Biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons by a newly isolated Pestalotiopsis sp. NG007

Evidence for the biodegradation and biotransformation of petroleum hydrocarbons by Pestalotiopsis sp. has recently emerged. Out of seventy-two strains tested, Pestalotiopsis sp. NG007, identified from its gene sequence and morphological characteristics grew most actively on asphalt-containing agar media. The strain exhibited the ability to degrade all types of petroleum hydrocarbons (48-96% over 30 days) in liquid medium at pH 4.5 and saline conditions at pH 8.2. During the biodegradation of an aliphatic mixture (n-decane, n-undecane, n-dodecane, n-tetradecane, n-pentadecane, n-hexadecane, n-octadecane, n-nonadecane, n-eicosane and pristane), fifteen metabolites were detected. The presence of fatty alcohols, fatty aldehydes, and fatty acids (mono- and di- carboxylic acid) as intermediate products showed that NG007 can degrade and transform aliphatic fractions not only via mono- or di-terminal oxidation, but also via sub-terminal and alkyl peroxide oxidation. In the presence of petroleum hydrocarbons, both dioxygenases and ligninolytic activities were detected. The wide-ranging activity observed and the case of growth using petroleum hydrocarbons as the sole carbon source suggest that Pestalotiopsis sp. NG007 is a potential source for bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated environments.