Detection of human commensals in the area around an Antarctic research station

Upton, M.; Pennington, T.H.; Haston, W.; Forbes, K.J.. 1997 Detection of human commensals in the area around an Antarctic research station. Antarctic Science, 9 (2). 156-161. 10.1017/S0954102097000205

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Abstract/Summary

Human contamination of Antarctic environments is a sensitive issue and has been the focus of many research articles over the past 35 years. The majority of these studies have targeted waste materials and various hydrocarbons, with assessment of microbial contaminants being largely restricted to sewage outfalls. The present study aimed to detect bacteria of human origin in the area surrounding Halley research station. It was apparent from both molecular and culture methods that bacteria of human origin are extremely difficult to detect outside the immediate surrounding of the buildings, though recommendations are made for increasing the probability of determining the presence of organisms in the environment. The results also indicate that molecular methods are more sensitive than cultural techniques, in that the only evidence for organisms in the environment surrounding the buildings came from positive PCR reactions. PCR would appear to be a useful method for studying the microbial ecology of Antarctic environments.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	10.1017/S0954102097000205
Programmes:	BAS Programmes > Pre 2000 programme
ISSN:	0954-1020
Additional Keywords:	Antarctic microbiology, human commensals, polymerase chain reaction
Date made live:	05 Oct 2016 09:45 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514747

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