Two naphthalene degrading bacteria belonging to the genera Paenibacillus and Pseudomonas isolated from a highly polluted lagoon perform different sensitivities to the organic and heavy metal contaminants

• Published in: Extremophiles : life under extreme conditions 2009-09, Vol.13 (5), p.839-848
• Main Authors: Pepi, Milva, Lobianco, Arianna, Renzi, Monia, Perra, Guido, Bernardini, Emanuele, Marvasi, Massimiliano, Gasperini, Simone, Volterrani, Margherita, Franchi, Enrica, Heipieper, Hermann J, Focardi, Silvano E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arsenic; Bacteria; Base Sequence; Benzene; Biochemistry; Biodegradation; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Cadmium; Contaminants; DNA Primers - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; DNA, Ribosomal - genetics; Energy sources; Environment and pollution; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geologic Sediments - microbiology; Gram-Positive Bacteria - drug effects; Gram-Positive Bacteria - genetics; Gram-Positive Bacteria - isolation & purification; Gram-Positive Bacteria - metabolism; Heavy metals; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Italy; Lagoons; Life Sciences; Mercury; Metals, Heavy - toxicity; Microbial Ecology; Microbiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Naphthalene; Naphthalenes - metabolism; Naphthalenes - toxicity; Organic compounds; Organic contaminants; Original Paper; Paenibacillus; Phylogeny; Pollution; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Pseudomonas - drug effects; Pseudomonas - genetics; Pseudomonas - isolation & purification; Pseudomonas - metabolism; RNA, Bacterial - genetics; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S - genetics; Toluene; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
• ISSN: 1431-0651; 1433-4909
• DOI: 10.1007/s00792-009-0271-1

Two bacterial strains were isolated in the presence of naphthalene as the sole carbon and energy source from sediments of the Orbetello Lagoon, Italy, which is highly contaminated with both organic compounds and metals. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of the two isolates assigned the strains to the genera Paenibacillus and Pseudomonas. The effect of different contaminants on the growth behaviors of the two strains was investigated. Pseudomonas sp. ORNaP2 showed a higher tolerance to benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene than Paenibacillus sp. ORNaP1. In addition, the toxicity of heavy metals potentially present as co-pollutants in the investigated site was tested. Here, strain Paenibacillus sp. ORNaP1 showed a higher tolerance towards arsenic, cadmium, and lead, whereas it was far more sensitive towards mercury than strain Pseudomonas sp. ORNaP2. These differences between the Gram-negative Pseudomonas and the Gram-positive Paenibacillus strain can be explained by different general adaptive response systems present in the two bacteria.