Biodegradation of type II pyrethroids and major degraded products by a newly isolated Acinetobacter sp. strain JN8

A Gram-negative aerobic bacterium, designated as JN8, was isolated from activated sludge and soil in a pesticides factory in China. It was found that JN8 had a high capacity for degrading a broad range of type II pyrethroids and utilizing these pyrethroids as the sole carbon source for cell growth. The degradation rates of a 100 mg·L−1 concentration of β-cypermethrin, cypermethrin, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, and deltamethrin by JN8 in mineral salt medium were 74.1%, 64.9%, 57.9%, 48.1% and 34.9%, respectively. Strain JN8 was identified as a species of Acinetobacter based on its biochemical properties and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. β-Cypermethrin was degraded by JN8 through hydrolysis of the carboxylester linkage to form 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and 3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane carboxylic acid, both of which could be further degraded by JN8. JN8 is the first strain of an Acinetobacter species in which pyrethoid-degrading activity has been detected, and such a feature makes it a potential r...