耐盐异养好氧氨氧化菌株的筛选、鉴定及特性研究

针对常规微生物难以处理的高盐氨氮废水的问题,笔者从泸州老窖污水处理活性污泥中分离出1株耐盐菌株,命名为LZLJ-8,对菌株LZLJ-8进行形态观察、Biolog测定以及16S rDNA序列分析,鉴定其为枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)。对菌株LZLJ-8的耐盐性、氨氧化能力以及胞外聚合物(EPS)进行了研究,结果表明菌株盐度耐受能力达到15%,并能在盐质量分数范围为3%～5%、初始氨氮(NH⁺₄-N)质量浓度为50 mg/L的条件下,48～120 h内将氨氮完全降解;且菌株在质量分数为5%盐的条件下能产生胞外聚合物(EPS)491 mg/g。菌株LZLJ-8的生物学特性表明其在高盐氨氮等废水中具有较好的应用前景。     

一株耐盐反硝化细菌的筛选、鉴定和特性及其产物四氢嘧啶的检测

【背景】石化工业废水具有高盐含氮的特点,高盐度会对微生物代谢造成抑制,导致普通反硝化微生物难以在高盐环境下有效脱氮。【目的】筛选在高盐条件下仍能保持反硝化能力的菌株并研究其特性。【方法】富集筛选出一株耐盐反硝化细菌,对其进行生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列鉴定,对其生长条件进行优化并测定该菌株反硝化能力,对菌株在高盐环境下的产物进行定性定量分析。【结果】经鉴定菌株YA16-1为表皮短杆菌(Brevibacterium epidermidis),可对硝态氮进行反硝化作用,在盐度为3%、初始氮浓度为55 mg/L的条件下,18 h的硝态氮转化率达到97%;初始硝态氮浓度为250 mg/L时,24 h内硝态氮转化率达到100%。该菌株的最适生长条件为：2% NaCl,碳源为玉米芯粉,氮源为酵母粉,pH值为6.0,培养温度为30 ℃。菌株在盐度为2%-15%的培养基内生长良好。在15%盐度下,菌株通过产四氢嘧啶维持渗透压,产量为0.89 mg/mL。【结论】菌株YA16-1具有良好的耐盐能力和反硝化能力,在高盐废水处理、保护生态环境和四氢嘧啶的制备具有潜在的应用价值。     

高效降解石油外生菌根真菌的室内筛选

对7个外生菌根真菌菌株在不同石油浓度培养基中的生长及其对石油的降解作用进行了研究。结果表明:(1)不同菌株在同一石油浓度培养基中生长速度不同,同一菌株在不同石油浓度培养基中的生长速度亦不同。菌株010和菌株025在不同石油浓度培养基中生长速度均较其他菌株快。菌株010的菌丝干重随着石油浓度的增加而增加,当石油质量浓度为500 mg/L时,菌丝干重达到最大值,高于对照5.27%,石油对其生长产生了促进作用;当石油质量浓度为700 mg/L时,菌丝干重低于对照,随着石油质量浓度的升高,菌株生长呈下降趋势。石油质量浓度为100 mg/L时,菌株025生长最慢,菌丝干重低于对照9.1%。随着石油浓度的增加,菌株生长加快,当石油质量浓度为500 mg/L时,菌丝干重高于对照;当石油质量浓度为700 mg/L时,菌株025菌丝干重最高,高于对照25.65%。随着石油浓度的再度升高,菌株生长呈下降趋势。(2)不同菌株在同一石油浓度下对石油的降解能力不同,同一菌株在不同石油浓度下对石油的降解能力亦不同。菌株025对石油的降解能力最强,对石油的降解能力随着石油浓度的升高而提高。当培养基中石油质量浓度为900 mg/L时,菌株025对石油的降解率最高,达到73.65%。(3)菌株0100、09、035、LH004的菌丝生物量与对石油的降解能力呈正相关。     

一株苯酚降解菌的筛选、鉴定及其降解特性

本研究采用逐量分批驯化的方法,从造纸废水中分离得到一株能够以苯酚为唯一碳源生长的苯酚降解菌株F5-1.经形态观察、生理生化特性鉴定及16S rDNA序列分析,将该菌株鉴定为克雷伯菌(Klebsie-lla sp.).该菌株能够在7 h时完全降解初始浓度为100 mg/L的苯酚,降解苯酚主要发生在生长对数期;在pH 5.0～9.0,NaCl浓度0～80 g/L,温度20～40℃范围内,菌株F5-1均可有效降解初始浓度为100～1 200 mg/L的苯酚;能够耐受的最大苯酚浓度为1 500 mg/L.本研究结果表明,F5-1菌株对处理环境条件复杂的含酚废水具有潜在的应用前景.     

Arthrobacter sp.2PR降解2-羟基吡啶动力学及降解特性研究

从辽河口石油污染土壤中筛选到一株能够以2-羟基吡啶作为唯一碳源、氮源和能源进行生长的菌株2PR,基于形态学观察、16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定菌株2PR属于节杆菌属(Arthrobacter)。菌株2PR生长和降解2-羟基吡啶的最适条件是30℃,pH为7.0。当2-羟基吡啶初始浓度为6.0mg/ml时,120h菌株2PR对2-羟基吡啶的降解效率为94.48%,初始2-羟基吡啶浓度为8.0mg/ml时,156h的降解效率为89.21%。对2-羟基吡啶降解动力学过程进行模拟,结果显示菌株2PR生长和降解过程符合logisitic模型,该模型为环境中2-羟基吡啶的生物降解提供了理论参考。休止细胞反应和中间代谢产物检测表明,菌株2PR在降解2-羟基吡啶的过程中生成了蓝色化合物4,5,4',5'-tetrahydroxy-3,3'-diazadiphenoquinone-(2,2')。推测该菌株降解2-羟基吡啶的途径可能是首先由双加氧酶催化生成2,3,6-三羟基吡啶,后者会自发形成蓝色中间代谢产物,2,3,6-三羟基吡啶发生开环反应,最终被完全降解。菌株2PR是已报道菌株中2-羟基吡啶耐受能力和降解能力最强的菌株,在污染物生物修复方面具有广阔的应用前景。     

可降解吡啶的全食副球菌B21-3的筛选鉴定及降解特性

【背景】吡啶作为一种难降解的有机污染物普遍存在于焦化、炼油、皮革和制药等行业的废水中,并对环境造成危害。【目的】治理废水中残留的有机污染物吡啶,筛选高效降解菌。【方法】采用富集培养和选择培养,以石家庄某污水处理厂的活性污泥为材料进行吡啶降解菌的筛选,通过形态特征、生理生化特性、(G+C)mol%测定及16S rRNA基因序列系统发育分析对筛选到的降解菌进行鉴定,并分析其对吡啶的降解特性。【结果】分离筛选到一株能以吡啶为唯一碳源和氮源生长代谢的降解菌B21-3,经鉴定该菌株为全食副球菌(Paracoccuspantotrophus)。菌株B21-3对吡啶的最适降解温度为32°C,最适降解pH为7.0,吡啶浓度为100mg/L时降解率为48.50%±0.02%;通过逐步提高吡啶初始浓度对菌株进行驯化,驯化后菌株可耐受较高浓度吡啶且吡啶降解率显著增加,吡啶浓度为100 mg/L时驯化后菌株B21-3对吡啶的降解率为90.26%±1.70%。驯化后菌株在含吡啶的无机盐平板上传代培养15代后,对吡啶的降解率为89.39%±2.03%。【结论】菌株B21-3具有较强的吡啶降解能力及降解稳定性,该菌株可作为吡啶污染水体生物修复的潜在资源。     

DN2菌降解烟碱的动力学及其应用研究

研究了菌株DN2降解烟碱的特性和对烟草废弃物中烟碱的降解情况。结果表明,该菌降解烟碱的最适条件为接种量为5 %,温度30 ℃,初始pH值为6.5。在该条件下,对初始烟碱浓度为500 mg/L的降解过程进行考察。结果表明,未经烟碱诱导的降解曲线呈倒S曲线,半衰期为17.43 h;经烟碱诱导的降解曲线符合Eckenfelder动力学模型,半衰期为4.10 h。添加0.1 %(质量分数)葡萄糖,可提高菌株DN2的烟碱耐受浓度,达5000 mg/L。菌株DN2能够降解烟草废弃物水提液中的烟碱（烟碱含量约为2220 mg/L）,60 h时烟碱的降解率为95.22 %,表明该菌在治理烟碱污染环境方面具有应用价值。     

苯酚高效降解菌的筛选和降解特性研究

从东华理工学院北区原化学系排污口土壤中筛选到一株高效的苯酚降解细菌PS1。该菌为球菌,革兰氏染色阴性,能以苯酚为唯一碳源和能源生长。经16S rRNA基因部分序列分析PS1为Raoultella属菌株(Raoultella sp.strain PS1),其最高苯酚耐受和降解浓度在3500mg/L以上,当苯酚浓度为500mg/L和1000mg/L时,22h和32h可完全降解,在1500mg/L~3000mg/L时,32h~50h可完全降解,2500mg/L时降解速率最快,达78.1mg/h。通过正交试验得出该菌最适生长条件为25℃、pH6.5、葡萄糖500mg/L;最佳苯酚降解条件为20℃、pH7.0、葡萄糖500mg/L。     

除草剂氟磺胺草醚降解菌FB8的分离鉴定与土壤修复

【目的】从氟磺胺草醚污染土壤分离高效降解菌株,进行分类学鉴定、降解特性及土壤修复能力初步研究,为氟磺胺草醚污染土壤微生物修复提供新的菌株。【方法】通过形态特征、生理生化特征和16S rRNA序列分析方法进行菌株鉴定;通过农药初始浓度、pH值、温度等环境因素的研究得到菌株的最适生长条件;通过敏感作物和靶标杂草的盆栽生测试验,验证菌株对氟磺胺草醚污染土壤的修复能力。【结果】本试验从黑龙江省长期施用氟磺胺草醚的大豆田地中分离出一株能以氟磺胺草醚为唯一碳源生长的细菌FB8,初步鉴定为假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas),该菌株在96 h内对500 mg/L氟磺胺草醚的降解率高达86.75%,其最适生长条件为500 mg/L农药初始浓度、初始pH6.0-8.0、35-37℃,该菌株处理30 d能够显著恢复敏感作物玉米和高粱的各项生物量指标,对氟磺胺草醚浓度为5 mg/kg的土壤修复效果明显。【结论】从黑龙江省污染土壤中筛选得到的高效降解氟磺胺草醚的门多萨假单胞菌Pseudomonas mendocina FB8,盆栽生测试验表明该菌株具有很好的土壤修复作用,可为氟磺胺草醚的生物修复研究提供适宜的菌种资源。     

苯酚降解菌F6的筛选鉴定及降解特性

本研究利用逐级驯化的方法,从广西某工厂的废水中分离得到一株能利用苯酚作为唯一碳源生长的高效苯酚降解菌F6。采用16S r DNA序列分析的方法,将菌株F6鉴定为芽孢杆菌(Bacillus sp.)。F6菌株在8 h内几乎完全降解100 mg/L的苯酚,降解率达99.9%,该菌株的菌体生长与苯酚降解呈同步趋势,主要在对数生长期降解苯酚。F6最高耐受苯酚浓度为1 800 mg/L,在温度25~40℃,p H值6.0~9.0,盐度0~40 g/L范围内,F6菌株均能保持对苯酚良好的降解能力。菌株F6的降解底物具有广谱性,除了能够利用苯酚作为唯一碳源,还可以利用邻苯二酚、间苯二酚、对苯二酚、连苯三酚、甲苯、氯苯等酚类化合物为其生长代谢提供碳源和能源。综上所述,菌株F6在应用于处理成分复杂、含酚浓度较高的废水中将具有很大的潜力。     

Isolation and application of Gordonia sp. JC11 for removal of boat lubricants

Boat lubricants are continuously released into the marine environment and thereby cause chronic oil pollution. This study aims to isolate lubricant-degrading microorganisms from Thai coastal areas as well as to apply a selected strain for removal of boat lubricants. Ten microorganisms in the genera of Gordonia, Microbacterium, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Brucella, Enterococcus and Candida were initially isolated by crude oil enrichment culture techniques. The lubricant-removal activity of these isolates was investigated with mineral-based lubricants that had been manufactured for the 4-stroke diesel engines of fishing boats. Gordonia sp. JC11, the most effective strain was able to degrade 25-55% of 1,000 mg L(-1) total hydrocarbons in six tested lubricants, while only 0-15% of the lubricants was abiotically removed. The bacterium had many characteristics that promoted lubricant degradation such as hydrocarbon utilization ability, emulsification activity and cell surface hydrophobicity. For bioaugmentation treatment of lubricant contaminated seawater, the inoculum of Gordonia sp. JC11 was prepared by immobilizing the bacterium on polyurethane foam (PUF). PUF-immobilized Gordonia sp. JC11 was able to remove 42-56% of 100-1,000 mg L(-1) waste lubricant No. 2 within 5 days. This lubricant removal efficiency was higher than those of free cells and PUF without bacterial cells. The bioaugmentation treatment significantly increased the number of lubricant-degrading microorganisms in the fishery port seawater microcosm and resulted in rapid removal of waste lubricant No. 2.     

炔草酯降解菌Sphingopyxis sp. WP68的分离鉴定与降解特性

【背景】炔草酯可以高效防除麦田恶性杂草,但炔草酯的生产和使用也对环境造成了破坏,对动物和人类健康造成了威胁。【目的】分离筛选炔草酯高效降解菌株,研究其降解特性,为炔草酯污染生物修复提供优良菌种资源。【方法】采集农药厂活性污泥样品,通过富集培养和含有炔草酯的LB培养基进行炔草酯降解菌株的分离,通过形态和生理生化特性以及16S rRNA基因序列分析确定其分类学地位,通过单因素试验从温度、pH、接种量和底物浓度等方面考察菌株对炔草酯的降解特性,并利用UPLC-MS分析降解产物。【结果】筛选出一株炔草酯高效降解菌株WP68,经鉴定为鞘氨醇盒菌(Sphingopyxis sp.),该菌株在37°C和pH值为8.0时,10 h内可将200 mg/L的炔草酯降解98.26%。利用UPLC-MS鉴定菌株WP68降解炔草酯的产物为炔草酸。确定了该菌株降解炔草酯的最适温度、pH值、接种量、底物浓度分别是37°C、8.0、5%、200mg/L。菌株WP68还能降解氰氟草酯和精喹禾灵。【结论】Sphingopyxis sp. WP68对炔草酯有较强的降解能力和较高耐受性,在炔草酯污染土壤修复中具有潜在的应用前景。     

一株溴氰菊酯降解菌的分离鉴定及其降解条件优化

【背景】拟除虫菊酯类农药的降解已成为食品安全和环境卫生领域的研究热点,而生物降解被认为是一种绿色高效的解决方法。【目的】从长期受拟除虫菊酯类农药污染的草莓根系土壤分离一株溴氰菊酯(deltamethrin,DM)降解菌,并优化其培养基及降解条件,从而提高DM降解菌的降解效率。【方法】采用富集驯化、分离纯化法筛选DM降解菌,通过形态学和生理生化特征,以及16S rRNA基因序列分析进行鉴定。通过Plackett-Burman因素筛选试验、最陡爬坡试验和Box-Behnken试验优化菌株降解条件。【结果】筛选获得一株DM降解菌LH-1-1,96h对DM(100mg/L)的降解率为53.43%,经鉴定为琼氏不动杆菌(Acinetobacter junii);通过优化后,在DM浓度75mg/L、胰蛋白胨3 g/L、pH值6.8、硫酸铵1.5 g/L、氯化铁0.01 g/L、接种量为5%(体积比)、菌龄12 h、培养温度30℃条件下,菌株LH-1-1对DM降解率达82.36%,较未优化前提高了28.93%。【结论】A. junii LH-1-1具有较高的DM降解能力,该菌可为生物修复受DM或拟除虫菊酯类农药污染的环境提供优良的微生物资源。     

Biodegradation of phenanthrene by Pseudomonas sp. BZ-3, isolated from crude oil contaminated soil

A phenanthrene (PHE) degrading bacterium strain BZ-3 was isolated from the crude oil contaminated soil in Binzhou, China. The isolate was identified as Pseudomonas sp. BZ-3 on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence. Various experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of pH, salinity and PHE concentration on the degradation efficiency of PHE. The degradation efficiency and degradation metabolites of PHE were detected by using GC–MS and HPLC-MS analyses. The strain BZ-3 could degrade 75% of PHE at an initial concentration of 50 mg/L under 20 g/L salinity in 7 days. PHE degradation kinetics was estimated in a first-order degradation rate model and the rate coefficient was calculated as 0.108 d⁻¹. On the basis of the identified degradation metabolites, the strain BZ-3 could degrade PHE in the salicylate metabolic pathway. In a mixture system consisting of PHE and other PAHs including naphthalene (NA), anthracene (ANTH), and pyrene (PYR), the strain BZ-3 showed an efficiently degradation capability. Further study showed that the strain BZ-3 could also use NA, ANTH, PYR, xylene, 1-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, and hexane as the sole carbon and energy source, but did not grow on nitrobenzene-containing medium.     

一株耐碱高效长链烷烃降解菌C24MT1的筛选及其降解特性

【背景】石油被称为“液体黄金”,人类的工业生产活动在利用其创造巨大社会价值的同时,也对自然环境造成了严重的污染。微生物修复技术是现阶段治理石油类污染有效的手段之一,具有经济、高效、无二次污染等优点。【目的】从受石油污染的土壤中分离高效降解长链烷烃正二十四烷的菌株,探究其降解特性及在微生物修复中的应用前景。【方法】通过形态学及16S rRNA基因测序进行菌株鉴定,采用气相色谱法检测菌株对正二十四烷的降解效果,并结合气相色谱-质谱(gas chromatography-mass spectrometer, GC-MS)分析降解中间产物以推测其潜在代谢途径。【结果】筛选到一株可高效降解正二十四烷的菌株C24MT1,经鉴定为不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)。该菌株最适降解条件为30 °C、pH 9.0、盐度2 g/L,该条件下生长7 d对9 g/L正二十四烷的降解率高达86.63%;与此同时,菌株在强碱性环境(pH 11.0)中生长良好(OD₆₀₀为0.39)并保持较高烷烃降解率(75.38%),对极端环境具备较强的耐受能力;对降解中间产物进行分析,推断菌株代谢长链烷烃正二十四烷的途径可能包括末端氧化及次末端氧化。【结论】不动杆菌C24MT1具有良好的环境适应能力及烷烃降解能力,在后续微生物菌剂开发和石油类污染土壤的环境修复领域具有巨大的应用前景。本研究可为盐碱地区高浓度石油类污染土壤的修复提供优良菌种,并进一步丰富石油烃类生物降解的菌种资源库。     

Pyridine degradation characteristics of a newly isolated bacterial strain and its application with a novel reactor for the further treatment in pyridine wastewater

A pyridine-degrading strain Gemmobacter sp. ZP-12, isolated from an activated sludge, was able to use pyridine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source for the growth. The strain could effectively degrade pyridine and remove TOC over a wide range of initial pyridine concentrations. The pyridine degradation rate for 100, 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg/L was 2.90 ± 0.17; 13.72 ± 0.21, 20.40 ± 0.24, 31.09 ± 0.26, 27.63 ± 0.17 mg/L/h, respectively. During the pyridine degraded, a large amount of NH₄⁺-N was released and accumulated. The accumulation of NH₄⁺-N increased with the increase of pyridine concentration. For further removing the NH₄⁺-N producing in pyridine degradation, an aerobic-moving bed biofilm reactor coupled with intermittent-aeration membrane biological reactor (a-MBBR-IMBR) was constructed, in which the strain and the aerobic / anoxic mixed sludge combined to remove the pollutants in the wastewater containing 500 mg/L pyridine. After 96 h of operation, the final TOC removal efficiency was 96.5 ± 1.05 %. The average residual concentration of NO₃⁻-N and NH₄⁺-N was respectively 9.09 ± 4.13 mg/L and 7.85 ± 3.88 mg/L. The study provides a viable option for treating pyridine wastewater.     

金属离子胁迫对Sphingomonas sp. Y2降解壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚特性的影响

壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚（NEPOs）是全球应用量最大的非离子型表面活性剂之一,具有环境雌激素毒性。NPEOs的中间代谢产物种类多、难降解,且毒性远高于其母系化合物。为研究金属离子对功能微生物Sphingomonas sp. Y2降解NPEOs特性的影响,分析了金属离子的最低抑制浓度（MIC）、细菌形态、NPEOs降解效率及代谢产物组成等变化。结果显示,菌株Y2对多种金属离子具有耐受性,在重金属培养基中对Mn²⁺、Zn²⁺具有较高的耐受性,MIC分别为500、90 mg/L;在500 mg/L Mn²⁺胁迫下,菌株Y2对NPEOs降解率为100.00%（3 d）;在90 mg/L Zn²⁺胁迫下,菌株Y2对NPEOs的降解率为20.62%（5 d）;两种离子双重胁迫下NPEOs降解率为15.65%（5 d）;Mn²⁺胁迫下菌株Y2细胞表面结构和形态发生明显变化,且改变了NPEOs代谢产物中组分的含量组成,其中短链NPEOs与短链壬基酚聚氧乙烯酸（NPECs）的比例为0.68,与对照相比,抑制/减缓了短链NPEOs的羧化反应。结果表明,菌株Sphingomonas sp. Y2对多种金属离子具有耐受性,Mn²⁺胁迫对细胞表面超微结构及NPEOs中间代谢产物组分组成产生显著影响。该研究将为表面活性剂类污染物的生物降解及相应代谢产物在环境中的毒性评价提供理论依据。     

Microbial transformation of ethylpyridines

Pyridine and its derivatives have been found as pollutants in the environment. Although alkylpyridines constitute the largest class of pyridines contaminating the environment, little information is available concerning the fate and transformation of these compounds. In this investigation ethylpyridines have been used as model compounds for investigating the biodegradability of alkylpyridines. A mixed culture of ethylpyridine-degrading microorganisms was obtained from a soil that had been exposed to a variety of pyridine derivatives for several decades. The enrichment culture was able to degrade 2-, 3-, and 4-ethylpyridine (100 mg/L) at 28° C and pH 7 within two weeks under aerobic conditions. The degradation rate was greatest for 2-ethylpyridine and least for 3-ethylpyridine. Transformation of ethylpyridines was dependent on substrate concentration, pH, and incubation temperature. Studies on the metabolic pathway of 4-ethylpyridine revealed two products; these chemicals were identified by MS and NMR analyses as 4-ethyl-2(1H)-pyridone and 4-ethyl-2-piperidone. 6-Ethyl-2(1H)-pyridone was determined to be a product of 2-ethylpyridine degradation. These results indicate that the transformation mechanism of ethylpyridines involves hydroxylation and reduction of the aromatic ring before ring cleavage.     

Biodegrading of pyrene by a newly isolated Pseudomonas putida PL2

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of persistent organic compounds derived from natural sources and anthropogenic processes, which have been recommended as priority pollutants. Degradation of PAHs in the environment is becoming more necessary and urgent. In the current study, strain PL2, which is capable of growing aerobically on pyrene (PYR) as the sole carbon source, was isolated from hydrocarbons-contaminated soil and then identified as Pseudomonas putida by morphological and physiological characteristics as well as 16S rDNA sequence. The strain PL2 was able to degrade 50.0% of the pyrene at 28°C within 6 days in the presence of 50 mg/L pyrene, while the strain PL2 degraded 50.0% of the pyrene within 2 days when a solution of 50 mg/L pyrene and 50 mg/L phenanthrene was used. In addition, phenanthrene was shown to increase the biodegradation efficiency of pyrene by the strain PL2. The order of degradation by the strain PL2 was pH 6.0 > pH 7.0 > pH 5.0 > pH 8.0. The degradation rate of PYR in the soil by the strain PL2 reached 70.0% at the 10^th day. The dynamics of PYR degradation in soil by PL2 was fit to the first order model and the strain PL2 was shown to efficiently degrade PYR in soil. The current study showed that P. putida PL2 was a novel bacterium that could degrade pyrene and holds great promise for use in PAHs bioremediation in soil.     

Production of cholesterol oxidase by a newly isolated Rhodococcus sp.

Fifteen strains of microorganisms with ability to degrade cholesterol were isolated. Among them a Gram-positive, non-motile, non-sporing bacterium with meso-DAP in the cell wall and with a rod-coccus cycle showed the highest ability for cholesterol degradation. It was identified as Rhodococcus sp. strain 2C and was deposited by code 1633 in Persian type culture collection (PTCC). This strain was able to produce high levels of both extracellular and cell-bound cholesterol oxidases in media containing cholesterol as a sole carbon source. The effects of medium composition and physical parameters on cholesterol oxidase production were studied. The optimized medium was found to contain cholesterol 0.15% (w/v), yeast extract 0.3% (w/v), diammonium hydrogen phosphate 0.1% (w/v), Tween 80 (0.05%). The optimum pH and temperature for cholesterol oxidase production in optimized medium were found to be 8–30 °C respectively. Triton X-100 showed the greatest effect in releasing the cell-bound enzyme. The first and most probably the main metabolite of cholesterol degradation was purified and identified as 4-cholestene-3-one.