본 연구에서 우리는 광양만의 해수와 표층 퇴적물에서 TBTCl 내성세균의 개체수를 조사하였다. 광양만에서 TBTCl 내성세균의 개체수는 해수에서 $2.5{ imes}10^3-3.8{ imes}10^3$ cfu/mL 범위였으며, 표층 퇴적물에서 TBTCl 내성세균의 개체수는 $3.2{ imes}10^5-9.1{ imes}10^5$ cfu/g 범위였다. 광양만에서 TBTCl 내성세균의 종조성은 Vibrio spp. (19.2%)가 가장 높은 우점종으로 나타났고, Bacillus spp. (16.2%), Aeromonas spp. (15.2%), Pseudomonas spp. (13.1%), Klebsiella spp. (11.1%), Alteromonas spp. (9.1%), Pantoea spp. (6.1%), Proteus spp. (3.0%), Listeria spp. (2.0%), unidentified (5.0%)의 순으로 우점하였다. 또한 11개의 대표적인 TBTCl 내성균주는 여러 중금속들(Cd, Cu, Hg 및 Zn)에도 내성을 나타내었다. 이들 중에서 가장 강한 TBTCl 내성을 보이는 T7 균주를 선별하여, API 20NE등을 이용하여 본 균주의 형태학적, 생리학적 및 생화학적 특성들을 조사하였다. T7 균주는 16S rRNA gene 염기서열 분석에 의해 Pantoea 속으로 동정되어 Pantoea sp. T7으로 명명되었다. 또한 본 균주는 $500{mu}M$의 TBTCl 농도에서도 60시간 배양 후에 정상 균주 성장의 50.7%까지 증식하였다. Pantoea sp. T7의 생물학적 TBTCl 분해활성은 GC-FPD 분석에 의해 측정되었는데, $100{mu}M$의 TBTCl 농도에서 배양 40시간 후에 TBTCl 제거 효율은 62.7%로 나타났다.
BACKGROUND: Tributyltin chloride is among the most toxic compounds known for aquatic ecosystems. Microorganisms are responsible for removal of TBTCl. Nevertheless, only a limited number of marine bacteria were investigated for biodegradation of TBTCl in Korea. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of TBTCl resistant bacteria ranged from $2.5{ imes}10^3$ to $3.8{ imes}10^3$ cfu/mL in the seawater, and ranged from $3.2{ imes}10^5$ to $9.1{ imes}10^5$ cfu/g in the surface sediment, respectively. The morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of TBTCl resistant bacteria were investigated by API 20NE and other tests. The most abundant species of TBTCl resistant bacteria were Vibrio spp. (19.2%), Bacillus spp. (16.2%), Aeromonas spp. (15.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (13.1%), etc. Eleven TBTCl resistant isolates also had a resistance to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn). Among them, isolate T7 showing the strong TBTCl-resistance was selected. This isolate was identified as the genus Pantoea by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and designated as Pantoea sp. T7. In addition, this bacterium was cultivated up to the growth of 50.7% after 60 hrs at TBTCl concentration of $500{mu}M$. TBTCl-degrading activity of Pantoea sp. T7 was measured by GC-FPD analysis. As a result of biological TBTCl-degradation at TBTCl concentration of $100{mu}M$, TBTCl-removal efficiency of Pantoeasp. T7 was 62.7% after 40 hrs. CONCLUSION(S): These results suggest that Pantoea sp. T7 is potentially useful for the bioremediation of TBT contamination.
