Analyses of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria isolated from contaminated soils

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading bacteria isolated from PAH-contaminated soils were analyzed genotypically and phenotypically for their capacity for metabolism of naphthalene and other PAH substrates. The methods used for the analyses were DNA hybridization using NAH7-derived gene probes, PAH spray plate assays, 14C-PAH mineralization assays, and dioxygenase activity assays. The results of the analyses showed a dominant number of PAH-degrading bacteria with a NAH7-like genotype. The results support the continued use of the nahA probe for contaminated soils to monitor the genetic potential of indigenous microorganisms to degrade PAHs. However, the finding of non-nahA-hybridizing PAH-degrading bacteria show the limitation of NAH7-derived gene probes. Fifteen percent (13/89) of PAH-degrading bacteria isolated were not detected with the nahA gene probe. Four isolates (designated A5PH1, A8AN3, B1PH2, and B10AN1) did not hybridize with any of the NAH7-derived gene probes (nahA, nahG, nahH, and nahR) used in this study. Considering the numerous unculturable microorganisms in nature and their potential genotypes, NAH7-derived gene probes may underestimate the microbial potential to catabolize PAHs. This necessitates development of new gene probes for enumeration and isolation of PAH-degrading bacteria to better understand the in situ microbial potential to degrade PAHs.