Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

Vol 10, Issue 1, 2008; Page No.(185-190)

BIODEGRADATIVE EFFICIENCY OF RECOMBINANT ESCHERICHIA COLI ON HEAVY METAL CONTAMINANTS AND ORGANIC POLLUTANTS FROM ENNORE ESTUARY

E. PADMINI AND B. VIJAYA GEETHA

Abstract

Estuary, a division of aquatic ecosystem is in a state of constant flux and dynamic in nature. It provides many ecological niches for diverse biota and holds great social and economic importance. The never ceasing pollution resulted in large-scale disappearance of their flora and fauna and deteriorates the social and economic value of estuaries. The current preliminary study reveals the concentration of heavy metals and organic pollutants associated with Ennore estuary and a remedial measure to reduce the effect of pollution. An in vitro bioremediation analysis study was carried out with heavy metal chromium and the organic pollutant naphthalene with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The gene transfer study was also carried out to transfer this biodegradative property into a more potent organism, Escherichia coli. The recombinant Escherichia coli showed effective naphthalene biodegradative capacity when compared to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.12 and 0.25 change in OD at 235 nm for recombinant E .coli when compared to 0.12 and 0.19 for P. aeruginosa for 1st and 3rd day of incubation respectively tp<0.01). The chromate reduction capacity was significantly higher for recombinant E .coli when compared to Pseudomonas aeruginosa (*p<0.001). This bioremedial effect of recombinant E coli on heavy metal like chromium and naphthalene paves the way for usage of this technique for reducing other pollutants like pesticides, PCBs, PAHs and toxic heavy metals that are found in the Ennore estuary.

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