A compelling collaboration between a University of Southern Mississippi (USM) graduate and a former professor aims to revolutionize contamination research along the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Dr. Maitreyee Mukherjee, an assistant professor of biology at West Texas A & M and former faculty member at USM, recently co-authored a groundbreaking research paper published in the esteemed journal Water. Together with her former students, USM alumna Robyn Cuthbert, Kristi Gay, Emma Aitken, and Katonia McKinney, the study reveals alarming levels of microbial fecal contamination and concerning antibiotic resistance within the bacteria found in the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
The motivation behind the research stemmed from Dr. Mukherjee’s recognition of the need for research opportunities for her students along the Gulf Coast. The project aimed to investigate the range of contamination in ten different beach sites spanning from Bay Saint Louis to Biloxi.
“We planned this research considering the high number of beachgoers who swim, boat, and fish in these waters,” explained Dr. Mukherjee, an expert in environmental microbiology and water quality.
The project primarily focused on analyzing the levels of microbial pathogenic contamination and antimicrobial resistance/multidrug resistance patterns within bacteria present in the MS Gulf Coast.
Mukherjee emphasized the significance of the study, stating, “People should be paying attention to this study because our data reveals high levels of microbial contamination within these sites.”
Cuthbert, one of the leading student researchers and a former USM biology undergraduate, highlighted their extensive involvement in the study, from its commencement in 2020 to its completion in 2023. As a student assistant under Dr. Mukherjee, Cuthbert was invited to participate in this research.
The research process involved monthly visits to the ten selected beach sites, where student researchers collected water samples early in the day. After gathering the samples, they returned to the lab to analyze the contamination levels. The students followed standard EPA methods for measuring microbial contamination in recreational waters. Additionally, they examined the levels of antimicrobial resistance and multidrug-resistant ‘superbugs’ present in the water.
Cuthbert expressed her fascination with focusing on bacterial contamination along the Mississippi Gulf Coast, given the daily presence of beachgoers. She added, “There’s still much research to be done, and we have future directions we want to pursue, such as studying the sources of the contaminants found in these waters.”
Identifying the sources of these contaminants poses a challenge, according to Dr. Jennifer Walker, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and Associate Professor in the USM School of Coastal Resilience. While pollution often has identifiable sources, pinpointing the origins of these specific contaminants is not always feasible.
“Many of these bacteria come from natural runoff,” explained Dr. Walker. “It’s challenging to capture and purify all the runoff water.”
With her expertise in microbial source tracking (MST), Dr. Mukherjee aims to address these questions by identifying the sources of the contaminants and determining whether they are human or animal-related.
Dr. Mukherjee emphasized that the study extends beyond environmental data, stating, “This study also reveals the presence of drug-resistant bacteria in the water, which can potentially lead to severe infections in individuals.”
More information: Maitreyee Mukherjee et al, Revealing an Abundance of Microbial Fecal Contamination and Multidrug Resistant Bacteria in the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Water (2023). DOI: 10.3390/w15132339
Citation: New research examines contamination in Gulf Coast waters (2023, July 20) retrieved 20 July 2023 from https://phys.org/news/2023-07-contamination-gulf-coast.html
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Shambhu Kumar is a science communicator, making complex scientific topics accessible to all. His articles explore breakthroughs in various scientific disciplines, from space exploration to cutting-edge research.
