Biodegradation of tribenuron methyl that is mediated by microbial acidohydrolysis at cell-soil interface

Tribenuron methyl (TBM) is a member of the sulfonylurea herbicide family and is widely used in weed control. Due to its phytotoxicity to rotating-crops, concerns on TBM-pollution to soil have been raised. In this study, experimental results indicated that microbial activity played a key role in TBM removal from polluted soil. Twenty-six bacterial strains were isolated and their degradation of TBM was evaluated. Serratia sp. strain BW30 was selected and subjected to further investigation on its degradative mechanism. TBM degradation by strain BW30 was dependent on glucose that was converted into lactic or oxalic acids. HPLC-MS analysis revealed two end-products from TBM degradation, and they were identical to the products from TBM acidohydrolysis. Based on this observation, it is proposed that microbe-mediated acidohydrolysis of TBM was involved in TBM degradation in soil, and possible application of this observation in bioremediation of TBM-polluted soil is discussed.     

Fungal degradation of an acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor pyrazosulfuron-ethyl in soil

Owing to reported phytotoxicity of some sulfonylurea class of herbicides in number of sensitive crops and higher persistence in soil, present study was conducted to isolate and identify pyrazosulfuron-ethyl degrading fungi from soil of rice field. Penicillium chrysogenum and Aspergillus niger, were isolated and identified from rhizospere soil of rice field, as potent pyrazosulfuron-ethyl degrading fungi. Degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl by P. chrysogenum and A. niger, yielded transformation products/metabolites which were identified and characterized by LC/MS/MS. The rate of dissipation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl was found higher in soil of rice field and soil inoculated with P. chrysogenum. This showed important route of degradation of pyrazosulfuron-ethyl by microbes apart from chemical degradation.     

Isolation and characterization of mesotrione-degrading Bacillus sp. from soil

Dissipation kinetics of mesotrione, a new triketone herbicide, sprayed on soil from Limagne (Puy-de-Dôme, France) showed that the soil microflora were able to biotransform it.Bacteria from this soil were cultured in mineral salt solution supplemented with mesotrione as sole source of carbon for the isolation of mesotrione-degrading bacteria. The bacterial community structure of the enrichment cultures was analyzed by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE). The TTGE fingerprints revealed that mesotrione had an impact on bacterial community structure only at its highest concentrations and showed mesotrione-sensitive and mesotrione-adapted strains. Two adapted strains, identified as Bacillus sp. and Arthrobacter sp., were isolated by colony hybridization methods.Biodegradation assays showed that only the Bacillus sp. strain was able to completely and rapidly biotransform mesotrione. Among several metabolites formed, 2-amino-4-methylsulfonylbenzoic acid (AMBA) accumulated in the medium. Although sulcotrione has a chemical structure closely resembling that of mesotrione, the isolates were unable to degrade it.     

Simazine degradation in bioaugmented soil: urea impact and response of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and other soil bacterial communities

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of exogenous urea nitrogen on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and other soil bacterial communities in soil bioaugmented for simazine remediation. The previously isolated simazine-degrading Arthrobacter sp. strain SD1 was used to degrade the herbicide. The effect of urea on the simazine degradation capacity of the soil bioaugmented with Arthrobacter strain SD1 was assessed using quantitative PCR targeting the s-triazine-degrading trzN and atzC genes. Structures of bacterial and AOB communities were characterized using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism. Urea fertilizer could affect simazine biodegradation and decreased the proportion of its trzN and atzC genes in soil augmented with Arthrobacter strain SD1. Bioaugmentation process could significantly alter the structures of both bacterial and AOB communities, which were strongly affected by urea amendment, depending on the dosage. This study could provide some new insights towards s-triazine bioremediation and microbial ecology in a bioaugmented system. However, further studies are necessary in order to elucidate the impact of different types and levels of nitrogen sources on s-triazine-degraders and bacterial and AOB communities in bioaugmented soil.     

Bioremediation assessment of diesel–biodiesel-contaminated soil using an alternative bioaugmentation strategy

This study investigated the effectiveness of successive bioaugmentation, conventional bioaugmentation, and biostimulation of biodegradation of B10 in soil. In addition, the structure of the soil microbial community was assessed by polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The consortium was inoculated on the initial and the 11th day of incubation for successive bioaugmentation and only on the initial day for bioaugmentation and conventional bioaugmentation. The experiment was conducted for 32 days. The microbial consortium was identified based on sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and consisted as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Ochrobactrum intermedium. Nutrient introduction (biostimulation) promoted a positive effect on microbial populations. The results indicate that the edaphic community structure and dynamics were different according to the treatments employed. CO₂ evolution demonstrated no significant difference in soil microbial activity between biostimulation and bioaugmentation treatments. The total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) analysis indicated a biodegradation level of 35.7 and 32.2 % for the biostimulation and successive bioaugmentation treatments, respectively. Successive bioaugmentation displayed positive effects on biodegradation, with a substantial reduction in TPH levels.     

Biodegradation of benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) in liquid culture and in soil by Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and a formulated bacterial consortium

Purpose

The major aromatic constituents of petroleum products viz. benzene, toluene, and mixture of xylenes (BTX) are responsible for environmental pollution and inflict serious public concern. Therefore, BTX biodegradation potential of individual as well as formulated bacterial consortium was evaluated. This study highlighted the role of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), nitrate, and phosphate in stimulating the biodegradation of BTX compounds under hypoxic condition.

Materials and methods

The individual bacterium viz. Bacillus subtilis DM-04 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa M and NM strains and a consortium comprising of the above bacteria were inoculated to BTX-containing liquid medium and in soil. The bioremediation experiment was carried out for 120?h in BTX-containing liquid culture and for 90?days in BTX-contaminated soil. The kinetics of BTX degradation either in presence or absence of H₂O₂, nitrate, and phosphate was analyzed using biochemical and gas chromatographic (GC) technique.

Results

Bacterial consortium was found to be superior in degrading BTX either in soil or in liquid medium as compared to degradation of same compounds by individual strains of the consortium. The rate of BTX biodegradation was further enhanced when the liquid medium/soil was exogenously supplemented with 0.01?% (v/v) H₂O₂, phosphate, and nitrate_. The GC analysis of BTX biodegradation (90?days post-inoculation) in soil by bacterial consortium confirmed the preferential degradation of benzene compared to m-xylene and toluene.

Conclusions

It may be concluded that the bacterial consortium in the present study can degrade BTX compounds at a significantly higher rate as compared to the degradation of the same compounds by individual members of the consortium. Further, addition of H₂O₂ in the culture medium as an additional source of oxygen, and nitrate and phosphate as an alternative electron acceptor and macronutrient, respectively, significantly enhanced the rate of BTX biodegradation under oxygen-limited condition.     

Biodegradation of the herbicide glyphosate by filamentous fungi in platform shaker and batch bioreactor

The biodegradation conducted by microorganisms on herbicide glyphosate (N-phosphonomethylglycine) was investigated. Five strains of filamentous fungi belonging to the Fusarium genre were grown on Czapeck medium without phosphorous and supplemented with the addition of glyphosate. The assays were conducted to determine the ability of use as a phosphorous source, the inhibition caused by presence of herbicide, and the biodegradation in shaker and bioreactor by Fusarium strains. It was observed that the herbicide did not show any negative effect on microrganisms by quantity of the biomass. Among the strains tested, no inhibition was noted by the addition of glyphosate even at a high concentration. All strains studied were able to biodegrade it and use the herbicide as a phosphorous source. The formation of consortium was not better than the strains tested in pure culture. The biodegradation in the bioreactor was better than in the shaker. However, there wasn't any influence on biodegradation rate by changing the amount of oxygen in the system.     

降解SO2功能菌的16S rRAN基因测序及降解特性

用低浓度SO2诱导驯化方法获得高效脱硫菌群,并用分离培养与16S rRNA基因测序技术相结合的方法鉴定菌群种属,分析驯化过程中种群结构的动态变化,同时研究分离纯菌种的脱硫性能。结果表明,从诱导驯化7 d和14 d菌液中分别分离出23株菌和22株菌,16S rRNA序列分析发现这些菌归属于13个种,其中有6个种(Rhodococcus erythropolis、Pseudomonas putida、Microbacterium oxydans、Sphingomonas koreensis、Acinetobacter junii、Acinetobacter johnsonii)对SO2-3有较强的降解能力,并在持续驯化过程中稳定的生长传代,降解产物以硫酸根为主,还有极少量的单质硫。与含混合菌的驯化菌液降解SO2-3的能力相比,单一脱硫菌的脱硫性能较弱。脱硫功能菌株及其基本特性的研究为微生物处理SO2烟气提供了丰富的菌源信息和理论基础。     

Effects of metsulfuron‐methyl on microbial biomass and populations in soils

Abstract

Effects of the herbicide metsulfuron‐methyl on soil microorganisms and their activities in two soils were evaluated under laboratory conditions. Measurements included their populations, soil respiration, and microbial biomass. In the clay soil, bacterial populations decreased with increasing concentration of metsulfuron‐methyl during the first 9 days of incubation but exceeded that of the control soil from day 27 onward. In the sandy loam soil, the herbicide reduced bacterial populations during the first 3 days after application, but these increased to the level of untreated controls after 9 days’ incubation. Fungal populations in both soils increased with increasing metsulfuron‐methyl concentrations, especially in the sandy loam soil. CO₂ evolution was stimulated in both soils in the presence of the herbicide initially, but decreased during days 3 to 9 of the incubation period before increasing again afterward. The presence of metsulfuron‐methyl in the soil increased microbial biomass, except in sandy loam soil at the first day of incubation.     

Biomonitoring marine habitats in reference to antibiotic resistant bacteria and ampicillin resistance determinants from oviductal fluid of the nesting green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas

During the egg-laying process, oviductal fluid was collected using a non-invasive procedure from the cloacal vent of the green turtles. Forty-two independent isolates of antibiotic-resistant bacteria from 11 genera were obtained from 20 turtles during nesting. The dominant isolate was Citrobacter (52.4%), followed by Pseudomonas, Proteus, Enterobacter, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Edwardsiella, Morganella, Providencia and Arcomobacter. Most of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin. Ampicillin-resistant isolates showed variations in their resistance for the following classes of β-lactamases: extended-spectrum β-lactamases (EBSLs), AmpC type β-lactamases C (AmpC), and screen-positive β-lactamase. None of the isolates produced metallo β-lactamase. Some ampicillin-resistant genes were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) only. Inhibitor based test (IBT) categorized some isolates as AmpC β-lactamase producers. β-Lactamase genes were detected from a few strains. The sequencing of those genes revealed the presence of cephamycinase (CMY) and AmpC β-lactamases. The oviductal fluid was used in this study as a source of bacterial antibiotic-resistant determinants for biomonitoring marine turtles exposed to contaminated effluents. This data can be of value in understanding the decline of this endangered species as a result of exposure to marine pollution which is threatening their survival.     

Simazine biodegradation and community structures of ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in bioaugmented soil: impact of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen sources

The objective of the present study was to investigate the impact of ammonia and nitrate nitrogen sources on simazine biodegradation by Arthrobacter sp. strain SD1 and the community structures of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) in non-agricultural soil. Soil microcosms with different treatments were constructed for herbicide biodegradation test. The relative abundance of the strain SD1 and the structures of AOA and AOB communities were assessed using quantitative PCR (q-PCR) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (TRFLP), respectively. The co-existence of two inorganic nitrogen sources (ammonia and nitrate) had certain impact on simazine dissipation by the strain SD1. Bioaugmentation could induce a shift in the community structures of both AOA and AOB, but AOA were more responsive. Nitrogen application had significant impacts on AOA and AOB communities in bioaugmented soils. Moreover, in non-bioaugmented soil, the community structure of AOA, instead of AOB, could be quickly recovered after herbicide application. This study could add some new insights towards the impacts of nitrogen sources on s-triazine bioremediation and ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in soil ecosystem.     

Enhanced 1,2-dichloroethane degradation in heavy metal co-contaminated wastewater undergoing biostimulation and bioaugmentation

Biostimulation, bioaugmentation and dual-bioaugmentation strategies were investigated in this study for efficient bioremediation of water co-contaminated with 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) and heavy metals, in a microcosm set-up. 1,2-DCA concentration was periodically measured in the microcosms by gas chromatographic analysis of the headspace samples, while bacterial population and diversity were determined by standard plate count technique and Polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR–DGGE) analysis, respectively. Dual-bioaugmentation, proved to be most effective exhibiting 22.43%, 26.54%, 19.58% and 30.49% increase in 1,2-DCA degradation in microcosms co-contaminated with As³⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺, respectively, followed by bioaugmentation and biostimulation. Dual-bioaugmented microcosms also exhibited the highest increase in the biodegradation rate constant (k₁) resulting in 1.76-, 2-, 1.7- and 2.1-fold increase in As³⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ co-contaminated microcosms respectively, compared to the untreated microcosms. Dominant bacterial strains obtained from the co-contaminated microcosms were found to belong to the genera Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Enterobacter and Bradyrhizobium, previously reported for 1,2-DCA and other chlorinated compounds degradation. PCR–DGGE analysis revealed variation in microbial diversity over time in the different co-contaminated microcosms. Results obtained in this study have significant implications for developing innovative bioremediation strategies for treating water co-contaminated with chlorinated organics and heavy metals.     

Phylogenetic changes in soil microbial and diazotrophic diversity with application of butachlor

We investigated changes in population and taxonomic distribution of cultivable bacteria and diazotrophs with butachlor application in rice paddy soils. Population changes were measured by the traditional plate-count method, and taxonomic distribution was studied by 16S rDNA sequencing, then maximum parsimony phylogenic analysis with bootstrapping (1,000 replications). The bacterial population was higher after 39 than 7 days of rice cultivation, which indicated the augmentation of soil microbes by rice root exudates. The application of butachlor increased the diazotrophic population in both upper (0–3 cm) and lower (3–15 cm) layers of soils. Especially at day 39, the population of diazotrophs was 1.8 and 1.6 times that of the control in upper and lower layer soils, respectively. We found several bacterial strains only with butachlor application; examples are strains closest to Bacillus arsenicus, B. marisflavi, B. luciferensis, B. pumilus, and Pseudomonas alvei. Among diazotrophs, three strains closely related to Streptomyces sp. or Rhrizobium sp. were found only with butachlor application. The population of cultivable bacteria and the species composition were both changed with butachlor application, which explains in part the contribution of butachlor to augmenting soil nitrogen-fixing ability.     

Characterization of chlordecone-tolerant fungal populations isolated from long-term polluted tropical volcanic soil in the French West Indies

The insecticide chlordecone is a contaminant found in most of the banana plantations in the French West Indies. This study aims to search for fungal populations able to grow on it. An Andosol heavily contaminated with chlordecone, perfused for 1 year in a soil–charcoal system, was used to conduct enrichment cultures. A total of 103 fungal strains able to grow on chlordecone-mineral salt medium were isolated, purified, and deposited in the MIAE collection (Microorganismes d'Intérêt Agro-Environnemental, UMR Agroécologie, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Dijon, France). Internal transcribed spacer sequencing revealed that all isolated strains belonged to the Ascomycota phylum and gathered in 11 genera: Metacordyceps, Cordyceps, Pochonia, Acremonium, Fusarium, Paecilomyces, Ophiocordyceps, Purpureocillium, Bionectria, Penicillium, and Aspergillus. Among predominant species, only one isolate, Fusarium oxysporum MIAE01197, was able to grow in a liquid culture medium that contained chlordecone as sole carbon source. Chlordecone increased F. oxysporum MIAE01197 growth rate, attesting for its tolerance to this organochlorine. Moreover, F. oxysporum MIAE01197 exhibited a higher EC₅₀ value than the reference strain F. oxysporum MIAE00047. This further suggests its adaptation to chlordecone tolerance up to 29.2 mg l^?1. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed that 40 % of chlordecone was dissipated in F. oxysporum MIAE01197 suspension culture. No chlordecone metabolite was detected by GC-MS. However, weak amount of ¹⁴CO₂ evolved from ¹⁴C₁₀-chlordecone and ¹⁴C₁₀-metabolites were observed. Sorption of ¹⁴C₁₀-chlordecone onto fungal biomass followed a linear relationship (r ²?=?0.99) suggesting that it may also account for chlordecone dissipation in F. oxysporum MIAE01197 culture.     

Influence of microbial and synthetic surfactant on the biodegradation of atrazine

The present study reports the effect of surfactants (rhamnolipids and triton X-100) on biodegradation of atrazine herbicide by strain A6, belonging to the genus Acinetobacter. The strain A6 was able to degrade nearly 80 % of the 250-ppm atrazine after 6 days of growth. The bacterium degraded atrazine by de-alkylation process. Bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity as well as atrazine solubility increased in the presence of surfactant. However, addition of surfactant to the mineral salt media reduced the rate and extent of atrazine degradation by decreasing the bioavailability of herbicide. On the contrary, addition of surfactant to atrazine-contaminated soil increased the rate and extent of biodegradation by increasing the bioavailability of herbicide. As compared to triton X-100, rhamnolipids were more efficient in enhancing microbial degradation of atrazine as a significant amount of atrazine was removed from the soil by rhamnolipids. Surfactants added for the purpose of hastening microbial degradation may have an unintended inhibitory effect on herbicide degradation depending upon contiguous condition, thus highlighting the fact that surfactant must be judiciously used in bioremediation of herbicides.     

Isolation and characteristics of sulfentrazone-degrading bacteria

This study aimed to isolate and characterize bacteria able to use sulfentrazone in the commercial formulation as their sole carbon source. The isolation of the potential sulfentrazone-degrading bacteria was made from soil samples with a recent history of herbicide application and from isolates identified through rDNA sequencing. Subsequently, we assessed the growth of the isolates and their sulfentrazone degradation ability using high-performance liquid chromatography. Twenty-six potential sulfentrazone-degrading bacterial isolates were obtained in pure culture. Through analysis of the rDNA sequences, the predominance of bacterial species of the genus Pseudomonas was found. The isolates presented a differentiated ability of sulfentrazone degradation. The presence of herbicide in the culture medium reduced the log phase of four isolates. Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas lutea, Pseudomonas plecoglossicida and three isolates of Pseudomonas sp. showed higher sulfentrazone degradation capacity, which varied from 4 to 15%. This is the first report of the Pseudomonas genre capable of sulfentrazone degradation. The isolates obtained present potential use in bioremediation programs for soil contaminated with sulfentrazone.     

Combined effect of diuron and simazine on photosystem II photochemistry in a sandy soil and soil amended with solid olive-mill waste

Diuron (3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)- = 1,1-dimethylurea) and simazine (6-chloro-N ², N ⁴-diethyl-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine) are soil-applied herbicides used in olive crops. The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of these herbicides on Photosystem II photochemistry of Olea europaea L., and whether the amendment of soil with an organic waste (OW) from olive oil production industry modifies this effect. For this purpose, herbicide soil adsorption studies, with unamended and OW-amended soil, and chlorophyll fluorescence measurements in adult olive leaves, after one, two and three weeks of soil herbicide treatment and/or OW amendment, were performed. Soil application of these herbicides reduced the efficiency of Photosystem II photochemistry of olive trees due to chronic photoinhibition, and this effect is counterbalanced by the addition of OW to the soil. OW reduces herbicide uptake by the plant due to an increase in herbicide adsorption.     

Bioremediation of Cd and carbendazim co-contaminated soil by Cd-hyperaccumulator Sedum alfredii associated with carbendazim-degrading bacterial strains

The objective of this study was to develop a bioremediation strategy for cadmium (Cd) and carbendazim co-contaminated soil using a hyperaccumulator plant (Sedum alfredii) combined with carbendazim-degrading bacterial strains (Bacillus subtilis, Paracoccus sp., Flavobacterium and Pseudomonas sp.). A pot experiment was conducted under greenhouse conditions for 180 days with S. alfredii and/or carbendazim-degrading strains grown in soil artificially polluted with two levels of contaminants (low level, 1 mg kg^?1 Cd and 21 mg kg^?1 carbendazim; high level, 6 mg kg^?1 Cd and 117 mg kg^?1 carbendazim). Cd removal efficiencies were 32.3–35.1 % and 7.8–8.2 % for the low and high contaminant level, respectively. Inoculation with carbendazim-degrading bacterial strains significantly (P?<?0.05) increased Cd removal efficiencies at the low level. The carbendazim removal efficiencies increased by 32.1–42.5 % by the association of S. alfredii with carbendazim-degrading bacterial strains, as compared to control, regardless of contaminant level. Cultivation with S. alfredii and inoculation of carbendazim-degrading bacterial strains increased soil microbial biomass, dehydrogenase activities and microbial diversities by 46.2–121.3 %, 64.2–143.4 %, and 2.4–24.7 %, respectively. Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) analysis revealed that S. alfredii stimulated the activities of Flavobacteria and Bradyrhizobiaceae. The association of S. alfredii with carbendazim-degrading bacterial strains enhanced the degradation of carbendazim by changing microbial activity and community structure in the soil. The results demonstrated that association of S. alfredii with carbendazim-degrading bacterial strains is promising for remediation of Cd and carbendazim co-contaminated soil.     

The rhizosphere and PAH amendment mediate impacts on functional and structural bacterial diversity in sandy peat soil

To reveal the degradation capacity of bacteria in PAH polluted soil and rhizosphere we combined bacterial extradiol ring-cleavage dioxygenase and 16S rRNA analysis in Betula pubescens rhizoremediation. Characterisation of the functional bacterial community by RFLP revealed novel environmental dioxygenases, and their putative hosts were studied by 16S rRNA amplification. Plant rhizosphere and PAH amendment effects were detected by the RFLP/T-RFLP analysis. Functional species richness increased in the birch rhizosphere and PAH amendment impacted the compositional diversity of the dioxygenases and the structural 16S rRNA community. A shift from an Acidobacteria and Verrucomicrobia dominated to an Alpha- and Betaproteobacteria dominated community structure was detected in polluted soil. Clone sequence analysis indicated catabolic significance of Burkholderia in PAH polluted soil. These results advance our understanding of rhizoremediation and unveil the extent of uncharacterized functional bacteria to benefit bioremediation by facilitating the development of the molecular tool box to monitor bacterial populations in biodegradation.     

Isolation and characterization of two novel psychrotrophic decabromodiphenyl ether-degrading bacteria from river sediments

Decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) is a brominated flame retardant and a priority contaminant. Currently, little information is available about its significance in the environment, specifically about its susceptibility to aerobic biotransformation at low temperature. In this work, five phylogenetically diverse BDE-209-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from river sediments of northern China. These strains were distributed among four different genera—Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Bacillus and Staphylococcus. All five isolates were capable of growing on BDE-209, among which two isolates show better growth. By detailed morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics and 16S rDNA sequence analysis, the two strains were identified and named as Staphylococcus haemolyticus LY1 and Bacillus pumilus LY2. The two bacteria can grow in mineral salt medium containing BDE-209 substrate across the temperatures ranging from 2.5 to 35 °C, with an optimum temperature of 25 °C which could be considered as psychrotrophs accordingly. The degradation experiment showed that more than 70.6 and 85.5 % of 0.5 mg/L BDE-209 were degraded and the highest mineralization efficiencies of 29.8 and 39.2 % were achieved for 0.5 mg/L BDE-209 by S. haemolyticus LY1 and B. pumilus LY2, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration for the biodegradation of BDE-209 by two psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from environment.