Identification and characterization of o-xylene-degrading Rhodococcus spp. which were dominant species in the remediation of o-xylene-contaminated soils.
Soils contaminated with o-xylene were more difficult to bioremediate than those contaminated with other BTEX hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m-xylene and p-xylene). In order to identify microorganisms responsible for o-xylene degradation in soil, microbial community structure analyses were carried out with two soil samples in the presence of o-xylene and mineral nutrients. In two different soil samples, Rhodococcus opacus became abundant. We were also able to isolate o-xylene degrading Rhodococcus species from these soil samples. A primer set was developed to specifically detect a cluster of this Rhodococcus group including isolated Rhodococcus strains, Rhodococcus opacus and Rhodococcus koreensis. The growth of this bacterial group in an o-xylene-contaminated soil was followed by competitive PCR (cPCR). The decrease in o-xylene clearly paralleled the growth of the Rhodococcus group.
Taki
Hironori
H
Marine Biotechnology Institute, 3-75-1 Heita, Kamaishi, Iwate 026-0001, Japan. hironori.taki@sakura.taisei.co.jp
Syutsubo
Kazuaki
K
Mattison
Richard G
RG
Harayama
Shigeaki
S
D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000235:genetics; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D012240:Rhodococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000378:metabolism*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014992:Xylenes; D027081:DNA Gyrase; C026114:2-xylene