Exploring new strains of dye-decolorizing bacteria

This study unveiled a new strategy to explore new indigenous strains with excellent decolorization capabilities from freshwaters and seawaters. Two new bacterial decolorizers DX2b and SH7b, which have the capability to decolorize textile dyes, were isolated from Cross-Strait Taiwan and China. According to PCR-augmented 16S rRNA gene analyses for strain identification, > 99% of nucleotide sequences in isolated strains were identical to type strains Rahnella aquatilis, Acinetobacter guillouiae, Microvirgula aerodenitrificans, and Pseudomonas sp. Time-series inspection upon azoreductase activity assay and generation of decolorized intermediates all confirmed in parallel with reductive decolorization of new decolorizers DX2b and SH7b. The result also showed that bacterial decolorization of these new strains was mainly catalyzed via the enzymatic expression of azoreductase and riboflavin reductase, and biosorption seemed not to play a crucial role color removal (approximately < 10%).

► Conduct a novel strategy for isolation of new bacterial decolorizers. ► Biodecolorize both azo-free and azo dyes for environmental bioremediation. ► Explore new naturally-occurring decolorizers in a natural environment.