Abstract
A bacterial strain, SWU-4, capable of using benzothiophene (BT) as a sole carbon and energy source was isolated from a petroleum-contaminated site in Thailand and identified by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis to be in the genus of Mycobacterium. The strain was Gram-positive, nonspore former, and grew at 50° C. Colonies of the strain on nutrient agar were rod-shaped, smooth with a convex surface, slightly mucoid, and yellow pigmented. The thermophilic Mycobacterium sp. strain SWU-4 rapidly degraded 2% (w/v) BT at 50°C. Interestingly, this strain was able to degrade a wide variety of organosulfur compounds including thiophene, bromo(α)thiophene, and 3-methylthiophene in liquid minimum medium at 50°C, which will be beneficial for industrial applications.
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Watanapokasin, Y., Nuchfoang, S., Nilwarangkoon, S. et al. Isolation and characterization of thermophilic benzothiophene-degrading Mycobacterium sp.. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 98, 301–309 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:98-100:1-9:301
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/ABAB:98-100:1-9:301