Bayer Aktiengesellschaft

Gunther Eberz

Hans-Georg Rast

The method of producing luminescent bacteria is based on the transfer of genetic information for biological luminescence to obligate chemolithoautotrophic nitrifying microorganisms. In particular, luciferase DNA or a luciferase-beta-galactosidase transcription fusion is transferred into ammonia-oxidizing bacteria with the aid of plasmid- or transposon vector systems. The bioluminescent nitrification microorganisms, particularly Nitrosomonas strains modified by genetic engineering, are used in order to identify specific inhibitors during nitrification processes, the viability of these microorganisms being determined by measuring the decrease in luminescence. A particularly important application is that inhibitors in a nitrifying biological sewage treatment plant can be detected in this manner.

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Leverkusen, Germany

Gunther Eberz