Application of (13)C-stable isotope probing to identify RDX-degrading microorganisms in groundwater. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • We employed stable isotope probing (SIP) with (13)C-labeled hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) to identify active microorganisms responsible for RDX biodegradation in groundwater microcosms. Sixteen different 16S rRNA gene sequences were derived from microcosms receiving (13)C-labeled RDX, suggesting the presence of microorganisms able to incorporate carbon from RDX or its breakdown products. The clones, residing in Bacteroidia, Clostridia, -, - and -Proteobacteria, and Spirochaetes, were different from previously described RDX degraders. A parallel set of microcosms was amended with cheese whey and RDX to evaluate the influence of this co-substrate on the RDX-degrading microbial community. Cheese whey stimulated RDX biotransformation, altered the types of RDX-degrading bacteria, and decreased microbial community diversity. Results of this study suggest that RDX-degrading microorganisms in groundwater are more phylogenetically diverse than what has been inferred from studies with RDX-degrading isolates.

published proceedings

  • Environ Pollut

author list (cited authors)

  • Cho, K., Lee, D. G., Roh, H., Fuller, M. E., Hatzinger, P. B., & Chu, K.

citation count

  • 29

complete list of authors

  • Cho, Kun-Ching||Lee, Do Gyun||Roh, Hyungkeun||Fuller, Mark E||Hatzinger, Paul B||Chu, Kung-Hui

publication date

  • July 2013