Safety Evaluation of a Heavy Oil-Degrading Bacterium, Rhodococcus Erythropolis C2.

Abstract

-The safety of an oil-degrading bacterium, C2 strain, was evaluated for utilization in an open system for bioremediation of oil-contaminated environments. The C2 strain was identified as Rhodococcus erythropolis by performing an alignment analysis of the whole 16S rRNA sequence. R. erythropolis was classified as a nonpathogenic (category 1) bacterium. Biological and biochemical properties of the C2 strain also confirmed its nonpathogenicity. The pathogenicity and basic ecotoxicity were studied in laboratory animals and in a variety of test species, respectively. General and inhalation toxicities were not detected; additionally, there was no evidence of skin irritation, mutagenic potential, eye irritation, skin sensitization, ecotoxicity or notable pathogenicity. The comparison of these results with human exposure levels and previously published data indicates that the C2 strain appears to be safe for utilization in bioremediation of polluted environments, requires no special occupational health precautions during the application process, and has a low environmental impact. This study suggests that the C2 strain could be suitable for bioremediation of oil-contaminated environments.

Efficient Biostimulation of Native and Introduced Quorum-Quenching Rhodococcus erythropolis Populations Is Revealed by a Combination of Analytical Chemistry, Microbiology, and Pyrosequencing

“…The GHL biostimulation, and its combination with the addition of appropriate R. erythropolis strains, may therefore also be considered as a way to maintain a high density of a rhodococcal population and hence a high bioremediation activity in the environment. Reciprocally, plant protection strategies could benefit from investigations of the use of R. erythropolis as a bioremediation agent, especially from reports describing safety evaluation and encapsulated formulations of R. erythropolis (1,35,36). Finally, we are aware that the introduction of an AHLdegrading agent in the rhizosphere may potentially alter the efficiency of other biocontrol agents, in which beneficial traits are controlled by QS (26).…”

Biodegradation of Used Engine Oil by Acinetobacter junii TBC 1.2

“…Strain TBC 1.2 was precultured in 20 mL yeast extracts media and shakes at 120 rpm, at 30 o C for 24 h (Aoshima, 2006). Then, 0.2 mL preculture broth transferred to 20 mL Bushnell-Hass media containing 400 mg used engine oil, and then shake at 120 rpm, 30 o C. After 7 days and 14 days fermentation is terminated and added with 18 mL chloroform-methanol (3:1 v/v) for extracting the remaining used engine oil.…”

Effect of extracellular polymeric substances on the mechanical properties of Rhodococcus

“…Rhodococci are used to degrade xenobiotic contaminants [7], to desulphurise coal derivatives in water [8], and are involved in many engineered and in situ bioremediation processes to reduce contaminant loads in water and soil [7,9]. In addition, most Rhodococcus species exhibit low pathogenicity, are not eco-toxic [10], and are unlikely to generate toxins or antimicrobial compounds [11,12], indicating the utility of Rhodococcus species for biodegradation [13].…”