Study on Alpine Glacier Madaccio microbial biodiversity, isolation and characterization of a Pseudomonas veronii strain for phenanthrene bioremediation.

Background: the ice of glaciers preserves pollen, bacteria, insect debris, dust and pollutants of human activity, and is an important reservoirs of microorganisms. This complex ecological system can originate from the biosphere of the around geographic area and from the particles and microorganisms transported by wind. Objectives: study the bacterial biodiversity, the presence of chemical contaminants of Madaccio Glacier in Italian Alps and to isolate bacteria with relevant biotechnology or bioremediation features. Methods: The ice-cores, collected at 3,125 m of altitude, were sampled by drilling in aseptic conditions. The water of melted ice-core was filtered by 0.2 µm membrane. Samples for microbiological analysis were recovered from filter membrane while water for chemical analysis. DGGE (Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis) fingerprinting analysis was used to determine the microbial community present in ice. Plate counting was used to isolate viable microbial cultures. Conclusion: GC-Ms analysis on melted ice showed the presence of PCB congeners and PAH. DGGE and microbiological analysed demonstrated the presence of viable Bacteria and Archaea. with a majority of strain belonging to Protebacteria, Firmicutes and Actinomycetales. Among them a strain of Pseudomonas veronii able to metabolize at temperature close to 0°C demonstrated the ability of degrading phenanthrene in pure culture and to growth a medium containing only this PAH as carbon source in minimal salt medium. Miteva V. et al. Environmental Microbiology (2009) 11(3), 640–656. Abyzov S.S. et al.(1998) Microbiology 67, 451–458. Ma Y. et al. Environmental Microbiology (2006) 8 (3), 455–465