Characterization and Hydrocarbon Degradation Potential of Variovorax sp. Strain N23 Isolated from the Antarctic Soil

Increasing pollution has significantly threatened the Antarctic ecosystem. The contamination of hydrocarbons drawn a considerable amount attention owing to their toxicity, recalcitrance, and persistence. Considering Treaty, only indigenous species are allowed bioremediate contaminated environment. However, knowledge ecological role, physiology, function, genomics endemic hydrocarbon consumers is still limited. Here, we investigated dynamics phenanthrene-consuming communities derived from soil found that Variovorax, Rhodocyclaceae, Hydrogenophaga were differentiated in all subcultures. We isolated pure culture key consumer Variovorax sp. strain N23. Moreover, result polyphasic approach suggested N23 represents novel genus Variovorax. In addition, genomic characteristics this revealed incomplete degradation pathways for diverse hydrocarbons. Overall, study reveals relatively weak hydrocarbon-degrading potential bacteria suggests need more careful protection