Isolation and Characterization of a Novel Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon–Degrading Bacterium, Sphingopyxis sp. strain M2R2, Capable of Passive Spreading Motility Through Soil

摘要

A novel bacterium within the genus Sphingopyxis is described and its suitability as a bioremediation inoculum isnevaluated. Sphingopyxis sp. strain M2R2 was isolated from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon–polluted site andncan use both phenanthrene and naphthalene as a sole carbon source in liquid and solid media. It can also cometabolizenfluorene in the presence of phenanthrene. Strain M2R2 can mineralize phenanthrene to CO2 and cannutilize the substrate in the presence of glucose. Strain M2R2 is capable of nonchemotactic, passive spreadingnmotility on and through agar media, which is induced by the presence of phenanthrene. It is also capable ofnmotility through phenanthrene-spiked packed sand. The range of materials through which this bacterium canntravel along with its high spreading velocity make Sphingopyxis sp. strain M2R2 a good candidate for furthernfield study and inclusion in bioremediation strategies of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon polluted soils.