Jean Mclain

Interests

Teaching

Technical Writing; Scientific Writing; Mentoring Students in Laboratory Science

Research

Soil Microbiology; Water Microbiology; Antibiotic Resistance, Microbiological Nutrient Cycling

Courses

Scholarly Contributions

Chapters

• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., & Gerba, C. P. (2016). Environmental antibiotic resistance associated with land application of biosolids. In Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater Treatment Processes. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
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  Land application of biosolids derived from wastewater treatment processes has been increasing throughout the world, with more than 6.0 dry tons of biosolids now applied on an annual basis in the U.S. alone. For this reason, biosolids application has been proposed as a key point source for introducing antimicrobial resistant organisms, genetic elements of antimicrobial resistance, and antibiotic compounds as contaminants into agricultural soils. Recent studies cover a range of implications of land application of biosolids, with some studies suggesting minimal increased risk for development of antibiotic resistance, while other studies indicate significantly enhanced resistance development. It is becoming increasingly clear that results are dependent on composting treatments, land application methods and timing, and soil conditions prior to biosolids application. This chapter will present recent research examining the potential for transfer of antibiotic resistance from the wastewater treatment plant to the surrounding environment via biosolids application, with special emphasis on biosolids treatment and application methods that may enhance or reduce the presence of resistance determinants. The potential human health risk arising from transfer of resistance to agricultural soils will also be discussed.
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., & Gerba, C. P. (2018). Environmental antibiotic resistance associated with land application of biosolids. In Antimicrobial Resistance in Wastewater Treatment Processes(pp 241-252). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell.
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  Land application of biosolids derived from wastewater treatment processes has been increasing throughout the world, with more than 6.0 dry tons of biosolids now applied on an annual basis in the U.S. alone. For this reason, biosolids application has been proposed as a key point source for introducing antimicrobial resistant organisms, genetic elements of antimicrobial resistance, and antibiotic compounds as contaminants into agricultural soils. Recent studies cover a range of implications of land application of biosolids, with some studies suggesting minimal increased risk for development of antibiotic resistance, while other studies indicate significantly enhanced resistance development. It is becoming increasingly clear that results are dependent on composting treatments, land application methods and timing, and soil conditions prior to biosolids application. This chapter will present recent research examining the potential for transfer of antibiotic resistance from the wastewater treatment plant to the surrounding environment via biosolids application, with special emphasis on biosolids treatment and application methods that may enhance or reduce the presence of resistance determinants. The potential human health risk arising from transfer of resistance to agricultural soils will also be discussed.
• Liebig, M., DongX, ., McLain, J., & Dell, C. (2012). Greenhouse gas flux from managed grasslands. In Managing Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Fluxes(pp 183-202). Oxford, UK: Elsevier Ltd.

Journals/Publications

• Dhar, A. K., Mclain, J. E., Fitzsimmons, K., L, A. F., & Quinn, P. (2021). Crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) susceptibility to acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology.
• Mclain, J. E., Brassill, N., Woolfolk, C. M., Carr, D., & Valerisa, J. (2021). Evaluation of total Bacteroides sp. as an alternative indicator in agricultural water quality. Journal of Food: Microbiology, Safety, and Hygiene, 6(2), 148.
• Hamilton, K., Ahmed, W., Rauh, E., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., & Muenich, R. L. (2020). Comparing microbial risks from multiple sustainable waste streams applied for agricultural use: biosolids, manure, and diverted urine. Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health.
• Kerry, H., Ahmed, W., Ellie, R., Woolfolk, C. M., Mclain, J. E., & Rebecca, M. L. (2020). Comparing microbial risks from multiple sustainable waste streams applied for agricultural use: biosolids, manure, and diverted urine. Current Opinion in Environmental Science and Health, 14, 37-50. doi:10.1016/j.coesh.2020.01.003
• Root, R. A., Root, R. A., Ramirez, M. D., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Abrell, L. M., Abrell, L. M., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., Ramirez, M. D., & Root, R. A. (2019). Partnering for action: community monitoring of harvested rainwater in underserved, rural, and urban Arizona communities. Water Resources IMPACT.
• Gerba, C. P., Bright, K. R., Mclain, J. E., Carr, D., Dery, J. L., Brassill, N., & Rock, C. M. (2019). Review of water quality criteria for water reuse and risk-based implications for irrigated produce under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, produce safety rule. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH, 172, 616-629. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.12.050
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  Questions related to the safety of alternative water sources, such as recycled water or reclaimed water (including grey water, produced water, return flows, and recycled wastewater), for produce production have been largely un-explored at the detail warranted for protection of public health. Additionally, recent outbreaks of Escherichia coli (E. coli) in fresh produce, in which agricultural water was suspected as the source, coupled with heightened media coverage, have elevated fruit and vegetable safety into the forefront of public attention. Exacerbating these concerns, new Federal regulations released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as part of implementation of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), require testing of agricultural water quality for generic E. coli. Here, we present a review of water quality criteria - including surface water, groundwater recreational water, and water reuse - in an attempt to better understand implications of new FDA regulations on irrigated produce. In addition, a Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) was conducted to estimate risks from pathogen contamination of food crops eaten fresh under the context of FDA regulations to provide perspective on current water reuse regulations across the country. Results indicate that irrigation water containing 126 CFU/100 mL of E. coli correspond to a risk of GI illness (diarrhea) of 9 cases in 100,000,000 persons (a 0.000009% risk) for subsurface irrigation, 1.1 cases in 100,000 persons (a 0.0011% risk) for furrow irrigation, and 1.1 cases in 1000 persons (a 0.11% risk) for sprinkler irrigation of lettuce. In comparison to metrics in states that currently regulate the use of recycled water for irrigation of food crops eaten fresh, the FDA FSMA water quality metrics are less stringent and therefore the use of recycled water presents a reduced risk to consumers than the FDA regulations. These findings, while limited to a one-time exposure event of lettuce irrigated with water meeting FSMA water quality regulations, highlight the need for additional assessments to determine if the scientific-basis of the regulation is protective of public health.
• Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019). Partnering for action: community monitoring of harvested rainwater in underserved, rural, and urban Arizona communities. Water Resources IMPACT.
• Abrell, L., Mclain, J. E., Buxner, S., Kilungo, A., Ramirez-andreotta, M. D., & Davis, L. F. (2018). Increasing Environmental Health Literacy through Contextual Learning in Communities at Risk.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(10), 2203. doi:10.3390/ijerph15102203
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  Environmental health literacy (EHL) has recently been defined as the continuum of environmental health knowledge and awareness, skills and self-efficacy, and community action. In this study, an interdisciplinary team of university scientists, partnering with local organizations, developed and facilitated EHL trainings with special focus on rainwater harvesting and water contamination, in four communities with known environmental health stressors in Arizona, USA. These participatory trainings incorporated participants' prior environmental health risk knowledge and personal experiences to co-create training content. Mixed methods evaluation was conducted via pre-post participant surveys in all four trainings (n = 53). Participants who did not demonstrate baseline environmental science knowledge pre-training demonstrated significant knowledge increase post-training, and participants who demonstrated low self-efficacy (SE) pre-training demonstrated a significant increase in SE post-training. Participants overall demonstrated a significant increase in specific environmental health skills described post-training. The interdisciplinary facilitator-scientist team also reported multiple benefits, including learning local knowledge that informed further research, and building trust relationships with community members for future collaboration. We propose contextual EHL education as a valuable strategy for increasing EHL in environmental health risk communities, and for building academia-community partnerships for environmental health research and action.
• Almotairy, H. M., Fitzsimmons, K., & Mclain, J. E. (2018). Accumulation of heavy metals and their effects on antibiotic resistance of bacteria in an aquaponics system. World Aquaculture, 49(3), 54-57.
• Davis, L. F., Ramirez-Andreotta, M. D., McLain, J. E., Kilungo, A., Abrell, L., & Buxner, S. (2018). Increasing Environmental Health Literacy through Contextual Learning in Communities at Risk. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(10). doi:10.3390/ijerph15102203
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  Environmental health literacy (EHL) has recently been defined as the continuum of environmental health knowledge and awareness, skills and self-efficacy, and community action. In this study, an interdisciplinary team of university scientists, partnering with local organizations, developed and facilitated EHL trainings with special focus on rainwater harvesting and water contamination, in four communities with known environmental health stressors in Arizona, USA. These participatory trainings incorporated participants' prior environmental health risk knowledge and personal experiences to co-create training content. Mixed methods evaluation was conducted via pre-post participant surveys in all four trainings ( = 53). Participants who did not demonstrate baseline environmental science knowledge pre-training demonstrated significant knowledge increase post-training, and participants who demonstrated low self-efficacy (SE) pre-training demonstrated a significant increase in SE post-training. Participants overall demonstrated a significant increase in specific environmental health skills described post-training. The interdisciplinary facilitator-scientist team also reported multiple benefits, including learning local knowledge that informed further research, and building trust relationships with community members for future collaboration. We propose contextual EHL education as a valuable strategy for increasing EHL in environmental health risk communities, and for building academia-community partnerships for environmental health research and action.
• Dery, J., Brassill, N. A., Rivadeneira, P., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2018). AZ1763: E. coli, Water Quality, Food Safety, and Human Health. Arizona Cooperative Extension Publication.
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  Preventing food contamination and human infection from E. coli requires control measures at all stages of the food production continuum: from agricultural production, to processing, manufacturing, transporting, storing, and preparation of foods in both commercial establishments like restaurants as well as domestic environments, such as your home (The Hartford Loss Control Department 1998). Although contaminated ground beef has been the most common cause of E. coli poisoning, contamination can also occur at any number of points along the food production continuum (CDC 2018). Fruits, vegetables, and water are other common sources of contamination. The focus of this publication is to inform readers about the impacts of E. coli bacteria in water on food safety and human health.
• Diaz, K. S., Rich, V. I., & Mclain, J. E. (2017). Searching for antibiotic resistance genes in a pristine arctic wetland. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, 160, 40-53. doi:10.1111/j.1936-704X.2017.03239
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  Antibiotics are the foundation of modern medicine, and the sustainability of antibiotic use depends on overcoming the challenge of antibiotic resistance (AR). This may be extremely difficult, given that antibiotic production by environmental microbiota is a natural process and AR is widespread in nature. AR has been shown to spread readily and quickly, as well as to exist in the absence of anthropogenic forcing (i.e. the application of antibiotics by humans). This study compared a range of approaches to identify AR gene sequences in microbial community genomes in three habitats (Palsa, Bog, and Fen) across a permafrost thaw gradient in Abisko, Sweden. Depending on the search algorithm used, we found a range of 0.72-1.29% AR protein-coding genes across all habitats, with model-based search algorithms resulting in greater sensitivity than traditional identity-based approaches for identifying AR sequences. Though each habitat within the permafrost gradient showed different cell densities, pH, bioavailable carbon, water content, nutrient availability, and other factors that impact microbial life, the difference in overall AR proteins between habitats was not significant. Examination of AR at this location will contribute to our understanding of AR presence in natural environments and how AR may be impacted by permafrost thawing related to global warming.
• Garner, E., Bowers, J., Engelthaler, D., Mclain, J. E., Edwards, M., & Pruden, A. (2018). Metagenomic characterization of antibiotic resistance genes in full-scale reclaimed water distribution systems and corresponding potable systems. Environmental Science and Technology, 52(11), 6113-6125. doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b05419
• Garner, E., Engelthaler, D., Edwards, M., Mclain, J. E., & Pruden, A. (2018). Microbial ecology and water chemistry impact regrowth of opportunistic pathogens in full-scale reclaimed water distribution systems. Environmental Science and Technology, 52(16), 9056-9068. doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b02818
• Garner, E., McLain, J., Bowers, J., Engelthaler, D. M., Edwards, M. A., & Pruden, A. (2018). Microbial Ecology and Water Chemistry Impact Regrowth of Opportunistic Pathogens in Full-Scale Reclaimed Water Distribution Systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 52(16), 9056-9068. doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b02818
• Gerba, C. P., Mclain, J. E., Bright, K., Carr, D., Brassill, N. A., & Rock, C. M. (2019). Review of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Agriculture Water Rule: implications for irrigated produce, water reuse, quantitative microbial risk assessment, and food safety. Environmental Research.
• Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2018). Communicating research results to stakeholders: what scientists can learn from Cooperative Extension. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Publication.
• Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2018). Communicating research results to stakeholders: what we can learn from Cooperative Extension. Kachina News, 16.
• Neyestani, M., Dickenson, E., Mclain, J. E., Robierto, E., Rock, C. M., & Gerrity, D. (2017). Impacts of solids retention time on trace organic compound attenuation and bacterial resistance to trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. Chemosphere, 182, 149-158. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.121
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  Abstract: The antibiotic trimethoprim acts by disrupting dihydrofolatereductase during nucleotide (thymine) synthesis. Bacteria can grow in thepresence of trimethoprim by expressing trimethoprim resistance genes orby acquiring thymine or thymidine from environmental reservoirs tofacilitate DNA synthesis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate theimpact of extracellular constituents of activated sludge from municipalwastewater treatment on the quantification of trimethoprim-resistantbacteria. The activated sludge process was modified to assess the impactsof varying solids retention time (SRT) on trimethoprim concentrations,culturable trimethoprim-resistant bacteria, and multi-drug resistantbacteria. This is significant because longer SRTs are often employed toimprove the quality of treated wastewater effluent. In the presence oftrimethoprim at standard clinical concentrations, up to 40% increases inthe relative prevalence of resistant bacteria were observed with (1)samples manually augmented with reagent-grade thymidine, (2) samplesmanually augmented with sonicated biomass (i.e., cell lysate), (3)samples manually augmented with activated sludge filtrate, and (4)activated sludge samples collected from reactors with longer SRTs. Theseobservations suggest that longer SRTs may select for trimethoprimresistantbacteria and/or result in false positives for trimethoprimresistance due to higher concentrations of free thymine, thymidine, orother extracellular constituents.
• Rivadeneira, P., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., Brassill, N. A., Dery, J., & Urzua, R. (2018). E. coli Prevention and Control in Fresh Produce from Farm-to-Fork. Journal of Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona.
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  az1767
• Rock, C. M., Brassill, N. A., Carr, D., Bright, K., Mclain, J. E., & Gerba, C. P. (2018). Review of water quality criteria for water reuse and risk-based implications for irrigated produce under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act, Produce Safety Rule. Environmental Research, 172, 616-629. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2018.12.050
• Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., Rivadeneira, P., Brassill, N. A., & Dery, J. (2018). E. coli, Water Quality, Food Safety, and Human Health. Journal of Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona.
• Urzua, R., Dery, J., Brassill, N. A., Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., & Rivadeneira, P. (2018). AZ1767: E. coli Prevention and Control in Fresh Produce from Farm-to-Fork. Arizona Cooperative Extension Publication.
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  Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common bacterium found naturally in the digestive systems of warm blooded animals and soil and is not normally harmful. However, certain types of E. coli produce toxins, called Shiga Toxins, that are harmful. These Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, also called STEC, are significant foodborne pathogens that cause illness in approximately 265,000 people in the United States each year (Scallan, 2011). There are numerous steps along the farm-to fork continuum where growers, harvesters, shippers, and processors implement prevention and control methods to minimize risk from foodborne pathogens, with the goal of ensuring that only the safest fresh produce reaches consumers’ tables. Some of these measures are taken to comply with recent federal guidelines under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which began to be implemented by the fresh produce industry in January 2018 (FDA 2017) Table 1., but for Arizona growers, the FSMA regulations are not burdensome. Since 2007, growers of fresh produce in our state have been voluntarily following equally strict, and even more specific, guidelines developed by the Arizona Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement (LGMA) as enforced by the Arizona Department of Agriculture (https://www.arizonaleafygreens.org). You may ask, “If guidelines are so strict and if growers are so cautious, why do people still get sick from outbreaks of E. coli and other foodborne pathogens?” This paper will provide a roadmap of how fresh produce travels from farmto-fork, identifying potential routes of contamination. We also describe the preventative controls that are implemented by the fresh produce industry at each stop to reduce the potential for microbial contamination, and how consumers can take simple steps to maintain safe foods eaten in their homes or in restaurants.
• Diaz, K., Rich, V., & Mclain, J. E. (2017). Searching for antibiotic resistance genes in a pristine arctic wetland. Journal of Contemporary Water Research and Education, 160, 40-53. doi:10.1111/j.1936-704X.2017.03239.
• Joe, V. M., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2017). Compost Tea 101: What Every Organic Gardener Should Know. University of Arizona, Cooperative Extension.
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  Growers of organic produce in the Southwestern United States face many challenges, including variation in water and temperature, and exposure to insects and disease. As a result, smallholder organic farmers are increasingly relying on soil additives such as compost tea that improve product quality, use less water, deter pests, and reduce reliance on chemical additives (Diver, 2002). But what exactly is compost tea? Do the benefits of using compost tea outweigh any concerns? For example, can it contain pathogens, and if so, do applicators have to worry about coming into contact with pathogens? This publication provides facts about making compost tea, and reviews both the benefits and potential disadvantages to help smallholder farmers to make educated decisions regarding the use of compost tea.
• Neyestani, M., Dickenson, E., McLain, J., Obergh, V., Quinones, O., Rock, C., & Gerrity, D. (2017). Solids retention time, influent antibiotic concentrations, and temperature as selective pressures for antibiotic resistance in activated sludge systems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY, 3(5), 883-896.
• Neyestani, M., Dickenson, E., McLain, J., Robleto, E., Rock, C., & Gerrity, D. (2017). Impacts of solids retention time on trace organic compound attenuation and bacterial resistance to trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. CHEMOSPHERE, 182, 149-158.
• Eden, S., Megdal, S. B., & Mclain, J. E. (2016). Potable Reuse of Water: A View from Arizona. Water Resources Impact, 18(4), 10-11.
• Franklin, A., Aga, D. S., Cytryn, E., Durso, L. M., Mclain, J. E., Pruden, A., Roberts, M. C., Rothrock, M. J., Snow, D. D., Watson, J. E., & Dungan, R. S. (2016). Antibiotics in Agroecosystems: Introduction. Journal of Environmental Quality, 45, 377-393.
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  The presence of antibiotic drug residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes in agroecosystems has become a significant area of research in recent years, and is a growing public health concern. While antibiotics are utilized for human medicine and agricultural practices, the majority of antibiotic use occurs in food animals where these drugs have historically been used for growth promotion, in addition to prevention and treatment of disease. The widespread use of antibiotics combined with the application of human and animal wastes to agricultural fields introduces antibiotic-related contamination into the environment. While overt toxicity from direct exposure to organisms is generally not an issue due to relatively low environmental concentrations of antibiotics, the impacts of introducing antibiotic contaminants are unknown, and concerns have arisen about the health of humans, animals and ecosystems (One Health). Despite increases in research focused on fate and occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance over the past decade, standard methodologies and practices for analyzing environmental samples are limited, and future research needs are becoming evident. To address these issues in detail, this special section was developed with a framework of five core review papers that address the (i) overall state of science of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems with a causal model; (ii) chemical analysis of antibiotics in the environment; (iii) necessity for background and baseline data for studies of antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems with a decision-making tool to assist in designing research studies; as well as (iv) culture- and (v) molecular-based methods for analyzing antibiotic resistance in the environment. With a focus on the core review papers, this introduction to the special section summarizes the current state of the art for analyzing antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems, while also discussing current knowledge gaps and future research priorities. This introduction also contains a glossary of terminologies that are commonly used throughout the special section. By defining these terminologies, it is hoped to provide a common language that clearly defines the linkages across the narratives of each paper.
• Hawes, M. C., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., Curlango-Rivera, G., Flores-Lara, Y., & Brigham, L. (2015). Extracellular Trapping of Soil Contaminants By Root Border Cells: New Insights into Plant Defense. Agronomy Journal, 6(5), 1-9. doi:10.3390/agronomy6010005
• Kabiri, L., Alum, A., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., & Abbasaadegan, M. (2016). A tool box strategy using Bacteroides genetic markers to identify microbial sources in natural waters. Science of the Total Environment, 572, 897-905.
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  Bacteroides genetic markers have been widely used to identify fecal pollution of water originating from human and animal sources. Many of the assays currently used for detecting human-specific Bacteroides produce falsepositive results. The focus of this study was to develop a microbial source tracking (MST) tool box strategy for differentiating Bacteroides from human and animal sources. Bacteroides 16S rRNA gene sequences from fish and selected animals were aligned against human fecal Bacteroides isolates to compare and characterize the variable regions within the 16S rRNA gene sequence. Conserved sequences between 4 variable regions were deleted and the truncated sequences were combined to develop a hyper-variable genomic segment (HVGS). The cladogram created from truncated sequences show aclear separation of Bacteroides from human feces and those from animal sources. The proposed strategy was field tested by collecting water samples from central Arizona source waters and three different recreational ponds. PCR using HF134 and HF183 primer sets was performed and sequences from positive reactions were aligned against human Bacteroides sequences to identify the source of contamination. Based on PCR results, the source of fecal contamination was presumptively identified as either human or from another source. For samples testing positive using the HF183 primer set (8/13), fecal contamination was presumed to be from human sources,
• Mclain, J. E. (2016). Arizona agriculture using recycled water. Arizona Water Resource, 24(4), 4-5.
• Mclain, J. E., Cytryn, E., Durso, L., & Young, S. (2016). Culture-based methods for detection of antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems: advantages, challenges, and gaps in knowledge. Journal of Environmental Quality, 45, 432-440.
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  Various culture-based methodologies are used in assessment of antibiotic resistance in samples collected in agroecosystems. Culture based methods commonly involve isolation of target bacteria on general or selective media, and assessing growth in response to specific concentrations of antibiotics. The advantages of culture-based methods are multi-fold. In particular, isolation of bacteria is key to understanding phenotypic characteristics of isolates and their resistance patterns, and most national and international antibiotic resistance monitoring projects are isolate-based. This review covers current knowledge of bacterial groups and antibiotics commonly targeted in resistance studies utilizing bacterial culture, and discusses the range in methods used, data interpretation, and factors supporting and confounding the use of culture-based methods in assessment of antibiotic resistance. Gaps in knowledge related to study design and resistance databases are discussed. Finally, a case is made for the integration of culture-based and molecular methods to better inform our understanding of antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems.
• Williams-Nguyen, J., Sallach, J. B., Bartelt-Hunt, S., Boxall, A. B., Durso, L. M., Mclain, J. E., Singer, R. S., Snow, D. D., & Zilles, J. L. (2016). Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems: state of the science. Journal of Environmental Quality, 45, 394-406.
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  We propose a simple causal model depicting relationships involved in dissemination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems and potential effects on human health, functioning of natural ecosystems, and agricultural productivity. Available evidence for each causal link is briefly summarized, and key knowledge gaps are highlighted. A lack of quantitative estimates of human exposure to environmental bacteria, in general, and antibiotic resistant bacteria, specifically, is a significant data gap hindering the assessment of effects on human health. The contribution of horizontal gene transfer to resistance in the environment and conditions which might foster the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes into human pathogens also need further research. Existing research has focused heavily on human health effects, with relatively little known about the effects of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance on natural and agricultural ecosystems. The proposed causal model is used to elucidate gaps in knowledge that must be addressed by the research community and may provide a useful starting point for the design and analysis of future research efforts.
• Harshman, D. K., Rao, B. M., Mclain, J. E., Watts, G. S., & Yoon, J. (2015). Interfacial effects revolutionize qPCR by low threshold cycle detection and inhibition relief. Science Advances, 1(8), e1400061. doi:10.1126/sciadv.1400061
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  Molecular diagnostics offer quick access to information but fail to operate at speeds required for clinical decision-making. Our novel methodology for droplet on thermocouple silhouette real-time PCR (DOTS qPCR) utilizes interfacial effects to achieve droplet actuation, inhibition relief and sensing, for a sample-to-answer time as short as 5 min. Towards diagnosis of infective endocarditis we demonstrate reproducibility, differentiation of antibiotic susceptibility, sub-picogram limit of detection, and thermocycling speeds of 28 s/cycle in the presence of tissue contaminants. Langmuir and Gibbs adsorption isotherms are used to describe interfacial tension decrease upon amplification, and a log-linear relationship is presented for real-time quantification at the fifth thermocycle, by imaging the droplet silhouette with a smartphone. Commercially available real-time PCR systems that rely on fluorescent detection have substantially higher threshold cycles and require expensive optical components and extensive sample preparation. Our work is the first demonstrated use of interfacial effects for sensing of reaction progress and will enable molecular diagnosis of infection at the point-of-care.
• Mclain, J. E., Cusimano, J., Rock, C. M., & Eden, S. (2015). Agricultural use of recycled water for crop production. University of Arizona Cooperative Extension Publications, az1670, 7.
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  Agriculture is by far the largest water-demanding sector in Arizona, accounting for 70% of water demand. Arizona’s agriculture industry is extremely diversified, producing many crops that can legally be irrigated with recycled water, including cotton, alfalfa, wheat, citrus, and vegetables. Throughout the State, farming communities are taking advantage of increasing supplies of recycled water. In many cases, this is a money-saving measure, as agricultural water transported over great distances (e.g., from the Colorado River) can require tremendous amounts of energy. While recycling water is also energetically intensive, performing wastewater recycling on site or nearby an agricultural field reduces the energy needed to move water longer distances or pump water from deep within an aquifer. In fact, the use of recycled water for agricultural irrigation is often limited by the distance of agricultural districts from large urban centers where water reclamation facilities are located.
• Mclain, J. E., Newman, K., Quintinar, D. L., Caggiano, C., & Arnold, R. G. (2015). Perspectives on research in water. The Kachina News.
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  When you hear the word research, what comes to mind? Technicians in white lab coats working with colored liquids at a lab bench? Or perhaps a library, with endless shelves of books, stretching from floor to ceiling? The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines research as the “careful study that is done to find and report new knowledge about something”. Although this definition may seem deceivingly simple, research means many things to many organizations. Those of us in the water industry know well that research is essential to the consistent production of a high quality product, especially in an ever changing regulatory environment. Whether research is produced by efforts of those on our staff, or those that we’ve hired, quality research is essential to informed decision making. Despite this, many water professionals may not agree as to what research is beyond the basic dictionary definition listed above. This confusion can compound the already complex challenges faced everyday by those in the water industry. Gaining a better understanding of the role research plays at various organizations in the water industry will illuminate the role of research in reaching our goals. In this article, we’ll investigate what research means to three experts representing academia, consultants, and utilities—three groups critical to successful research in the water industry.
• McLain, J. E., & Williams, C. F. (2014). Sustainability of water reclamation: Long-term recharge with reclaimed wastewater does not enhance antibiotic resistance in sediment bacteria. Sustainability (Switzerland), 6(3), 1313-1327.
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  Abstract: Wastewater reclamation for municipal irrigation is an increasingly attractive option for extending water supplies. However, public health concerns include the potential for development of antibiotic resistance (AR) in environmental bacteria after exposure to residual pharmaceuticals in reclaimed water. Though scientific studies have reported high levels of AR in soils irrigated with wastewater, these works often fail to address the soil resistome, or the natural occurrence of AR. This study compared AR patterns in sediment Enterococcus isolated from water storage basins containing either reclaimed water or groundwater in central Arizona. Resistance to 16 antibiotics was quantified in isolates to a depth of 30 cm. Results reveal high levels of resistance to certain antibiotics, including lincomycin, ciprofloxacin, and erythromycin, exists in sediments regardless of the water source (groundwater, reclaimed water), and higher AR was not detectable in reclaimed water sediments. Furthermore, multiple-antibiotic-resistance (MAR) was substantially reduced in isolates from reclaimed water sediments, compared to freshwater sediment isolates. Comparing the development of AR in sediment bacteria at these two sites will increase awareness of the environmental and public health impacts of using reclaimed water for irrigation of municipal areas, and illustrates the necessity for control sites in studies examining AR development in environmental microbiota.
• Yang, Y., Bi, X., Westerhoff, P., Hristovski, K., & Mclain, J. E. (2014). Engineered Nanomaterials Inhibit or Improve Biological Carbon Conversion in Soils. Environmental Engineering Science, 31, 381-392.
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  This paper has been submitted for peer review. My role in this project was to supervise an ASU postodoctoral researcher in all analysis of carbon cycling activities, and to aid in final editing of manuscript.
• Ajibode, A. M., Rock, C. M., Bright, K., Mclain, J. E., Gerba, C. P., & Pepper, I. L. (2013). Influence of residence time of reclaimed water within distribution systems on water quality. Journal of Water Reuse and Desalination, 12.
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  The abstract for the publication can be found at URL. My participation in this manuscript was to serve as a co-PI to procure funding for the project and to aid in microbiological analyses of samples and data analysis.
• Gallo, E., Gallo, E., Brooks, P., Brooks, P., Lohse, K., Lohse, K., McLain, J., & McLain, J. (2013). Temporal patterns and controls on runoff magnitude and solution chemistry of urban catchments in the semiarid southwestern United States. Hydrological Processes, 27, 16.
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  doi:10.1002/hyp.9199Abstract for this publication can be found at URL. My role in this publication was to manage all biological analyses of water samples, including enumeration of E. coli and classification of microbial activities, and to aid in final editing of manuscript.
• Kabiri, L., Alum, A., Rock, C., McLain, J. E., & Abbaszadegan, M. (2013). Isolation of bacteroides from fish and human fecal samples for identification of unique molecular markers. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 59(12), 771-777.
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  Abstract: Bacteroides molecular markers have been used to identify human fecal contamination in natural waters, but recent work in our laboratory confirmed cross-amplification of several human-specific Bacteroides spp. assays with fecal DNA from fish. For identification of unique molecular markers, Bacteroides from human (n = 4) and fish (n = 7) fecal samples were cultured and their identities were further confirmed using Rapid ID32A API strips. The 16S rDNA from multiple isolates from each sample was PCR amplified, cloned, and sequenced to identify unique markers for development of more stringent human-specific assays. In human feces, Bacteroides vulgatus was the dominant species (75% of isolates), whereas in tilapia feces, Bacteroides eggerthii was dominant (66%). Bacteroides from grass carp, channel catfish, and blue catfish may include Bacteroides uniformis, Bacteroides ovatus, or Bacteroides stercoris. Phylogenic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed distinct Bacteroides groupings from each fish species, while human sequences clustered with known B. vulgatus. None of the fish isolates showed significant similarity to Bacteroides sequences currently deposited in NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). This study expands the current sequence database of cultured fish Bacteroides. Such data are essential for identification of unique molecular markers in human Bacteroides that can be utilized in differentiating fish and human fecal contamination in water samples.
• Leal-Bautista, R. M., Lenczewski, M., Morgan, C., Gahala, A., & Mclain, J. E. (2013). Assessing fecal contamination in groundwater from the Tulum Region, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Journal of Environmental Protection, 4, 8.
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  The abstract for this publication can be found at URL. My role in this publication was to supervise all graduate students (2) working on biological analysis of water samples, assist in data analysis, and collaborate strongly on writing and editing of the manuscript.
• McLain, J. E., Rock, C. M., Kabiri, L., Alum, A., & Abbaszadegan, M. (2013). Isolation of Bacteroides from fish and human fecal samples for identification of unique molecular markers. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 59, 7.
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  The abstract for this publication can be found at URL. My role in this publication was to supervise all initial laboratory work in identification and quantification of Bacteroides using molecular methods. I aided in the supervision of a Ph.D. student, serving on her dissertation committee, and assisted in the development and editing of the final manuscript.
• Mclain, J. E. (2013). "Dinner for six" at the annual meetings. Crops, Soils, Agronomy News, 58(8), 38.
• Mclain, J. E. (2013). Integrity and ethics: meeting the career challenges that lie ahead. Crops, Soils, Agronomy News, 58(12), 34-35.
• Pepper, I. L., Gerba, C. P., Mclain, J. E., Bright, K. R., Rock, C. M., & Ajibode, O. M. (2013). Influence of residence time of reclaimed water within distribution systems on water quality. JOURNAL OF WATER REUSE AND DESALINATION, 3(3), 185-196. doi:https:/doi.org/10.2166/wrd.2013.088
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  The influence of residence time of reclaimed water within water distribution systems on microbial water quality was evaluated in two wastewater reclamation facilities in southern Arizona over a 15-month period. These utilities differed in age, geographic location, means of treatment, and disinfection (i.e. UV versus chlorine). At both facilities, samples were collected from the point of compliance (POC) directly after disinfection, and at discrete locations with increasing distance from the POC. Following entry into reclaimed water distribution systems, overall microbial water quality decreased rapidly due to microbial regrowth. However, following such regrowth, microbial concentrations remained relatively constant. Water-based opportunistic pathogens (Legionella, Mycobacterium, and Aeromonas) were frequently detected in both reclaimed water systems. In contrast, waterborne indicators such as Escherichia coli and Enterococcus were rarely detected, and only at low concentrations. These dates suggest the need for new indicators of water-based pathogens to be developed. Rechlorination in one of the distribution systems only reduced the concentration of bacteria temporarily due to rapid dissipation of chlorine, and subsequent regrowth of both water-based pathogens and indicators. Amoebic activity was detected in approximately one-third of all samples tested from both utilities, but was not correlated with either water-based pathogens or indicators.
• Unger, I. M., Goyne, K. W., Kennedy, A. C., Kremer, R. J., McLain, J. E., & Williams, C. F. (2013). Antibiotic effects on microbial community characteristics in soils under conservation management practices. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 77(1), 100-112.
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  Abstract: Veterinary antibiotics (VAs) administered to livestock are introduced to agroecosystems via land application of manure, posing a potential human and environmental health risk. Recent evidence suggests that agroforestry and grass vegetative filter strips (VFS) may act to mitigate VA transport or enhance VA degradation; however, VAs may adversely affect soil microbial communities within VFS and thus alter the primary functioning of the VFS. The objectives of this research were to investigate potential changes in microbial community structure and function and to quantify the development of antibiotic resistance in VFS and no-till soils exposed to various VA classes and concentrations. Laboratory mesocosms were established using soils collected from no-till cropland and two VFS (grass and agroforestry). Soils were treated with oxytetracycline or lincomycin (5-200 mg kg-1 soil). Individual mesocosms underwent destructive sampling at nine time points during 63 d, and the soils were tested for soil microbial function (C-utilization, dehydrogenase, and fluorescein diacetate hydrolysis assays), community structure (phospholipid fatty acid analysis), and antibiotic resistance. Functional assays associated with all VA treatments showed an initial inhibitory effect, but this trend was generally reversed by the seventh day. Shifts in microbial community structure and increased antibiotic resistance were not observed, suggesting that the soil microbial communities were robust to the effects of oxytetracycline and lincomycin at test concentrations. This work indicates that using VFS to mitigate VA loss from agroecosystems will not diminish important primary functions associated with VFS use in agriculture. © Soil Science Society of America.
• Wall, G., Wall, G., McLain, J., McLain, J., Kimball, B., Kimball, B., White, J., White, J., Ottman, M., Ottman, M., Garcia, R., & Garcia, R. (2013). Infrared warming affects intrarow soil CO2 efflux during vegetative growth of spring wheat. Agronomy Journal, 105(3), 12.
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  doi: 10.2134/agronj2012.0356Abstract of this publication can be found at URL. My role in this publication was to complete all microbiological analyses by quantitative PCR, assist in data analysis, and assist in final editing of manuscript.
• Cavigelli, ., Del, G. S., Liebig, M., Snyder, C., Fixen, P., Venterea, R., Leytem, A., McLain, J., & Watts, ,. (2012). U.S. agricultural N2O emissions: context, status, and trends. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10(10), 536-5347.
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  doi:10.1890/120054
• Cavigelli, M. A., J., S., Liebig, M. A., Snyder, C. S., Fixen, P. E., Venterea, R. T., Leytem, A. B., McLain, J. E., & Watts, D. B. (2012). US agricultural nitrous oxide emissions: Context, status, and trends. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10(10), 537-546.
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  Abstract: The use of commercial nitrogen (N) fertilizers has led to enormous increases in US agricultural productivity. However, N losses from agricultural systems have resulted in numerous deleterious environmental impacts, including a continuing increase in atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O), a greenhouse gas (GHG) and an important catalyst of stratospheric ozone depletion. Although associated with about 7% of total US GHG emissions, agricultural systems account for 75% of total US N2O emissions. Increased productivity in the crop and livestock sectors during the past 30 to 70 years has resulted in decreased N2O emissions per unit of production, but N2O emissions from US agriculture continue to increase at a rate of approximately 0.46 teragrams of carbon dioxide equivalents per year (2002 - 2009). This rate is lower than that during the late 20th century. Improvements in agricultural productivity alone may be insufficient to lead to reduced emissions; implementing strategies specifically targeted at reducing N2O emissions may therefore be necessary. © The Ecological Society of America.
• E., J., & Williams, C. F. (2012). Assessing environmental impacts of treated wastewater through monitoring of fecal indicator bacteria and salinity in irrigated soils. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 184(3), 1559-1572.
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  PMID: 21603923;Abstract: To assess the potential for treated wastewater irrigation to impact levels of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and salinity in irrigated soils, levels of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus, and environmental covariates were measured in a treated wastewater holding pond (irrigation source water), water leaving the irrigation system, and in irrigated soils over 2 years in a municipal parkland in Arizona. Higher E. coli levels were measured in the pond in winter (56 CFU 100 mL -1) than in summer (17 CFU 100 mL -1); however, in the irrigation system, levels of FIB decreased from summer (26 CFU 100 mL -1) to winter (4 CFU 100 mL -1), possibly related to low winter water use and corresponding death of residual bacteria within the system. For over 2 years, no increase in FIB was found in irrigated soils, though highest E. coli levels (700 CFU g -1 soil) were measured in deeper (20-25 cm) soils during summer. Measurements of water inputs vs. potential evapotranspiration indicate that irrigation levels may have been sufficient to generate bacterial percolation to deeper soil layers during summer. No overall increase in soil salinity resulting from treated wastewater irrigation was detected, but distinct seasonal peaks as high as 4 ds m -1 occurred during both summers. The peaks significantly declined in winter when surface ET abated and more favorable water balances could be maintained. Monitoring of seasonal shifts in irrigation water quality and/or factors correlated with increases and decreases in FIB will aid in identification of any public health or environmental risks that could arise from the use of treated wastewater for irrigation. © 2011 Springer.
• Gallo, E., Brooks, P., Lohse, K., & McLain, J. (2012). Land cover controls on summer discharge and runoff solution chemistry of semi-arid urban catchments. Journal of Hydrology, 11(54).
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  doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2012.11.054
• Gallo, E., Lohse, K., Brooks, P., McIntosh, J., Meixner, T., & McLain, J. (2012). Quantifying the effects of stream channels on storm water quality in a semi-arid urban environment. Journal of Hydrology, 470-471, 98-110.
• Liebig, M. A., Dong, X., McLain, J. E., & Dell, C. J. (2012). Greenhouse gas flux from managed grasslands in the U.S. Managing Agricultural Greenhouse Gases, 183-202.
• McLain, J. (2012). Communicating your talents to prospective employers: effective presentation techniques. CSA News, 57, 45-47.
• McLain, J. (2012). The decision process in changing jobs. CSA News, 57(11), 29-30.
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  This article was re-printed in the quarterly geoscience newsletter, "Geospectrum" in December 2012 (www.agiweb.org/geospectrum), pp. 17-18.
• Rock, C., McLain, J., & GerrityD, . (2012). Common terminology of water recycling. Arizona Cooperative Extension, #AZ1569.
• Rock, C., McLain, J., & GerrityD, . (2012). Water recycling FAQs. Arizona Cooperative Extension, #AZ1568.
• Rock, C., McLain, J., Graf, C., Scott, C., & Megdal, S. (2012). Arizona blue ribbon panel on water sustainability.. Arizona Cooperative Extension, #AZ1567.
• Unger, I., Goyne, K., Kennedy, A., Kremer, R., McLain, J., & Williams, C. (2012). The effects of veterinary antibiotics on soil microbial community characteristics in vegetative filter strips and cropland soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 77(100).
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  doi:10.2136/sssaj2012.0099
• Williams, C. F., & Mclain, J. E. (2012). Soil persistence and fate of carbamazepine, lincomycin, caffeine, and ibuprofen from wastewater reuse. Journal of Environmental Quality, 41(5), 1473-1480.
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  PMID: 23099938;Abstract: The reuse of treated wastewater for groundwater recharge is an eff ective way to provide advanced treatment and water storage. Contaminants such as human drugs have been identifi ed as a potential problem for use of this water. Gilbert, Arizona maintains a 28.3-ha facility designed to recharge 15,150 m3 d-1 through recharge basins constructed on native soil. Th e facility averages an infi ltration rate of >5 cm d-1, resulting in the potential of pharmaceutical compounds leaching to groundwater. One 4-ha basin was selected for spatial sampling of four pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). Th e compounds were carbamazepine, lincomycin, ibuprofen, and caff eine. Soils were extracted and analyzed using pressurized liquid extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-mass spectrometry. Th e concentration of ibuprofen was below detection limits in all samples. Lincomycin exhibited no net accumulation from year to year but had signifi cantly higher concentrations from depths of 0 to 5 cm than from depths >10 cm. Carbamazepine had the lowest concentration at 0 to 5 cm (0.18 ng g soil-1), providing evidence that there is potential degradation of carbamazepine in surface soils. Carbamazepine also exhibited signifi cant accumulation from year to year. Caff eine exhibited net accumulation and had higher concentrations in surface samples. Th e accumulation of PhACs in the soil beneath recharge basins indicates that PhACs are being removed from the infi ltrating water and that, regarding ibuprofen and lincomycin, the treatment is sustainable due to the lack of accumulation. Regarding carbamazepine and caff eine, further investigations are needed to determine possible management and environmental conditions that could prevent accumulation. © 2012 by the American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, and Soil Science Society of America.
• Abbaszadegan, M., Kabiri, L., Alum, A., Rock, C., & E., J. (2011). The use of Bacteroides specific molecular markers to identify sources of fecal contamination in natural waters. Water Quality Technology Conference and Exposition 2011, 702-714.
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  Abstract: Knowing the origin of fecal pollution of water is paramount in assessing the safety of surface waters and in developing effective pollution control strategies. Bacteroides-specific molecular markers have been widely used to differentiate human sources of fecal bacteria from other sources in waters. However, recent work in our lab indicated that many assays/methods currently used to detect human-specific Bacteroides produce false positive results in the presence of fish (tilapia, catfish, trout, salmon) fecal DNA, which is widely prevalent in surface waters. Evaluation of five protocols previously reported as human-specific showed that in 80% of cases fecal DNA from at least one fish species was amplified providing false positive results. This situation highlights the need for accurate molecular assays for the identification of fecal sources from human origin. It was hypothesized that sequencing of the Bacteroides genome from pure culture isolates from fish and human feces may help in identifying unique molecular markers, which can potentially be used to develop a more stringent assay that can be utilized to differentiate between human and fish fecal pollution of surface water. Total Bacteroides from human and fish feces were isolated using blood agar and each isolate was further streaked on BBE agar to obtain pure cultures. The pure cultures were enriched in Chopped Meat Broth Medium and identified using rapid ID 32A API strip. In human feces, B. vulgatus were the dominant species; whereas, B. eggerthii were the dominant species in tilapia feces. Bacteroides from grass carp, channel catfish and blue catfish were either B. uniformis, B. ovatus, or B. sterocoris. The pure cultures of Bacteroides species from human and fish were sequenced and genomic data was analyzed to assess relatedness of Bacteroides isolates. Sequences from cultured human Bacteroides, and sequences from each of the cultured fish Bacteroides (tilapia, grass carp, blue catfish, channel cat fish and trout) were aligned using Multi-align interface software. Phylogenic analyses showed distinct Bacteroides groupings from each fish species, while human sequences clustered with B. vulgatus. Bioinformatics analyses of genomic data identified the regions of 16S rRNA with the highest variability. These variable regions will provide a basis for developing a new microbial source tracking method targeting a human-specific Bacteroides molecular marker. 2011 © American Water Works Association AWWA WQTC Conference Proceedings All Rights Reserved.
• Pachepsky, Y., Shelton, D. R., McLain, J. E., Patel, J., & Mandrell, R. E. (2011). Irrigation Waters as a Source of Pathogenic Microorganisms in Produce. A Review. Advances in Agronomy, 113, 73-138.
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  Abstract: There is increasing evidence that consumption of raw fresh produce is a major factor contributing to human gastrointestinal illness. A wide variety of pathogens contribute to food-borne illnesses, including bacteria (e.g., Salmonella, pathogenic Escherichia coli), protozoa (e.g., Cryptosporidium, Giardia), and viruses (e.g., noroviruses). Large-scale production of produce typically requires some form of irrigation during the growing season. There is a rapidly growing body of research documenting and elucidating the pathways of produce contamination by water-borne pathogens. However, many gaps still exist in our knowledge and understanding. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive approach to the issue, including the most recent research. Topics covered include: temporal and spatial variability, and regional differences, in pathogen and indicator organism concentrations in water; direct and circumstantial evidence for contaminated water as a source of food-borne pathogens; fate and transport of pathogens and indicator organisms in irrigation systems, and the role of environmental microbial reservoirs; and current standards for irrigation water quality, and risk assessment. A concerted effort by researchers and practitioners is needed to maintain food safety of fresh produce in an increasingly intensive food production system and limited and declining irrigation water resources. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.
• E., J., & Williams, C. F. (2010). Development of antibiotic resistance in bacteria of soils irrigated with reclaimed wastewater. ASABE - 5th National Decennial Irrigation Conference 2010, Held in Conjunction with Irrigation Show 2010, 2, 1065-1073.
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  Abstract: Wastewater reclamation for municipal irrigation is an increasingly attractive option for extending water supplies. However, public health concerns include the potential for development of antibiotic resistance (AR) in soil bacteria after exposure to residual chemicals in reclaimed water. Though scientific studies have reported high levels of AR in soils irrigated with wastewater, these works often ignore the natural occurrence of soil AR. We are comparing AR patterns in soil Enterococcus isolated from water storage basins recharged with either reclaimed water or groundwater in central Arizona. Resistance to 16 antibiotics is being quantified from the soil surface (0-5 cm) to a depth of 30 cm. Results reveal that resistance to multiple antibiotics, including tetracycline, daptomycin, and erythromycin, exists in soils regardless of the water source (groundwater, reclaimed water). Though resistance patterns differ between bacteria isolated from soils from the two treatments, overall AR is not increased in soils exposed to reclaimed water. Comparing the development of AR in soil bacteria at these two sites will increase awareness of the environmental and public health impacts of using reclaimed water for irrigation of municipal areas.
• McLain, J. E., Ryu, H., Kabiri-Badr, L., Rock, C. M., & Abbaszadegan, M. (2009). Lack of specificity for PCR assays targeting human Bacteroides 16S rRNA gene: Cross-amplification with fish feces. FEMS Microbiology Letters, 299(1), 38-43.
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  PMID: 19686344;Abstract: Methods focused on members of the genus Bacteroides have been increasingly utilized in microbial source-tracking studies for identifying and quantifying sources of nonpoint fecal contamination. We present results using standard and real-time PCR to show cross-amplification of Bacteroides 16S rRNA gene molecular assays targeting human fecal pollution with fecal DNA from freshwater fish species. All except one of the presumptively human-specific assays amplified fecal DNA from at least one fish species, and one real-time PCR assay amplified DNA from all fish species tested. Sequencing of PCR amplicons generated from fish fecal DNA using primers from the real-time assay revealed no mismatches to the human-specific probe sequences, but the nucleotide sequences of clones from fish fecal samples differed markedly from those of human feces, suggesting that the fish-related bacteria may be different strains. Our results strongly demonstrate the potential for cross-amplification of human-specific PCR assays with fish feces, and may call into question the results of studies in which these Bacteroides-specific molecular markers are used to quantify human fecal contamination in waters where fish contribute to fecal inputs. © 2009 Federation of European Microbiological Societies Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• E., J., & Ahmann, D. M. (2008). Increased moisture and methanogenesis contribute to reduced methane oxidation in elevated CO₂ soils. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 44(4), 623-631.
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  Abstract: Awareness of global warming has stimulated research on environmental controls of soil methane (CH4) consumption and the effects of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) on the terrestrial CH4 sink. In this study, factors impacting soil CH4 consumption were investigated using laboratory incubations of soils collected at the Free Air Carbon Transfer and Storage I site in the Duke Forest, NC, where plots have been exposed to ambient (370 μL L-1) or elevated (ambient+200 μL L-1) CO2 since August 1996. Over 1 year, nearly 90% of the 360 incubations showed net CH4 consumption, confirming that CH4-oxidizing (methanotrophic) bacteria were active. Soil moisture was significantly (p
• McLain, J. E., & Williams, C. F. (2008). Seasonal variation in accurate identification of Escherichia coli within a constructed wetland receiving tertiary-treated municipal effluent. Water Research, 42(15), 4041-4048.
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  PMID: 18674793;Abstract: As the reuse of municipal wastewater escalates worldwide as a means to extend increasingly limited water supplies, accurate monitoring of water quality parameters, including Escherichia coli (E. coli), increases in importance. Chromogenic media are often used for detection of E. coli in environmental samples, but the presence of unique levels of organic and inorganic compounds alters reclaimed water chemistry, potentially hindering E. coli detection using enzyme-based chromogenic technology. Over seven months, we monitored E. coli levels using m-Coli Blue 24® broth in a constructed wetland filled with tertiary-treated municipal effluent. No E. coli were isolated in the wetland source waters, but E. coli, total coliforms, and heterotrophic bacteria increased dramatically within the wetland on all sampling dates, most probably due to fecal inputs from resident wildlife populations. Confirmatory testing of isolates presumptive for E. coli revealed a 41% rate of false-positive identification using m-Coli Blue 24® broth over seven months. Seasonal differences were evident, as false-positive rates averaged 35% in summer, but rose sharply to 75% in the late fall and winter. Corrected E. coli levels were significantly correlated with electrical conductivity, indicating that water chemistry may be controlling bacterial survival within the wetland. This is the first study to report that accuracy of chromogenic media for microbial enumeration in reclaimed water may show strong seasonal differences, and highlights the importance of validation of microbiological results from chromogenic media for accurate analysis of reclaimed water quality.
• E., J., & Martens, D. A. (2006). Moisture controls on trace gas fluxes in semiarid riparian soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 70(2), 367-377.
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  Abstract: Variability in seasonal soil moisture (SM) and temperature (T) can alter ecosystem/atmosphere exchange of the trace gases carbon dioxide (CO 2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4). This study reports the impact of year-round SM status on trace gas fluxes in three semiarid vegetation zones, mesquite (30 g organic C kg-1 soil), open/ forb (6 g organic C kg-1 soil), and sacaton (18 g organic C kg-1 soil) from July 2002-September 2003 in southeastern Arizona. Carbon dioxide and N2O emissions were highly dependent on available SM and T. During the heavy rains of the 2002 monsoon (238 mm total rainfall), large differences in soil C content did not correlate with variations in CO 2 production, as efflux averaged 235.6 ± 39.5 mg CO 2 m-2 h-1 over all sites. In 2003, limited monsoon rain (95 mm total rainfall) reduced CO2 emissions by 19% (mesquite), 40% (open), and 30% (sacaton), compared with 2002. Nitrous oxide emissions averaged 21.1 ± 13.4 (mesquite), 2.1 ± 4.4 (open), and 3.9 ± 5.2 μg N2O m-2 h-1 (sacaton) during the 2002 monsoon. Limited monsoon 2003 rainfall reduced N2O emissions by 47% in the mesquite, but N2O production increased in the open (55%) and sacaton (5%) sites. Following a dry winter and spring 2002 (15 mm total rainfall), premonsoon CH4 consumption at all sites was close to zero, but following monsoon moisture input, the CH4 sink averaged 26.1 ± 6.3 μg CH4 m-2 h-1 through April 2003. Laboratory incubations showed potentials for CH4 oxidation from 0 to 45 cm, suggesting that as the soil surface dried, CH 4 oxidation activity shifted downward in the sandy soils. Predicted climate change shifts in annual precipitation from one dominated by summer monsoon rainfall to one with higher winter precipitation may reduce soil CO 2 and N2O emissions while promoting CH4 oxidation rates in semiarid riparian soils of the Southwest, potentially acting as a negative feedback for future global warming. © Soil Science Society of America.
• McLain, J. E., & Martens, D. A. (2006). N₂O production by heterotrophic N transformations in a semiarid soil. Applied Soil Ecology, 32(2), 253-263.
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  Abstract: Emissions of N2O from soils of the Southwestern US are thought to result from the activity of anaerobic denitrifying bacteria, but the seasonal dryness and sandy texture of these soils are more conducive to the activities of aerobic microbes. Here, we present incubations of semiarid soils with added compounds known to stimulate the N-cycling processes ammonification (proteins, oligopeptides, and amino acids (AAs)), nitrification (NH4+ and NO2-), and denitrification (NO3- ± glucose). Non-flooded (-34 kPa) incubations with added organic N determined that oligopeptides (four AA in length) resulted in the highest potential N2O flux over a 12-d incubation period (66 ng N2O g-1 soil d-1), three times that of proteins (21 ng N2O g-1 soil d-1) or AAs (24 ng N2O g-1 soil d-1). Initial N2O production in incubations with added organic N decreased by more than 63% with addition of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of fungal activity, but additions of a bacterial inhibitor (streptomycin) increased N2O flux by 100%. Additions of NH4+ and NO2- resulted in little NO3- production during the 12-d incubation, indicating that autotrophic N transformations were limited. Flooded soil (0 kPa) incubations with added NO3- and glucose resulted in considerable N2O production by day 2 (200 ng N2O g-1 soil d-1), but 0 kPa incubations without glucose produced less than 10 ng N2O g-1 soil d-1 revealing C, rather than water, limitations on denitrification in semiarid soils. Incubation of soils (-34 kPa) with 15N-labeled substrates known to stimulate N mineralization and nitrification processes showed differences in 15N2O production after addition of glutamine (3 ng 15N2O g-1 soil d-1), NH4+ (16 ng 15N2O g-1 soil d-1), NO2- (26 ng 15N2O g-1 soil d-1), and NO3- (1 ng 15N2O g-1 soil d-1). All 15N treatments produced similar native N2O efflux of 12 ng 14N2O g-1 soil d-1 through the incubation period. The limitations of C and H2O and minimal autotrophic N activity suggest that heterotrophic N-cycling processes may be responsible for most of the in situ N transformations and N2O production in this system.
• Barron-Gafford, G., Martens, D., Grieve, K., Biel, K., Kudeyarov, V., McLain, J. E., Lipson, D., & Murthy, R. (2005). Growth of Eastern Cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) in elevated [CO₂] stimulates stand-level respiration and rhizodeposition of carbohydrates, accelerates soil nutrient depletion, yet stimulates above- and belowground biomass production. Global Change Biology, 11(8), 1220-1233.
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  Abstract: We took advantage of the distinctive system-level measurement capabilities of the Biosphere 2 Laboratory (B2L) to examine the effects of prolonged exposure to elevated [CO2] on carbon flux dynamics, above- and belowground biomass changes, and soil carbon and nutrient capital in plantation forest stands over 4 years. Annually coppiced stands of eastern cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) were grown under ambient (400 ppm) and two levels of elevated (800 and 1200 ppm) atmospheric [CO2] in carbon and N-replete soils of the Intensive Forestry Mesocosm in the B2L. The large semiclosed space of B2L uniquely enabled precise CO2 exchange measurements at the near ecosystem scale. Highly controllable climatic conditions within B2L also allowed for reproducible examination of CO2 exchange under different scales in space and time. Elevated [CO2] significantly stimulated whole-system maximum net CO2 influx by an average of 21% and 83% in years 3 and 4 of the experiment. Over the 4-year experiment, cumulative belowground, foliar, and total aboveground biomass increased in both elevated [CO2] treatments. After 2 years of growth at elevated [CO2], early season stand respiration was decoupled from CO2 influx aboveground, presumably because of accelerated fine root production from stored carbohydrates in the coppiced system prior to canopy development and to the increased soil carbohydrate status under elevated [CO2] treatments. Soil respiration was stimulated by elevated [CO2] whether measured at the system level in the undisturbed soil block, by soil collars in situ, or by substrate-induced respiration in vitro. Elevated [CO2] accelerated depletion of soil nutrients, phosphorus, calcium and potassium, after 3 years of growth, litter removal, and coppicing, especially in the upper soil profile, although total N showed no change. Enhancement of above- and belowground biomass production by elevated [CO2] accelerated carbon cycling through the coppiced system and did not sequester additional carbon in the soil. © 2005 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• Logan, M. V., Reardon, K. F., Figueroa, L. A., McLain, J. E., & Ahmann, D. M. (2005). Microbial community activities during establishment, performance, and decline of bench-scale passive treatment systems for mine drainage. Water Research, 39(18), 4537-4551.
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  PMID: 16213004;Abstract: Permeable reactive barrier (PRB) technology, in which sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) facilitate precipitation of metal sulfides, is a promising approach for remediation of sulfate- and metal-laden mine drainage. While PRBs are easily established, they often decline for reasons not well understood. SRB depend on or compete with multiple dynamic microbial populations within a PRB; as a result, performance depends on the changing PRB chemical composition and on succession and competition within the microbial community. To investigate these interactions, we constructed and monitored eight bench-scale PRBs to define periods of establishment, performance, and decline. We then conducted short-term batch studies, using substrate-supplemented column materials, on Days 0 (pre-establishment), 27 (establishment), 41 (performance), and 99 (decline) to reveal potential activities of cellulolytic bacteria, fermenters+anaerobic respirers, SRB, and methanogens. PRBs showed active sulfate reduction, with sulfate removal rates (SRR) of ∼1-3 mol/m3/d, as well as effective removal of Zn2+. Potential activities of fermentative+anaerobic respiratory bacteria were initially high but diminished greatly during establishment and dropped further during performance and decline. In contrast, potential SRB activity rose during establishment, peaked during performance, and diminished as performance declined. Potential methanogen activity was low; in addition, SRB-methanogen substrate competition was shown not to limit SRB activity. Cellulolytic bacteria showed no substrate limitation at any time. However, fermenters experienced substrate limitation by Day 0, SRB by Day 27, and methanogens by Day 41, showing the dependence of each group on upstream populations to provide substrates. All potential activities, except methanogenesis, were ultimately limited by cellulose hydrolysis; in addition, all potential activities except methanogenesis declined substantially by Day 99, showing that long-term substrate deprivation strongly diminished the intrinsic capacity of the PRB community to perform. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
• Martens, D. A., Emmerich, W., McLain, J. E., & Johnsen, T. N. (2005). Atmospheric carbon mitigation potential of agricultural management in the southwestern USA. Soil and Tillage Research, 83(1 SPEC. ISS.), 95-119.
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  Abstract: Agriculture in the southwestern USA is limited by water supply due to high evaporation and limited seasonal precipitation. Where water is available, irrigation allows for production of a variety of agricultural and horticultural crops. This review assesses the impacts of agriculture on greenhouse gas emission and sequestration of atmospheric C in soils of the hot, dry region of the southwestern USA. In Texas, conservation tillage increased soil organic C by 0.28 Mg C ha-1 year-1 compared with more intensive tillage. Conversion of tilled row crops to the conservation reserve program or permanent pastures increased soil organic C by 0.32 ± 0.50 Mg C ha -1 year-1. Soil organic C sequestration was dependent on rotation, previous cropping, and type of conservation tillage employed. Relatively few studies have interfaced management and C cycling to investigate the impacts of grazing management on soil organic C, and therefore, no estimate of C balance was available. Irrigated crop and pasture land in Idaho had soil organic C content 10-40 Mg C ha-1 greater than in dryland, native grassland. Soil salinity must be controlled in cropland as soil organic C content was lower with increasing salinity. Despite 75% of the region's soils being classified as calcic, the potential for sequestration of C as soil carbonate has been only scantly investigated. The region may be a significant sink for atmospheric methane, although in general, trace gas flux from semiarid soils lacks adequate characterization. Agricultural impacts on C cycling will have to be better understood in order for effective C sequestration strategies to emerge.
• McLain, J. E., & Martens, D. A. (2005). Nitrous oxide flux from soil amino acid mineralization. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 37(2), 289-299.
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  Abstract: Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a greenhouse gas produced during microbial transformation of soil N that has been implicated in global climate warming. Nitrous oxide efflux from N fertilized soils has been modeled using NO3- content with a limited success, but predicting N 2O production in non-fertilized soils has proven to be much more complex. The present study investigates the contribution of soil amino acid (AA) mineralization to N2O flux from semi-arid soils. In laboratory incubations (-34 kPa moisture potential), soil mineralization of eleven AAs (100 μg AA-N g-1 soil) promoted a wide range in the production of N2O (156.0±79.3 ng N2O-N g-1 soil) during 12 d incubations. Comparison of the δ13C content (‰) of the individual AAs and the δ13C signature of the respired AA-CO2-C determined that, with the exception of TYR, all of the AAs were completely mineralized during incubations, allowing for the calculation of a N2O-N conversion rate from each AA. Next, soils from three different semi-arid vegetation ecosystems with a wide range in total N content were incubated and monitored for CO2 and N2O efflux. A model utilizing CO2 respired from the three soils as a measure of organic matter C mineralization, a preincubation soil AA composition of each soil, and the N2O-N conversion rate from the AA incubations effectively predicted the range of N2O production by all three soils. Nitrous oxide flux did not correspond to factors shown to influence anaerobic denitrification, including soil NO3- contents, soil moisture, oxygen consumption, and CO2 respiration, suggesting that nitrification and aerobic nitrifier denitrification could be contributing to N2O production in these soils. Results indicate that quantification of AA mineralization may be useful for predicting N2O production in soils.
• McLain, J. E., Kepler, T. B., & Ahmann, D. M. (2002). Belowground factors mediating changes in methane consumption in a forest soil under elevated CO₂. Global Biogeochemical Cycles, 16(3), 23-1.
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  Abstract: The sustained increase in atmospheric CO2 concentration observed over the past century, and projected to continue into the next, is of great significance for atmospheric CH4. Effects of elevated CO2 on microbial methane cycling are potentially mediated by its effects on plant physiology, which include enhancement of carbon assimilation, belowground carbon allocation, and water use efficiency. To determine the importance of such changes for methane cycling, belowground factors impacting soil CH4 consumption were investigated at the Free Air Carbon Transfer and Storage (FACTS)-I site in the Duke Forest, North Carolina, in which plots have been exposed to ambient (370 ppm) or elevated (ambient + 200 ppm) CO2 since August 1996. CH4 fluxes at the soil surface, porespace concentrations of CH4, O2, and CO2, soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil pH were simultaneously measured over 24 months. Porespace CH4 concentrations were highest (1.98 ± 0.25 ppm) at the soil surface and decreased to 0.65 ± 0.22 ppm at 30 cm, indicating that methanotrophic activity was depleting CH4 in the upper soil layers and creating a gradient to draw atmospheric CH4 into the soil. This was confirmed by surface CH4 flux measurements, which averaged -1.54 ± 0.65 μmol/m2/h. Under elevated CO2, porespace CH4 was 25-30% higher in the upper 70 cm of soils; CH4 fluxes from the atmosphere into soil were diminished by ∼25%; soil CO2 increased by 10-70%; and volumetric soil moisture was greater by up to 40% during some seasons. Statistical modeling revealed that soil moisture strongly predicted variability in surface CH4 fluxes and that soil CO2 and soil moisture both predicted variability in soil CH4. Results also indicated that a portion of the net CH4 sink inhibition in elevated CO2 soils could be attributable to alterations in soil biological processes, suggesting that changes in the CH4- cycling microbial ecology had taken place.

Proceedings Publications

• Franklin, A., Andrews, D., Mclain, J. E., & Watson, J. (2014, November). Presence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance at Penn State's Living Filter: a wastewater renovation site. In Allegheny Branch of the American Society for Microbiology Annual Meeting.
• Hristovski, K., Wang, Y., Buck, N., Westerhoff, P., & McLain, J. (2012, August). Environmental releases of engineered nanomaterial resulting from biosolids disposal to land and air. In 2012 Meeting of the American Chemical Society.
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  8/22/2012
• McLain, J., & Rock, C. (2012, May). Research promoting safe and sustainable water reuse at the University of Arizona. In 2012 National Water Conference: Land and Sea Grant Initiatives for a Changing World.
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  5/20/2012
• McLain, J., & Rock, C. (2012, September). Minimal production of algal toxins in recycled wastewater retention ponds. In WateReuse Association Proceedings of the 27th Annual WateReuse Symposium.
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  09/09-09/12/2012
• McLain, J., Lohse, K., & Harman, C. (2012, December). Soil microbial activity elucidates unique soil carbon transport patterns within resource islands on semi-arid hillslopes. In American Geophysical Union 2012 Fall Meeting.
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  12/2/2012
• McLain, J., Rock, C., Walston, S., Westerhoff, P., Arnold, J., Johnson, M., & Jin, V. (2012, November). Trends in bacterial antibiotic resistance in soils following long-term biosolids application. In 2012 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meetings.
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  11/3/2012
• Thomure, T., Rahman, R., Williams, D., Rock, C., Pepper, I., McLain, J., Lansey, K., & Choi, C. (2012, May). Outcomes of WateReuse Foundation project 08-04: approaches to maintain consistently high quality recycled water in storage and distribution systems. In Spring 2012 Meeting of the AZ Water Association.
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  5/12/2012
• Walston, S., Rock, C., McLain, J., & McClain, G. (2012, June). Does increasing solids retention time in the wastewater treatment process affect the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes?. In 2012 Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology.
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  6/16/2012
• Walston, S., Rock, C., McLain, J., Abrell, L., & Gerrity, D. (2012, May). Does increasing solids retention time in the wastewater treatment process affect the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes?. In 2012 AZ Water Meeting.
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  5/3/2012

Presentations

• Mclain, J. E. (2021, July). Water from a public and environmental health perspective, OR...recycled water: is it for drinking?. Arizona Senior Academy. Vail, Arizona.
• Mclain, J. E. (2021, November). One-health perspectives from agriculture, veterinary, environmental sectors: what is each doing to address AMR and what are the priorities and gaps?. World Antimicrobial Resistance Congress. Washington, DC.
• Tasnim, A., Annabelle, G., Norma, V., Palawat, K., Lisa, O., Margaret, D., Theresa, F., Cortez, I., Kaufmann, D. B., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Sandoval, F., Sandhaus, S., & Ramirez, M. D. (2021). Building a transdisciplinary, bilingual community science program to advance environmental health in underserved communities. Citizen Science AssociationCitizen Science Association.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, March). Are we spreading antibiotic resistance in the environment with recycled wastewater? Separating the knowns from the unknowns. Science Advocacy Speaker Series. Tucson, Arizona: Speaker Series for March for Science Arizona.
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  McLain, J.E. Are we spreading antibiotic resistance in the environment with recycled wastewater? Separating the knowns from the unknowns. Science Advocacy Speaker Series for March for Science Arizona; Tucson, Arizona, March 11, 2019.
• Mclain, J. E. (2020, August 2020). Using antibiotic resistance tools to examine food safety questions. University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium Fall Seminar Series. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium.
• Mclain, J. E. (2020, November 2020). Impacts of the Faculty Fellowship Tour on sustainable nation events in Israel. Jewish National Fund Online Seminar Series. Online: Jewish National Fund.
• Mclain, J. E., Curlango-Rivera, G., Root, R. A., & Thomas, R. (2020, December). Heavy metal(loid) contamination of medicinal plants: implications for public health of indigenous people. AGU Fall Meeting. Virtual: American Geophysical Union.
• Moses, A. J., Ramirez, M. D., Rutin, E. J., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Rutin, E. J., Mclain, J. E., Moses, A. J., & Ramirez, M. D. (2020, October). The efficacy of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) tests for detecting microbial contamination in harvested rainwater samples. UNC Water and Health Conference. Chapel Hill, NC (Online): University of North Carolina School of Public Health.
• Kaufmann, D., Villagomez, N., Davis, L., Moses, A., Solis-Leon, J., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019, March). Project Harvest Be Informed. Grow Smarter. Brown Bag Seminar,. Tucson, AZ: Water Research Resource Center, Villagomez-Marquez N. Davis L, and Kaufmann D,.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, April). Searching for toxin-producing algae in recycled wastewater. 2019 AZ Water Conference. Phoenix, Arizona: AZ Water.
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  McLain, J.E. Searching for toxin-producing algae in recycled wastewater. 2019 AZ Water Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, April 18, 2019.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, January). Moderator for Two Sessions. SSSA International Soils Meeting. San Diego, California: Soil Science Society of America.
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  I served as moderator for two sessions: Soil and Water Management and Conservation Session, January 7, 2019; and Agricultural Renaissance and Soil Health, January 8, 2019 at the SSSA International Soils Meeting, San Diego, California.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, January). What’s new in recycled water research?. AZ Water Southern Arizona Technical Luncheon. Tucson, Arizona: AZ Water.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, June). Environmental antibiotic resistance: how does it fit in with the One Health concept?. 2019 Arizona Infectious Disease Conference. Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona Department of Health.
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  McLain, J.E. Environmental antibiotic resistance: how does it fit in with the One Health concept? 2019 Arizona Infectious Disease Conference, Phoenix, Arizona, June 27, 2019.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, June). Participating Expert, Roundtable Session. 5th International Symposium on the Environmental Dimension of Antibiotic Resistance. Hong Kong.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, March). Public health and environmental safety of recycled municipal wastewater: current research. Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) Institute at the University of Arizona. Vail, Arizona: Osher Lifelong Learning (OLLI) Institute at the University of Arizona.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, November). Negotiation Techniques. University of Arizona Women in STEM Student Council Quarterly Meeting. Tucson, Arizona: UA Women in STEM.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, November). The unique role of the Extension specialist. University of Arizona New Extension Faculty Orientation. Tucson, Arizona: UA Cooperative Extension.
• Mclain, J. E. (2019, September). Recycled municipal wastewater and antibiotic resistance: is there a connection?. Idaho State University Department of Biology Fall Seminar Series. Pocatello, Idaho: Idaho State Department of Biology.
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  McLain, J.E. Recycled municipal wastewater and antibiotic resistance: is there a connection? Idaho State University Department of Biology Fall Seminar Series; Pocatello, Idaho, September 23. 2019.
• Pogreba Brown, K. M., Mclain, J. E., Verhougstraete, M., Cooper, K. K., Cooper, K. K., Verhougstraete, M., Mclain, J. E., & Pogreba Brown, K. M. (2019, November). Breaking down scientific silos: using One Health to address the World’s wicked problems. TENWEST Impact Festival. Tucson, Arizona.
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  McLain, J.E. K. Cooper, K. Pogreba-Brown, and M. Verhougstraete. Breaking down scientific silos: using One Health to address the World’s wicked problems. Tucson, Arizona, October 14, 2019.
• Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019, April). Project Harvest: A Co-Created Citizen Science Rainwater Harvesting Program in Rural and Urban Arizona Communities. 2nd Cobre Valley Forum on Water. Globe, Gila County, Arizona..
• Sandoval, F., Ramirez, M. D., Davis, L., Abrell, L. M., Mclain, J. E., Buxner, S. R., Root, R. A., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Root, R. A., Buxner, S. R., Mclain, J. E., Davis, L., Abrell, L. M., Sandoval, F., & Ramirez, M. D. (2019, March). Effect of environmental monitoring method on participant self-efficacy for science in underrepresented communities. Citizen Science Conference. Raleigh, North Carolina: Citizen Science Association.
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  Ramírez-Andreotta, M., L. Davis, S. Buxner, A. Kilungo, R. Root, J. McLain, L. Abrell, and F. Sandoval. Effect of environmental monitoring method on participant self-efficacy for science in underrepresented communities. Citizen Science Conference; Raleigh, North Carolina, March 17, 2019.
• Castaneda, D., DaSilva, A., Rock, C. M., & Mclain, J. E. (2018, September). Antibiotic resistance: state of the science of proliferation in water treatment and potable reuse implementation. 3rd Annual Water Reuse Symposium. Austin, Texas: WateReuse.
• Franklin, A., Williams, C., Andrews-Brown, D., Mclain, J. E., & Watson, J. (2018, October). Presence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance at a long-term wastewater reuse site spray irrigating effluent on agricultural lands. XENOWAC II Conference on Challenges and Solutions Related to Xenobiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance. Limassol, Cyprus.
• Lynch, R., Abrell, L. M., Meixner, T., Fitzsimmons, K., & Mclain, J. E. (2018, March). Might recycled water solve the problem of toxin-producing algae?. Science of the Environment Earth Day Student Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• Mclain, J. E. (2018, April). Sewage waste contamination and surveillance. Multilateral Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: United States Centers for Disease Control.
• Mclain, J. E. (2018, July). Antibiotic resistance and recycled wastewater: separating the knowns from the unknowns. University of York Environmental Lecture Series. York, United Kingdom: University of York.
• Mclain, J. E. (2018, June). Changing practices to reduce antibiotic resistance. Association of Public Health Laboratories Annual Meeting. Pasadena, California: Association of Public Health Laboratories.
• Mclain, J. E. (2018, March). Recycled municipal wastewater and antibiotic resistance: is there a connection?. Duke University Program in Environmental Health, Spring 2018 Seminar Series. Durham, North Carolina: Duke University.
• Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2018, September). Minimal production of algal toxins in recycled water retention ponds. 33rd Annual Water Reuse Symposium. Austin, Texas: WateReuse.
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., Castaneda, D., & DaSilva, A. (2018, July). Antibiotic resistance: state of the science of proliferation in wastewater treatment and water reuse implementation. Water Environment Federation Disinfection and Reuse Symposium. Portland, Oregon: Water Environment Federation.
• Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., Abrell, L. M., & Root, R. (2017, September). Does the dose make the poison: the presence of metal(liods) in harvested rooftop rainwater. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
• Lwin Tun, K., Fitzsimmons, K., Mclain, J. E., Dhar, A., Aranguren, L. F., & Kyi, H. H. (2017, July). Identification of acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in black tiger shrimp (Penaeua monodon), Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei), and fresh water shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii). World Aquaculture Society APA 17. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
• Mclain, J. E. (2017, April). EPA-approved methods for identification of E. coli to monitor water quality. Water Monitoring Roundtable. Irvine, California: The Center for Produce Safety.
• Mclain, J. E. (2017, June). Mine spills and antibiotic resistance: what is the connection?. 2nd Annual Conference on Environmental Conditions of the Animas and San Juan Watersheds, with Emphasis on Gold King Mine and Other Mine Waste Issues. Farmington, New Mexico.
• Mclain, J. E. (2017, March). Current and future water sustainability efforts in the Tucson area. Tucson Mountains Association Monthly Board Meeting. Tucson, Arizona.
• Mclain, J. E. (2017, March). Long-term memories and impact of the Faculty Fellowship to Israel. Jewish National Foundation Donors Meeting. Paradise Valley, Arizona.
• Mclain, J. E. (2017, October). Are we spreading antibiotic resistance in the environment with recycled wastewater? Separating the knowns from the unknowns. WEFTEC. Chicago, Illinois.
• Root, R., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Ramirez, M. D., & Abrell, L. M. (2017, September). Survey of contaminants in harvested rainwater from a southern Arizona pilot study. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
• Sandhaus, S., Sandoval, F., Root, R., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2017, September). Community science: public participation in harvested water and soil monitoring. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
• Sandoval, F., Root, R., Abrell, L. M., Ramirez, M. D., Kilungo, A. P., & Mclain, J. E. (2017, September). Teaching harvested rainwater microbiology in Arizona communities: lessons learned. 14th Biennial Conference of Science & Management on the Colorado Plateau & Southwest Region.
• Sapkota, A., Jakubowski, W., Mosher, J., Gerrity, D., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2017, July/Summer). Antibiotic Resistance: What Every Water Professional Needs to Know. 11th IWA International Conference on Water Reclamation and Reuse. Long Beach Convention Center: WateReuse Association.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, August). How to measure water quality using culture-based and molecular methods. Five-day workshop for 80 Teachers from Burmese Universities. Yangon, Burma: US-AID, Yangon University, and University of Arizona.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, August). Source tracking of water contaminants. University of Arizona Water In-Service Training Conference. Phoenix, Arizona: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, February). Separating science from emotion in perceptions of recycled wastewater: an antibiotic resistance case study. Conservation InfoShare. Regional Webcast: Arcadis, Inc..
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, June). Antibiotic resistance in surface water and groundwater. Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic Resistance Public Meeting #3. Washington, DC: Office of the President of the United States.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, March). Antibiotic resistance in agroecosystems: state of the science. Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center National Webcast. National Webcast: United States Department of Agriculture.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, March). Water recycling 101: what every Arizonan needs to know. University of Arizona College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Spring Faculty/Staff Luncheon. University of Arizona Student Union: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, October). Recycled municipal wastewater and antibiotic resistance: is there a connection?. Statewide Water Quality Management Working Group Meeting. Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, September). The critical importance of study design for projects assessing wastewater impacts on resistance. 31st Annual WateReuse Symposium. Tampa, Florida: WateReuse Research Foundation.
• Mclain, J. E., & Fitzsimmons, K. (2016, October). Sustainable seafood development in Burma. 2016 International Burma Studies Conference. Dekalb, Illinois: Northern Illinois University Burma Studies Department.
• Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2016, July). Recycled municipal wastewater and antibiotic resistance: is there a connection?. Arizona WateReuse 2016 Symposium. Flagstaff, Arizona: Arizona WateReuse.
• Mclain, J. E., Pruden, A., Edwards, M., Engelthaler, D., Valentine, M., & Bowers, J. (2016, November). Antibiotic resistance of indicator bacteria isolated from recycled vs. potable water systems. 2016 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual International Meetings. Phoenix, Arizona: ASA-CSSA-SSSA.
• Brown, K., & Mclain, J. E. (2015, January). The critical challenge of antibiotic resistance: are wastewater treatment plants a concern?. Research Corporation for Scientific Advancement Capstone Meeting. San Diego, California.
• Diaz, K. S., Rich, V. I., & Mclain, J. E. (2015, June). Characterizing natural antibiotic resistance in a pristine permafrost environment. Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists. Providence, Rhode Island.
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  Antibiotics are the crux of modern medicine, and antibiotic resistance is a challenge to overcome. Antibiotic resistance is said to spread readily and rapidly through the environment, but its natural occurrence is poorly constrained. In studies analyzing natural antibiotic resistance across a variety of habitats, researchers have found resistance in agricultural, human, and natural habitats as well, in environments as distinct as agricultural fields, human and animal feces, soils, deep caves, prehistoric ice cores, and marine habitats. However, a baseline of natural antibiotic resistance levels and the diversity of that resistance has not been established, which is required in order to determine whether or not anthropogenic overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine is spreading in the environment.
• Garner, E., Mclain, J. E., Edwards, M., & Pruden, A. (2015, April). Comparison of antibiotic resistance and pathogen gene markers in reclaimed vs. potable water distribution systems. International Symposium on Waterborne Pathogens. Savannah, Georgia: American Water Works Association.
• Garner, E., Mclain, J. E., Edwards, M., & Pruden, A. (2015, June). Antibiotic resistance and opportunistic pathogen gene markers in reclaimed vs. potable water distribution systems. 2015 Annual Conference. Yale University, New Haven, CT: The Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors.
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  A growing need for sustainable water sources in the U.S. has led to interest in direct and indirect potable reuse, making the potential for microbial regrowth in reclaimed distribution systems of increasing interest. Regrowth of opportunistic pathogens (OPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was investigated via a survey of water and biofilm samples from four paired reclaimed and potable water distribution systems. Samples were analyzed for 1) physical and chemical properties, 2) metagenomic composition, including relative abundance of ARGs, 3) abundance of genes specific to five OPs (Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, Naegleria fowleri), and 4) resistance of isolates to common clinical antibiotics to assess acute human health risk. Key findings include consistent decay of disinfectant correlated with water age in reclaimed distribution systems, with L. pneumophila markers quantifiable in at least one sample from each distribution system, both potable and reclaimed. Approximately 25% of E. coli and Enterococci isolates showed high levels of resistance to at least one of the antibiotics tested. The use of high throughout DNA sequencing to characterize microbial and chemical characteristics of potable and reclaimed water distribution systems to gain insight into human health implications exemplifies the nexus of water, health, and technology.
• Garner, E., Mclain, J. E., Edwards, M., & Pruden, A. (2015, November). Comparison of antibiotic resistance and pathogen gene markers in reclaimed vs. potable water systems. 2015 Water Quality Technology Conference. Salt Lake City, Utah: American Water Works Association.
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  A growing need for sustainable water sources in the U.S. has led to interest in direct and indirect potable reuse, making the potential for microbial regrowth in reclaimed distribution systems of increasing interest. Regrowth of opportunistic pathogens (OPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was investigated via a survey of water and biofilm samples from four paired reclaimed and potable water distribution systems. Samples were analyzed for 1) physical and chemical properties, 2) metagenomic composition, including relative abundance of ARGs, 3) abundance of genes specific to five OPs (Legionella pneumophila, Mycobacterium avium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, Naegleria fowleri), and 4) resistance of isolates to common clinical antibiotics to assess acute human health risk. Key findings include consistent decay of disinfectant correlated with water age in reclaimed distribution systems, with L. pneumophila markers quantifiable in at least one sample from each distribution system, both potable and reclaimed. Approximately 25% of E. coli and Enterococci isolates showed high levels of resistance to at least one of the antibiotics tested. The use of high throughout DNA sequencing to characterize microbial and chemical characteristics of potable and reclaimed water distribution systems to gain insight into human health implications exemplifies the nexus of water, health, and technology.
• Mclain, J. E. (2015, January). Antibiotic resistance/public information case study. Arizona Water Research Committee Fourth Annual Workshop. Tempe, Arizona.
• Mclain, J. E. (2015, June). Water Quality Microbiology: Current Research. UA Faculty trip to Burma in support of "Developing a Sustainable Seafood Industry in Myanmar". Yangon University and Pathein University (presentation delivered four times): US-AID.
• Mclain, J. E. (2015, March). Canal maintenance effects on irrigation water quality. 1st Annual Desert Produce Safety Collaborative Field Conference. Yuma: Arizona Cooperative Extension.
• Mclain, J. E. (2015, May). Antibiotic resistance in treated wastewater reservoirs in Arizona, USA. First Annual Meeting: New and Emerging Challenges and Opportunities in Wastewater Reuse. Barcelona, Spain: European Cooperation in the Field of Scientific and Technical Research.
• Mclain, J. E. (2015, November). Human health and environmental risks of using recycled wastewater for irrigation of food crops. Arizona Registered Sanitarian Conference. Phoenix, Arizona.
• Mclain, J. E., & Rothrock, M. J. (2015, November). Addressing the natural antibiotic resistome in soils. 2015 ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual International Meetings. Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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  The environment is recognized as a source and a reservoir of antibiotic resistance (AR). Many antibiotic compounds are derived from bacteria and fungi that are naturally present in the environment. These microbes carry genes encoding resistance to the antibiotic that they produce and their resistance genes are often found in the same gene cluster as the antibiotic biosynthesis pathway though the actual rates at which this occurs in the natural environments or agroecosystems is unknown. Development of resistance in microbes is a natural evolutionary process that ensures survival and reproduction of species under stress in their preferred habitats. The mechanisms driving the selection for AR are similar in human pathogens and in indigenous environmental bacteria; these adaptations could be influenced by exposure to (i) antibiotics; (ii) antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) including other non-pathogenic environmental organisms; and (iii) ARGs. With the knowledge that AR can originate from the microbiota present in terrestrial and aquatic agricultural ecosystems, protecting human health from excessive development of resistance in pathogens of clinical importance requires greater understanding of mechanisms responsible for selection of ARB in the environment.
• Mclain, J. E., Burke, K., Engelthaler, D. M., Hart, R. J., Hill, B., Pruden, A., Rock, C. M., & Snyder, S. A. (2015, May). Separating science from emotion in perceptions of recycled water: a case study of Flagstaff, Arizona. 88th Annual Conference. Glendale, Arizona: Arizona Water Association.
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  Though water recycling is an attractive option for extending water supplies, concerns remain about potential public health risks. This case study examines the response of the City of Flagstaff to concerns raised after antibiotic resistance genes were detected in their municipal recycled water. An expert panel convened by Flagstaff’s City Manager and representing a diversity of expertise and opinions compiled a consensus report that data do not exist to suggest that recycled water poses known health risk. The panel noted gaps in scientific knowledge, and identified a critical need for research. Thus, Flagstaff successfully addressed a complex scientific problem in a charged political environment using scientific expertise, public engagement and strong leadership. Other communities following this model may realize an increase in public trust as they pursue answers to critical health-related questions.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, February). Antibiotic resistance and recycled municipal wastewater: is there a link?. USDA-ARS US Arid-Land Agricultural Research Center Seminar. Maricopa, Arizona: USDA-Agricultural Research Service.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, March). Antibiotic resistance and recycled municipal wastewater: is there a link?. Pima Association of Governments Seminar Series. Tucson, Arizona: Pima Association of Governments.
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  It is clear that antibiotics are over-used and misused in the United States, and the inability of the majority of wastewater treatment plants to remove antibiotics from recycled water has been established. This talk covered current research at the University of Arizona that traces the potential for emerging contaminants (antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes) to proliferate in recycled water, and to travel through irrigation pathways to our recreational fields and into the human food supply.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, May). Separating science from emotion in public health-related perceptions of recycled water: the case of Flagstaff, Arizona. 18th Annual Water Reuse and Desalination Research Conference. Las Vegas, Nevada: WateReuse Research Foundation.
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  This case study examined the response of the City of Flagstaff to concerns raised by a local citizens’ group and the media about their use of recycled water. In 2012, concerns about the potential for antibiotic resistance to be spread via wastewater recycling prompted a group of Flagstaff doctors to collect samples for analysis by a scientist whose research focuses on this topic. A report compiled in August 2012 was provided to the City of Flagstaff, and then was released to the local media by one of the doctors, which resulted in publication in local and national news outlets, some with provocative headlines: “…Recycled Sewage Could Breed Super Bacteria.” In December 2012, Flagstaff’s City Manager convened a panel comprised of 13 experts to discuss the state of the science regarding contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including antibiotic resistance genes, in recycled water and to examine potential health implications of using recycled water to irrigate public areas. The panelists represented a diversity of expertise and opinions on the use of recycled water, and included university researchers, representatives from state regulatory agencies, the federal government, the local medical community, and individuals involved in the August 2012 study. Over the next months, the panel debated the implications of the August 2012 data in a series of public meetings. Upon reaching a consensus, the expert panel compiled a report that data do not exist at the present time to suggest that the continued use of recycled water in Flagstaff provides undue risk to human health. The panel did note sizeable gaps in scientific knowledge, and identified a critical need for additional, well-controlled research studies, and has formed writing teams to pursue funding to address identified knowledge gaps. The Flagstaff case study is a strong example of utilizing a merger of practices and perspectives to address a complex scientific problem in a charged political environment. Though assembling the panel was in direct response to public pressure, the City of Flagstaff and other communities pursuing water reuse will ultimately benefit from the expertise gathered and may realize an increase in public trust as they pursue answers to critical health-related questions.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, May). WRRC/SWES Water Quality Research Program. CALS Innovation Day. University of Arizona: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, October). A Long and Winding Road: Lessons Learned Along the Way. Expanding Your Horizons Conference. Amphi Middle School (Tucson): Women in Science and Engineering.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, October). Separating science from emotion in public health-related perceptions of antibiotic resistance using a One Health model. 5th Annual University of Arizona Food Safety Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium.
• Mclain, J. E., & Joe, V. (2014, October). Food safety impacts of compost teas in organic agriculture. 2014 Meeting of the Society for Advancing Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science. Los Angeles, California: SACNAS.
• Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., Root, R., Allen, N., & Knerl, A. (2014, March). Rainwater harvesting from Tucson rooftops: can we promote water conservation and protect human health?. Pima Association of Governments Seminar Series. Tucson, Arizona: Pima Association of Governments.
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  Water conservation practices that use non-traditional water sources are becoming increasingly important to closing the gap between water supply and demand in the Western United States, where climate change and increasing population are placing unprecedented pressures on potable water supplies. Since the inception of its rainwater harvesting incentives/rebate program in 2011, the City of Tucson has trained hundreds of residents on construction and use of harvesting systems, and has provided many thousands of dollars in rebates following installation. Yet, no water quality standards exist for the use of harvested rainwater, despite the fact that this non-traditional water source can be utilized for irrigation of food crops, residential landscapes, and at other sites with high probability of human contact. This talk discussed results of a summer 2013 study that analyzed microbiological and chemical constituents of rainwater harvested from two rooftop systems, and our plans to leverage these results for making a comprehensive water quality study using a volunteer network of Tucson citizens.
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., & Farrell-Poe, K. L. (2014, January). Microbial indicators and onsite wastewater treatment systems: what do we really know?. 2014 Southwest On-site Wastewater Conference. Laughlin, Nevada: Arizona County Directors of Environmental Health Services Association.
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  Establishing onsite wastewater treatment system performance requirements has been a challenge nationwide. In many states with established standards, discharges under performance-based permit programs must meet treatment performance criteria for secondary, advanced secondary, or advanced wastewater treatment, depending on system location, unsaturated depth of natural soil, and the proximity of protected water resources. As might be expected, wastewater managers (including homeowners and business owners) might be confused by the complexities of landscape-dependent performance criteria, with microbial standards particularly problematic. This talk discussed current microbial standards andl served as an introduction to the challenges to be faced in developing methods to assess wastewater quality
• Rock, C. M., & Mclain, J. E. (2014, January). Does Increasing Solids Retention Time in the Wastewater Treatment Process Affect the Persistence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes?". 2014 Southwest Onsite Wastewater Management Conference. Laughlin, NV.
• Lenczewski, M., Mclain, J. E., & Bautista, R. (2013, May). Chemical and biological tracers to determine groundwater flow in karstic aquifer, Yucatan Peninsula. American Geophysical Union Meeting of the Americas. Cancun, Mexico: American Geophysical Union.
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  Presentation of collaborative work between the University of Arizona, the Environmental Department of the State of Quintana Roo (Mexico), and Northern Illinois University, to trace origins of groundwater contamination in the Yucatan Peninsula.
• McLain, J. E. (2013, June). Conserve to Enhance: A tool for linking consumer water efficiency and environmental enhancements. Climate Leadership Academy. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Institute for Sustainable Communities.
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  As a member of a panel discussion on proactive steps that U.S. Cities are taking to conserve environmental resources, I presented information on the Water Resources Research Center's "Conserve to Enhance" program, which has helped Tucson to conserve more than 2 million gallons of water since 2011.
• McLain, J. E. (2013, October). Antibiotic resistance and recycled municipal wastewater: is there a link?. Pima County Regional Flood Control District Brown Bag Series. Tucson, Arizona: Pima County Regional Flood Control District.
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  Attended by 35-40 wastewater and flood water professionals from Tucson and the surrounding region.
• McLain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., Root, R., Allen, N., & Knerl, A. (2013, May). Assessing biological and chemical quality of harvested rainwater in Arizona: can in-line carbon filters decrease health risks?. Quarterly Meeting: Rainwater/Stormwater Professionals Network. Tucson, Arizona: Rainwater/Stormwater Professionals Network.
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  Presented to audience of 25 researchers, students, and stormwater professionals.
• McLain, J. E., Durso, L., & Snow, D. (2013, November). Antibiotic Resistance in Agricultural Environments: A Call to Action. 2013 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Meetings. Tampa, Florida: Soil Science Society of America, Division S3.
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  Invited capstone talk in a session entitled "Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance in Agricultural Environments".
• McLain, J. E., Lenczewski, M., & Bautista, R. M. (2013, May). Is antibiotic resistance a useful tool for tracking contamination sources in Yucatan groundwater?. American Geophysical Union Meeting of the Americas. Cancun, Mexico: American Geophysical Union.
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  Reported on a 3-year collaborative project between the University of Arizona, Northern Illinois University, and the Environmental Department of the State of Quintana Roo (Mexico), assessing the use of antibiotic resistance as a biological source tracking tool in Yucatan groundwater.
• Mclain, J. E. (2013, March). Roundtable Participant, Expert Panelist. Sustainable Cities Workshop. Biosphere2, Oracle, Arizona: UA College of Science.
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  Appeared as expert panelist at Sustainable Cities Roundtable.
• Mclain, J. E. (2013, October). Health effects of long-term irrigation with recycled municipal wastewater: are we spreading antibiotic resistance into our food supply?. University of Arizona School of Plant Sciences Interdisciplinary Seminar Series. University of Arizona: School of Plant Sciences.
• Mclain, J. E. (2013, September). Antibiotic resistance and recycled municipal wastewater: is there a link?. University of Arizona School of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering Seminar Series. University of Arizona: School of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering.
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., Nolte, K. D., & Obergh, V. (2013, September). Development of BMPs for assessment of irrigation water quality following routine maintenance of unlined canals: an interim report. Yuma Grower's Association Training Session. Yuma, Arizona: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
  More info

  Presented to approximately 50 grower professionals. Presentation focused on results from Arizona Department of Agriculture Grant Award #SCBGP-FB12-19.
• Thomure, T., Rock, C. M., Lansey, K. E., & Mclain, J. E. (2013, June). Approaches to maintain consistently high quality recycled water in storage and distribution systems. Webinar. Tucson, Arizona: WateReuse Research Foundation.
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  Two hour webinar sponsored by the WateReuse Foundation and attended by more than 200 subscribers. Presented results of 2008-2010 study funded by the WateReuse Research Foundation.
• McLain, J. (2012). Arizona groundwater quality: past and present. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Inc., Tribal Environmental Managers Working Group Meeting. Maricopa, AZ.
• McLain, J. (2012). Ongoing research projects to establish the public health safety of reclaimed municipal wastewater. Water and Wastewater Management Summit. Las Vegas, NV.
• McLain, J. (2012). Public health safety of recycled water: current research. Pinal County Cooperative Extension "Water Wednesdays" Program. Casa Grande, Arizona.
• McLain, J. (2012). Water quality and management: state of the science. Centro de Investigacion Cientifica de Yucatan, Merida, Mexico. Merida, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
• McLain, J., & Rock, C. (2012, June). Does recycled water irrigation induce resistance in environmental bacteria?. 2012 National Water Conference. Portland, Oregon.

Poster Presentations

• Sandoval, F., Sandhaus, S., Root, R. A., Ochoa, L., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Kaufmann, D., Jones, M., Henriquez, P., Foley, T., Dewey, M., Davis, L., Cortez, I., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., & Ramirez, M. D. (2021). Engaging Diverse Communities for Environmental Health Justice. National Science Foundation’s AISL PI meetingNational Science Foundation.
• Chorover, J. D., Chorover, J. D., Ramirez, M. D., Ramirez, M. D., Flor, S., Flor, S., Root, R. A., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Abrell, L. M., Villagomez-Marquez, N., & Villagomez-Marquez, N. (2020, October). Pesticides detected in roof-harvested rainwater in rural and urban Arizona communities. Emerging Contaminants Summit. Westminster, Colorado (Virtual).
• Haddix, M., Mclain, J. E., Pruden, A., & Garner, E. (2020, August). Comparison of methods for assessing antibiotic resistance in wastewater and recycled water samples. West Virginia University Student Research Showcase. Morgantown, West Virginia (Virtual): Wadsworth Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering.
• Moses, A. J., Kilungo, A. P., Ramirez, M. D., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Ramirez, M. D., Moses, A. J., & Kilungo, A. P. (2020, Fall). Understanding the microbial makeup and risks of alternative water sources in romaine lettuce and cilantro crops. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo. Virtual: APHA - American Public Health Association.
• Moses, A. J., Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Buxner, S. R., Obergh, V., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Obergh, V., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Root, R. A., Sandoval, F., Abrell, L. M., Moses, A. J., Ramirez, M. D., Ramirez, M. D., , Sandoval, F., et al. (2020, November). Indicator organism presence in urban and rural Arizona community garden soils watered with harvested rainwater. ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings. Virtual: Agronomy Societies.
• Ramirez, M. D., Ramirez, M. D., Sandoval, F., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Root, R. A., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Buxner, S. R., Abrell, L. M., Abrell, L. M., Villagomez-Marquez, N., Villagomez-Marquez, N., Henson, C., & Henson, C. (2020, October). Per-polyfluoroalkyl substances in roof-harvested rainwater. Emerging Contaminants Summit. Westminster, Colorado (Virtual).
• Sonia, M., Abrell, L. M., Villagomez-Marquez, N., Palawat, K., Ramirez, M. D., Mclain, J. E., Root, R. A., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., & Flor, S. (2020, August). What's in your rainwater? Inorganic and organic contaminants measured in roof-harvested rainwater. KEYS Research Internship Showcase. Tucson, Arizona (Virtual): Keep Engaging Youth in Science Internship Program.
• Thomas, R., Root, R. A., Curlango-Rivera, G., & Mclain, J. E. (2020, December). Heavy metal(loid) contamination of medicinal plants: implications for public health of indigenous people. AGU Fall Meeting. Virtual: American Geophysical Union.
• Carter, A., Carter, A., Thomas, R., Thomas, R., Huskey, D., Huskey, D., Curlango-Rivera, G., Curlango-Rivera, G., Root, R. A., Root, R. A., Ottman, M. J., Ottman, M. J., Hawes, M. C., Hawes, M. C., Mclain, J. E., & Mclain, J. E. (2019, July). Plant root border cell interactions with uranium and cadmium: a potential phytoremediation tool. Botany 2019: Sky Islands and Desert Seas Conference. Tucson, Arizona: Botanical Society of America, others.
• Joe, V., Brassill, N. A., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2018, May). Quantifying and evaluating qPCR and ddPCR effectiveness on an impaired river using molecular source markers. Water Microbiology Conference. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina.
• Joe, V., Brassill, N. A., Rivadeneira, P., Chief, K., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2018, February). Development of Native American-tailored produce and agricultural water safety trainings. University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center 2018 Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center.
• Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., Meixner, T., & Fitzsimmons, K. (2018, February). Might recycled water solve the problem of toxin-producing algae?. University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center 2018 Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center.
• Minke, A., Cuello, J. L., Root, R. A., & Mclain, J. E. (2018, February). Using freshwater algae to remove Pb from water. University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center 2018 Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center.
• Moses, A., Ramirez, M. D., Solis-Leon, J., Sandoval, F., Root, R. A., Abrell, L. M., Mclain, J. E., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., Kilungo, A. P., Buxner, S. R., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., Root, R. A., Sandoval, F., Solis-Leon, J., Moses, A., & Ramirez, M. D. (2018, March). The volunteer army: a review of ethical concerns in citizen science. Science of the Environment Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• Solis-Leon, J., Moses, A., Abrell, L. M., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Root, R. A., Sandoval, F., & Ramirez, M. D. (2018, March). Socio-demographics in citizen science: does governance model matter?. Science of the Environment Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• Villagomez-Marquez, N., Montijo, F., Abrell, L. M., Buxner, S. R., Kilungo, A. P., Mclain, J. E., Root, R. A., Sandoval, F., & Ramirez, M. D. (2018, March). Investigating emerging organic contaminants in harvested rainwater via co-created citizen science: what is in your rainwater?. Science of the Environment Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• Joe, V., Mclain, J. E., Brassill, N., Carr, D., Suslow, T., & Rock, C. M. (2017, January/Spring). Evaluation of total Bacteroides as an alternative irrigation water quality indicator. AZ Water - Building our Sustainable Water Future Workshop. Tempe, Arizona: AZ Water.
• Joe, V., Mclain, J. E., Brassill, N., Carr, D., Suslow, T., & Rock, C. M. (2017, March). Evaluation of total Bacteroides as an alternative irrigation water quality indicator. SWESx Student Research Symposium. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona.
• Joe, V., Mclain, J. E., Brassill, N., Carr, D., Suslow, T., & Rock, C. M. (2017, March). Evaluation of total Bacteroides as an alternative irrigation water quality indicator. Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: WRRC.
• Lynch, R., Fitzsimmons, K., & Mclain, J. E. (2017, March). Might recycled water inhibit toxin-producing algae?. Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: WRRC.
• Mclain, J. E., Garner, E., Edwards, M., & Pruden, A. (2017, July). Survey of the antibiotic resistome and resistant fecal bacteria of four paired full-scale reclaimed and potable water distribution systems. 4th International Symposium on the Environmental Dimension of Antibiotic Resistance. Lansing, Michigan.
• Mclain, J. E., Neyestani, M., Dickenson, E., Obergh, V., Rock, C. M., & Gerrity, D. (2017, July). Impacts of free DNA on quantitative analysis of resistance genes through wastewater treatment. 4th International Symposium on the Environmental Dimension of Antibiotic Resistance. Lansing, Michigan.
• Obergh, V., Gerrity, D., Rock, C. M., Dickenson, E., Batista, J., & Mclain, J. E. (2017, March). Occurrence, proliferation, and persistence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance during wastewater treatment. Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: WRRC.
• Simons, J., Rock, C. M., Nolte, K., & Mclain, J. E. (2017, March). Self-sterilizing harvesting tools. Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: WRRC.
• Emily, G., Mclain, J. E., Marc, E., & Amy, P. (2016, September). Metagenomic survey of four paired reclaimed and potable water distribution systems: microbial ecology, antibiotic resistance genes, and bulk water-biofilm interactions. International Specialist Conference on Microbial Ecology and Water Engineering. Copenhagen, Denmark: International Water Association.
• Joe, V., Mclain, J. E., Brassill, N., Carr, D., Dalton, J., Suslow, T., & Rock, C. M. (2016, November). Evaluation of total Bacteroides as an alternative irrigation water quality indicator. 2016 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings. Phoenix, Arizona: ASA-CSSA-SSSA.
• Simons, J., Mclain, J. E., Nolte, K. D., & Rock, C. M. (2016, November). Self-sterilizing harvesting tools and irrigation pipeline. 2016 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meetings. Phoenix, Arizona: ASA-CSSA-SSSA.
• Diaz, K. S., Rich, V. I., & Mclain, J. E. (2015, April). Characterizing natural antibiotic resistance in a pristine permafrost environment. SWESx Science of the Environment Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona.
• Emily, G., Mclain, J. E., Edwards, M., & Pruden, A. (2015, August). Comparison of antibiotic resistance and pathogen gene markers in reclaimed vs. potable water distribution systems. 2015 International Symposium on Waterborne Pathogens. Savannah, Georgia: American Water Works Association.
• Garner, E., Mclain, J. E., Edwards, M., & Pruden, A. (2015, July). Metagenomic investigations of antibiotic resistance and opportunistic pathogen gene markers in reclaimed vs. potable water systems. 4th Annual Conference on Microbiology of the Built Environment. Boulder, Colorado.
• Malott, E., Nolte, K. D., Rivadeneira, P., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2015, June). Pathogen transmission to crops from animals. Western Food Safety Summit. Hartnell College of Agricultural Business, Salinas, California.
• Elissa, M., Nolte, K. D., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2014, March). Animal intrusion in crop fields analysis. WRRC 2014 Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: Water Resources Research Center.
• Elissa, M., Nolte, K. D., Mclain, J. E., Rivadeneira, P., & Rock, C. M. (2014, October). Pathogen transmission to crops from animals. Food Safety Consortium Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium.
• Gudvangen, E., Brown, K., Walston, S., Rock, C. M., & Mclain, J. E. (2014, October). The critical challenge of antibiotic resistance: are wastewater treatment plants a concern?. Food Safety Consortium Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium.
• Joe, V., & Mclain, J. E. (2014, March). Development of molecular source tracking to identify chicken fecal contamination in water. WRRC 2014 Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: Water Resources Research Center.
• Joe, V., & Mclain, J. E. (2014, October). Food safety impacts of compost teas in organic agriculture. Food Safety Consortium Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium.
• Malott, E., Nolte, K. D., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2014, April). Animal intrusion in crop fields analysis. SWESx Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• McOmber, T. C., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2014, April). Is treated wastewater effluent improving the water quality of the Upper Santa Cruz River?. SWESx Earth Day Poster Presentations. Tucson, Arizona: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• McOmber, T. C., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., & Curry, J. E. (2014, January). Water quality improvements for Southern Arizona on the Upper Santa Cruz River. Arizona Water Association Research Workshop. Tempe, Arizona.
• McOmber, T. C., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., & Rivera, B. (2014, May). Water quality improvements for Southern Arizona on the Upper Santa Cruz River. Water and Health Conference. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: University of North Carolina School of Public Health.
• Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2014, May). Recycled municipal wastewater and antibiotic resistance: is there a link?. CALS Poster Forum. Tucson, Arizona: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Mclain, J. E., Franklin, A. M., Andrews, D. M., & Watson, J. E. (2014, September). Presence of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance at Penn State's Living Filter. 17th Annual Environmental Chemistry and Microbiology Student Forum. Penn State University.
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  Alison Franklin, Ph.D. Student at Penn State University, presented results from her laboratory internship in Jean McLain's lab in Summer 2013.
• Mclain, J. E., Hawes, M. C., Curlango-Rivera, G., & Flores-Lara, Y. (2014, May). Extracellular trapping by root border cells as a tool for water recycling. CALS Poster Forum. Tucson, Arizona: College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., & Brown, K. (2014, July). The critical challenge of antibiotic resistance: are wastewater treatment plants a concern?. Arizona Partners in Science Summer Poster Presentation. University of Arizona: Arizona Partners in Science.
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  Kourtney Brown, a teacher-intern through Arizona Partners in Science (mentored by Jean McLain) presented first year of summer research.
• Obergh, V., Nolte, K. D., Rock, C. M., & Mclain, J. E. (2014, October). Canal maintenance effects on irrigation water quality. Food Safety Consortium Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium.
• Obergh, V., Rock, C. M., Nolte, K. D., & Mclain, J. E. (2014, April). Canal maintenance effects on irrigation water quality. SWESx Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• Obergh, V., Rock, C. M., Nolte, K. D., & Mclain, J. E. (2014, March). Canal maintenance effects on irrigation water quality. WRRC 2014 Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: Water Resources Research Center.
• Todd, M. C., Mclain, J. E., & Rock, C. M. (2014, March). Is treated wastewater effluent improving the water quality of the Upper Santa Cruz River?. WRRC 2014 Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: Water Resources Research Center.
• Brassil, N., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., & Nolte, K. D. (2013, June). Assessment of Escherichia coli as an indicator of microbial quality of irrigation waters used for produce. 113th Annual Conference of the American Society for Microbiology. Denver, Colorado: American Society for Microbiology.
• Cusimano, J., Fausel, C., Silvertooth, J. C., Mclain, J. E., & Megdal, S. B. (2013, March). Impacts of short-term fallowing on soils and crop growth in the Palo Verde Irrigation District. Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: UA-WRRC.
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  Poster presentation of Master's research.
• McLain, J. E., & Joe, V. (2013, March). Identifying chicken fecal contaminations in the Chesapeake Bay using quantitative PCR assays. Annual MGE@MSA, WAESO Student Research Conference. Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona: More Graduate Education at Mountain States Alliance, Western Alliance to Expand Student Opportunities.
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  Valerisa Joe, then an undergraduate student at New Mexico State University (now a SWES graduate student) presented the results of her Summer, 2012 research in my laboratory
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., Curry, J. E., & McOmber, T. (2013, October). Water quality improvements for Southern Arizona on the Upper Santa Cruz River. University of Arizona Food Safety Consortium Annual Meeting. Tucson, Arizona: UA-Food Safety Consortium.
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  Poster presentation of Master's Level Research.
• Walston, S., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., Gerrity, D., & Rock, C. M. (2013, May). Does increasing solids retention time in the wastewater treatment process affect the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes?. 86th Annual AZWater Conference. Glendale, Arizona: AZWater.
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  Poster presentation of Master's Research.
• Walston, S., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., Abrell, L. M., & Gerrity, D. (2013, March). Does increasing solids retention time in the wastewater treatment process affect the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes?. Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference. Tucson, Arizona: UA-WRRC.
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  Poster Presentation of Master's Level Research.
• Walston, S., Rock, C. M., Mclain, J. E., Gerrity, D., & Abrell, L. (2013, April). Does increasing solids retention time in the wastewater treatment process affect the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes?. SWESx Earth Day Poster Presentation. Tucson, Arizona: Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science.
• Yang, Y., Bi, X., Westerhoff, P., Hristovski, K., & Mclain, J. E. (2013, July). Engineered nanomaterials either inhibit or improve biological carbon conversion in soils. 2nd Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization Conference. Santa Barbara, California: Sustainable Nanotechnology Organization.

Other Teaching Materials

• Rivadeneira, P., Mclain, J. E., Carr, D., Rock, C. M., Nolte, K. D., & Renick, K. (2015. Scat and Track Guidebook for the Southwest. University of Arizona.

Others

• Mclain, J. E. (2018, March). The Irish potato famine: could it happen again. Sustainable, Secure Food Blog.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, February). How well is your well? Testing Vail ground water quality (Interview for press). The Vail Voice.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, November). Santa Cruz River could flow again (Interview for press). Arizona Daily Wildcat.
• Mclain, J. E. (2016, November). Santa Cruz River could flow again through downtown Tucson (Interview for press). Arizona Daily Star.
• Mclain, J. E., & Thomure, T. (2016, December). Interview on Tucson Water's Agua Dulce Project. KVOI AM Radio (Tucson, Arizona).
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., Eden, S., & Cusimano, J. (2015, June). Agricultural use of recycled water for crop production in Arizona. Arizona Cooperative Extension Publications.
• Mclain, J. E., Snow, D. D., Durso, L. M., & Sallach, J. B. (2015, February). Antibiotics in Agroecosystems: State of the Science, Workshop Summary. Society for Ecotoxicology and Chemistry Globe Newsletter. http://globe.setac.org/2015/february/antibiotics-in-agroecosystems.html
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  In August 2014, the Biosphere2 Conference Center in Oracle Arizona was the site of a 3.5-day workshop titled, “Antibiotics in Agroecosystems: State of the Science.” This workshop was funded through the USDA-Agricultural and Food Research Initiative, Food Safety Challenge Area, which specifically funds research that “will develop outcomes for decisions and policies to contribute to a safe food supply and the reduction of foodborne disease”. Over the past two decades, there has been extensive research on the correlation between the use of antimicrobials and the development of antibiotic resistance (AR) in clinically relevant human and foodborne pathogens, yet workshop organizers and attendees agreed that in order to facilitate the goal of reducing the transfer of AR from agroecosystems to human clinical settings, it is essential to better understand the natural levels, and the fate and transport of specific types of AR. Currently, there is no consensus on which antibiotics, which types of resistance, or which specific AR genes are most relevant to the scientific study of how agricultural antibiotic use impacts human health.
• Megdal, S. B., Megdal, S. B., Mclain, J. E., Mclain, J. E., Chief, K., & Chief, K. (2015, October). Collaborative Conference Planning and Continuing the Dialogue. Arizona Water Resource, 23 (4), p 15. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/Collaborative_Conference_Planning. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/Collaborative_Conference_Planning
• Cusimano, J., Megdal, S. B., Mclain, J. E., & Silvertooth, J. C. (2014, Winter). Fallowing effects on soil quality in the Palo Verde Irrigation District. Arizona Water Resource (WRRC Quarterly Newsletter). https://wrrc.arizona.edu/sites/wrrc.arizona.edu/files/AWR%20Winter%202014%2001-07-14.pdf
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  Jean McLain role in this publication was to supervise the associated laboratory research associated with soil microbiology, and to strongly aid in editing of the final article.Sharon Megdal chaired J. Cusimano's MS committee and was responsible for guidance and editing throughout the project.Cusimano, J., Megdal, S.B., McLain, J., & Silvertooth, J. (2014). Study finds land fallowing improves soil quality in PVID. Arizona Water Resource, 22(1), pp. 1-3. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/sites/wrrc.arizona.edu/files/AWR%20Winter%202014%2001-07-14.pdf.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, April). Radio Interview. "Morning Edition" segment of Arizona Public Media/National Public Radio.
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  Interview covered 2014 Water Resources Research Center Annual Conference, "Closing the Gap Between Water Supply and Demand"
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, April). Watermark: Expert Panel.
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  Served as Moderator for an Expert Panel appearing at the Water Resources Research Center-sponsored screening of film, Watermark, Loft Cinema, Tucson, Arizona; April 22, 2014.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, August). Radio Interview. Cherry Creek Radio (KTAN 1420AM, Sierra Vista, Arizona).
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  One-hour interview focused on results of recent workshop, "Antibiotics in Agroecosystems: State of the Science" and concerns of the general public regarding antibiotic resistance.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, February). Cooling Tucson: Reducing our Vulnerability.
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  Functioned as Roundtable Organizer and Participant: Cooling Tucson: Reducing our Vulnerability, expert panel organized in preparation for drafting a City of Tucson Climate Adaptation Report, February 21, 2014. Roundtable was attended by two dozen University of Arizona faculty and students as well as representatives from the City of Tucson and Pima County.
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, July). Book Review, The Human Impact on the Natural Environment: Past, Present and Future, 7th Edition, Crop Science Society of America. Crop Science Society of America. https://www.crops.org/publications/book-reviews/view/63
• Mclain, J. E. (2014, September). Researchers dive into Flagstaff wastewater concerns. Arizona Daily Sun. http://azdailysun.com/news/local/researchers-dive-into-flagstaff-wastewater-concerns/article_4e311677-ca17-5290-8431-283357ce63da.html
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  Interview provided to Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff) regarding progress made by City Manager's Expert Panel on Contaminants of Concern. I have been an active participant on this panel since 2012.
• Mclain, J. E., Rock, C. M., & Anderson, H. (2014, August). Testing water for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. University of Arizona News. http://uanews.org/story/testing-water-for-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria
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  News story written by University undergraduate Haley Anderson and edited by Jean McLain and Channah Rock, focused on research in the McLain and Rock labs.
• McLain, J. E. (2013, October). Antibiotics in Agroecosystems: State of the Science. Radio Interview, Libby's Luncheonette, WCHE 1520AM. https://wrrc.arizona.edu/node/12604
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  Fifteen minute interview on Libby's Luncheonette, "Serving Up Local Sustainability" http://www.wche1520.com/libbysluncheonette.htm. Interview covered an invited talk that I was delivering at the 2013 International Meetings of the Crops, Soils, and Agronomy Science Societies in Tampa in early November. An mp3 of the entire interview is available at the above URL.
• McLain, J. (2012, Fall). Processes in Microbial Ecology, book review. Crop Science Society of America. www.crops.org/publications/book-reviews/view/44