Characteristics of microorganisms isolated from technogenic soils of the Kama region

Microorganisms capable of degrading monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and several chlorinated aromatic compounds were isolated from soils polluted with industrial waste from chemical plants. They were identified as representatives of the genera Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Rhodococcus, Microbacterium, Cellulomonas, Arthrobacter, and Brevibacterium. Among them, bacteria capable of utilizing xenobiotics in a wide range of ambient temperatures and pH and in the presence of high sodium chloride concentrations were revealed.     

Variability of enzyme system of Nocardioform bacteria as a basis of their metabolic activity

The present review describes some aspects of organization of biodegradative pathways of Nocardioform microorganisms, first of all, with respect to their ability to degrade aromatic compounds, mostly methylbenzoate, chlorosubstituted phenols, and chlorinated biphenyls and the intermediates of their transformation: 4-chlorobenzoate and para-hydroxybenzoate. Various enzyme systems induced during degradation processes are defined. The ability of microorganisms to induce a few key enzymes under the influence of xenobiotics is described. This ability may increase the biodegradative potential of strains allowing them to survive in the changing environment or demonstrate to some extent the unspecific response of microorganisms to the effect of toxicants. Nocardioform microorganisms responsible for degradation of such persistent compounds as polychlorinated biphenyls, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, chlorinated benzoates and phenols and other xenobiotics are characterized. The possibility of using Nocardioform microorganisms in some aspects of biotechnology due to their ability to produce some compounds important for industry is also estimated.