Physiology, Biochemistry, and Genetics of a Pure Culture of an ObligatoryAnaerobic Bacterium That Utilizes 2,4,-6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Biodegradation of RDX by Pure Cultures of Obligatory Anaerobic Bacteria of the Genus Clostridium

摘要

In work supported by the US AFOSR (grant F49620-94-1-0306) we are conductingdetailed biochemical and genetic studies of three strains of Clostridium bifernientans, obligatory anaerobic bacteria that appear to completely degrade a variety of nitroaromatic compounds, including 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). We are determining the optimal physiological conditions for the degradative activities of C. bifermentans strains; and identifying and characterizing enzymes and genes involved in the biotransformation of nitroaromatic compounds by C. bifermentans. In our AASERT supplemental grant(AFOSR-93-1-O464) we expanded these goals to the explosive RDX (1,3,5-triaza-1, 3,5-trinitrocyclohexane). The AASERT grant funded two graduate students, who characterized the ability of C. bifermentans to