title: Transformation of synthetic pyrethroid insecticides by a thermophilic Bacillus sp.
abstract: Employing a mineral salts medium containing Tween 80 as the primary carbon source, a strain of Bacillus stearothermophilus was isolated which was able to hydrolyse selected second and third-generation pyrethroids to non-insecticidal products. Of a range of pyrethroid insecticides the trans-isomer of permethrin was the most readily transformed by this microbial isolate, whilst flumethrin was the least. 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid and the respective halovinyl or haloacid moieties were detected as the major hydrolytic products of the pyrethroids. It is believed that 3-phenoxybenzoic acid was formed from 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol which was not however detected as an intermediate in these systems. 3-Phenoxybenzoic acid was further transformed to 4-hydroxy-3-phenoxybenzoic acid. A potential metabolic pathway has been described.
authors.affiliation: Division of Biotechnology, Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research, Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Maloney
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maule
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D001565:Benzoates / Q000378:metabolism; D001411:Geobacillus stearothermophilus / Q000378:metabolism*; D011722:Pyrethrins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001565:Benzoates; D011722:Pyrethrins; C017618:3-phenoxybenzoic acid