Contact Information:

Current Research Projects:

•  Impact of anthropogenic factors on microbial community structure
• Source tracking and genetic fingerprinting of E. coli collected from the environment.
• Biochemical and genetic basis of metal (Cr and Pb) resistance by bacteria
• Biochemical and genetic basis of hydrocarbon degradation by bacteria
• Development of quantitative PCR methods for monitoring bioattenuation of BTEX
• Environmental factors influencing gene transfer.
•  Microbial ecology of wastewater treatment

Selected Recent Publications:  (more publications)

Lee, T. H.,  S. Kurata, C. H. Nakatsu,  Y. Kamagata. 2004. Molecular analysis of bacterial community based on 16S rDNA and functional genes in activated sludge enriched with 2,4-dichlorophenolxyacetic acid (2,4-D) under different cultural conditions. Microb. Ecol. (in press)

Mesarch, M. B., C. H. Nakatsu, and L. Nies. 2004. Bench-scale and field-scale evaluation of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase specific primers for use in monitoring BTX bioremediation. Water Res. 38: 1281-1288.

Myoda S. P., C. A. Carson, J. J. Fuhrmann, B.-K. Hahm, P. G. Hartel, R. L. Kuntz, C. H. Nakatsu, M. J. Sadowsky, M. Samadpour and H. Yampara-Iquise. 2003. Comparing genotypic bacterial source tracking methods that require a host origin database. J. Wat. Health 1: 167-180.

Ritter K. J., E. Carruthers, C. A. Carson, R. D. Ellender, V. J. Harwood, K. Kingsley, C. Nakatsu, M. Sadowsky, B. Shear, B. West,  J. E. Whitlock,  B. A. Wiggins, J. D. Wilbur. 2003. Assessment of statistical methods used in microbial source tracking methods. J. Wat. Health 1: 209-223.

Davis, K. C., C. H. Nakatsu, R. Turco, S. Weagant, and A. K. Bhunia. 2003. Analysis of environmental Escherichia coli isolates for virulence genes using the TaqManâ PCR system. J. Appl. Microbiol. 95: 612-620.

Baldwin, B., C. H. Nakatsu, and L. Nies. 2003. Detection and enumeration of aromatic oxygenase genes by multiplex and real-time PCR. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 69:3350-3358.

Hahm, B.K., Y. Maldonado, E. Schreiber, A. K.Bhunia, and C. H.Nakatsu. 2003. Subtyping of clinical and environmental isolates of Escherichia coli by multiplex PCR, AFLP, rep-PCR, PFGE and ribotyping.  J. Microbiol. Meth. 53:387-399.

Teaching: 
Agronomy 649 - Molecular Microbial Ecology
Agronomy 349 - Soil Ecology

Bob the Bacterium

Interdisciplinary Programs:
ESEI
PULSe

Awards and Honors:
Purdue University Faculty Research Scholar, 2002-07
AIST Foreign Researcher Invitation Award, Agency of Industrial Science and Technology, 1996 and 2001
Sustainable Agriculture Travel Award, OECD, 1997
Dow Elanco's Young Investigator's Award, Dow Elanco, 1995
Carleton University Scholarship, 1989-92
Ontario Postgrad Scholarship, 1991-92
NSERC Postgrad Scholarship, 1989-91

Education:
B.Sc., University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
M.Sc., University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Ph.D., Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada

Date joined staff:  August 1995

Last updated:  May 2005