Genetically modified Vibrio harveyi strains as potential bioindicators of mutagenic pollution of marine environments

For biodetection of mutagenic pollution of marine environments, an organism naturally occurring in these habitats should be used. We found that marine bacterium Vibrio harveyi may be an appropriate bioindicator of mutagenic p ollution. For positive selection of mutants, we developed a simple method f or isolation of V. harveyi mutants resistant to neomycin. We constructed ge netically modified V. harveyi strains that produce significantly more neomy cin-resistant mutants upon treatment with low concentrations of mutagens th an the wild-type counterpart. The sensitivity of the mutagenicity test with the V. harveyi strains is at least comparable to (if not higher than) that of the commonly used Ames test, which uses Salmonella enterica serovar Typ himurium strains. Therefore, we consider that the V. harveyi strains descri bed in this report could be used as potential bioindicators of mutagenic po llution of marine environments.