CICEET Progress Report for the period 3/01/09 Through 8/31/09

Project Title: High-throughput Quantitative Detection of Microbial Contaminants
Principal Investigator(s): Mara R. Diaz
Additional Investigator(s): Kelly Goodwin and Jack W. Fell
Project Start Date: September 1, 2006

A. Immediate Project Objectives for This Reporting Period Included
i) Develop ITS probes for the detection of K. brevis and K. mikimotoi.

The probes were designed and developed but further testing is required.

ii) Further evaluation of the probes i.e. Pk658lna, Pkmikilna2, Pkb2, Pkb2lna, Pkb658 and Pkb with another subset of characterized environmental samples.

As previously reported, we were expecting to collaborate on a multidisciplinary project with FFWCC and FWRI for the detection of K. brevis blooms. The project had a slow start and therefore testing of the new subset of characterized environmental samples (molecular, optical and hybrid technologies) has not being accomplished. In the event these samples arrive prior to the submission of the final report, the data will be incorporated.

iii) Summarize data for manuscript and report writing

The manuscript preparation is on the final stages and will be submitted in the near future.

B. Knowledge dissemination activities during this reporting period.
The results were presented in Planet xMAP Symposium 2009 in Austin, Texas on May 4-6.

C. Have the results/data gathered during this reporting period indicated that a change to your original approach is necessary? If so, who was involved in the decision-making process? Please explain.
No.

D. Please describe collaboration activities with target stakeholders during this period. Has interaction with stakeholders during this period brought about any changes to the project? Have the stakeholders confirmed the relevance of the technology or approach you are working on?
As previously mentioned, our laboratory is participating on a multidisciplinary project that involves several government agencies, academia and a private institute. The grant, which has a multidisciplinary approach, seeks to evaluate several technologies for the detection of K. brevis. The goal is to develop recommendations for the management application of each technique and their potential to be adopted as a monitoring tool. The program however is at early stages. Thus, environmental samples wonít be available until October.

E. Please describe technical and non-technical objectives for the next reporting period and outline your work plan to meet identified objectives.
Manuscript preparation follow up and final report writing.

F. Please describe any activities, accomplishments, or obstacles not addressed in other sections of this report that you feel are important for CICEET to know about.
None.