Abstract
The cooperation of Bacillus subtilis strain DKT and Comamonas testosteroni KT5 was investigated for biofilm development and toluenes and chlorobenzenes degradation. Bacillus subtilis strain DKT and C. testosteroni KT5 were co-cultured in liquid media with toluenes and chlorobenzenes to determine the degradation of these substrates and formation of dual-species biofilm used for the degradation process. Bacillus subtilis strain DKT utilized benzene, mono- and dichlorinated benzenes as carbon and energy sources. The catabolism of chlorobenzenes was via hydroxylation, in which chlorine atoms were replaced by hydroxyl groups to form catechol, followed by ring fission via the ortho-cleavage pathway. The investigation of the dual-species biofilm composed of B. subtilis DKT and C. testosteroni KT5 (a toluene and chlorotoluene-degrading isolate with low biofilm formation) showed that B. subtilis DKT synergistically promoted C. testosteroni KT5 to develop biofilm. The bacterial growth in dual-species biofilm overcame the inhibitory effects caused by monochlorobenzene and 2-chlorotoluene. Moreover, the dual-species biofilm showed effective degradability toward the mixture of these substrates. This study provides knowledge about the commensal relationships in a dual-culture biofilm for designing multispecies biofilms applied for the biodegradation of toxic organic substrates that cannot be metabolized by single-organism biofilms.
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This work was supported by Dong Thap University for the research group of environmental science. The authors are very thankful for all the support provided to do this research.
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Highlights
Bacillus subtilis strain DKT degraded a wide range of chlorobenzenes.
The degradation pathway for chlorobenzenes in B. subtilis strain DKT was via hydroxylation, in which chlorine atoms were replaced by hydroxyl groups to catechol.
Bacillus subtilis DKT synergistically promoted Comamonas testosteroni KT5 in biofilm development.
The dual-species biofilm formed by B. subtilis DKT and C. testosteroni KT5 showed effective degradation of chlorotoluenes and chlorobenzenes.
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Nguyen, O.T., Ha, D.D. Degradation of chlorotoluenes and chlorobenzenes by the dual-species biofilm of Comamonas testosteroni strain KT5 and Bacillus subtilis strain DKT. Ann Microbiol 69, 267–277 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-018-1415-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13213-018-1415-2