Properties of a trichlorodibenzo- p -dioxin-dechlorinating mixed culture with a Dehalococcoides as putative dechlorinating species

An anaerobic mixed culture enriched over 16 transfers (1/10) from Saale river sediment reductively dehalogenated 1,2,4- and 1,2,3-trichlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TrCDD) to di- and monochlorinated congeners in the presence of pyruvate (or lactate) and fumarate as cosubstrates. Besides TrCDD, tetrachloroethene and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene were dechlorinated. Dioxin dehalogenation was sensitive to pasteurization, but was not remarkably influenced by inhibitors of methanogens, sulfate-reducing bacteria or Gram-positive bacteria. The rate of 1,3-dichlorodibenzo- p -dioxin formation increased with rising initial concentrations of 1,2,4-TrCDD (1–250 μM) from 0.05 to 5.4 μmol l −1 day −1. Two isolates, belonging to Sulfurospirillum and Trichococcus, did not show reductive dehalogenation. 16S rDNA-targeted methods further revealed the presence of Acetobacterium, Desulfitobacterium, Desulfuromonas and Dehalococcoides. Nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) indicated the presence of Dehalococcoides in highest most probable number (MPN) dilutions that were positive for dioxin dechlorination.