Construction of strains for the sanitation of complex organic pollutants and selection of chassis cells. Credit: Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41586-025-08947-7
A multi-institutional collaboration of research centers in synthetic biology in China has developed a genetically modified strain of vibrio natriagens capable of organic organic pollutants, in particular biphenyl, phenol, naphthene, dibenzofuran and toluene, in saltwater and soil.
Complex organic pollutants are widespread in industrial wastewater generated by oil refining and the transformation of Chlor-Alcali. Due to their chemical stability and their resistance to natural degradation, these compounds persist in marine and saline environments, posing ecological risks and potential threats to public health.
Microbial biorestauration methods generally use consortia of wild -type bacterial strains, but these organisms demonstrate a limited capacity to degrade mixtures of complex pollutants. High levels of salinity still inhibit bacterial activity, reducing the efficiency of biorestauration in industrial and sea wastewater. The development of bacterial strains capable of degrading pollutants while tolerating saline conditions remains a critical challenge.
In the study, “Bioremediation of Complex Organic polluting by Vibrio Natriegens”, published in NatureThe researchers used synthetic biology techniques to design Vibrio natriegens to degrade several organic pollutants in wastewater and saline soils.
The clusters of synthetic degradation genes targeting biphenyl, phenol, naphthene, dibenzofuran and toluene were chemically synthesized and assembled in yeast. The genes of genes were then integrated into the vibrio natriegen genome vmax and verified by PCR analysis and sequencing to confirm genetic stability and correct orientation.
Vibrio Natriegens VCOD-15 has produced substantial reductions in pollutant concentrations during rest cell tests carried out in simulated saline wastewater. Biphenyl levels decreased from 189.3 to 0 μm, phenol from 203.1 to 59.6 μm, naphthalene from 185.8 to 52.5 μm, Dibenzofuran from 40.6 to 4.3 μm and toluene from 201.7 to 20.3 μm over a treatment period of 48 hours.
Mass spectrometry has detected expected degradation intermediaries, including catechol, salicylic acid, benzoic acid and benzyl alcohol. The gene expression tests have confirmed the coherent transcription of all inserted gene clusters, with sequencing data indicating no target modification.
The VCOD-15 engineering strain has a potential tool to mitigate toxic pollutants in industrial wastewater, with wider implications to protect marine ecosystems and public health.
The authors of the study highlighted the potential of technology, declaring: “Our engineering strain of Vibrio Natriegens offers a powerful platform for the biorestauration of complex organic pollutants in difficult salt environments.”
More information:
Cong Su et al, Bistauration of complex organic pollutants by vibrio natriegens, Nature (2025). DOI: 10.1038 / S41586-025-08947-7
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