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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Microbial Adaptation to Boreal Saturated Subsurface: Implications in Bioremediation of Polychlorophenols

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Saturated subsurface environments pose challenges to the intrinsic microbiology. Prevailing environmental conditions (temperature, pH, bioavailability of substrates and nutrients) affect microbial biodegradation activity, which is often favored by certain redox conditions. Microbial adaptation in each redox environment proceeds by selection and enrichment of indigenous bacteria, evolution of novel catabolic pathways and horizontal gene transfer (Wilson et al. 1985; van der Meer et al. 1998; Tiirola et al. 2002b). Formation of biofilms enables microbial retainment, co-operation among microorganisms and enhanced gene transfer among organisms (Singh et al. 2006). Chlorophenols are toxic and persistent pollutants mainly originating from anthropogenic sources. Polychlorophenols, i.e. tri-, tetra-, and/or pentachlorophenol