Biodegradation kinetics of cymoxanil in aquatic system

A potential method to detoxify pesticides in aquatic system is using bioremediation. In this study, four microorganisms (Pseudomonas sp (EB11), Streptomyces sp. (EB12), Aspergillus niger (EB13) and Trichoderma viride (EB14) were isolated from cucumber leaves previously treated with cymoxanil using enrichment technique. These strains were evaluated for their potential to detoxify cymoxanil in aquatic system at the concentration level of 5×10^?4M. The effect of pH and temperature on the growth ability of the tested strains was also investigated by measuring the intracellular protein and mycelia dry weight for bacterial and fungal strains, respectively. Moreover, the remaining toxicity of cymoxanil after 28 days of incubation with tested strains was evaluated to confirm the complete removal of any toxic materials (cymoxanil and its metabolites). The results showed that the optimum pH for the growth of cymoxanil degrading strains (bacteria and fungi) was 7. A temperature of 30°C appears to be the optimum for the growth of either fungal or bacterial strains. Pseudomonas sp. (EB11) was the most effective strain in cymoxanil degradation followed Streptomyces sp (EB12), Trichoderma viride (EB14) and Aspergillus niger (EB13), with half-lives of 4.33, 9.5, 17.3 and 24.7 days, respectively. The degradation of cymoxanil by bacterial strains was much faster than fungal one. There is no remaining toxicity of cymoxanil detected in aqueous media previously treated with Pseudomonas sp. (EB11) for 28 days. The results suggest that bioremediation by Pseudomonas sp. (EB11) are promising for the detoxification of cymoxanil in aqueous media.     

Isolation and characterization of an Arthrobacter sp. strain HB-5 that transforms atrazine

A bacterial strain (HB-5) capable of utilizing atrazine as sole carbon and nitrogen source for growth was isolated from an industrial wastewater sample by enrichment culture. The isolate was identified as Arthrobacter sp. according to its phenotypic features, physiologic and biochemical characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis. The strain exhibited faster atrazine degradation rates in atrazine-containing mineral media than the well-characterized atrazine-degrading bacteria Pseudomonas sp. ADP. The broad optimum pH and temperature ranges observed for strain HB-5 indicate that it has potential for remediation of atrazine-contaminated sites. Strain HB-5 first metabolizes atrazine to yield hydroxyatrazine. Then, the bacterium metabolizes hydroxyatrazine to cyanuric acid, but could not mineralize atrazine.     

Arsenic detoxification potential of <Emphasis Type="Italic">aox</Emphasis> genes in arsenite-oxidizing bacteria isolated from natural and constructed wetlands in the Republic of Korea

Arsenic is subject to microbial interactions, which support a wide range of biogeochemical transformations of elements in natural environments such as wetlands. The arsenic detoxification potential of the bacterial strains was investigated with the arsenite oxidation gene, aox genotype, which were isolated from the natural and constructed wetlands. The isolates were able to grow in the presence of 10 mM of sodium arsenite (As(III) as NaAsO₂) and 1 mM of d+glucose. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that these isolated strains resembled members of the genus that have arsenic-resistant systems (Acinetobacter sp., Aeromonas sp., Agrobacterium sp., Comamonas sp., Enterobacter sp., Pantoea sp., and Pseudomonas sp.) with sequence similarities of 81–98%. One bacterial isolate identified as Pseudomonas stutzeri strain GIST-BDan2 (EF429003) showed the activity of arsenite oxidation and existence of aoxB and aoxR gene, which could play an important role in arsenite oxidation to arsenate. This reaction may be considered as arsenic detoxification process. The results of a batch test showed that P. stutzeri GIST-BDan2 (EF429003) completely oxidized in 1 mM of As(III) to As(V) within 25–30 h. In this study, microbial activity was evaluated to provide a better understanding of arsenic biogeochemical cycle in both natural and constructed wetlands, where ecological niches for microorganisms could be different, with a specific focus on arsenic oxidation/reduction and detoxification.     

Microcystin-LR biodegradation by Sphingopyxis sp. USTB-05

A promising bacterial strain for biodegrading microcystin-LR (MC-LR) as the sole carbon and nitrogen source was successfully isolated from Lake Dianchi, China. The strain was identified as Sphingopyxis sp. USTB-05, which was the first isolated MCs-biodegrading Sphingopyxis sp. in China. The average biodegradation rate of MC-LR by Sphingopyxis sp. USTB-05 was 28.8 mg??L^?1 per day, which was apparently higher than those of other bacteria reported so far. The optimal temperature and pH for both strain USTB-05 growth and MC-LR biodegradation were 30??C and 7.0, respectively. The release of MC-LR from the cyanobacterial cells collected from Lake Guishui and the biodegradation of MC-LR by both strain and cell-free extract (CE) were investigated. The results indicated that MC-LR with the initial concentration of 4.0 mg??L^?1 in water was biodegraded by Sphingopyxis sp. USTB-05 within 4 d, while MC-LR with the initial concentration of 28.8 mg??L^?1 could be completely removed in 3 h by CE of Sphingopyxis sp. USTB-05 containing 350 mg??L^?1 protein. During enzymatic biodegradation of MC-LR, two intermediate metabolites and a dead-end product were observed on an HPLC chromatogram. Moreover, the similar scanning profiles of MC-LR and its metabolic products indicate that the Adda side-chain of MC-LR was kept intact in all products.     

Quantification of polyphenols during retting and characterization of bacteria from the Kadinamkulam Backwaters, Kerala

The retting environment which provides a competitive niche for specialized microbes is speculated to harbour a variety of microbes with high biodegradation potential. In this context, an effort has been made to isolate and identify bacterial species having high tolerance to phenol In vitro. Maximum polyphenol (1.897 mg l(-1)) as observed during the initial period of retting, which decreased as retting proceeded. Based on biochemical characterization, the isolated bacterial strains were identified as Micrococcus sp., Moraxella sp. strain MP1, Moraxella sp. strain MP2 and Moraxella sp. strain MP3, Pseudomonas sp. strain PP1 and Pseudomonas sp. strain PP2, Amphibacillus sp., Brucella sp. strain BP1 and Brucella sp. strain BP2, Aquaspirillum sp., Escherichia coli strain EP1 and Escherichia coli strain EP2, Campylobacter sp., Aeromonas sp., Neisseria sp., Vibrio sp., Erwinia sp. and Mesophilobacter sp. These strains were found to tolerate maximum concentration of phenol viz. 200 to 1000 mg l(-1). Plasmid analysis of phenol resistant bacterial isolates showed that almost all the cultures had at least one plasmid of size > 1Kb. Studies on the protein profile of isolated bacterial cultures showed the presence of proteins with molecular sizes ranging from 10 to 85 KDa with exception of Mesophilobacter and Neisseria having still high molecular weight protein (95 KDa). Bacterial strains isolated from coir-ret-liquor showed tolerance to high phenol concentration.     

Biodegradation of paclobutrazol by a microbial consortium isolated from industrially contaminated sediment

Biodegradability of the plant growth retardant paclobutrazol by a microbial consortium in which Pseudomonas was the predominant strain was investigated in batch culture. The consortium which had been isolated from an industrially contaminated sediment was proven to be useful for the treatment of effluents containing paclobutrazol. Paclobutrazol was degraded by the pure isolated strain of Pseudomonas sp. as well as the microbial consortium. Paclobutrazol was utilized as the sole source of carbon and energy. Sixty percent of the paclobutrazol was degraded by the microbial consortium from an initial concentration of 54 mg L^?1 within 48 h and more than 98% of an initial concentration of 3.4 mg L^?1 was degraded within 36 h. The optimum temperature and pH were determined to be 30°C and 7.0, respectively. A pure strain of a bacterium, isolated from the enrichment culture was identified as Pseudomonas sp. The microbial consortium was tolerant of high pH and could degrade paclobutrazol faster than the pure strain. The degradation rate of this plant growth regulator in an aerobic environment was greater than that under anaerobic conditions.     

As(V)-reduction to As(III) by arsenic-resistant Bacillus spp. bacterial strains isolated from low-contaminated sediments of the Oliveri-Tindari Lagoon,Italy

Five arsenic-resistant bacterial strains designated MT1, MT2, MT3, V1 and V2 were isolated from sediments of the Oliveri-Tindari Lagoon (Italy), which comprises six small lakes whose sediments contain low arsenic concentrations. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences assigned them to the genus Bacillus. Bacillus sp. strain MT3 showed higher tolerance to As(III) and As(V), as indicated by minimum inhibitory concentrations of 14 and 135 mmol^?1, respectively. Bacillus sp. strain V1 showed growth inhibition at 14 mmol^?1 in the presence of As(III) and at 68 mmol^?1 in the presence of As(V), whereas the arsenic resistance of Bacillus sp. strain MT1 was 10 and 27 mmol^?1 for As(III) and As(V), respectively. The strains Bacillus spp. MT2 and V2 showed low levels of As(III) and As(V) resistance, as it was unable to grow at concentrations>7 and 14 mmol^?1, respectively. The isolated arsenic-resistant Bacillus spp. strains were able to reduce As(V) to As(III), especially Bacillus spp. strain MT3. This study suggests that the isolated bacterial strains play a role in the arsenic biogeochemical cycle of arsenic-poor sediments in the Oliveri-Tindari Lagoon.     

In vitro degradation of the herbicide atrazine by soil and wood decay fungi controlled through Elisa technique

The interaction between atrazine, a triazine herbicide, and a series of decay fungi was characterized in terms of biodegradation of the herbicide and its influence on fungal growth. The following fungi were studied: thermophilic cellulolytic (Penicillium sp. 13) and noncellulolytic (Humicola lanuginosa sp. 5 and 12) strains isolated from self‐heated plant composts, mesophilic diphenol oxidase producing strain Mycelia sterilia INBI 2–26, white‐rot fungi Cerrena maxima, Coriolopsis fulvocinerea and Coriolus hirsutus. Competitive enzyme immunoassay was elaborated for detection of atrazine in cultural liquid. During agar plate cultivation the growth of Humicola sp. 5 was promoted by atrazine whereas the growth of Humicola sp. 12 and Penicillium sp. 13 was suppressed whereas M. sterilia INBI 2–26 was not affected by the herbicide. Neither atrazine‐accelerated nor atrazine‐depressed thermophilic strains decomposed atrazine during 21‐day cultivation according to ELISA data. In contrast, white‐rot fungi Coriolus hirsutus, Coriolopsis fuhocinerea and Cerrena maxima degraded nearly 50% of the herbicide in 5‐day submerged cultivation and 80–92% of the herbicide up to the 40th day. The soil strain M. sterilia INBI 2–26 decomposed 70% of atrazine in 17‐day cultivation. The degradation level depended of the time of atrazine introduction to the growing media. The relationships between the degree of atrazine decomposition and laccase and Mn‐peroxidase production were shown.     

Resting egg formation and hatching of the S-type rotifer Brachionus plicatilis at varying salinities

Several live specimens of the blue-ringed octopus Octopus maculosus were collected from the Philippines in November 1985, and from Japan in February 1986, and the distribution of toxicity, along with toxin composition, in the posterior salivary gland and other soft parts were examined. Tetrodotoxin (TTX: 1400 mouse units g^-1) was detected in the posterior salivary gland of a Japanese specimen, while not only the salivary gland but other soft parts were toxic in the Philippine specimens. The Philippine specimens contained TTX and anhydrotetrodotoxin, the Japanese specimen TTX, 4-epitetrodotoxin, and an unknown toxin. The posterior salivary gland, intestine and other parts were excised from the Philippine specimens and examined for bacterial flora. Twenty-two dominant strains were isolated and cultured in a 2xORI medium (Ocean Research Institute, Simidu and Tsukamoto 1985) at 20°C for 20 to 48 h. Cells were harvested by centrifugation, and disrupted by ultrasonication. The toxins were partially purified from the cell lyzate by ultrafiltration and Bio-Gel P-2 column-chromatography. Instrumental analyses disclosed that 16 of the 22 strains produced TTX and/or related substances. Six strains which clearly exhibited TTX productivity were identified as Alteromonas (2 strains), Bacillus (2), Pseudomonas (1) and Vibrio (1), based on biochemical and biological characteristics. Of these, one strain each of Bacillus and Pseudomonas produced TTX at a level detectable by the mouse assay.     

Higher oil biodegradation potential at the Arabian Gulf coast than in the water body

Littoral materials collected from the intertidal zone along the coast of Kuwait City were associated with much higher numbers of oil-utilizing microorganisms than inshore and offshore water samples. Animate materials viz. epilithic biomass, cyanobacterial mats and roots of higher plants were richer in such microorganisms than inanimate materials, e.g. littoral sand, rock pieces, shells and others. Those numbers remained highest during the autumn, winter and spring and decreased dramatically during the hot summer. By far, the predominant indigenous oil-utilizing bacterium in the marine environment of Kuwait was Acinetobacter calcoaceticus. Less dominant organisms included Micrococcus sp., nocardioforms and others. Coast-immobilized strains of A. calcoaceticus and Micrococcus sp. had a higher hydrocarbon degradation potential than planktonic strains of the same organisms. It was concluded that marine coasts have a much higher potential for oil biodegradation than the water body. Received: 28 April 1999 / Accepted: 23 September 1999     

Larval settlement in the serpulid polychaete Hydroides elegans in response to bacterial films: an investigation of the nature of putative larval settlement cue

Larval settlement in the marine polychaete Hydroides elegans (Haswell) is induced by certain bacteria in marine biofilms. The exact nature of the settlement cue that larvae of H. elegans receive from these bacteria remains unknown. In this study, we revealed some properties of the bacterially derived larval settlement cue by investigating the larval settlement inductive activity of two bacterial strains after various treatments. These two bacterial strains, Roseobacter sp. and an α-subclass Proteobacteria, are highly inductive to larval settlement of H. elegans. The larvae responded similarly to Roseobacter and Proteobacteria in all the larval settlement bioassays, suggesting that the larval settlement-inducing substances produced by these bacteria may share common characteristics. First of all, the larvae did not settle in the seawater conditioned by the bacteria attached as a film or by the bacteria that were freely suspended in seawater. The results suggest that the putative larval settlement cue is not released into seawater and, therefore, should be associated with the surface of the bacteria. Secondly, formaldehyde treatment entirely eliminated the larval settlement induction activity of the bacterial films, and streptomycin treatment reduced the percentage of larval settlement on the bacterial films in a concentration-dependent manner. Since both treatments can kill bacteria with little damage to the surface chemistry of bacterial cells, the decline in larval settlement is suggested be due to a reduction of the viable bacterial population in the bacterial films. In fact, the reduction of larval settlement in the streptomycin treatments coincided with the decrease in viable bacterial populations in broth cultures containing respective concentrations of streptomycin. These results suggest that the viability of Roseobacter and Proteobacteria is important to their settlement induction effect. Since the larval settlement induction activity of the bacterial strains appears to correlate with their viability, we suggest that the putative larval settlement cue is derived from a metabolic pathway in the bacteria and that the cue is exported to and concentrated at the extracellular polymer matrix of the bacterial cell, at which the larvae establish contact with the bacteria. The larval settlement cue may be highly susceptible to degradation so that a metabolically active bacterial film is needed to maintain the putative cue at a concentration that surpasses the threshold for induction of larval settlement. Received: 14 October 1998 / Accepted: 5 September 2000     

Glycolate metabolism by Pseudomonas sp., strain S227, isolated from a coastal marine sediment

Glycolate excreted by phytoplankton is a potentially important nutrient for bacteria in coastal and estuarine environments. The metabolism of glycolate by Pseudomonas sp., strain S227, originally isolated from the New York Bight Apex, has been studied. The specific growth rate for this strain on glycolate is 0.156 doublings h^-1. The apparent V_max and K_m for glycolate uptake are 83.6 nmol min^-1 mg cell protein^-1 and 7.4x10^-8 M, respectively. The preferential respiration of the carboxyl carbon (C-1) and the incroporation of the hydroxymethyl carbon (C-2) suggest that the glycerate pathway is used for growth on glycolate. Alternatively, another pathway can be utilized which results in the complete catabolism of glycolate. Glycolate and lactate metabolism are also closely linked either by a common metabolic pathway or a common transport system other than the monocarboxylate transport system. The magnesium ion concentration is also important in glycolate metabolism. The characteristics of glycolate metabolism observed in Pseudomonas sp., strain S227, are advantageous in coastal and estuarine environments where glycolate production is intermittent, and the concentrations are low.     

Pollution and biodegradation of hexabromocyclododecanes: A review

• Bioremediation is the most cost-effective approach for degradation of HBCDs. • Bacteria or bacterial consortia are used in the cases of bio-augmentation. • Microbes combined with phytoremediation increase the remediation efficiency. Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are the most common brominated flame-retardants after polybrominated diphenyl ethers. HBCDs can induce cancer by causing inappropriate antidiuretic hormone syndrome. Environmental contamination with HBCDs has been detected globally, with concentrations ranging from ng to mg. Methods to degrade HBCDs include physicochemical methods, bioremediation, and phytoremediation. The photodegradation of HBCDs using simulated sunlight or ultraviolet lamps, or chemical catalysts are inefficient and expensive, as is physicochemical degradation. Consequently, bioremediation is considered as the most cost-effective and clean approach. To date, five bacterial strains capable of degrading HBCDs have been isolated and identified: Pseudomonas sp. HB01, Bacillus sp. HBCD-sjtu, Achromobacter sp. HBCD-1, Achromobacter sp. HBCD-2, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa HS9. The molecular mechanisms of biodegradation of HBCDs are discussed in this review. New microbial resources should be explored to increase the resource library in order to identify more HBCD-degrading microbes and functional genes. Synthetic biology methods may be exploited to accelerate the biodegradation capability of existing bacteria, including modification of the degrading strains or functional enzymes, and artificial construction of the degradation microflora. The most potentially useful method is combining micro-degradation with physicochemical methods and phytoremediation. For example, exogenous microorganisms might be used to stimulate the adsorption capability of plants for HBCDs, or to utilize an interaction between exogenous microorganisms and rhizosphere microorganisms to form a new rhizosphere microbial community to enhance the biodegradation and absorption of HBCDs.     

Performance evaluation of isoproturon-degrading indigenous bacterial isolates in soil microcosm

Isoproturon (IPU)-degrading soil bacteria were isolated from herbicide-applied wheat fields. These isolates were identified using cultural, morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA sequencing methods. 16S rRNA sequences of both the bacterial isolates were compared with NCBI GenBank data base and identified as Bacillus pumilus and Pseudoxanthomonas sp. A soil microcosm study was carried out for 40 days in six different treatments. Experimental results revealed maximum 95.98% IPU degradation in treatment 6 where bacterial consortia were augmented in natural soil, followed by 91.53% in treatment 5 enriched with organic manure as an additional carbon source. However, only 14.03% IPU was degraded in treatment 1 (control) after 40 days. In treatments (2–4), 75.59%, 70.92% and 77.32% IPU degradation was recorded, respectively. IPU degradation in all the treatments varied significantly over the control. 4-Isopropylaniline was detected as IPU degradation by-product in the medium. The study confirmed that B. pumilus and Pseudoxanthomonas sp. performed effectively in soil microcosms and could be employed profitably for field-scale bioremediation experiments.     

Strengthening effects of ammonia nitrogen on the harmless biological treatment of oily sludge

To improve the efficiency of oil degradation and strengthen the harmless treatment of oily sludge, three dominant strains identified as Chryseomicrobium sp. YL2, Gordonia sp. YL3 and Acinetobacter sp. YL5 were isolated from soil near a refinery, and the effects on the bioremediation of the oily sludge from the refinery were investigated. The results showed that the efficiency of oil degradation increased by 31.5% compared with the control when the dominant strains were added to the treatment of oily sludge. Furthermore, the dominant strains could use oil as a carbon source for heterotrophic nitrification–aerobic denitrification. The addition of ammonia nitrogen resulted in a large number of remaining microbes and heightened dehydrogenase activity in the oily sludge, further accelerating oil degradation, mainly for C₁₁ to C₂₅ saturated hydrocarbons, and the oil degradation efficiency increased by 40.8%. After 120 days of bioremediation, the biotoxicity of oily sludge, which was expressed by the equivalent phenol concentration, decreased by 40.0% compared with that of the control, indicating that the addition of ammonia nitrogen enhanced the biodegradation of oil. This method can be used to strengthen the harmless treatment of oily sludge in practical engineering applications.     

Chlorophenol tolerant and degradative bacteria isolated from a river receiving pulp mill discharges

A screening was carried out in a river receiving pulp mill discharges (BioBio river, central Chile) to study the bacterial population able to tolerate and degrade chlorophenols. In four selected stations and at different seasons, water samples were taken from the river. Total bacterial population and the number of chlorophenol tolerant bacteria were counted. Bacterial tolerance to 25, 50, 100, 200 and 400 μg/ml of 2,4‐dichlorophenol (DCP), 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP) and pentachlorophenol (PCP) was determined. Strains able to tolerate at least 400 μg/ml chlorophenols were found. Eighteen bacterial strains able to use chlorophenols as the sole carbon source were isolated: five of them were Pseudomonas fluorescens, two Alcaligenes sp., one Citrobacter freundii, one Aeromonas sp. and nine unidentified Gram negative bacilli. A good correlation (r ² = 0.758) between the logarithm of DCP tolerant bacteria and the content of adsorbable organic halogen (AOX) at low dilution in the river water was established. Four groups of tolerant bacteria were found: growing on PCP and DCP, growing on PCP and TCP, growing only on PCP and growing only on TCP.     

Degradation of dibutyl phthalate in refuse from different phases of landfill by its dominant bacterial strain,Enterobacter sp. T1

A facultative bacterial strain isolated from municipal solid waste (MSW) obtained from a simulated landfill bioreactor was found to have the ability to use dibutyl phthalate (DBP) as its sole source of carbon and energy. Based on its morphology, physiochemical characteristics, and 16S rDNA sequence, the strain was identified as Enterobacter sp. T1. Evaluation of the degradation of DBP in refuse collected during the initial, acidic, and methanogenic phases of landfill before and after inoculation with Enterobacter sp. T1 revealed that the degradation fits first-order kinetic models for refuse from all phases. The removal rate of DBP in the refuse of the methanogenic phase increased from 59.3% to 74.5% when Enterobacter T1 was added. The half-life of DBP in refuse from the methanogenic phase that was inoculated with Enterobacter T1 decreased by 36.7% relative to uninoculated samples, and the intermediate products monobutyl phthalate (MBP) and phthalic acid were detected in all samples. These results provide new evidence for the potential of applying Enterobacter sp. for phthalic acid ester-polluted area remediation.     

A novel soil bacterial strain degrading pyridines

Environmental pollution has become one of the most crucial problems of the modern society. Pyridine and its derivatives are one of the most widespread classes of heterocyclic industrial contaminants. Due to rather tough safe levels, thorough purification of the waste waters containing these ecotoxicants is required. However the existing chemical methods are not efficient. On the contrary, microbiological approach seems quite promising. A new strain degrading alkylpyridines was isolated from the soil contaminated with pyridine containing wastes. The strain was identified as Arthrobacter sp. KM-4 (VKM Ac-1098D). The strain completely consumes pyridine (2.5 g/l), 2-methylpyridine (2.5 g/l), 4-methylpyridine (1.5 g/l) and 2,6-dimethylpyridine (3 g/l) in aquatic solutions in 24 h. The intermediate products of the biodegradation process were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Degradation schemes were proposed for pyridine and 2-methylpyridine. Previously unknown pathway of pyridines microbial degradation via intermediate formation of pyrrolidines was reliably proved by mass spectra and following synthesis of the identified compounds. New culture significantly surpasses all the known strains in the pyridines’ degrading efficiency. Arthrobacter sp. KM-4 is a promising culture for application for the purification of waste water.     

Dibenzofuran: Bakterielle Mineralisierung

The degradation of uniformly¹⁴C-labelled dibenzofuran (DBF) by the strainPseudomonas sp HH 69 and a consortium consisting of the DBF-degrading Pseudomonas strain NRM and an accompanying Nocardia-like strain NRH, was monitored in liquid-batch cultures and in different soil samples. Experiments involving the strain and a consortium in aereated liquid cultures (batch process) showed that DBF was utilized as a source of energy and carbon. Thereby, more than 65% of DBF is rapidly converted to CO₂, about 20% to biomass and only about 10% to slow-degrading intermediate metabolites, respectively. The same microorganisms also exhibited comparable degrees of degradation efficiency in various types of soils contaminated with DBF. For instance, DBF, uniformly distributed in sterile soil samples, in concentrations between 0.2 to 200 ppm, was converted to CO₂, within 10 days, to the extent of about 75% by the strainPseudomonas sp. HH 69.     

Influence of americium-241 on the microbial population and biodegradation of organic waste

The present study investigated the influence of ²⁴¹Am on microbial growth and the degradation of organic waste. Leachate samples collected in a lysimeter were periodically analyzed for bacterial growth, under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. ²⁴¹Am inhibited bacterial growth, and the degradation of organic matter was delayed in comparison with the control. Minimal inhibitory concentration assays and survival curves revealed that it inhibits the growth of Pseudomonas putida F1. The assay also revealed that ²⁴¹Am is more toxic than ²³⁸U, Zn²⁺ and Cd²⁺. This study further led to the finding of four new radionuclide-tolerant bacterial strains: Flavobacterium spp., Pseudomonas gladioli, Chryseobacterium indologenes and Ochrobactrum anthropi. The survival curves of P. gladioli, C. indologenes revealed that these bacteria are resistant to metal as consortia.