ABSTRACT
A successful attempt was made to isolate linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS)-degrading bacteria from soil irrigated with wastewater. The isolated bacteria were able to use LAS as sole carbon and energy source. Maximum growth rates on LAS reached only 0.27 h(-1). 16S-rRNA sequencing and fatty-acid analysis placed the bacteria in the genus Enterobacter cloacae. The growth curves of E. cloacae both in the presence of and the absence of LAS were monitored using measurements of optical density at 600 nm in two different media, nutrient broth and M9 minimal medium, and were modeled mathematically. Growth in NB fit the Riccati and Voltera models, indicating that LAS is not toxic to E. cloacae cells. However, growth of E. cloacae in LAS-containing MM fit the Riccati and Voltera models, whereas growth in LAS-free MM fit the Riccati model only. Furthermore, the kinetic data shown were modeled by Monod's, Andrew's, and Tessier's specific growth rate equations, coupled with the rate of consumption of different concentrations of LAS as sole carbon and energy source, and we determined that Andrew's model best fit these data adequately as a result of the cell-inhibitory effect.
Subject(s)
Alkanesulfonic Acids , Carbon/metabolism , Enterobacter cloacae/drug effects , Enterobacter cloacae/growth & development , Soil Pollutants/metabolism , Alkanesulfonic Acids/chemistry , Alkanesulfonic Acids/metabolism , Alkanesulfonic Acids/toxicity , Biodegradation, Environmental , Culture Media , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Enterobacter cloacae/genetics , Enterobacter cloacae/isolation & purification , Kinetics , Models, Biological , Soil Microbiology , Soil Pollutants/chemistry , Soil Pollutants/toxicityABSTRACT
At fixed concentration (0.5%), lactose and galactose acted as inducers while glucose and other tested carbon sugars showed repression effects on beta-galactosidase production in Enterobacter aerogenes strain. The expression of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin gene (vgb) in this bacterial strain managed to overcome the repression effects as well as improving the induction of beta-galactosidase formation by carbon sources. In parallel, the bacterial O(2) consumption was increased correspondingly to the vgb induction of beta-galactosidase synthesis. When Enterobacter aerogenes strains were grown at the incubation temperature 42 degrees C, about 5-fold higher enzyme productivity was obtained than with a similar incubation at 37 degrees C. The bacterial growth expressed as biomass yield had a different optimum temperature and was not influenced to the same extent by variations in the carbon sources. These data are discussed in terms of proposed enhancement in beta-galactosidase productivity by vgb expression as well as its significance to improve the technology of whey processing.
