Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of Pyrene and Anthracene Metabolizing Bacteria Isolated from Oil Contaminated Water and Soil in Malaysia

Abstract

Poly aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination of soil and water forces the evolution of microorganisms to be able to utilize PAH as a source of carbon. In this study pyrene and anthracene utilizing bacteria were isolated from water and used engine oil contaminated soil from the Strait of Mallaca (Port Dickson) and mechanic workshops in Kedah and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, respectively. The samples were enriched in pyrene oranthracene supplemented BSM medium and isolates were characterized using standard biochemical tests and PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene followed by sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. Thirteen different species were isolated, including known PAH degrading bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis and Bacillus megaterium, and bacteria with no prior association with PAH degradation, Salmonella enterica and Bacillus toyonesis. Analysis showed that all isolates degraded 99% of the PAH within seven days. Two isolates (KLA1022 and JIP1005) achieved 95% PAH use within two days and also showed a greater increase in growth. The identification of species that hadn’t previously been reported as PAH degraders suggests significant adaptability and potential for further research that can contribute to efforts to clean pollution from the Malaysian environment.