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image of Exploring Novel Microorganisms for PAH Degradation in Egyptian Soil: A Bioremediation Strategy for Soil Detoxification

Abstract

Introduction

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are toxic petroleum byproducts in soil, exhibiting significant genotoxic properties. Microorganisms residing in contaminated soils serve as effective detoxifying agents. Among various strategies, bioremediation is an efficient biological method for detoxifying PAHs.

Methods

Hundreds of soil samples were collected from the Gulf of Suez, Egypt. The isolation process utilized an enrichment culture system with phenol naphthalene (PN) (10 mg/mL) as the primary carbon source. HPLC analysis was applied to confirm PN degradation. Consequently, the bacterial strain was characterized morphologically, biochemically, and through partial sequencing of its 16S rRNA gene. Subsequently, its plasmid was purified to transfer its phenotype to . Finally, a bioremediation approach was conducted to test its PAH degradation.

Results

HPLC analysis was performed to confirm PN degradation by the isolated strain. The isolated strain was identified as species AAS1 (OR044755.1) with 98.43% sequence similarity to the genus. Subsequently, transformants with the isolated plasmid were grown in the presence of PN as the primary carbon source. Finally, the bioremediation assay of the isolated strain exhibited a high efficiency in detoxifying PN.

Discussion

The novel identified species AAS1 (OR044755.1) shows promise for PAHs detoxification, which may lead to the exploration of a biological agent for the remediation of water, soil contaminated with PAHs and patents.

Conclusion

A novel bacterial strain bearing a plasmid that can degrade PN was isolated from Egyptian petroleum waste-contaminated soil. It paved the way for further studies to isolate the whole gene(s) responsible for such degradation.

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2025-08-19
2025-11-06

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Exploring Novel Microorganisms for PAH Degradation in Egyptian Soil: A Bioremediation Strategy for Soil Detoxification
Bentham Science Publishers ; https://doi.org/10.2174/0118722083393750250630081655
/content/journals/biot/10.2174/0118722083393750250630081655
/content/journals/biot/10.2174/0118722083393750250630081655
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  • Article Type:     Research Article
Keywords: Lysinibacillus species ; petroleum crude oil ; bioremediation ; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ; and plasmid transformation ; naphthalene ; phenol

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