Isolation and characterization of a p-aminobenzenesulfonate degrading bacterial strain

Key words: 
• biodegradation /
• p-aminobenzenesulfonate /
• Ochrobactrum anthropi

Abstract: A bacterial strain using p-aminobenzenesulfonate (or sulfanilic acid, SA) as sole carbon and energy source for growth was isolated from a contaminated river. The bacterium was preliminarily identified as Ochrobactrum anthropi, according to morphological, physiological and its 16S rDNA gene sequence. The optimal pH and temperature for cell growth and for p-aminobenzenesulfonate degradation was 7 and 30℃, respectively. The bacterium can grow at 10 g/L SA, and also can use many other types of benzene as carbon and energy sources.