Methylobacterium spp.: Emerging Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogens

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dc.contributor.authorSzwetkowski, Kyle Johnen
dc.contributor.committeechairFalkinham, Joseph O. IIIen
dc.contributor.committeememberBadgley, Brian D.en
dc.contributor.committeememberPruden, Amyen
dc.contributor.departmentBiological Sciencesen
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-16T08:00:27Zen
dc.date.available2017-05-16T08:00:27Zen
dc.date.issued2017-05-15en
dc.description.abstractOpportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) are responsible for many infections linked to drinking water. The annual cost of disease caused by these waterborne pathogens is $850 million. Key characteristics of these opportunistic waterborne pathogens include: disinfectant- resistant, biofilm formation, thermal-tolerance, desiccation-resistant, growth in amoebae and growth in low oxygen conditions. Methylobacterium spp. have been recognized as an emerging OPPP, so the purpose of this study was to investigate these waterborne bacteria in more detail to determine whether they have all characteristics of OPPPs. Seven Methylobacterium spp. strains were studied to measure growth in laboratory broth medium and drinking water, measure hydrophobicity on surfaces found in household plumbing, measure adherence and biofilm formation to surfaces found in household plumbing and measure susceptibility to hot water heater temperatures. Methylobacterium spp. were found to aggregate in lab broth medium and drinking water, hydrophobic on different surfaces in household plumbing, adhere readily and form biofilm on different surfaces and thermal-tolerant to water heater temperatures. These results support and identify Methylobacterium spp. as opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens.en
dc.description.abstractgeneralOpportunistic premise plumbing pathogens (OPPPs) are microbial residents of drinking water systems and premise plumbing that cause infection. Premise plumbing includes water pipes in hospitals, houses, apartment buildings or office buildings. OPPPs share a number of characteristics that contribute to their growth and survival in drinking water systems. In this study, <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp., an emerging OPPP, were studied to see if they share all of the characteristics of OPPPs. Seven <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. strains were studied to measure growth in laboratory broth medium and drinking water, measure hydrophobicity (ability to repel water) on surfaces found in household plumbing, measure adherence to surfaces found in household plumbing and measure susceptibility to high temperatures. <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. were found to form clusters of cells in lab broth medium and drinking water, hydrophobic on different surfaces in household plumbing, adhere readily on different surfaces and resistant to high temperatures. These results support <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. are opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens. This is important because there is now a better understanding of how <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. survive in drinking water systems to prevent its growth and persistence. This study was also able to determine which pipe surfaces support the least amount of <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp. growth to be used be used by plumbers and homeowners to reduce exposure to <i>Methylobacterium</i> spp.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:11390en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/77659en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectMethylobacterium spp.en
dc.subjectopportunistic premise plumbing pathogensen
dc.subjecthydrophobicityen
dc.subjectadherenceen
dc.subjectbiofilm formationen
dc.subjectthermal-toleranceen
dc.titleMethylobacterium spp.: Emerging Opportunistic Premise Plumbing Pathogensen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineBiological Sciencesen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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