17β-Estradiol-Degrading Bacteria Isolated from Activated Sludge

Abstract

Fourteen phylogenetically diverse 17beta-estradiol-degrading bacteria (strains KC1-14) were isolated from activated sludge of a wastewater treatment plant. These isolates widely distributed among eight different genera--Aminobacter (strains KC6 and KC7), Brevundimonas (strain KC12), Escherichia (strain KC13), Flavobacterium (strain KC1), Microbacterium (strain KC5), Nocardioides (strain KC3), Rhodococcus (strain KC4), and Sphingomonas (strains KC8-KC11 and KC14)--of three Phyla: Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. All 14 isolates were capable of converting 17beta-estradiol to estrone, but only three strains (strains KC6, KC7, and KC8) showed the ability to degrade estrone. Only strain KC8 could use 17beta-estradiol as a sole carbon source. Based on the degree of estrogens being transformed and the estrogenicity of metabolites and/ or end products of estrogen degradation, three different degradation patterns (patterns A-C) were observed from degradation tests using resting cells. Eleven out of 14 isolates showed degradation pattern A, where 17beta-estradiol was stoichiometrically converted to estrone. Estrone was confirmed to be a degradation product of 17beta-estradiol; however, estrone was not further degraded during the course of experiments. Strains KC6 and KC7 exhibited degradation pattern B, where both 17beta-estradiol and estrone were degraded, with slower 17beta-estradiol degradation rates than those observed in pattern A. Strain KC8 was the only strain exhibited degradation pattern C, where 17beta-estradiol and estrone were rapidly degraded within 3 days. No residual 17beta-estradiol and estrone or estrogenic activity was detected after 5 days, suggesting that strain KC8 could degrade 17beta-estradiol into nonestrogenic metabolites/end products. Strains KC6-8 exhibited nonspecific monooxygenase activity but not nonspecific dioxygenase activity. However, the relationship between nonspecific monooxygenase activity and its estrogen degradation ability was unclear.

Aerobic and Anaerobic Transformations in Estrogens and Nutrients in Swine Manure: Environmental Consequences

“…Aerobic incubation: The present study showed that aerobic incubation (1) degraded cEs (cE2, cE1 > cE3); and (2) transiently increased fEs concentrations (fE1, fE2 > fE3) and ensuing estrogenic activity in manure samples, possibly due to diverse groups of aerobic bacteria that activated (resulted in an increase in estrogenic activity) and/or hydrolyzed (resulted in a decrease in estrogenic activity) estrogens [66][67][68][69]. In aerobic environment, aerobic bacteria were several folds more active than anaerobic ones [70].…”

Destruction of Estrogens Using Fe-TAML/Peroxide Catalysis

“…Chlorine treatment resulted in chlorinated E 1, E2, and EE 2 that were 1 × 10 3 to 1 × 10 4 more estrogenic than BPA as assessed by yeast two-hybrid assay, with the relative potency depending on the site of chlorination and the source of estrogen receptor (human or fish; medaka). Bacterial degradation of estrogens has been documented (25) and recent research has focused on identifying estrogen-degrading strains (26). Although microbes efficiently degrade estradiol to estrone, the latter is more persistent (26).…”

“…Bacterial degradation of estrogens has been documented (25) and recent research has focused on identifying estrogen-degrading strains (26). Although microbes efficiently degrade estradiol to estrone, the latter is more persistent (26). However, some bacterial strains isolated from activated sludge were found to be capable of degrading estrone (27) and might prove useful as probiotics in waste digesters, but they would first need to be evaluated for strain safety, including assessment of toxicity and toxic product formation.…”

Fungal Bioremediation of Emerging Micropollutants in Municipal Wastewaters

“…The possibility to evolve bacterial-based process is still controversial. Among 14 bacterial strains isolated from activated sludge capable of reducing 17β-estradiol, only one degraded estrone, too (Yu et al 2007). …”