Superfund Research Program

Kate M. Scow

University of California-Davis
Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources
3236 Plant & Environmental Science
One Shields Avenue
Davis, California 95616
Phone: 530-752-4632
Fax: 530-752-2360
Email: kmscow@ucdavis.edu

Projects

• University of California-Davis: Molecular Characterization of Aquifer Microbial Communities Degrading Chemical Mixtures (2003-2004)
• University of California-Davis: Transport, Transformation, and Remediation of Contaminants in the Environment (1995-2015)

Research Briefs

• 139 - MTBE Biodegradation by Methylibium petroleiphilum gen. nov, sp. nov., a methylotroph of the Betaproteobacteria (formerly known as PM-1)

Hazardous Waste Sites

Aerojet General Corp.

• University of California-Davis: Transport, Transformation, and Remediation of Contaminants in the Environment

Glennville, CA

• University of California-Davis: Transport, Transformation, and Remediation of Contaminants in the Environment

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

• University of California-Davis: Transport, Transformation, and Remediation of Contaminants in the Environment

Putah Creek Riparian Reserve

• University of California-Davis: Transport, Transformation, and Remediation of Contaminants in the Environment

Travis Airforce Base

• University of California-Davis: Transport, Transformation, and Remediation of Contaminants in the Environment

Publications

2020

• Bair DA, Anderson CG, Chung Y, Scow KM, Franco RB, Parikh SJ. 2020. Impact of biochar on plant growth and uptake of ciprofloxacin, triclocarban and triclosan from biosolids. J Environ Sci Health B 12:doi:10.1080/03601234.2020.1807264 PMID:32877275

2017

• Anderson CG, Joshi G, Bair DA, Oriol C, He G, Parikh SJ, Denison MS, Scow KM. 2017. Use of nuclear receptor luciferase-based bioassays to detect endocrine active chemicals in a biosolids-biochar amended soil. Chemosphere 181:160-167. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.035 PMID:28437741
• Wang D, Fonte SJ, Parikh SJ, Six J, Scow KM. 2017. Biochar additions can enhance soil structure and the physical stabilization of C in aggregates. Geoderma 303:110-117. doi:10.1016/j.geoderma.2017.05.027 PMID:29109589 PMCID:PMC5669273

2016

• Geisseler D, Lazicki PA, Scow KM. 2016. Mineral nitrogen input decreases microbial biomass in soils under grasslands but not annual crops. Applied Soil Ecology 106:1-10. doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2016.04.015

2015

• Joshi G, Schmidt R, Scow KM, Denison MS, Hristova KR. 2015. Gene mdpC plays a regulatory role in the methyl-tert-butyl ether degradation pathway of Methylibium petroleiphilum strain PM1. FEMS Microbiol Lett 362(7):doi:10.1093/femsle/fnv029 PMID:25724531 PMCID:PMC4459789
• Wang D, Mukome FN, Yan D, Wang H, Scow KM, Parikh SJ. 2015. Phenylurea herbicide sorption to biochars and agricultural soil. J Environ Sci Health B 50(8):544-551. doi:10.1080/03601234.2015.1028830 PMID:26065514 PMCID:PMC4838459

2014

• Geisseler D, Scow KM. 2014. Long-term effects of mineral fertilizers on soil microorganisms - a review. Soil Biol Biochem 75:54-63. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2014.03.023
• Hicks K, Schmidt R, Nickelsen MG, Boyle SL, Baker JM, Tornatore PM, Hristova KR, Scow KM. 2014. Successful treatment of an MTBE-impacted aquifer using a bioreactor self-colonized by native aquifer bacteria. Biodegradation 25(1):41-53. doi:10.1007/s10532-013-9639-0 PMID:23613160 PMCID:PMC3950410

2013

• Jung J, Choi S, Jung H, Scow KM, Park W. 2013. Primers for amplification of nitrous oxide reductase genes associated with Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes in organic-compound-rich soils. Microbiology 159(Pt2):307-315. doi:10.1099/mic.0.060194-0 PMID:23197174 PMCID:PMC3709563
• Park I, Zhang N, Ogunyoku TA, Young TM, Scow KM. 2013. Effects of Triclosan and biosolids on microbial community composition in an agricultural soil. Water Environ Res 85:2237-2242(6). doi:10.2175/106143012X13560205144335 PMID:24597039 PMCID:PMC3951728
• Rasa E, Bekins BA, Mackay DM, De Sieyes NR, Wilson JT, Feris KP, Wood IA, Scow KM. 2013. Impacts of an ethanol-blended fuel release on groundwater and fate of produced methane: simulation of field observations. Water Resour Res 49(8):4907-4926. doi:10.1002/wrcr.20382 PMID:24678130 PMCID:PMC3962844
• Rasa E, Foglia L, Mackay DM, Scow KM. 2013. Effect of different transport observations on inverse modeling results: Case study of a long-term groundwater tracer test monitored at high resolution. Hydrogeology Journal 21(7):1539-1554. doi:10.1007/s10040-013-1026-8 PMID:24672283 PMCID:PMC3963389

2012

• Mackay DM, Einarson MD, Kaiser PM, Nozawa-Inoue M, Goyal S, Chakraborty I, Rasa E, Scow KM. 2012. Mass discharge in a tracer plume: evaluation of the Theissen Polygon method. Ground Water 50(6):895-907. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6584.2012.00912.x PMID:22324777 PMCID:PMC3862899
• North KP, Mackay DM, Kayne JS, Petersen D, Rasa E, Rastegarzadeh L, Holland RB, Scow KM. 2012. In situ biotreatment of TBA with recirculation/oxygenation. Ground Water Monit Remediat 32(3):52-62. doi:10.1111/j.1745-6592.2011.01390.x PMID:23358537 PMCID:PMC3555562
• Schmidt R, Klemme DA, Scow KM, Hristova KR. 2012. Microbial biosafety of pilot-scale bioreactor treating MTBE and TBA-contaminated drinking water supply. J Hazard Mater 209:524-528. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.01.057 PMID:22321859 PMCID:PMC3327512

2011

• Kong AY, Scow KM, Cordova-Kreylos AL, Holmes WE, Six J. 2011. Microbial community composition and carbon cycling within soil microenvironments of conventional, low-input, and organic cropping systems. Soil Biol Biochem 43(1):20-30. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.09.005 PMID:22267876 PMCID:PMC3260532
• Nozawa-Inoue M, Jien M, Yang K, Rolston DE, Hristova KR, Scow KM. 2011. Effect of nitrate, acetate, and hydrogen on native perchlorate-reducing microbial communities and their activity in vadose soil. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 76:278-288. doi:10.1111/j.1574-6941.2011.01045.x PMID:21284679 PMCID:PMC3086929
• Rasa E, Chapman SW, Bekins BA, Fogg GE, Scow KM, Mackay DM. 2011. Role of back diffusion and biodegradation reactions in sustaining an MTBE/TBA plume in alluvial media. J Contam Hydrol 126:235-247. doi:10.1016/j.jconhyd.2011.08.006 PMID:22115089 PMCID:PMC3267905
• Warneke S, Schipper LA, Matiasek MG, Scow KM, Cameron S, Bruesewitz DA, McDonald IR. 2011. Nitrate removal, communities of denitrifiers and adverse effects in different carbon substrates for use in denitrification beds. Water Res 45:5463-5475. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2011.08.007 PMID:21880343 PMCID:PMC3270496
• Yang J, Rasa E, Tantayotai P, Scow KM, Yuan H, Hristova KR. 2011. Mathematical model of Chlorella minutissima UTEX2341 growth and lipid production under photoheterotrophic fermentation conditions. Bioresour Technol 102(3):3077-3082. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2010.10.049 PMID:21115343 PMCID:PMC3267903

2010

• Drenovsky RE, Steenwerth KL, Jackson LE, Scow KM. 2010. Land use and climatic factors structure regional patterns in soil microbial communities. Global Ecology and Biogeography 19(1):27-39. doi:10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00486.x PMID:24443643 PMCID:PMC3891896
• Kong AY, Hristova KR, Scow KM, Six J. 2010. Impacts of different N management regimes on nitrifier and denitrifier communities and N cycling in soil microenvironments. Soil Biol Biochem 42(9):1523-1533. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2010.05.021 PMID:21339865 PMCID:PMC3040239
• Kristensen AH, Henriksen K, Mortensen L, Scow KM, Moldrup P. 2010. Soil physical constraints on intrinsic biodegradation of petroleum vapors in a layered subsurface. Vadose Zone Journal 9(1):137-147. doi:10.2136/vzj2009.0010 PMID:21617737 PMCID:PMC3100517
• Son A, Kennedy IM, Scow KM, Hristova KR. 2010. Quantitative gene monitoring of microbial tetracycline resistance using magnetic luminescent nanoparticles. J Environ Monit 12:1362-1367. doi:10.1039/c001974g PMID:20424797 PMCID:PMC3267904

2009

• Dong L, Cordova-Kreylos AL, Yang J, Yuan H, Scow KM. 2009. Humic acids buffer the effects of urea on soil ammonia oxidizers and potential nitrification. Soil Biol Biochem 41(8):1612-1621. doi:10.1016/j.soilbio.2009.04.023 PMID:22267875 PMCID:PMC3260537
• Zornoza R, Guerrero C, Mataix-Solera J, Scow KM, Arcenegui V, Mataix-Beneyto J. 2009. Changes in soil microbial community structure following the abandonment of agricultural terraces in mountainous areas of Eastern Spain. Applied Soil Ecology 42(3):315-323. doi:10.1016/j.apsoil.2009.05.011 PMID:22291451 PMCID:PMC3267902

2008

• Nozawa-Inoue M, Jien M, Hamilton NS, Stewart V, Scow KM, Hristova KR. 2008. Quantitative detection of perchlorate-reducing bacteria by real-time PCR targeting the perchlorate reductase gene. Appl Environ Microbiol 74(6):1941-1944. doi:10.1128/AEM.01658-07 PMID:18245250 PMCID:PMC2268300

2007

• Cavagnaro TR, Jackson LE, Scow KM, Hristova KR. 2007. Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizas on ammonia oxidizing bacteria in an organic farm soil. Microb Ecol 54(4):618-626. doi:10.1007/s00248-007-9212-7 PMID:17955326
• Hristova KR, Schmidt R, Chakicherla AY, Legler TC, Wu J, Chain PS, Scow KM, Kane SR. 2007. Comparative transcriptome analysis of Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1 exposed to the fuel oxygenates methyl tert-butyl ether and ethanol. Appl Environ Microbiol 73(22):7347-7357. doi:10.1128/AEM.01604-07 PMID:17890343 PMCID:PMC2168209
• Kane SR, Chakicherla AY, Chain PS, Schmidt R, Shin MW, Legler TC, Scow KM, Larimer FW, Lucas SM, Richardson PM, Hristova KR. 2007. Whole-genome analysis of the methyl tert-butyl ether-degrading beta-proteobacterium Methylibium petroleiphilum PM1. J Bacteriol 189(5):1931-1945. doi:10.1128/JB.01259-06 PMID:17158667 PMCID:PMC1855728
• Mackay DM, De Sieyes NR, Einarson MD, Feris KP, Pappas AA, Wood IA, Jacobson L, Justice LG, Noske MN, Wilson JY, Adair C, Scow KM. 2007. Impact of ethanol on the natural attenuation of MTBE in a normally sulfate-reducing aquifer. Environ Sci Technol 41(6):2015-2021. PMID:17410799
• Son A, Dosev D, Nichkova MJ, Ma Z, Kennedy IM, Scow KM, Hristova KR. 2007. Quantitative DMA hybridization in solution using magnetic/luminescent core-shell nanoparticles. Anal Biochem 370:186-194. PMID:17869209

2006

• Cordova-Kreylos AL, Cao Y, Green PG, Hwang H, Kuivila KM, LaMontagne MG, Van De Werfhorst L, Holden PA, Scow KM. 2006. Diversity, composition, and geographical distribution of microbial communities in California salt marsh sediments. Appl Environ Microbiol 72(5):3357-3366. PMID:16672478
• Mackay DM, De Sieyes NR, Einarson MD, Feris KP, Pappas AA, Wood IA, Jacobson L, Justice LG, Noske MN, Scow KM, Wilson JT. 2006. Impact of ethanol on the natural attenuation of benzene, toluene, and o-xylene in a normally sulfate-reducing aquifer. Environ Sci Technol 40(19):6123-6130. PMID:17051810
• Nakatsu CH, Hristova KR, Hanada S, Meng X, Hanson JR, Scow KM, Kamagata Y. 2006. Methylobium petroleophilum PM1 gen. nov., sp. nov., a new methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) degrading methylotroph belonging to the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56(5):983-989.

2005

• Degrood SH, Claassen VP, Scow KM. 2005. Microbial community composition on native and drastically disturbed serpentine soils. Soil Biol Biochem 37(8):1427-1435.
• Nozawa-Inoue M, Scow KM, Rolston DE. 2005. Reduction of perchlorate and nitrate by microbial communities in vadose soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 71(7):3928-3934. doi:10.1128/AEM.71.7.3928-3934.2005 PMID:16000806 PMCID:PMC1169015
• Smith AH, Hristova KR, Wood IA, Mackay DM, Lory E, Lorenzana D, Scow KM. 2005. Comparison of biostimulation versus bioaugmentation with bacterial strain PM1 for treatment of groundwater contaminated with methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE). Environ Health Perspect 113(3):317-322. PMID:15743721
• Watanabe N, Schwartz E, Scow KM, Young TM. 2005. Relating desorption and biodegradation of phenanthrene to SOM structure characterized by quantitative pyrolysis GC-MS. Environ Sci Technol 39(16):6170-6181. PMID:16173578

2004

• Drenovsky RE, Elliott GN, Graham KJ, Scow KM. 2004. Comparison of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and total soil fatty acid methyl esters (TSFAME) for characterizing soil microbial communities. Soil Biol Biochem 36(11):1793-1800.
• Drenovsky RE, Vo D, Graham KJ, Scow KM. 2004. Soil water content and organic carbon availability are major determinants of soil microbial community composition. Microb Ecol 48(3):424-430. PMID:15692862
• Feris KP, Hristova KR, Gebreyesus B, Mackay DM, Scow KM. 2004. A shallow BTEX and MTBE contaminated aquifer supports a diverse microbial community. Microb Ecol 48(4):589-600. PMID:15696392
• Gamst J, Moldrup P, Rolston DE, Scow KM, Henriksen K, Komatsu T. 2004. Time-dependency of naphthalene sorption in soil: Simple rate-, diffusion-, and isotherm-parameter-based models. Soil Science 169(5):342-354.
• Okano Y, Hristova KR, Leutenegger CM, Jackson LE, Denison RF, Gebreyesus B, Lebauer D, Scow KM. 2004. Application of real-time PCR to study effects of ammonium on population size of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 70(2):1008-1016. PMID:14766583

2003

• Basagaoglu H, Chung EE, Gandhi D, Scow KM, McCoy BJ, Ginn TR. 2003. Rate parameters for methyl tert-butyl ether biodegradation via a radial diffusion model. J Environ Eng (New York) 129(6):565-570.
• Tipton DK, Rolston DE, Scow KM. 2003. Transport and biodegradation of perchlorate in soils. J Environ Qual 32(1):40-46. PMID:12549540

2002

• Gray JR, Lacrampe-Couloume G, Gandhi D, Scow KM, Wilson RD, Mackay DM, Lollar BS. 2002. Carbon and hydrogen isotopic fractionation during biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether. Environ Sci Technol 36(9):1931-1938. PMID:12026973
• Macalady JL, McMillan AM, Dickens AF, Tyler SC, Scow KM. 2002. Population dynamics of type I and II methanotrophic bacteria in rice soils. Environ Microbiol 4(3):148-157. PMID:12000315
• Wilson RD, Mackay DM, Scow KM. 2002. In situ MTBE biodegradation supported by diffusive oxygen release. Environ Sci Technol 36(2):190-199. PMID:11827053

2001

• Bruns MA, Hanson JR, Mefford J, Scow KM. 2001. Isolate PM1 populations are dominant and novel methyl tert-butyl ether-degrading bacterial in compost biofilter enrichments. Environ Microbiol 3(3):220-225. PMID:11321538
• Deeb RA, Hu H, Hanson JR, Scow KM, Alvarez-Cohen L. 2001. Substrate interactions in BTEX and MTBE mixtures by an MTBE-degrading isolate. Environ Sci Technol 35(2):312-317. PMID:11347603
• Hristova KR, Lutenegger CM, Scow KM. 2001. Detection and quantification of methyl tert-butyl ether-degrading strain PM1 by real-time TaqMan PCR. Appl Environ Microbiol 67(11):5154-5160. PMID:11679339
• Schwartz E, Scow KM. 2001. Repeated inoculation as a strategy for the remediation of low concentrations of phenanthrene in soil. Biodegradation 12(3):201-207. PMID:11826901

2000

• Deeb RA, Hanson JR, Scow KM, Alvarez-Cohen L. 2000. Substrate interactions during the biodegradation of MTBE and BTEX mixtures. In: Proceedings of the Second International Conference: Remediation of Chlorinated and Other Recalcitrant Compounds. Monterey, CA.
• Deeb RA, Nishino SF, Spain JC, Hu H, Scow KM, Alvarez-Cohen L. 2000. MTBE and benzene biodegradation by a bacterial isolate via two independent monooxygenase-initiated pathways. In: Preprints of Extended Abstracts: American Chemical Society Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. pp.280-282.
• Deeb RA, Scow KM, Alvarez-Cohen L. 2000. Aerobic MTBE biodegradation: an examination of past studies, current challenges and future research directions. Biodegradation 11(2-3):171-186. PMID:11440243
• El-Farhan YH, Scow KM, Fan S, Rolston DE. 2000. Kinetics of trichloroethylene cometabolism and toluene biodegradation: Model application to soil batch experiments. J Environ Qual 29:778-786.
• Green CT, Scow KM. 2000. Analysis of phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) to characterize microbial communities in aquifers. Hydrogeology Journal 8(1):126-141.
• Macalady JL, Mack EE, Nelson DC, Scow KM. 2000. Sediment microbial community structure and mercury methylation in mercury-polluted Clear Lake, California. Appl Environ Microbiol 66(4):1479-1488. PMID:10742230
• Schwartz E, Trinh SV, Scow KM. 2000. Measuring growth of a phenanthrene-degrading bacterial inoculum in soil with a quantitative competitive polymerase chain reaction method. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 34(1):1-7. PMID:11053730

1999

• El-Farhan YH, Rolston DE, Scow KM. 1999. Coupling vapor transport and transformation of volatile organic chemicals. In: Vadose Zone Hydrology; Cutting Across Disciplines. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. pp.235-259.
• Hanson JR, Ackerman CE, Scow KM. 1999. Biodegradation of methyl tert-butyl ether by a bacterial pure culture. Appl Environ Microbiol 65(11):4788-4792. PMID:10543787 PMCID:PMC91645
• Hanson JR, Macalady JL, Harris D, Scow KM. 1999. Linking toluene degradation with specific microbial populations in soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 65(12):5403-5408. PMID:10583996 PMCID:PMC91736
• Johnson CR, Scow KM. 1999. Effect of nitrogen and phosphorus addition on phenanthrene biodegradation in four soils. Biodegradation 10(1):43-50. PMID:10423840
• Schwartz E, Scow KM. 1999. Using biodegradation kinetics to measure the availability of aged phenanthrene to bacteria inoculated into soil. Environ Toxicol Chem 18:1742-1746.

1998

• du Plessis CA, Kinney KA, Schroeder ED, Chang DP, Scow KM. 1998. Denitrification and nitric oxide reduction in an aerobic toluene-treating biofilter. Biotechnol Bioeng 58(4):408-415. PMID:10099275
• El-Farhan YH, Scow KM, de Jonge LW, Rolston DE. 1998. Coupling transport and biodegradation of toluene and trichloroethylene in unsaturated soils. Water Resour Res 34(3):437-445.
• Macalady JL, Scow KM. 1998. Effects of fumigation with metam sodium on soil microbial activity and community structure. J Environ Qual 27(1):54-63.

1997

• Fuller ME, Scow KM. 1997. Impact of trichloroethylene and toluene on nitrogen cycling in soil. Appl Environ Microbiol 63(10):4015-4019. PMID:9327567
• Fuller ME, Scow KM. 1997. Lack of capsular exopolymer effects on the biodegradation of organic compounds by Pseudomonas sp strains JS1 and JS150. Microb Ecol 34(3):248-253. PMID:9337420
• Fuller ME, Scow KM, Lau S, Ferris H. 1997. Trichloroethylene (TCE) and toluene effects on the structure and function of the soil community. Soil Biol Biochem 29(1):75-89.
• Scow KM, Johnson CR. 1997. Effect of sorption on biodegradation of soil pollutants. Advances in Agronomy 58:1-56.

1996

• Fuller ME, Scow KM. 1996. Effects of toluene on microbially-mediated processes involved in the soil nitrogren cycle. Microb Ecol 32(2):171-184. PMID:8688007
• Kinney KA, Chang DP, Schroeder ED, Scow KM. 1996. Performance of a directionally-switching biofilter treating toluene contaminated air. In: Proceedings of the 89^th Annual Meeting & Exhibition, Air & Waste Management Association, 96-RP87C.05. Nashville, TN. pp.1-16.
• Morgenroth E, Schroeder ED, Chang DP, Scow KM. 1996. Nutrient limitation in a compost biofilter degrading hexane. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 46(4):300-308. PMID:28079480

1995

• Ergas SJ, Kinney KA, Fuller ME, Scow KM. 1995. Control of dichloromethane emissions using biofiltration. In: Control of dichloromethane emissions using biofiltration, I&EC Special Symposium, American Chemical Society. pp.1-6.
• Fuller ME, Mu DY, Scow KM. 1995. Biodegradation of trichloroethylene and toluene by indigenous microbial populations in vadose sediments. Microb Ecol 29(3):311-325. PMID:24185349
• Hoyle BL, Scow KM, Fogg GE, Darby JL. 1995. Effect of carbon:nitrogen ratio on kinetics of phenol biodegradation by Acinetobacter johnsonii in saturated sand. Biodegradation 6(4):283-293. PMID:8580643
• Scow KM. 1995. Effect of sorption on biodegradation of organic chemicals in soil. In: Effect of sorption on biodegradation of organic chemicals in soil. 15^th World Congress of Soil Science, International Society of Soil Science. pp.352-361.
• Scow KM, Fan S, Johnson CR, Ma GM. 1995. Biodegradation of sorbed chemicals in soil. Environ Health Perspect 103(Suppl.5):93-95. PMID:8565921