RT-ddPCR for EBPR Biomonitoring

Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is a well-established yet relatively poorly characterized process that is critical to wastewater treatment facilities worldwide. This project seeks to develop rapid genetic tests to monitor the metabolic activity of microbes performing EBPR, which would serve as an early warning of process instability. Specifically, the team will develop reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) assays targeting functional gene transcripts relevant to EBPR stability and relate these measurements to direct quantification of key metabolites indicative of EBPR health (e.g. polyhydroxyalkanoates, or PHA), measures of phosphorus uptake and release kinetics, bulk ortho-phosphate (OP), and other operational parameters in full-scale treatment facilities.