Challenging tin toxicity by a novel strain isolated from freshwaters

Abstract

The first major challenge for the bioremediation field is to select the most promising types of biomass. Hence, the objective of this study was to isolate and identify a novel species which has the potential to remediate tin in freshwaters. For this reason, a bacterium designated as Sn11, with 59 mu g ml(-1) maximum tolerable concentration of tin was isolated selectively from the freshwater samples collected along the river Kirikkale-Kizilirmak, Turkey. Identification of the isolate was done using biochemical tests, fatty acid methyl ester analysis, and 16S rRNA sequencing. Fatty acids produced by the isolate investigated were assumed as typical for the genus Pantoea. Pantoea were highly homogeneous by dominant C-16:0 and C-16:1 cis 9 fatty acids. 16S rRNA sequence analysis also confirmed that the isolate Sn11 had 98% homology with Pantoea agglomerans. The complete sorption of 59 mu g ml(-1) tin by P. agglomerans was recorded at about 20 h incubation. Due to higher affinity toward tin sorption, P. agglomerans can be an important isolate for the natural attenuation of tin toxicity in contaminated freshwaters.