Pseudomonas genetically modified for the degradation of PCBs and resistance to mercury : development of bacterial inoculants for bioremediation [Conference paper] / D.N. Dowling, GM Brazil, A. Birmingham...et al.
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TextPublication details: Limerick : University of Limerick, 1997.Description: Conference paperSubject(s): Summary: [Abstract] Rhizosphere bacteria such as fluorescent Pseudomonas are ecologically adapted to colonise and compete in the soil rhizosphere environment. Expanding the metabolic potential and heavy metal resistance of such bacteria to degrade pollutants (in soil) may prove to be a useful bioremediation strategy. The pathway for the degradation of biphenyl (BP) and the metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) was introduced into P.fluorescens F113, using the transposable element TnPCB (which contains the bph operon) to construct the genetically modified strain F113pcb. To further expand the degradative potential of F113pcb, the toluene degradative (Tol ) pathway was introduced by transfer of the toluene TOL plasmid pWWO. The resulting strain could now grow on BP and benzoic acid. In order to realise the potential of rhizosphere based bioremediation, it is important to take note of other compounds in polluted soil which may limit the survival of the inoculant. Heavy metal contamination, in particular, mercury, is common in polluted ecosystems. Therefore we introduced genes encoding the mer (mercury resistance) operon into F113pcb with a view to engineering inoculant strains resistant to this heavy metal. Expression of the bph recombinant genes can be detected in the rhizosphere which suggests considerable potential for manipulating the rhizosphere for the bioremediation of pollutants in soil.
From: 7th Annual Environmental Researchers Colloquium Abstracts, 31st January to 2nd February 1997, / edited by John Breen & Richard Moles, pp 12-13. ISBN: 1874653437
Co-authored by IT Carlow staff members.
[Abstract] Rhizosphere bacteria such as fluorescent Pseudomonas are ecologically adapted to colonise and compete in the soil rhizosphere environment. Expanding the metabolic potential and heavy metal resistance of such bacteria to degrade pollutants (in soil) may prove to be a useful bioremediation strategy. The pathway for the degradation of biphenyl (BP) and the metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) was introduced into P.fluorescens F113, using the transposable element TnPCB (which contains the bph operon) to construct the genetically modified strain F113pcb. To further expand the degradative potential of F113pcb, the toluene degradative (Tol ) pathway was introduced by transfer of the toluene TOL plasmid pWWO. The resulting strain could now grow on BP and benzoic acid. In order to realise the potential of rhizosphere based bioremediation, it is important to take note of other compounds in polluted soil which may limit the survival of the inoculant. Heavy metal contamination, in particular, mercury, is common in polluted ecosystems. Therefore we introduced genes encoding the mer (mercury resistance) operon into F113pcb with a view to engineering inoculant strains resistant to this heavy metal. Expression of the bph recombinant genes can be detected in the rhizosphere which suggests considerable potential for manipulating the rhizosphere for the bioremediation of pollutants in soil.