Members of the Anaeromyxobacter genus conduct a variety of processes important to the U.S. Department of Energy missions including the bioreduction of metals (Fe, Mn), radionuclides (U, Tc) and chlorinated phenols, and are important in carbon and nitrogen cycling in a range of aquatic, sedimentary, and soil environments. Anaeromyxobacter spp. have been identified in agricultural soils, freshwater (river) sediments, tropical soils, and U(VI)-contaminated subsurface sediments at the DOE-FRC site (Oak Ridge, TN). Importantly, Anaeromyxobacter spp. respond to biostimulation at the FRC site sediments where enhanced metal reduction and reductive dechlorination activity can be expected following treatment. Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans strain 2CP-C has already been sequenced as part of the DOE’s Microbial Genome Program and is providing the blueprint for functional genomic investigations conducted under the support of Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research (DOE NABIR) Program. Genome sequencing of additional six Anaeromyxobacter spp. is proposed to address the following goals: (i) probe the genetic differences among strains that may contribute to different contaminant transformation rates and/or specificities, and the occupation of different niches and/or environments; (ii) identify genes that may be diagnostic for metal-reducing ecotypes; (iii) determine whether core sets of genes for the metal-reducing species can be identified, and (iv) develop an understanding of the regulatory networks operating in Anaeromyxobacter. Knowledge of these key issues will greatly contribute to successful in-situ bioremediation applications, and advance our basic understanding of prokaryotic evolution and ecology using Anaeromyxobacter as one of the leading models.

A. dehalogenans strain 2CP-1 is the type strain originally isolated from an anaerobic sediment microcosm amended with mixtures of monochlorophenols in the presence and absence of nitrate (21). Originally, strain 2CP-1 was isolated based on its ability to respire2-chlorophenol using acetate as electron donor. As most of Anaeromyxobacter species, 2CP-1 can effectively reduce nitrate, nitrite, AQDS and fumarate as well as polyvalent metals and radionuclides that include U(VI), solid phase Fe and Mn oxides.

References

Sanford, R. A., J. R. Cole, and J. M. Tiedje. 2002. Characterization and description of Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans gen. nov., sp. nov., an aryl-halorespiring facultative anaerobic myxobacterium. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68:893-900.