Characterization of Rhodococcus opacus B-4, a Strain able to Grow with Benzene in a Two-Phase (Organic-Aqueous) Medium

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Twenty two benzene-utilizing bacteria were isolated from soil and activated sludge samples. Among them, seven isolates were highly tolerant to benzene. One of the benzene-tolerant isolates, designated B-4, could utilize many aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons including benzene, toluene, styrene, xylene, ethylbenzene, propylbenzene, n-octane, and n-decane as sole sources of carbon and energy. Strain B-4 grew well in the presence of 10% (vol/vol) organic solvents that it was capable of using as growth substrates. Taxonomical analysis identified strain B-4 as Rhodococcus opacus. Genetic analysis revealed that strain B-4 possesses the benzene dioxygenase operon. Thus, B-4 was thought to be a good candidate of the host strain for bioconversion of hydrophobic substrates in the two-phase (organic-aqueous) system.