Determination of biodegradation potential by two culture-independent methods in PAH-contaminated soils

Biodegradation potentials of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined with soil samples collected from various depths of a PAH-contaminated site and of a site nearby where PAHs were not found. Putative dioxygenase genes were amplified by a primer set specific for initial dioxygenases and identified by web-based database homology search. They were further categorized into several groups of which four dioxygenases were selected as probes for DNA hybridization. The hybridization signals according to the presence of putative dioxygenases were positively related to the extent of PAH contamination. However, the signal intensities varied depending on the probes hybridized and moreover were not consistent with PAH biodegradation activities determined by CO2 evolution. Despite widely accepted advantages of molecular biodegradation assessment, our data clearly present the variations of assessment results depending on the genetic information used and suggest that the methodology may tend to underestimate the real biodegradation capacity of a site probably due to the limited dioxygenase database available at the moment. Therefore, the molecular assessment of biodegradation potential should involve a very careful primer and probe design and an extensive microbiological examination of a site of interest to accurately delineate the biodegradation potential of the site.     

一株降解荧蒽的铜绿假单胞菌的筛选鉴定及其特性

荧蒽是一种疏水性极强的高分子量多环芳烃,在环境中能持久存在且难以被微生物降解.本研究从石油污染土壤中分离获得一株能够以荧蒽为唯一碳源和能源而生长良好的菌株,命名为DN1.通过形态观察、生理生化特性鉴定及16S rRNA gene同源序列分析,鉴定其为铜绿假单胞菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa).研究发现,菌株DN1的最适生长温度为34~37℃,最适p H为5.5~7.5,并具有良好的产鼠李糖脂能力,摇瓶培养7 d内最高产量可达22.90 g·L-1.DN1这一特性有利于荧蒽乳化进而促使其生物降解,0.50 g·L-1荧蒽14 d内的降解率达到90.2%.酶活检测显示,邻苯二酚1,2-双加氧酶活性显著高于邻苯二酚2,3-双加氧酶活性,表明其在荧蒽生物降解中起主导作用.     

产碱菌株F-3-4降解2,6-二叔丁基苯酚机理研究

研究有毒化合物的生物降解途径．以鉴定有毒化合物在微生物作用下的降解中间产物．以及是否最终成为无害的产物（CO2和H2O），对人们认识有毒化合物在环境中的迁移规律及生物去除的办法．途径具有重要的启示作用。通过色质联机测试中间产物以及降解过程体系酶的变化，对产碱菌株F-3-4降解2,6-二叔丁基苯酚（2,6-DTBP）的途径和机理进行了研究。GC—MS测试结果表明。中间降解产物为乙酸、丙酮酸和异丁酸等化合物。降解过程体系酶测定结果显示．儿茶酚2，3-双加氧酶变化比较明显。表明在菌种生物降解底物过程中。主要以2，3位开裂为主。即主要以间位开裂途径进行开环反应，从而推测了F-3-4对2,6-DTBP的降解途径和机理。     

Microbial remediation of nitro-aromatic compounds: an overview

Nitro-aromatic compounds are produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuel or nitration reactions and are used as chemical feedstock for synthesis of explosives, pesticides, herbicides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, etc. The indiscriminate use of nitro-aromatics in the past due to wide applications has resulted in inexorable environmental pollution. Hence, nitro-aromatics are recognized as recalcitrant and given Hazardous Rating-3. Although several conventional pump and treat clean up methods are currently in use for the removal of nitro-aromatics, none has proved to be sustainable. Recently, remediation by biological systems has attracted worldwide attention to decontaminate nitro-aromatics polluted sources. The incredible versatility inherited in microbes has rendered these compounds as a part of the biogeochemical cycle. Several microbes catalyze mineralization and/or non-specific transformation of nitro-aromatics either by aerobic or anaerobic processes. Aerobic degradation of nitro-aromatics applies mainly to mono-, dinitro-derivatives and to some extent to poly-nitro-aromatics through oxygenation by: (i) monooxygenase, (ii) dioxygenase catalyzed reactions, (iii) Meisenheimer complex formation, and (iv) partial reduction of aromatic ring. Under anaerobic conditions, nitro-aromatics are reduced to amino-aromatics to facilitate complete mineralization. The nitro-aromatic explosives from contaminated sediments are effectively degraded at field scale using in situ bioremediation strategies, while ex situ techniques using whole cell/enzyme(s) immobilized on a suitable matrix/support are gaining acceptance for decontamination of nitrophenolic pesticides from soils at high chemical loading rates. Presently, the qualitative and quantitative performance of biological approaches of remediation is undergoing improvement due to: (i) knowledge of catabolic pathways of degradation, (ii) optimization of various parameters for accelerated degradation, and (iii) design of microbe(s) through molecular biology tools, capable of detoxifying nitro-aromatic pollutants. Among them, degradative plasmids have provided a major handle in construction of recombinant strains. Although recombinants designed for high performance seem to provide a ray of hope, their true assessment under field conditions is required to address ecological considerations for sustainable bioremediation.