Adaptations of Biofilms to Oxidative Stress Induced by Copper(II) Oxide Nanoparticles.

Copper(II) oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) are used in different industries and agriculture, thus leading to their release to the environment, which raises concerns about their ecotoxicity and biosafety. The main toxicity mechanism of nanometals is oxidative stress as a result of the formation of reactive oxygen species caused by metal ions released from nanoparticles. Bacterial biofilms are more resistant to physical and chemical factors than are planktonic cells due to the extracellular polymeric matrix (EPM), which performs a protective function.

Draft genome sequence of propane- and butane-oxidizing IEGM 333 able to accumulate cesium.

A genome of IEGM 333 was sequenced and annotated. This bacterium had pronounced propane- and butane-oxidizing and cesium-accumulating activities. The obtained sequence could be used to reveal the genetic mechanisms of these activities and efficiently exploit the biotechnological potential of propanotrophic .

Bioaccumulation of molybdate ions by alkanotrophic Rhodococcus leads to significant alterations in cellular ultrastructure and physiology.

Alkanotrophic Rhodococcus strains from the Regional Specialised Collection of Alkanotrophic Microorganisms (acronym IEGM, www.iegmcol.ru) were screened for accumulation and sorption of MoO ions.

Strains from the Specialized Collection of Alkanotrophs for Biodegradation of Aromatic Compounds.

The ability to degrade aromatic hydrocarbons, including (i) benzene, toluene, xylene, naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, benzo[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene; (ii) polar substituted derivatives of benzene, including phenol and aniline; (iii) N-heterocyclic compounds, including pyridine; 2-, 3-, and 4-picolines; 2- and 6-lutidine; 2- and 4-hydroxypyridines; (iv) derivatives of aromatic acids, including coumarin, of 133 strains from the Regional Specialized Collection of Alkanotrophic Microorganisms was demonstrated. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of these aromatic compounds for varied in a wide range from 0.2 up to 50.

Adhesion of Rhodococcus bacteria to solid hydrocarbons and enhanced biodegradation of these compounds.

Adhesive activities of hydrocarbon-oxidizing Rhodococcus bacteria towards solid hydrocarbons, effects of adhesion on biodegradation of these compounds by rhodococcal cells and adhesion mechanisms of Rhodococcus spp. were studied in this work. It was shown that efficiency of Rhodococcus cells' adhesion to solid n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) varied from 0.