title: Aeromonas molluscorum Av27 is a potential tributyltin (TBT) bioremediator: phenotypic and genotypic characterization indicates its safe application.
abstract: Aeromonas molluscorum Av27 is an estuarine bacterium highly resistant to tributyltin (TBT). Also, the strain is able to degrade TBT into the less toxic compounds dibutyltin and monobutyltin. Therefore, this bacterium has potential to be employed in bioremediation processes. In this context, defining its biological safety is crucial. With that purpose a number of intrinsic characteristics, usually present/associated with virulent strains, were investigated. Few virulence factors were detected in strain Av27. For instance, a DNase gene is present, but it is not apparently expressed in vitro. Motility, adherence factor and phospholipase activity were also detected. Additionally, cytotoxicity to Vero cells was negative. Resistance to penicillin (10 μg ml(-1)), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (30 μg ml(-1)) and cephalothin (30 μg ml(-1)) and also to the vibriostatic agent O/129 was observed. Five plasmids (4, 7, 10, 100 kb and one greater than 100 kb) were identified. No Class I and II integrons were detected. Study of the optimal growth conditions showed that Av27 easily adapts to different environmental conditions. Overall, the results suggest that A. molluscorum Av27 can be considered safe to use to bioremediate TBT in contaminated environments.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, Aveiro, Portugal. andreia.cruz@ua.pt
authors.forename: Andreia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Dário
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Areias
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: António
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Correia
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mendo
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000333:Aeromonas / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001711:Biotransformation; D002470:Cell Survival; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D008124:Locomotion; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000032:analysis; D010957:Plasmids / Q000032:analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D014709:Vero Cells; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D037521:Virulence Factors; C011559:tributyltin; D003851:Deoxyribonucleases; D010740:Phospholipases