Indigenous PAH-degrading bacteria in oil-polluted marine sediments from Patagonia. Diversity and biotechnological properties

ISAAC P; BOURGUIGNON N; MAIZEL D; FERRERO M.A.

Biology and Biotechnology of Patagonian Microorganisms

Springer

Año: 2016; p. 31 - 42

The diversity of indigenous bacteria recovered from polluted sediment samples from several coasts of Patagonia is described in this chapter. Selective enrichment cultures supplemented with naphthalene,phenanthrene, and pyrene allowed isolation of bacteria with the capability to degrade polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons (PAHs). Bacterial communities of different composition (analyzed by denaturing gradient gelelectrophoresis, DGGE) showed changes along with enrichment culture conditions. The ability of isolatesto grow and remove different low and high molecular weight PAHs was demonstrated by detection of theresidual substrate by HPLC. The presence and differential expression of naphthalene and catecholdioxygenase genes in several isolates suggest biodegradation potential in these sediments. Successfulbacterial isolation with the ability to degrade PAH in pure and mixed cultures allows discussing thepossibility to study and to further consider strategies to increase the intrinsic bioremediation opportunitieson polluted coasts of Patagonia. Other biotechnological properties are also considered in this chapter, suchas biosurfactant production and other biotransformations.