Isolation and characterization of a novel hydrocarbon-degrading, Gram-positive bacterium, isolated from intertidal beach sediment, and description of Planococcus alkanoclasticus sp. nov.

Abstract

Aims: Characterization of a bacterial isolate (strain MAE2) from intertidal beach sediment capable of degrading linear and branched alkanes. Methods and Results: A Gram-positive, aerobic, heterotrophic bacterium (strain MAE2), that was capable of extensive degradation of alkanes in crude oil but had a limited capacity for the utilization of other organic compounds, was isolated from intertidal beach sediment. MAE2 had an obligate requirement for NaCl but could not tolerate high salt concentrations. It was capable of degrading branched and n-alkanes in crude oil from C11 to C33, but was unable to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons. Comparative 16S rRNA sequence analysis placed the isolate with members of the genus Planococcus. That ®nding was corroborated by chemotaxonomic and physiological data. The fatty acid composition of strain MAE2 was very similar to the type species of the genus Planococcus, P. citreus (NCIMB 1493 T ) and P. kocurii (NCIMB 629 T ), and was dominated by branched acids, mainly a15:0. However, the 16S rRNA of strain MAE2 had less than 97% sequence identity with the type strains of P. citreus (NCIMB 1439 T ), P. kocurii (NCIMB 629 T ) and two Planococcus spp. (strain MB6-16 and strain ICO24) isolated from Antarctic sea ice. This indicated that strain MAE2 represented a separate species from these planococci. Morphologically, the isolate resembled P. okeanokoites (NCIMB 561 T ) and P. mcmeekinii S23F2 (ATCC 700539 T ). The cellular fatty acid composition of P. okeanokoites and P. mcmeekinii was considerably different from strain MAE2, and the mol % G + C content of P. mcmeekinii was far lower than that of MAE2. Conclusions: On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, it is proposed that strain MAE2 is a new species of Planococcus, Planococcus alkanoclasticus sp. nov., for which the type strain is P. alkanoclasticus MAE2 (NCIMB 13489 T ). Signi®cance and Impact of the Study: Planococcus species are abundant members of the bacterial community in a variety of marine environments, including some in sensitive Antarctic ecosystems. The occurrence of hydrocarbon-degrading Planococcus spp. is potentially of importance in controlling the impact of hydrocarbon contamination in sensitive marine environments.

Bioemulsification activity assessment of an indigenous strain of halotolerant Planococcus and partial characterization of produced biosurfactants

“…Overall, detection of carbohydrate and lipid compounds, the high repetition of O-H and C=O as well as amine functional groups present in the FTIR spectrum and protein absence in the BS samples infer that the BS produced by strain DI probably belongs to glycolipids category. This is in accordance with results of Engelhardt et al (2001) which determined structurally BS class of oil-degrading Planococcus alkanoclasticus as glycolipid (Engelhardt et al 2001). However, the current IR spectrum is needed to be further compared with other standard ones to find out more details.…”

Diversity of bacteria and mycobacteria in biofilms of two urban drinking water distribution systems

“…Recent work with AFM force spectroscopy and physicochemical analyses indicated that the high hydrophobicity, surface charges, and great propensity to form EPS by Massilia timonae may lead to a high adhesive force on the metal surface (Harimawan et al 2011). In addition, Planomicrobium bacteria (28.6% of B5 clones) were also only detected at point C. It was reported that strain MAE2 of Planomicrobium was capable of extensive degradation of alkanes in crude oil (Engelhardt et al 2001). This implies that Planomicrobium cells possibly possess high hydrophobicity, which may contribute to their adhesion on hydrophobic surfaces of PVC pipe.…”

Quantifying Microbial Utilization of Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Salt Marsh Sediments by Using the 13 C Content of Bacterial rRNA

“…Many genera of Gammaproteobacteria degrade hydrocarbons in pure or enrichment cultures, and clones associated with Gammaproteobacteria commonly are detected in environmental incubations and in hydrocarbon-contaminated sediment samples (16,29,68,74,75). Our enrichment of a set of clones with high similarity to Idiomarina spp.…”