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Professor co-authors paper on freshwater contamination
[08.01.2013]

TAMPA, Fla. -- A University of South Florida College of Arts and Sciences professor recently co-authored a paper comparing the use of human viruses and bacteriophages as markers of sewage waste contamination of freshwater.

Valerie Harwood, a professor in the Department of Integrative Biology, worked with a team of researchers from 12 other universities and government agencies from around the world. The study evaluated the accuracy of microbial source tracking methods using challenge fecal and sewage samples spiked into artificial freshwater samples.

Their current study indicated that most of the human virus strains involved in the study were useful indicators for fecal contamination of freshwater.

The full results of this Source Identification Protocol Project will be presented in a series of papers covering 41 MST methods.

For additional information, visit the Science Direct website.

-USF-

Filed under:Arts and Sciences Integrative Biology Research   
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Author: Lauren McGee
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