Degradation of Pyrene by Mycobacterium Species: Single Species versus Consortia

Date
2014-01-15
Authors
Ishimoto, Jennifer
Contributor
Advisor
Li, Qing Xiao
Department
Biology
Instructor
Depositor
Speaker
Researcher
Consultant
Interviewer
Annotator
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Volume
Number/Issue
Starting Page
Ending Page
Alternative Title
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known to be toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. They are formed as a result of incomplete combustion of organic materials. These pollutants are known to affect organisms including humans and are currently listed as a major environmental contaminant in the United States and surrounding territories. Research on biodegradation has been performed using microorganisms to degrade these materials to safer compounds. Mycobacterium species M. crocinum czh-3, M. rutilum czh-117, and M. gilvum czh-101 are known to degrade the PAH, pyrene. Although there have been studies using these strains to observe degradation of various PAHs and their mixtures, no study has been performed on the effects a bacteria consortia would have on a single PAH's degradation. Faster degradation is hypothesized for a consortium of bacteria. To test this hypothesis, degradation rates of single PAHs by bacterial consortia were determined. Through the use of in vitro culturing methods, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry, the amount of bacterial growth and PAH degradation was monitored. The data were used to determine the synergistic/antagonistic effects of the respective bacteria. One of the future goals is to use the bacterial strain of Mycobacterium in bioaugmentation or introducting a particular bacterial strain to treat contaminated soil, and to see how and ifthey degrade contaminants in situ, as well as in vitro.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Extent
ii, 40 pages
Format
Geographic Location
Time Period
Related To
Table of Contents
Rights
All UHM Honors Projects are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission from the copyright owner.
Rights Holder
Local Contexts
Email libraryada-l@lists.hawaii.edu if you need this content in ADA-compliant format.