摘要：AbstractPolyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are commonly found pollutants in the Niger Delta. They are comparatively persistent in the environment. Also, they distort healthy microbial interaction and pose high risk to human health owing to their toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. This research investigated the distribution of naphthalene dioxygenase gene (nahAc) and PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase alpha genes (PAH-RHDα-GP) amongst bacteria isolated from two disparate locations (Bomu in Gokana LGA and Ngia Ama in Degema LGA, in Rivers State, Nigeria) used as illegal modular refining sites. Spread plate method was used to isolate PAH-degrading bacteria followed by identification, characterisation and phylogenetic analysis. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect thenahAcand PAH-RHDα-GPgene sequences (from chromosomal DNA and plasmid) of the α-subunit of PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase, using specific primer sets. Genera ofEnterobacter, Shewanella, Burkholderia, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, ExiguobacteriumandStenotrophomonaswere isolated from the two study sites.nahAcgenes were found in the genomes of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria while PAH-RHDα-GPgenes were detected in all the plasmids recovered from Bomu-isolates. These findings inferred that the catabolic potential detected in the PAH-degrading bacterial community could be contributing to thein-situbiodegradation of PAHs.
关键词：Keywordsα-subunit of PAH-RHDExiguobacteriumArtisanal refiningPolyaromatic hydrocarbonsPolymerase chain reaction
