TY - JOUR
T1 - Development of a novel, bioluminescence-based, fungal bioassay for toxicity testing
AU - Weitz, Hedda J.
AU - Campbell, Colin D.
AU - Killham, Ken
PY - 2002/7
Y1 - 2002/7
N2 - Naturally bioluminescent fungi, Armillaria mellea and Mycena citricolor , were used to develop a novel, bioluminescence-based bioassay for toxicity testing. Bioassays were carried out to assess the toxicity of 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), copper and zinc. The results suggested that 60 min was a suitable exposure time for the bioassay. Light reduction was observed in response to 3,5-DCP, PCP and Cu for both A. mellea and M. citricolor , but to Zn only for A. mellea . Armillaria mellea was significantly less sensitive to 3,5-DCP and PCP than M. citricolor. The EC50 values for A. mellea and M. citricolor were similar to EC50 values for 3,5-DCP, PCP and Cu (but not Zn) of bioluminescence-based bacterial biosensors. They were also similar to EC50 values for Cu and Zn of a bioluminescence-based yeast biosensor. The results highlighted the importance of using both prokaryotic and eukaryotic biosensors. The novel bioassay provides a rapid and sensitive method to assess bioavailability of pollutants as well as a method to determine their toxicity to filamentous fungi. It also expands the range of organisms that can be used for bioluminescence-based toxicity testing by complementing existing biosensors.
AB - Naturally bioluminescent fungi, Armillaria mellea and Mycena citricolor , were used to develop a novel, bioluminescence-based bioassay for toxicity testing. Bioassays were carried out to assess the toxicity of 3,5-dichlorophenol (3,5-DCP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), copper and zinc. The results suggested that 60 min was a suitable exposure time for the bioassay. Light reduction was observed in response to 3,5-DCP, PCP and Cu for both A. mellea and M. citricolor , but to Zn only for A. mellea . Armillaria mellea was significantly less sensitive to 3,5-DCP and PCP than M. citricolor. The EC50 values for A. mellea and M. citricolor were similar to EC50 values for 3,5-DCP, PCP and Cu (but not Zn) of bioluminescence-based bacterial biosensors. They were also similar to EC50 values for Cu and Zn of a bioluminescence-based yeast biosensor. The results highlighted the importance of using both prokaryotic and eukaryotic biosensors. The novel bioassay provides a rapid and sensitive method to assess bioavailability of pollutants as well as a method to determine their toxicity to filamentous fungi. It also expands the range of organisms that can be used for bioluminescence-based toxicity testing by complementing existing biosensors.
KW - ectomycorrhizal fungi
KW - biosensors
KW - metals
KW - pentachlorophenol
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035983605&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2002.00315.x
DO - 10.1046/j.1462-2920.2002.00315.x
M3 - Article
SN - 1462-2920
VL - 4
SP - 422
EP - 429
JO - Environmental Microbiology
JF - Environmental Microbiology
IS - 7
ER -