Applications of the polymerase chain reaction in environmental microbiology.

T h e application of the polymerase chain reaction ~l-s~ (PCR) to explore various areas of envi ronmenta l microbiology has the potential to solve m a n y difficult and unanswered questions about microbial activities in the env i ronment at the physiological and molecular levels. This review describes the use of PCR for the detection of specific microbes in envi ronmenta l samples and discusses how PCR may be used to answer future questions in molecular microbial ecology. The first two sections of the review will discuss preparation of nucleic acids from env i ronmenta l microorganisms and PCR methodology specific to envi ronmental microbiolog)'. Subsequent sections present informat ion on applying these methods to env i ronmenta l problems such as: detection of genetically engineered microbes, detection of indigenous microorganisms in the env i ronment and indicator microorganisms in water, detection of waterborne microbial pathogens and viable but nonculturable microorganisms, and envi ronmenta l moni tor ing with mul t iplex PCR.