A two-stage minibioreactor system for continuous toxicity monitoring

A two-stage minibioreactor system was successfully developed for continuous toxicity monitoring. This system consists of two minibioreactors in series . Recombinant Escherichia coli DPD2794 containing a RecA::luxCDABE fusion a s a model strain was utilized to monitor environmental insults to DNA, with mitomycin C as a model toxicant. Pulse type exposures were used to evaluat e the system's reproducibility and reliability. Step inputs of mitomycin C have been adopted to show the system's stability. The system's ability to m onitor the possible upsets or accidental discharges of toxic chemicals was also evaluated with these step insults. All the data demonstrated that this two-stage minibioreactor system using recombinant bacteria containing stre ss promoters fused with lux genes is quite appropriate for continuous toxic ity monitoring. Long-term operation and minimized media-usage have been inv estigated. Thus application to many different areas, including an early war ning system of wastewater biotreatment plant upsets and the monitoring and tracking of accidental spills, discharges or failures in plant operation ar e plausible. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.