Changes of the Proteome and Acetylome during Transition into the Stationary Phase in the Organohalide-Respiring Strain CBDB1.

The strictly anaerobic bactGIerium obligatorily depends on organohalide respiration for energy conservation and growth. The bacterium also plays an important role in bioremediation. Since there is no guarantee of a continuous supply of halogenated substrates in its natural environment, the question arises of how maintains the synthesis and activity of dehalogenating enzymes under these conditions.

Anaerobic degradation of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid by enrichment cultures from freshwater sediments.

The anaerobic biodegradation of 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) was investigated using enrichment cultures from freshwater sediments at two different sites in the region of Halle, central Germany. 2,4,5-T and different organic acids or hydrogen were added as possible electron acceptor and electron donors, respectively. The primary enrichment cultures from Saale river sediment completely degraded 2,4,5-T to 3-chlorophenol (3-CP) (major product) and 3,4-dichlorophenol (3,4-DCP) during a 28-day incubation period.

Desulfitobacterium contributes to the microbial transformation of 2,4,5-T by methanogenic enrichment cultures from a Vietnamese active landfill.

The herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) was a major component of Agent Orange, which was used as a defoliant in the Vietnam War. Little is known about its degradation under anoxic conditions. Established enrichment cultures using soil from an Agent Orange bioremediation plant in southern Vietnam with pyruvate as potential electron donor and carbon source were shown to degrade 2,4,5-T via ether cleavage to 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP), which was further dechlorinated to 3,4-dichlorophenol.

Anaerobic microbial dehalogenation and its key players in the contaminated Bitterfeld-Wolfen megasite.

The megasite Bitterfeld-Wolfen is highly contaminated as a result of accidents and because of dumping of wastes from local chemical industries in the last century. A variety of contaminants including chlorinated ethenes and benzenes, hexachlorohexanes and chlorinated dioxins can still be found in the groundwater and (river) sediments. Investigations of the in situ microbial transformation of organohalides have been performed only over the last two decades at this megasite.

Comparative genomics of the genus Desulfitobacterium.

The Desulfitobacterium genus comprises anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, of which the majority are facultative organohalide respirers. We here present the genomes of eight strains of Desulfitobacterium spp., including five strains of Desulfitobacterium hafniense, one strain each from D.