Isolation and characterization of thermophilic bacteria capable of degrading dehydroabietic acid.

Using a semi-continuous enrichment method, we isolated two thermophilic bacterial strains, which could completely degrade abietane resin acids, including dehydroabietic acid (DhA). Strain DhA-73, isolated from a laboratory-scale bioreactor treating bleached kraft mill effluent at 55 degrees C, grew on DhA as sole carbon source; while DhA-71, isolated from municipal compost, required dilute tryptic soy broth for growth on DhA. DhA-71 grew on DhA from 30 degrees C to 60 degrees C with maximum growth at 50 degrees C; while, DhA-73 grew on DhA from 37 degrees C to 60 degrees C with maximum growth at 55 degrees C. At 55 degrees C, the doubling times for DhA-71 and DhA-73 were 3.3 and 3.7 h, respectively. DhA-71 and DhA-73 had growth yields of 0.26 and 0.19 g of protein per g of DhA, respectively. During growth on DhA, both strains converted DhA to CO2, biomass, and dissolved organic carbon. Analyses of the 16S-rDNA sequences of these two strains suggest that they belong to two new genera in the Rubrivivax subgroup of the beta subclass of the Proteobacteria. Strains DhA-71 and DhA-73 are the first two bacteria isolated and characterized that are capable of biodegradation of resin acids at high temperatures. This study provided direct evidence for biodegradation of resin acids and feasibility for biotreatment of pulp mill effluent at elevated temperatures.     

Mechanisms of biodegradation of metal-citrate complexes by Pseudomonas fluorescens.

Biodegradation of metal-citrate complexes by Pseudomonas fluorescens depends on the nature of the complex formed between the metal and citric acid. Bidentate Fe(III)-, Ni-, and Zn-citrate complexes were readily biodegraded, but the tridentate Cd- and Cu-citrate, and U-citrate complexes were not. The biodegradation of Ni- and Zn-citrate commenced after an initial lag period; the former showed only partial (70%) degradation, whereas the latter was completely degraded. Uptake studies with 14C-labeled citric acid and metal-citrate complexes showed that cells grown in medium containing citric acid transported free citric acid at the rate of 28 nmol min-1 and Fe(III)-citrate at the rate of 12.6 nmol min-1 but not Cd-, Cu-, Ni-, U-, and Zn-citrate complexes. However, cells grown in medium containing Ni- or Zn-citrate transported both Ni- and Zn-citrate, suggesting the involvement of a common, inducible transport factor. Cell extracts degraded Fe(III)-, Ni-, U-, and Zn-citrate complexes in the following order: The cell extract did not degrade Cd- or Cu-citrate complexes. These results show that the biodegradation of the U-citrate complex was limited by the lack of transport inside the cell and that the tridentate Cd- and Cu-citrate complexes were neither transported inside the cell nor metabolized by the bacterium.     

Degradation of paper mill water components in laboratory tests with pure cultures of bacteria

The degradation of dissolved and colloidal substances from thermomechanical pulp (TMP) by bacteria isolated from a paper mill was studied in a laboratory slide culture system.Burkholderia cepacia strains hydrolysed triglycerides to free fatty acids, and the liberated unsaturated fatty acids were then degraded to some extent. Saturated fatty acids were not notably degraded. However, the branched anteiso-heptadecanoic fatty acid was degraded almost like the unsaturated fatty acids. About 30% of the steryl esters were degraded during 11 days, increasing the concentrations of free sterols. Approximately 25% of the dehydroabietic, and 45% of the abietic and isopimaric resin acids were degraded during 11 days. The degree of unsaturation seemed to be of greater importance for the degradation of fatty acids than the molar mass. No degradation of dissolved hemicelluloses could be observed with any of the nine bacterial strains studied. Burkholderia cepacia strains and one Bacillus coagulans strain degraded monomeric fructose and glucose in winter TMP water, but in summer TMP water, with much lower sugar concentrations, also otherBacillus strains degraded monomeric sugars.     

Degradation of chlorinated phenols by a pentachlorophenol-degrading bacterium

A pentachlorophenol (PCP)-degrading Flavobacterium sp. was tested for its ability to dechlorinate other chlorinated phenols by using resting cells that had been grown in the presence or absence of PCP. Phenols with chlorine atoms at positions 2 and 6 of the phenol ring were dechlorinated completely by PCP-induced cells. Other chlorinated phenols were not significantly mineralized. When PCP was added to a culture growing on L-glutamate, there was a lag period before the start of PCP degradation. When similar cells were treated with chloramphenicol prior to the addition of PCP, they did not degrade added PCP, even after prolonged incubations. Thus, the enzymes necessary for PCP degradation appeared to be inducible. Suspensions of cells grown in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol or 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol did not show a lag period for mineralization of PCP, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, or 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol, indicating that one enzyme system probably was induced for the biodegradation of all three compounds. Nondegradable chlorophenols were toxic toward the Flavobacterium sp., probably acting as uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation.     

Degradation of chlorinated phenols by a pentachlorophenol-degrading bacterium.

A pentachlorophenol (PCP)-degrading Flavobacterium sp. was tested for its ability to dechlorinate other chlorinated phenols by using resting cells that had been grown in the presence or absence of PCP. Phenols with chlorine atoms at positions 2 and 6 of the phenol ring were dechlorinated completely by PCP-induced cells. Other chlorinated phenols were not significantly mineralized. When PCP was added to a culture growing on L-glutamate, there was a lag period before the start of PCP degradation. When similar cells were treated with chloramphenicol prior to the addition of PCP, they did not degrade added PCP, even after prolonged incubations. Thus, the enzymes necessary for PCP degradation appeared to be inducible. Suspensions of cells grown in the presence of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol or 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol did not show a lag period for mineralization of PCP, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, or 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol, indicating that one enzyme system probably was induced for the biodegradation of all three compounds. Nondegradable chlorophenols were toxic toward the Flavobacterium sp., probably acting as uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation.     

Aerobic nonylphenol degradation and nitro-nonylphenol formation by microbial cultures from sediments

Nonylphenol (NP) is an estrogenic pollutant which is widely present in the aquatic environment. Biodegradation of NP can reduce the toxicological risk. In this study, aerobic biodegradation of NP in river sediment was investigated. The sediment used for the microcosm experiments was aged polluted with NP. The biodegradation of NP in the sediment occurred within 8 days with a lag phase of 2 days at 30°C. During the biodegradation, nitro-nonylphenol metabolites were formed, which were further degraded to unknown compounds. The attached nitro-group originated from the ammonium in the medium. Five subsequent transfers were performed from original sediment and yielded a final stable population. In this NP-degrading culture, the microorganisms possibly involved in the biotransformation of NP to nitro-nonylphenol were related to ammonium-oxidizing bacteria. Besides the degradation of NP via nitro-nonylphenol, bacteria related to phenol-degrading species, which degrade phenol via ring cleavage, are abundantly present.     

除草剂二甲戊灵的真菌降解及其特性研究

富集分离了除草剂二甲戊灵降解真菌,并研究了其降解特性,结果表明,真菌可以降解二甲戊灵,利用富集培养的方法从环境中分离到16株能降解二甲戊灵的真菌。其中10株真菌5d内对100mg·L^-1二甲戊灵的降解率大于60％,以其中3株生理耐受能力强、降解能力高的真菌为例,研究了外加碳源浓度、初始pH值、二甲戊灵浓度和培养温度对真菌生长量和降解能力的影响,此3株真菌经鉴定分别属于土生曲霉组(Aspergillus terreus)、长梗串孢霉属(Monilochaetes)和烟色曲霉组(Aspergillus furnigatus),在外加碳源浓度为0．5％～1．0％的范围内,真菌生长量和降解率达到最大;在中性培养液中,3株真菌的生长量大,降解能力强;在浓度为100mg·L^-1时降解率和生长量都比较大,而绝对去除量随二甲戊灵浓度的提高而增加,在500mg·L^-1时达到最大;真菌的生长和降解需要适宜的温度,20～30℃培养时,降解率和生长量最大,可为农药污染治理及生产污水处理提供理论依据。     

Nutrition of Acetobacter rancens S3 and F11 Isolated from Tanks for Vinegar Production

The strains S3 and F11 which were isolated respectively from static and submerged tanks for vinegar production were identified as Acetobacter rancens. Neither strain grew in an ammonium defined medium containing ethanol, glucose, glycerol or organic acids as the sole carbon source. When casamino acids were added, they grew luxuriantly with lactate, ethanol or glycerol as the carbon source and less well with acetate or glucose. They grew, forming much acetic acid, in defined ethanol medium when alanine was supplied in place of casamino acids, but strain S3 showed a longer lag time than strain Fl1. This lag time could be shortened by addition of aspartate and glutamate. These amino acids could be replaced by succinate, fumarate, malate, lactate, pyruvate or propionate but not by glucose. Both strains required lactate or pyruvate in defined glucose medium but many other organic acids, which were effective in defined ethanol medium, were ineffective or slightly effective in glucose medium.     

Apparent contradiction: psychrotolerant bacteria from hydrocarbon-contaminated arctic tundra soils that degrade diterpenoids synthesized by trees.

Resin acids are tricyclic terpenoids occurring naturally in trees. We investigated the occurrence of resin acid-degrading bacteria on the Arctic tundra near the northern coast of Ellesmere Island (82 degrees N, 62 degrees W). According to most-probable-number assays, resin acid degraders were abundant (10(3) to 10(4) propagules/g of soil) in hydrocarbon-contaminated soils, but they were undetectable (<3 propagules/g of soil) in pristine soils from the nearby tundra. Plate counts indicated that the contaminated and the pristine soils had similar populations of heterotrophs (10(6) to 10(7) propagules/g of soil). Eleven resin acid-degrading bacteria belonging to four phylogenetically distinct groups were enriched and isolated from the contaminated soils, and representative isolates of each group were further characterized. Strains DhA-91, IpA-92, and IpA-93 are members of the genus Pseudomonas. Strain DhA-95 is a member of the genus Sphingomonas. All four strains are psychrotolerant, with growth temperature ranges of 4 degrees C to 30 degrees C (DhA-91 and DhA-95) or 4 degrees C to 22 degrees C (IpA-92 and IpA-93) and with optimum temperatures of 15 to 22 degrees C. Strains DhA-91 and DhA-95 grew on the abietanes, dehydroabietic and abietic acids, but not on the pimaranes, isopimaric and pimaric acids. Strains IpA-92 and IpA-93 grew on the pimaranes but not the abietanes. All four strains grew on either aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbons, which is unusual for described resin acid degraders. Eleven mesophilic resin acid degraders did not use hydrocarbons, with the exception of two Mycobacterium sp. strains that used aliphatic hydrocarbons. We conclude that hydrocarbon contamination in Arctic tundra soil indirectly selected for resin acid degraders, selecting for hydrocarbon degraders that coincidentally use resin acids. Psychrotolerant resin acid degraders are likely important in the global carbon cycle and may have applications in biotreatment of pulp and paper mill effluents.     

Isolation and characterization of thermophilic bacilli degrading cinnamic, 4-coumaric,and ferulic acids

Thirty-four thermophilic Bacillus sp. strains were isolated from decayed wood bark and a hot spring water sample based on their ability to degrade vanillic acid under thermophilic conditions. It was found that these bacteria were able to degrade a wide range of aromatic acids such as cinnamic, 4-coumaric, 3-phenylpropionic, 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionic, ferulic, benzoic, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids. The metabolic pathways for the degradation of these aromatic acids at 60 degrees C were examined by using one of the isolates, strain B1. Benzoic and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids were detected as breakdown products from cinnamic and 4-coumaric acids, respectively. The beta-oxidative mechanism was proposed to be responsible for these conversions. The degradation of benzoic and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids was determined to proceed through catechol and gentisic acid, respectively, for their ring fission. It is likely that a non-beta-oxidative mechanism is the case in the ferulic acid catabolism, which involved 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-beta-hydroxypropionic acid, vanillin, and vanillic acid as the intermediates. Other strains examined, which are V0, D1, E1, G2, ZI3, and H4, were found to have the same pathways as those of strain B1, except that strains V0, D1, and H4 had the ability to transform 3-hydroxybenzoic acid to gentisic acid, which strain B1 could not do.     

Characterization of novel linuron-mineralizing bacterial consortia enriched from long-term linuron-treated agricultural soils

Linuron-mineralizing cultures were enriched from two linuron-treated agricultural soils in the presence and absence of a solid support. The cultures contained linuron-degrading bacteria, which coexisted with bacteria degrading either 3,4-dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA) or N,O-dimethylhydroxylamine (N,O-DMHA), two common metabolites in the linuron degradation pathway. For one soil, the presence of a solid support enriched for linuron-degrading strains phylogenetically related to but different from those enriched without support. Most linuron-degrading consortium members were identified as Variovorax, but a Hydrogenophaga and an Achromobacter strain capable of linuron degradation were also obtained. Several of the linuron-degrading isolates also degraded 3,4-DCA. Isolates that degraded 3,4-DCA but not linuron belonged to the genera Variovorax, Cupriavidus and Afipia. Hyphomicrobium spp. were involved in the metabolism of N,O-DMHA. Whereas several isolates degraded linuron independently, more efficient degradation was achieved by combining linuron and 3,4-DCA-degraders or by adding casamino acids. These data suggest that (1) linuron degradation is performed by a group of metabolically interacting bacteria rather than by individual strains, (2) there are other genera in addition to Variovorax that degrade linuron beyond 3,4-DCA, (3) linuron-degrading consortia of different origins have a similar composition, and (4) interactions between consortium members can be complex and can involve exchange of both metabolites and other nutrients.     

Complete oxidation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate by bacterial communities selected from coastal seawater.

Anionic surfactants, especially alkylbenzene sulfonates, are discharged into marine areas in great quantities. Because of their poor biodegradability, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates accumulate in seawater and sediments. Bacterial communities that can degrade surfactants were selected from coastal seawater contaminated by urban sewage. All the isolated strains consisted of gram-negative, strictly aerobic rods or helical bacteria. Some of these, though isolated from coastal seawater, did not need sodium for growth and appeared to be related to the genera Alcaligenes and Pseudomonas. Complete surfactant biodegradation was achieved by three important steps: terminal oxidation of the alkyl chain, desulfonation, and aromatic-ring cleavage. Only a few strains were able to carry out the first two steps. The aromatic ring was then cleaved by other strains that possess very specific enzymatic activities. Finally, a number of strains grew on short acids that were end-of-metabolism products of the others.     

Degradation of morpholine, piperidine, and pyrrolidine by mycobacteria: evidences for the involvement of a cytochrome P450.

Nine bacterial strains that grew on morpholine and pyrrolidine as sole carbon, nitrogen, and energy sources were isolated from three different environments with no known morpholine contamination. One of these strains could also degrade piperidine. These bacteria were identified as Mycobacterium strains. A phylogenetic analysis based on the partial 16S rDNA sequences indicated that the isolated strains clustered within the fast growing group of mycobacteria. When the above-mentioned cyclic amines were used as growth substrates, the synthesis of a soluble cytochrome P450 was induced in all these bacteria. Other laboratory strains, Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis mc(2)155, were tested for their abilities to degrade morpholine. Neither of them degraded morpholine but could use pyrrolidine and piperidine. The growth of M. fortuitum and M. smegmatis mc(2)155 on these compounds involved a soluble cytochrome P450, suggesting that mycobacterial strains are naturally able to use pyrrolidine and have developed a similar enzymatic pathway to metabolize this amine.     

Complete oxidation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate by bacterial communities selected from coastal seawater.

Anionic surfactants, especially alkylbenzene sulfonates, are discharged into marine areas in great quantities. Because of their poor biodegradability, linear alkylbenzene sulfonates accumulate in seawater and sediments. Bacterial communities that can degrade surfactants were selected from coastal seawater contaminated by urban sewage. All the isolated strains consisted of gram-negative, strictly aerobic rods or helical bacteria. Some of these, though isolated from coastal seawater, did not need sodium for growth and appeared to be related to the genera Alcaligenes and Pseudomonas. Complete surfactant biodegradation was achieved by three important steps: terminal oxidation of the alkyl chain, desulfonation, and aromatic-ring cleavage. Only a few strains were able to carry out the first two steps. The aromatic ring was then cleaved by other strains that possess very specific enzymatic activities. Finally, a number of strains grew on short acids that were end-of-metabolism products of the others.     

Anaerobic degradation of dehydrodiisoeugenol by rumen bacteria

The degradation of dehydrodiisoeugenol (DDIE) by cow rumen bacteria was studied under strictly anaerobic conditions. After two days of cultivation, about 23% of DDIE (1.2 mM) was degraded to volatile fatty acids (VFA) such as acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid. The aromatic intermediates were vanillic acid, 5-methylvanillin and 3-methyl-4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, which suggested that the coumaran ring in DDIE was cleaved during degradation. These results indicate that the rumen anaerobes can degrade this lignin-related dimer to monoaromatic compounds and VFA.     

Isolation and Characterization of Thermophilic Bacilli Degrading Cinnamic, 4-Coumaric, and Ferulic Acids

Thirty-four thermophilic Bacillus sp. strains were isolated from decayed wood bark and a hot spring water sample based on their ability to degrade vanillic acid under thermophilic conditions. It was found that these bacteria were able to degrade a wide range of aromatic acids such as cinnamic, 4-coumaric, 3-phenylpropionic, 3-(p-hydroxyphenyl)propionic, ferulic, benzoic, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids. The metabolic pathways for the degradation of these aromatic acids at 60°C were examined by using one of the isolates, strain B1. Benzoic and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids were detected as breakdown products from cinnamic and 4-coumaric acids, respectively. The β-oxidative mechanism was proposed to be responsible for these conversions. The degradation of benzoic and 4-hydroxybenzoic acids was determined to proceed through catechol and gentisic acid, respectively, for their ring fission. It is likely that a non-β-oxidative mechanism is the case in the ferulic acid catabolism, which involved 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-β-hydroxypropionic acid, vanillin, and vanillic acid as the intermediates. Other strains examined, which are V0, D1, E1, G2, ZI3, and H4, were found to have the same pathways as those of strain B1, except that strains V0, D1, and H4 had the ability to transform 3-hydroxybenzoic acid to gentisic acid, which strain B1 could not do.     

Isolation and characterization of anaerobic indole- and skatole-degrading bacteria from composting animal wastes

Four species of indole-degrading Clostridium and 3 species of skatole-degrading Clostridium were isolated from piggery or chicken manure composting processes. Since type strains of respective isolates did not degrade these compounds, the degradability of the compounds was a novel characteristic. All isolates were mesophilic. The maximum growth allowance concentrations of these isolates were 300 to 800 mg/l in indole and 100 to 300 mg/l in skatole. All isolates showed better growth and utilization of indolic compounds in nutrient-rich medium than in minimal medium. Skatole-degrading isolates degraded some substituted indoles tested, 3-indoleacetic acid, indole and oxindole, but did not degrade 1-methylindole, 2-methylindole, isatin or anthranilic acid. On the other hand, indole-degrading isolates degraded only oxindole. The growth of Clostridium malenominatum A-3 was inhibited by a low concentration (0.005%) of indole or skatole, even when 200-fold excess glucose was present in the medium. When 0.03% indole or skatole was added to the medium, C. malenominatum A-3 showed a lag phase for about 10 and 70 h, respectively. When 0.01% of these compounds was added to the medium, the uptake of glucose was inhibited. C. malenominatum A-3 degraded these compounds under nutrient-rich and minimal conditions.     

Distribution of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Bacteria Present in Intestines of Deep-Sea Fish and Shallow-Sea Poikilothermic Animals

The lipid and fatty acid compositions in nine obligate and facultative barophilic bacteria isolated from the intestinal contents of seven deep-sea fish were determined. Phospholipid compositions were simple, with phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol predominating in all strains. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3), which has not been reported in procaryotes except for deep-sea bacteria, was found to be present in eight strains at a level of 8.1 to 21.5% of total fatty acids. In the other strain, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) was present at a level of 31.5% of total fatty acids. Other fatty acids observed in all strains were typical of marine gram-negative bacteria. Subcultures from pouches prepared from intestinal contents of five deep-sea fish by the most-probable-number (MPN) method were analyzed for fatty acids, and all subcultures contained DHA and/or EPA. Accordingly, viable cell counts of bacteria containing DHA and EPA were estimated at a maximum of 1.3 x 10(sup8) and 2.4 x 10(sup8) cells per ml, respectively, and accounted for 14 and 30%, respectively, of the total cell counts in the intestinal contents of the deep-sea fish. In the case of 10 shallow-sea poikilothermic animals having bacterial populations of 1.1 x 10(sup6) to 1.9 x 10(sup9) CFU per ml in intestinal contents, no DHA was found in the 112 isolates examined, while production of EPA was found in 40 isolates from cold- and temperate-sea samples. These results suggest that DHA and EPA are involved in some adaptations of bacteria to low temperature and high pressure.     

Degradation and Utilization of Hemicellulose from Intact Forages by Pure Cultures of Rumen Bacteria

Several pure strains of rumen bacteria have previously been shown to degrade isolated hemicelluloses from a form insoluble in 80% acidified ethanol to a soluble form, regardless of the eventual ability of the organism to utilize the end products as energy sources. This study was undertaken to determine whether similar hemicellulose degradation or utilization, or both, occurs from intact forages. Fermentations by pure cultures were run to completion by using three maturity stages of alfalfa and two maturity stages of bromegrass as individual substrates. Organisms capable of utilizing xylan or isolated hemicelluloses could degrade and utilize intact forage hemicellulose, with the exception of two strains of Bacteroides ruminicola which were unable to degrade or utilize hemicellulose from grass hays. Intact forage hemicelluloses were extensively degraded by three cellulolytic strains that were unable to use the end products; in general, these strains degraded a considerably greater amount of hemicelluloses than the hemicellulolytic organisms. Hemicellulose degradation or utilization, or both, varied markedly with the different species and strains of bacteria, as well as with the type and maturity stage of the forage. Definite synergism was observed when a degrading nonutilizer was combined with either one of two hemicellulolytic strains on the bromegrass substrates. One hemicellulolytic strain, which could not degrade or utilize any of the intact bromegrass hemicellulose alone, almost completely utilized the end products solubilized by the nonutilizer. Similar synergism, although of lesser magnitude, was observed when alfalfa was used as a substrate.     

Transformation of the herbicide 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile to the persistent metabolite 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) by soil bacteria known to harbour nitrile hydratase or nitrilase

In soil the herbicide 2,6-dichlorobenzonitrile (dichlobenil) is degraded to the persistent metabolite 2,6-dichlorobenzamide (BAM) which has been detected in 19% of samples taken from Danish groundwater. We tested if common soil bacteria harbouring nitrile-degrading enzymes, nitrile hydratases or nitrilases, were able to degrade dichlobenil in vitro. We showed that several strains degraded dichlobenil stoichiometrically to BAM in 1.5–6.0 days; formation of the amide intermediate thus showed nitrile hydratase rather than nitrilase activity, which would result in formation of 2,6-dichlorobenzoic acid. The non-halogenated␣analogue benzonitrile was also degraded, but here the benzamide intermediate accumulated only transiently showing nitrile hydratase followed by amidase activity. We conclude that a potential for dichlobenil degradation to BAM is found commonly in soil bacteria, whereas further degradation of the BAM intermediate could not be demonstrated.