title: Biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole and other sulfonamides by Achromobacter denitrificans PR1.
abstract: This study aimed to isolate and characterize a microbial culture able to degrade sulfonamides. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX)-degrading microorganisms were enriched from activated sludge and wastewater. The resultant mixed culture was composed of four bacterial strains, out of which only Achromobacter denitrificans PR1 could degrade SMX. This sulfonamide was used as sole source of carbon, nitrogen and energy with stoichiometric accumulation of 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole. Strain PR1 was able to remove SMX at a rate of 73.6 ± 9.6 μmol SMX/gcell dryweighth. This rate more than doubled when a supplement of amino acids or the other members of the mixed culture were added. Besides SMX, strain PR1 was able to degrade other sulfonamides with anti-microbial activity. Other environmental Achromobacter spp. could not degrade SMX, suggesting that this property is not broadly distributed in members of this genus. Further studies are needed to shed additional light on the genetics and enzymology of this process.
authors.affiliation: LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino Almeida, , 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patrícia J M
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ricken
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Boris A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Kolvenbach
authors.affiliation: CBQF - Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina - Laboratório Associado, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa/Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino Almeida, , 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Célia M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Manaia
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ecopreneurship, School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Philippe F X
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Corvini
authors.affiliation: LEPABE - Laboratório de Engenharia de Processos, Ambiente, Biotecnologia e Energia, Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: opnunes@fe.up.pt.
authors.forename: Olga C
authors.initials: OC
authors.lastname: Nunes
mesh_terms: D042441:Achromobacter denitrificans / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole / Q000378:metabolism*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013420:Sulfamethoxazole
keywords: 3-Amino-5-methylisoxazole; Achromobacter; Antibiotic resistance; Pharmaceutical; Xenobiotics