The Aliivibrio fischeri (other names Vibrio fischeri or Photobacterium phosphoreum) is a marine bacterium which can emit bioluminescence light. In the presence of toxic substances the bioluminescence light emission is reduced. This and other detrimental effects affecting the bioluminescence light emission can be measured by luminometer.
The Aliivibrio fischeri bioluminescence inhibition test is carried out based on the protocol described by Gruiz et al. (2001).
2 g of dry powdered soil is suspended in 2 ml 2% NaCl solution, than a five-step dilution series is prepared. The luminescence intensity is measured with a luminometer at the beginning of the test (t=0 min) and after 30 minutes incubation time. After the measurement of the reference luminescence intensity, 50 ml of the dilution series is added to the test medium.The inhibition percentage (H%) values are calculated from the luminescence intensity. A dose-response curve is plotted based on the inhibition percentage (H%) values and the soil doses, then the effective dose values (ED20 and ED50) are determined.
Gruiz K, Horváth B, Molnár M (2001) Environmental Toxicology, Műegyetemi Kiadó, Budapest (In Hungarian)