Monitoring and classification of toxicity using recombinant bioluminescentbacteria

Recombinant bioluminescent biosensing cells were used to detect and classif y toxicity caused by various chemicals in water environments. Classificatio n of the toxicity was realized based upon the chemicals' actions of toxicit y by using DNA-, oxidative- and membrane-damage sensitive strains. Tested s amples contained a single chemical or mixture of chemicals in media, wastew ater, or river water. Finally, it is suggested that this method for classif ication of toxic chemicals in wastewater or other aqueous systems may be ad opted for primary screening steps of the samples and can give useful inform ation about the samples' characteristics.