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Applications of a Serratia marcescens bacteriophage as a new microbial tracer of aqueous environments
Author(s) -
Drury D.F.,
Wheeler D.C.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of applied bacteriology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 0021-8847
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.1982.tb04668.x
Subject(s) - serratia marcescens , tracer , bacillus subtilis , bacteriophage , sewage , aqueous solution , effluent , spore , microbiology and biotechnology , environmental science , chemistry , environmental engineering , biology , bacteria , escherichia coli , physics , organic chemistry , nuclear physics , gene , biochemistry , genetics
A bacteriophage of Serratia marcescens was evaluated as a tracer in three appropriate aqueous environments and compared with an accepted tracer in two cases. The phage compared favourably with lithium chloride in demonstrating flow characteristics and retention times of various stages in the sewage treatment process. The phage exhibited virtually identical distribution in a marine harbour to spores of Bacillus subtilis var. niger (‘ B. globigii ’) 36–48 h after their addition to a sewage works' final effluent which entered an adjacent bay. Transit times of river water were accurately measured between two points under various flow conditions.