title: Isolation and characterization of PAH-degrading bacteria from the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Contaminated sediment samples were collected from the Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia for isolation of pyrene- and phenanthrene-degrading bacteria by enrichment method. Four isolates were morphologically characterized as Gram-negative rod strains and 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed the isolates as closely related to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, P. citronellolis, Ochrobactrum intermedium and Cupriavidus taiwanensis. Degradation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by the latter three strains was investigated in liquid cultures. Results of concentration reduction analyzed with gas chromatography show that P. citronellolis_LB was efficient in removing phenanthrene, degrading 94% of 100ppm in 15days while O. intermedium_BC1 was more efficient in pyrene-removal, degrading 62% in 2weeks. Furthermore, bacterial growth assessment using optical density and population counts revealed the latter as more suitable for microbial growth analysis in PAH-containing cultures. In conclusion, the isolated bacterial strains could be further developed for efficient use in biodegradation of PAH.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Sciences Program of Earth Sciences Dept., King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Tajudeen A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Oyehan
authors.affiliation: Life Sciences Dept., King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: thukair@kfupm.edu.sa.
authors.forename: Assad A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Thukair
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000378:metabolism*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: Biodegradation; Ochrobactrum intermedium and Cupriavidus taiwanensis; P. citronellolis; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Saudi Arabia