Enhancement of benzo[a]pyrene mineralization: symbiotic biodegradation by Acinetobacter sp. strain HAP1 in Association with Cyanobacteriota sp. S66

Abstract

The ability of Acinetobacter sp. strain HAP1, isolated from petroleum refinery effluent, to eliminate different concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/L) of Benzo[a]Pyrene degradation (BaP) was studied. A test to improve this degradation capacity was carried out by culturing the bacterial strain in association with a cyanobacteria. The results show a highly significant effect of the concentration of (BaP) and a very highly significant effect of the symbiosis between the bacterial strain and the cyanobacteria. This combination was able to significantly improve the (BaP) degradation rate by up to 18%. This degradation and especially in association leads to a complete mineralization of (BaP) and there is a difference in yield that can go up to 15%. Through molecular identification based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strains HAP1 and S66 were recognized as Acinetobacter sp. strain HAP1 and Cyanobacteriota sp. S66, respectively. Comparison of the retrieved sequences with the NCBI GenBank database was done, and the closest matches were found to be Acinetobacter pittii strain JD-10 for bacteria and Pseudochroococcus couteii strain PMC 885.14 for cyanobacteria.

Keywords:

• Benzo[a]pyrene
• bioremediation
• cyanobacteria
• petroleum hydrocarbons
• mineralization

Acknowledgements

The authors express their gratitude to Mrs. BOUDCHICHA Rima Hind, Mrs. ABDESSEMED Sanaa, Mrs. GANDOUZ Assia, and all the staff of the C.R.Bt for their valuable support in the execution of this research. Special thanks go to Mr. BOUMEGOURA Ali, Mr. BECHLEM Radouane, Mrs. KHOUDJA Randa, Mr. CHIHOUB Salah, Mrs. AGRED Rym, Mrs. CHERB Nora, Mrs. SISSAOUI Samira, Mrs. OUFFROUKH Karima, and Mrs. DERDOUR Mouna for their contributions. The authors also acknowledge the financial support provided by the Algerian General Directorate of Scientific Research and Technological Development (DGRSDT).

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