Change in bacterial community during biodegradation of aniline

• Published in: Journal of applied microbiology Vol. 84; no. 5; pp. 859 - 864
• Main Authors: TANI, K, MASUHARA, M, WELIKALA, N, YAMAGUCHI, N, NASU, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-05-1998; Blackwell Science
• Subjects: Alcaligenes; Alcaligenes - growth & development; Alcaligenes - metabolism; Aniline Compounds - metabolism; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Bacteria - growth & development; Bacteria - metabolism; Biodegradation of pollutants; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Burkholderia; Burkholderia - growth & development; Burkholderia - metabolism; Ecosystem; Environment and pollution; Fresh Water - microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Japan; Microbial ecology; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonas - growth & development; Pseudomonas - metabolism; Various environments (extraatmospheric space, air, water); Water Microbiology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Japan; Biodegradation; Laboratory study; Aquatic environment; Pollutant; Aniline; Bacteria; Population structure; Water pollution; River water; Microbial community; Enumeration(counting)
• ISSN: 1364-5072; 1365-2672
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1998.00421.x

The response of river water microbial communities to chemical compounds was monitored under laboratory conditions using aniline as a model. Bacteria were collected from unpolluted and polluted sites. Bacterial abundance (plate and total direct counting) and its relation to aniline biodegradation was examined. Colony hybridization with 16S rRNA oligonucleotide probes was used to study the changes in microbial community structure during biodegradation of aniline. The changes in bacterial abundance and community structure were related to biodegradation of aniline. Burkholderia–Pseudomonas (rRNA group III), an authentic Alcaligenes group became dominant despite the initial differences in the microbial communities, suggesting that these genera are the main aniline degraders in the aquatic environment.