Reviewer Comments - EERE

2011 Algae Platform Review – Reviewer Comments
Reviewer Comments are direct transcripts of commentary and material provided by the Platform’s
Review Panel. They have not been edited or altered by the Biomass Program.
is on toxin production, VOC production, and human pathogens. The approach is sound but the toxin
portion appears to have broad overlap with an existing knowledge base and research conducted at CDC
and Woods Hole.
Reviewer: 6 Criteria Score: 3
One should start with a broad knowledge of pre-existing information. The CDC and the Centers for
Oceans and Human Health have a lot of data already on this subject. This project should be linked with
those groups.
Reviewer: 7 Criteria Score: 4
Because the geography, production system, strain, and mode of operation are not identified for
commerical production, it appears that field measurements are pre-mature.
Presenter Response
While the structure of experiments can be outlined in advance (e.g. generalized cultivation processes,
analytical screening methods) the full extent of experimentation will not be clear until Phase I, is at least,
underway. It is our contention that these threats do exist – as per our preliminary findings. We believe
that field sampling at active sites is the best way to perform the initial scoping studies required to evaluate
if toxic metals, toxins, VOC’s and pathogens are of concern in these systems, and to best design the
experiments to address the objectives of Phase II and Phase III. We will develop several risk scenarios
that will outline how potential toxic exposures may occur to workers or consumers. A framework for a
formal risk assessment will be developed and recommendations for further work will be made. The is a
four-way collaboration: SRNL, PI Chris Yeager (project management, algae growth for Phase II,
pathogen and toxin gene detection), NOAA, PI Peter Moeller (toxicity testing and toxin identification),
Texas A&M, PI Paul Zimba (VOC analysis and outdoor growth experiments for Phase III), LANL, PI
Jeri Sullivan (metal accumulation/cycling, toxicity) and Babetta Marrone (human cell toxicity). Dr.
Yeager has 15+ years of experience using molecular techniques to detect microorganisms, including
pathogens, in environmental samples. The number and type of pathogens that we will target obviously
depends on the sample source (marine salt water, brackish inland water, wastewater, etc.) and location.
We have spent considerable time determining which pathogens may be prevalent in different water
sources and in different parts of the country. The list shown at the program review was simply a “working
list”; different species/genes will be targeted depending on the sample source. The pairing of biology and
water chemistry is one of the underlying strengths of this project. In terms of algae production systems for
biofuels, very large scale, open air culturing will enable a number of environmental factors to act as
modifiers (temperature flux, sunlight, airborne particulates, bacteria, fungal contamination, etc.) of water
chemistry, and thus toxin production or the survivability of pathogens. Peter Moeller is the PI for the
toxin work and is a PI at one of NOAA's Centers of Excellence in Oceans and Human Health
(http://oceansandhumanhealth.noaa.gov/centers/). He was NOAA's scientist of the year in 2009 with a
long history of work on algal toxins. Paul Zimba, Director of the Center for Coastal Studies at Texas
A&M, is the lead for VOC characterization and has studied volatile metabolites produced by algae, fungi,
and bacteria in aquaculture systems (http://ddr.nal.usda.gov/bitstream/10113/17447/1/IND44081503.pdf),
has extensive experience with algal toxins. See comments above for Yeager’s credentials. This is a
TEAM effort and the SRNL/NOAA/Texas A&M team formed (and was pursuing funding) before the call
for this DOE program was released. Yeager is the lead-PI for this particular project because it was funded
through a DOE National Lab call; however, all PIs are actively involved in the project. LANL was added
to the mix because of their expertise with metals and human toxicity and their involvement with the
National Alliance for Advanced Biofuels and Bioproducts (NAABB). Risk identification and avoidance is
best and most economically performed at the beginning of a process, rather than after the fact. Analysis of
field measurements is an essential element of our proposal. It is the variable geography, production
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