The Nüsslein Group
Microbial Ecology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
My research involves studying bioremediation of perchlorate and the role of nitrate in perchlorate reduction. Perchlorate contaminated sites occur in over 34 states across the United States. Perchlorate is highly stable in water and current removal includes the costly transfer onto activated carbon. Bioremediation of perchlorate using perchlorate reducing bacteria (PRB’s) is both an efficient and cost effective means of perchlorate removal.
My research focus involves the role of nitrate in perchlorate bioremediation. Nitrate is a common co-contaminant of perchlorate contaminated sites, and its presence seems to selectively inhibit perchlorate degradation. A new way of autotrophic perchlorate removal is using elemental sulfur as the electron donor. I am studying the competitive role of nitrate in perchlorate reduction by setting up a bioreactor column containing sulfur pellets and perchlorate contaminated water. Feeding nitrate and perchlorate into the medium at alternating patterns we can determine the onset and rates of nitrate and perchlorate reduction, in parallel with sulfate production. Community analysis along the reactor length will be corroborated with phylogenic analysis of the two functional genes for perchlorate reduction (pcrA gene, unique to PRB‘s) as well as the cld gene (present in PRB’s), and the nirk gene (unique to nitrate reducing bacteria).
2009 Bachelors of Science in Microbiology from University of MA Amherst, Minor Degree in Biology
Currently Graduate - University of MA Amherst Microbiology
In preparation: “Bioremediation of Perchlorate by a Bacterial Community alternating between Denitrifying and Nitrifying Conditions”.
Nazita Gamini, Teresa Conneely, Klaus Nüsslein. “Environmental Contamination by Perchlorate” HHMI Undergraduate research Conference 2008.
Nazita Gamini, Teresa Conneely, Annalisa Onnis-Hayden, April Gu, Klaus Nüsslein, “Bioremediation of Perchlorate by a Denitrification/Nitrification Bacterial Community”. Massachusetts Undergraduate Research Conference 2009.
Nazita Gamini, Teresa Conneely, Annalisa Onnis-Hayden, April Gu, Klaus Nüsslein, “Bioremediation of Perchlorate by a Denitrification/Nitrification Bacterial Community”. HHMI Undergraduate Conference, University of Massachusetts, 2009.
Nazita Gamini, Teresa Conneely, Annalisa Onnis-Hayden, April Gu, Klaus Nüsslein, “Bioremediation of Perchlorate by a Denitrification/Nitrification Bacterial Community”. Massachusetts Water Research Center Conference 2009.
