abstract

Warm water marine luminous bacterial species, particularly Vibrio harveyi, V. fischeri and Photobacterium leiognathi, are easy to isolate, maintain and handle in the laboratories without strict temperature requirements, which is an important advantage in the tropics. With evaluation of their response to texicants as the main objective, detailed studies on their physiology and optimisation of culture conditions were carried out. Quantitative output of luminescence from many strains of these species was monitored upon additions of micro and nanomolar concentrations of numerous toxic (heavy metals, pesticides, phenolic compounds, amines, aldehydes, organic solvents, commercial detergents, crude petroleum extracts) and nontoxic (essential salts, sugars, amino acids) substances. A very short time (300 sec) bioassay method was devised and on the basis of these and a few other studies, it was discernible that live cells of these luminous prokaryotes are helpful in reliable detection of even the picomolar concentrations of toxic materials. Results of this study highlight the possibility of employing these bacteria in a quick prescreening of the marine environment in the pollution monitoring programmes and other advantages with them