Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026

The Benthic Exchange of O2, N2 and Dissolved Nutrients Using Small Core Incubations
Published on: August 3, 2016
Organohalide respiration potential in marine sediments from Aarhus Bay
Chen Zhang1,2, Siavash Atashgahi1, Tom N P Bosma1
1Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University & Research, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Organohalide respiration (OHR), catalysed by reductive dehalogenases (RDases), plays an important role in halogen cycling. Natural organohalides and putative RDase-encoding genes have been reported in Aarhus Bay sediments, however, OHR has not been experimentally verified. Here we show that sediments of Aarhus Bay can dehalogenate a range of organohalides, and different organohalides differentially affected microbial community compositions. PCE-dechlorinating cultures were further examined by 16S rRNA gene-targeted quantitative PCR and amplicon sequencing. Known organohalide-respiring bacteria (OHRB) including Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter and Desulfitobacterium decreased in abundance during transfers and serial dilutions, suggesting the importance of yet uncharacterized OHRB in these cultures. Switching from PCE to 2,6-DBP led to its complete debromination to phenol in cultures with and without sulfate. 2,6-DBP debrominating cultures differed in microbial composition from PCE-dechlorinating cultures. Desulfobacterota genera recently verified to include OHRB, including Desulfovibrio and Desulfuromusa, were enriched in all microcosms, whereas Halodesulfovibrio was only enriched in cultures without sulfate. Hydrogen and methane were detected in cultures without sulfate. Hydrogen likely served as electron donor for OHR and methanogenesis. This study shows that OHR can occur in marine environments mediated by yet unknown OHRB, suggesting their role in natural halogen cycling.
More Related Videos
08:05Measurement of the Potential Rates of Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium Based on 14NH4+/15NH4+ Analyses via Sequential Conversion to N2O
Published on: October 7, 2020
08:43Aerobic Biodegradation Testing of Materials Using a Natural Marine Seawater Inoculum and Closed Loop Respirometer
Published on: October 24, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs
Microbial Mats
Marine Microbial Ecology
Deep Sea Microbial Ecology
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons