[Construction and function of a high-efficient complex microbial system to degrade cellulose and lindane in compost]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Compost microbial communities possess diverse metabolic capabilities.
• Efficient degradation of lignocellulosic materials and pollutants is crucial for environmental remediation.
• Developing robust microbial systems for simultaneous degradation is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a complex microbial system from compost for efficient cellulose and lindane degradation.
• To optimize the microbial system through selection and domestication methods.
• To evaluate the degradation efficiency of the microbial system on various cellulosic materials and the pesticide lindane under different pH conditions.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of microbial communities from compost heaps.
• Selection and domestication of microbial consortia using two distinct methods.
• Assessment of cellulose decomposition activity via filter paper, absorbent cotton, rice straw powder, and sawdust.
• Measurement of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) saccharification activity.
• Evaluation of lindane degradation efficiency.
• Testing degradation capabilities across a range of pH values (6.0-9.0).

Main Results:

• A complex microbial system capable of high-efficiency cellulose and lindane degradation was successfully isolated and developed.
• The system demonstrated effective decomposition of filter paper, absorbent cotton, rice straw powder, and sawdust, with >95% degradation efficiency for filter paper and absorbent cotton by day 5.
• High CMC saccharification activity (>40U) was observed for cellulose-rich materials.
• The microbial system maintained high degradation capabilities between pH 7.0-9.0, degrading filter paper by >90% and lindane by >45%.
• A strong correlation between lindane degradation and filter paper decomposition was noted between pH 6.0-9.0.

Conclusions:

• The developed complex microbial system exhibits significant potential for the bioremediation of cellulosic waste and lindane contamination.
• The system's robustness across a wide pH range enhances its applicability in diverse environmental conditions.
• Further research can focus on optimizing conditions for large-scale application and understanding the specific enzymatic mechanisms involved.