PCR data and comparative performance of Bacteroidales microbial source tracking genetic markers

Area of Science:

• Environmental microbiology
• Molecular biology
• Water quality assessment

Background:

• Microbial source tracking (MST) is crucial for identifying fecal pollution in water bodies.
• Bacteroidales gene markers offer potential for differentiating human and animal fecal sources.
• Previous studies have explored PCR assays for Bacteroidales, but performance in tropical agricultural watersheds requires further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of modified endpoint PCR assays using universal and host-specific Bacteroidales gene markers.
• To differentiate between human and animal fecal contamination in the Tha Chin and Chao Phraya watersheds.
• To map the annealing locations of PCR primers on 16s rRNA Bacteroidales genes.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of modified endpoint PCR results.
• Utilized universal, human-, swine-, and cattle-specific Bacteroidales gene markers.
• Tested human sewage and fecal samples from various animals (swine, cattle, chicken, goat, sheep, buffalo, duck).

Main Results:

• The study successfully analyzed PCR results using specific Bacteroidales gene markers.
• Primer annealing locations on 16s rRNA Bacteroidales genes were mapped.
• Performance of PCR assays was summarized based on previously published work.

Conclusions:

• Modified PCR assays with Bacteroidales markers show promise for microbial source tracking in tropical watersheds.
• This research contributes to understanding fecal pollution sources in agricultural environments.
• The findings support the use of molecular tools for water quality management and public health protection.