Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory

The Michigan Bacteriological Research Laboratory (MI-BaRL) is part of the Upper Midwest Water Science Center.  Microbiologists at MI-BaRL utilize a wide array of traditional and modern molecular approaches to evaluate microbial pathogens and antimicrobial resistance pathways in the environment. The scientists use these approaches to advance the understanding of how environmental contaminants affect microbial processes and influence the health of the Nation's aquatic resources, and consequently, the wildlife and humans using those resources. The MI-BaRL continues to optimize new tools and assays to work with a variety of environmental matrices, including water, sediment, manure, biosolids, biofilms, plant material, and animal tissue.