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WEBINAR SERIES ON SOIL BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION THRUSDAY, DECEMEBER 2, 2021 5PM PST

Topic: Elucidating the Activity of Anaerobic Dehalogenating Bacteria for Bioremediation of Contaminated Sediments

By

Max Häggblom PhD,
Distinguished Professor, Department Chair,
Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology,
Rutgers University School of Environmental and Biological Sciences,
The State University of New Jersey.

SUMMARY

Organohalide compounds are widespread in the environment as a result of anthropogenic activities and natural production. Many organohalides are released into the environment through their use in industry and agriculture. Aquatic sediments are ultimate receptors of many halogenated contaminants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), and most recently diverse brominated flame retardants. Remediation of soils, sediments and groundwater contaminated with toxic chemicals is a continuing challenge, and the need for effective remediation, restoration and mitigation approaches is enhanced by climate change and increasing urbanization. Microbial degradation is one of the key factors that determine the ultimate fate of organohalides in the environment, with cleavage of the carbon-halogen bond being one of the critical steps. Organohalide respiration is a process in which microorganisms utilize halogenated compounds as electron acceptors in an anaerobic respiration for energy generation. The dehalogenated transformation products are frequently more amenable to further degradation, which may facilitate the complete removal of halogenated contaminants. Knowledge about the bacteria that mediate reductive dehalogenation of organohalide pollutants will enable application of bioaugmentation and biostimulation for remediation of contaminated sediments.
Prof Dr Max Häggblom received his PhD from the University of Helsinki, Finland. He has been a member of the Rutgers University faculty since 1993 and serves as the Editor in Chief of FEMS Microbiology Ecology. His research interests are in microbial ecology and environmental biotechnology, with a focus in the bioexploration, cultivation and characterization of novel microbes including soils, sediments, marine sponges and animal intestinal tracts. The common theme is the “unusual appetites” of bacteria, such as the metabolism and detoxification of xenobiotic chemicals or natural products, respiration of rare metalloids, or life in the cold. Work in his laboratory spans from fundamental questions on the physiology, ecology and taxonomy of bacteria in diverse habitats and those involved in biotransformation and biodegradation of natural and anthropogenic chemicals to applied questions on finding solutions to environmental problems facing impacted industrialized sites. The major thrust has been on characterizing the physiology and ecology of bacteria that metabolize halogenated aromatic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, the fuel oxygenate MTBE, metals and metalloids, and most recently, the plethora of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) that are emerging pollutants of aquatic environments and soils. The overall goals are to identify the microbial communities responsible for metabolism of these chemicals in their habitats, decipher the underlying novel metabolic pathways and discover new bacterial species and assess their in situ metabolic activity. This knowledge lays the foundation for understanding the fate of these compounds in the environment and for developing technologies for bioremediation of contaminated soils and sediments as well as tools for site assessment and monitoring.

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