Microbial communities to mitigate contamination of PAHs in soil--possibilities and challenges: a review.
OBJECTIVE
Although highly diverse and specialized prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities in soil degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), most of these are removed slowly. This review will discuss the biotechnological possibilities to increase the microbial dissipation of PAHs from soil as well as the main biological and biotechnological challenges.


CONCLUSIONS
Microorganism provides effective and economically feasible solutions for soil cleanup and restoration. However, when the PAHs contamination is greater than the microbial ability to dissipate them, then applying genetically modified microorganisms might help to remove the contaminant. Nevertheless, it is necessary to have a more holistic review of the different individual reactions that are simultaneously taking place in a microbial cell and of the interactions microorganism-microorganism, microorganism-plant, microorganism-soil, and microorganisms-PAHs.


CONCLUSIONS
Elucidating the function of genes from the PAHs-polluted soil and the study in pure cultures of isolated PAHs-degrading organisms as well as the generation of microorganisms in the laboratory that will accelerate the dissipation of PAHs and their safe application in situ have not been studied extensively. There is a latent environmental risk when genetically engineered microorganisms are used to remedy PAHs-contaminated soil.
Fernández-Luqueño
F
F
Renewable Energy Engineering, Universidad Tecnológica de Tulancingo, Tulancingo, Hidalgo 43642, México. cinves.cp.cha.luqueno@gmail.com
Valenzuela-Encinas
C
C
Marsch
R
R
Martínez-Suárez
C
C
Vázquez-Núñez
E
E
Dendooven
L
L
D001105:Archaea / Q000378:metabolism; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001709:Biotechnology; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D020745:Genome, Archaeal; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D023281:Genomics / Q000379:methods; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D013501:Surface-Active Agents