Diesel oil and PCB-degrading psychrotrophic bacteria isolated from antarctic seawaters (Terra Nova Bay, Ross Sea)

• Main Authors: DE FRANCESCO, Maria, LO GIUDICE, ANGELINA, MICHAUD, LUIGI, SAITTA, Marcello, BRUNI, Vivia
• Other Authors: LO GIUDICE, Angelina, Michaud, Luigi, Saitta, Marcello, Bruni, Vivia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Antarctica; cold-adapted bacteria; Polychlorinated biphenyl; hydrocarbons; Antarctic; Ross Sea; Terra Nova Bay; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11570/1892790

Fifty-seven Antarctic marine bacteria were examined for their ability to degrade commercial diesel oil as the sole organic substrate at both 4 °C and 20 °C. Based on the preliminary screening, two isolates (B11 and B15) with high capacity to degrade diesel oil were selected and their biodegradation effi ciency was quantifi ed by gas chromatographic analysis. As expected for psychrotrophs, diesel oil biodegradation was slower at 4 °C than at 20 °C. The two strains also mineralized the C28 n-paraffi n octacosane at 20 °C and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) at 4 °C and 20 °C.