Rhizobiales as the Key Member in the Synergistic Tris (2-chloroethyl) Phosphate (TCEP) Degradation by Two Bacterial Consortia

Abstract

Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) is of growing concern because of its ubiquitous occurrence, potential toxicity, and persistence in the environment. In this study, two efficient TCEP degradation consortia (AT1 and AT3) were developed and were able to completely hydrolyze TCEP within 20-25 h. Rhizobiales was identified as the key degrader in both consortia, because Rhizobiales-related phosphoesterase genes were enriched by one to two orders of magnitude when the carbon source was changed from acetate to TCEP. In addition, the increase in Rhizobiales abundance was related to the development of TCEP degradation. The isolation of Xanthobacter strains confirmed the efficient TCEP and bis(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (BCEP) degradation of Rhizobiales. The higher abundances of phosphoesterase genes affiliated with Rhizobiales genera (Bradyrhizobium and Ancylobacter), Cytophagales genus (Spirosoma), Sphingobacteriales genus (Pedobacter), and Burkholderia genus (Methylibium), may be related to the faster TCEP degradation in AT3, while the higher abundance of Rhizobiales genus (Hyphomicrobium)-related phosphodiesterase (PDE) genes may contribute to the faster BCEP degradation in AT1. The stepwise hydrolysis of TCEP was likely catalyzed by different bacterial guilds, which was confirmed by the coculture of TCEP- and BCEP-degrading isolates and highlighted the importance of synergistic interactions during TCEP degradation.