Alcaligenes aquatilis
 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. (April 2025) |
| Alcaligenes aquatilis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Kingdom: | Pseudomonadati |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Betaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Burkholderiales |
| Family: | Alcaligenaceae |
| Genus: | Alcaligenes |
| Species: | A. aquatilis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Alcaligenes aquatilis Van Trappen et al. 2005[1]
| |
| Type strain[2] | |
| CCUG 50924, CIP 108999, LMG 22996, R-21911, R-21911 QC /Q3, Tan 797, Van Trappen R-21911 | |
Alcaligenes aquatilis is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative, motile bacterium with a peritrichous flagella.[3] It was originally isolated from sediments in Shem Creek, Germany and from the Charleston Harbor salt marsh, USA.[4] Since then, it has also been found in Quintero Bay, Chile, among other locations.[5] A. aquatilis has demonstrated the ability to remove ammonium,[6] control cyanobacteria populations,[7] as well as break down synthetic organic dyes[8] and pharmaceutical drugs,[9] demonstrating potential applications for wastewater treatment. A. aquatilis is also capable of metabolizing hydrocarbons,[10][11] suggesting application in the bioremediation of oil spills and potential for use in desalination treatment.[12]
History
[edit]
In 2005, Van trappen et al., isolated the bacterium from sediments in Shem Creek, Germany and a salt march in Charleston Harbour, USA.[13] Since its discovery in 1919, the genus Alcaligenes has undergone many changes. Currently, the genus contains Alcaligenes faecalis, Alcaligenes defragrans, and A. In the years since its discovery, several strains of A. aquatilis have been isolated from a variety of locations. Strain DQ168 was isolated from oil-polluted sediments in Quintero Bay, Chile, while strain 393 was isolated from a sink in a Pakistani intensive care unit.[14]
Genome
[edit]A. aquatilis has a circular genome with an average size of 4.14 megabase base pairs (Mbp) and a GC content of 56.6%,[10] with variance between strains. For example, strain DQ168 has a genome size of 4,323,879 bp.[10] A genome annotation for DQ168 found 3,892 coding sequences.[5] Complete genome sequences are available on theGenBank, European Nucleotide Archive, and DNA Data Bank of Japan websites.[5]
Morphology/Biochemistry
[edit]A. aquatilis is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative, motile bacteria with a cell length of 1.75 micrometer (μm) and a cell width of 0.9 μm.[3] It has been shown to grow in temperatures ranging from 4-37oC, with optimal growth at 21oC.[3] A. aquatilis forms circular colonies that are either yellow or non-pigmented, depending on the strain.[3]
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Applications
[edit]Nitrogen Elimination
[edit]Heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification (HNAD) is a process where nitrogen and organic carbon are removed under aerobic conditions.[15] HNAD can improve nitrogen removal in biological wastewater treatment by functioning under completely aerobic conditions, balancing pH through simultaneous denitrification, saving space and construction costs, and reducing both energy consumption and carbon emissions. The efficiency of an HNAD performing bacterium depends on the range of carbon sources they can utilize as well as the pH they can survive in.[15] A. aquatilis isolated from aerobic activated sludge was found to have heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification capabilities.[6]
A. aquatilis was found to proliferate in piggery wastewater, its abundance increasing with wastewater treatment,[6] suggesting that A. aquatilis has the potential to significantly increase the ammonia and total nitrogen removal in piggery wastewater treatment, even at high ammonia concentrations.[6] A. aquatilis has rapid growth rates and can utilize various carbon substrates for electrons and energy, making the microbe advantageous for Biological Nitrogen Removal (BNR) systems. In piggery wastewater with ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), ammonia removal efficiency was as high as 90% after 24 hours of cultivation with A. aquatilis, and then increased further to 95.5% after 36 hours.[6] In comparison, the control condition without A. aquatilis had the highest NH4+-N removal efficiency of only 59.2% after 72 hours of treatment.[6]
A. aquatilis was found to have higher ammonia removal efficiencies in wastewater than many other HNAD bacteria such as Acinetobacter sp. T1, Pseudomonas stutzeri SDU10, and Alcaligenes faecalis WT14.[16]
Potential Control of Cyanobacteria
[edit]The interaction between A. aquatilis and cyanobacteria has garnered attention due to its potential implication in algal biotechnology.[7] During co-cultivation, studies have shown A. aquatilis to exhibit antagonistic effects on cyanobacteria by producing compounds such as tannins, amino acids, and hydroxamate siderophores. Along with enzyme activities of cellulase and protease, this interaction has been found to inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria and cause a decrease in its biomass.[7]
Zone inhibition assays using BG-11 medium, an increase in the concentration of A. aquatilis resulted in repressed or decreased growth of cyanobacteria. According to a relevant T-test, an A. aquatilis density of 8.9x10^6 cells mL^-1 resulted in a 49.83% decrease in cyanobacteria biomass after an incubation period.[7]
Ultimately, the mechanism of inhibiting cyanobacteria appears to involve algicide activity by bacteria associated with A. aquatilis. In a study, when inoculated with cyanobacteria, A. aquatilis formed a layer of cells around called the inhibition zone.[7] This suggests that A. aquatilis does not directly attach to the cyanobacteria to inhibit its function, but rather releases substances or relies on other associated bacteria to inactivate cyanobacteria activity.
The potential control of cyanobacteria with the use of A. aquatilis is significant, as cyanobacteria are capable of secreting toxic substances that would negatively impact marine systems. However, its use in environmental or industrial settings are still limited due to factors such as the specificity of its antagonistic activity and the need for further research to study long-term efficacy and safety.
Desalination
[edit]To address issues of freshwater scarcity in some areas, there have been significant advancements in the development of desalination technology to remove ions from seawater.[12] One primary concern is scale deposits (magnesium ion [Mg2+] and calcium ion [Ca2+]) formed during desalination, particularly affecting equipment used in reverse-osmosis processes.[18] A. aquatilis may be a viable pre-treatment step in desalination, as it removes Ca2+ and Mg2+ from seawater through microbial-induced carbonate precipitation (MICP).[12] The surface of A. aquatilis contains a negatively charged extracellular polymeric substance (ESP) that adsorbs to the positively-charged Ca2+ and Mg2+, removing the cations with efficiencies as high as 93% and 72%, respectively.[12]
Heavy metals in seawater are also of concern due to their toxicity and the difficulty of their removal. Through MICP, A. aquatilis has the potential to break down proteins and amino acids in the water, which releases ammonium and carbonate.[12] The ESPs can facilitate nickel-carbonate precipitation, especially under basic conditions, removing the dissolved nickel (Ni) by as much as 92%.[12]
One concern with MICP as a removal method is that it generates ammonia as a potentially toxic byproduct. However, A. aquatilis can convert ammonia to nitrogen gas under aerobic conditions .[12] This unique feature may reduce the need for additional desalination and pollution-removal processes.
Decolorization Ability
[edit]Synthetic organic dyes are widely used in textiles, tanning, cosmetic products, and paper industries. Although they are considered micropollutants, many synthetic organic dyes are toxic to marine organisms, obstruct light penetration in aquatic ecosystems, and reduce oxygen transfer.[19] This presents a risk to both aquatic ecosystems and higher-order consumers such as humans.[20]
Azo dyes are the largest class of synthetic dyes. A. aquatilis can successfully decolorize 82% of Synazol red 6HBN, an azo dye, after a 4-day static incubation at 37 °C and pH 7.[8] The mechanism is hypothesized to be a reduction of the nitrogen triple bond and cleavage to produce various end products. Desulfonation reaction, oxidative deamination, and carboxylation produce intermediate products which can be used by the bacterium as substrates in amino acid metabolism and Krebs Cycle intermediates. Decolorization promotes an increased growth rate of A. aquatilis. The decolorized wastewater does not impede the growth of other microbes.
Furthermore, one study found that the A. aquatilis type strain LMG 22996 reduced color by 86% when cultured in wastewater, which was abundant in synthetic dyes from textiles.[22] The culture was inoculated with cow dung, jaggery, and urea to assess the bioremediation efficiency. A. aquatilis successfully reduced the biological and chemical oxygen demands by 70% and 81%, respectively. This suggests that this bacterium may be a viable treatment option for polluted environments such as oxygen dead zones.
The unique ability of A. aquatilis to decolorize synthetic dyes by breaking down complex structures through its metabolic pathways, while simultaneously reducing pollution parameters and supporting biotic growth, supports the bacterium as a potential tool for bioremediation. This makes it a potential treatment for dye-contaminated effluents in textile industry hubs such as China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and India.[23] A. aquatilis could potentially reduce the impact of synthetic dye pollution on aquatic ecosystems.
Hydrocarbon Breakdown
[edit]Genetic analysis of A. aquatilis has indicated the potential for the breakdown of hydrocarbons, an important environmental pollutant. The QD168 strain contains the genes for 7 aromatic catabolic pathways and 16 peripheral pathways,[10] while analysis of the BU33N strain found 97 genes related to the breakdown of aromatic compounds.[11]
Growth assays of A. aquatilis show the bacterium's ability to metabolize numerous compounds found in pollutants such as crude oil, as well as other benzene derivatives and straight-chain hydrocarbons.[10][11] Strain BU3NN displayed clear emulsification activity, indicating the production of biosurfactants, which reduce tensions in hydrocarbons, allowing for their breakdown.[11]
The breakdown of benzene is of particular interest as it is present in oil-polluted sites and is extremely toxic.[5] Through transcriptional analysis, it was found that A. aquatilis likely catalyzes benzene by converting it to a phenol intermediate, and then into catechol.[10] From catechol, A. aquatilis uses six enzymes to form acetyl-CoA and succinyl-CoA.[11]
The ability of A. aquatilis to break down pollutants associated with oil spills suggests the potential for use in cleaning up oil spills in aquatic environments and mitigating industrial contamination in coastal regions.[10][11]
Degradation of Pharmaceutical Drugs
[edit]A. aquatilis has been shown to use Diclofenac (DCF) as a carbon source.[9] DCF is a common pharmaceutical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat pain, fever, and inflammation. It enters wastewater after human metabolism and excretion, and is highly present in aquatic environments.[24] DCF induces cellular toxicity by increasing the production of reactive oxygen species, making this metabolic feature particularly unusual. However, the exact mechanism behind this remains unclear and future research is required to solidify the practical application of A. aquatilis in bioremediation of pharmaceutical pollution.
References
[edit]- ^ "IPSN LPSN". Retrieved 2013-07-18.
- ^ "Straininfo of Alcaligenes aquatilis". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-07-18.
- ^ a b c d Podstawka, Adam. "Alcaligenes aquatilis | Type strain | CCUG 50924, CIP 108999, LMG 22996 | BacDiveID:134159". bacdive.dsmz.de. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
- ^ Taxonomy Browser[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d Durán, Roberto E.; Barra-Sanhueza, Bárbara; Salvà-Serra, Francisco; Méndez, Valentina; Jaén-Luchoro, Daniel; Moore, Edward R. B.; Seeger, Michael (January 2019). "Complete Genome Sequence of the Marine Hydrocarbon Degrader Alcaligenes aquatilis QD168, Isolated from Crude Oil-Polluted Sediment of Quintero Bay, Central Chile". Microbiology Resource Announcements. 8 (5). doi:10.1128/MRA.01664-18. ISSN 2576-098X. PMC 6357646. PMID 30714040.
- ^ a b c d e f Cao, Xianhe; Zhao, Binhan; Wu, Yongming; Huang, Jun; Wang, Hongzhi; Sun, Xianyun; Li, Shaojie (2022-06-01). "Characterization of Alcaligenes aquatilis as a novel member of heterotrophic nitrifier-aerobic denitrifier and its performance in treating piggery wastewater". Bioresource Technology. 354: 127176. Bibcode:2022BiTec.35427176C. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127176. ISSN 0960-8524. PMID 35439558.
- ^ a b c d e Dash, Krisma; Panda, Bhabatarini (2024-02-14). "The bio-control potential of Alcaligenes aquatilis against its associated cyanobacteria Lyngbya aestuarii". Environmental Quality Management. 34 (1). Bibcode:2024EnvQM..34E2203D. doi:10.1002/tqem.22203.
- ^ a b Ajaz, Mehvish; Rehman, Abdul; Khan, Zaman; Nisar, Muhammad Atif; Hussain, Syed (2019-05-17). "Degradation of azo dyes by Alcaligenes aquatilis 3c and its potential use in the wastewater treatment". AMB Express. 9 (1): 64. doi:10.1186/s13568-019-0788-3. ISSN 2191-0855. PMC 6525232. PMID 31102103.
- ^ a b Mohamed, Mahmoud S. M.; Asair, Ayan A.; Fetyan, Nashwa A. H.; Elnagdy, Sherif M. (2023-05-30). "Complete Biodegradation of Diclofenac by New Bacterial Strains: Postulated Pathways and Degrading Enzymes". Microorganisms. 11 (6): 1445. doi:10.3390/microorganisms11061445. ISSN 2076-2607. PMC 10301663. PMID 37374947.
- ^ a b c d e f g Durán, Roberto E.; Méndez, Valentina; Rodríguez-Castro, Laura; Barra-Sanhueza, Bárbara; Salvà-Serra, Francisco; Moore, Edward R. B.; Castro-Nallar, Eduardo; Seeger, Michael (2019). "Genomic and Physiological Traits of the Marine Bacterium Alcaligenes aquatilis QD168 Isolated From Quintero Bay, Central Chile, Reveal a Robust Adaptive Response to Environmental Stressors". Frontiers in Microbiology. 10: 528. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2019.00528. ISSN 1664-302X. PMC 6460240. PMID 31024465.
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- ^ a b c d e f g Dong, Yaohua; Guo, Zhangwei; Guo, Na; Liu, Tao (2019-11-28). "One-Step Removal of Calcium, Magnesium, and Nickel in Desalination by Alcaligenes aquatilis via Biomineralization". Crystals. 9 (12): 633. Bibcode:2019Cryst...9..633D. doi:10.3390/cryst9120633. ISSN 2073-4352.
- ^ Trappen, Van T.; Tan, T.L; Samyn, E.; Vandamme, P. (2005-11-01). "Alcaligenes aquatilis sp. nov., a novel bacterium from sediments of the Weser Estuary, Germany, and a salt marsh on Shem Creek in Charleston Harbor, USA". International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 55 (6): 2571–2575. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.63849-0. PMID 16280529.
- ^ "Alcaligenes aquatilis genome assembly ASM393822v2". NCBI. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
- ^ a b Leng, Juntong; Lu, Jiyan; Hai, Chao; Liu, Xinyi; Wu, Pei; Sun, Yan; Yuan, Chunbo; Zhao, Jianqiang; Hu, Bo (2023-11-01). "Exploring influence mechanism of small-molecule carbon source on heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification process from carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism and electron transport process". Bioresource Technology. 387: 129681. Bibcode:2023BiTec.38729681L. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129681. ISSN 0960-8524.
- ^ Chen, Junli; Xu, Juan; Zhang, Shunan; Liu, Feng; Peng, Jianwei; Peng, Yingxiang; Wu, Jinshui (2021-03-15). "Nitrogen removal characteristics of a novel heterotrophic nitrification and aerobic denitrification bacteria, Alcaligenes faecalis strain WT14". Journal of Environmental Management. 282: 111961. Bibcode:2021JEnvM.28211961C. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.111961. ISSN 0301-4797. PMID 33465711.
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- ^ Arias, Dayana; Cisternas, Luis A.; Rivas, Mariella (2017-03-01). "Biomineralization of calcium and magnesium crystals from seawater by halotolerant bacteria isolated from Atacama Salar (Chile)". Desalination. 405: 1–9. Bibcode:2017Desal.405....1A. doi:10.1016/j.desal.2016.11.027. ISSN 0011-9164.
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- ^ Tkaczyk, Angelika; Mitrowska, Kamila; Posyniak, Andrzej (2020-05-15). "Synthetic organic dyes as contaminants of the aquatic environment and their implications for ecosystems: A review". Science of the Total Environment. 717: 137222. Bibcode:2020ScTEn.71737222T. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137222. ISSN 0048-9697. PMID 32084689.
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- ^ Dhameliya, K.B.; Ambasana, Chetan; Agrawal, Gaurav (2024-02-19). "Assessment of The Bioremediation Potential of Selected Bacterial Species Isolated from the Textile Printing Wastewater Inoculated with Cow Dung". Journal of Pure and Applied Microbiology. 18: 280–296. doi:10.22207/jpam.18.1.12. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
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