Mechanisms of the enhanced DDT removal from soils by earthworms: Identification of DDT degraders in drilosphere and non-drilosphere matrices

The remediation of soil contaminated by 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) remains an important issue in environmental research. Although our previous studies demonstrated that earthworms could enhance the degradation DDT soils, underlying mechanisms and microorganisms involved these transformation processes are still not clear. Here we studied sterilized/non-sterilized drilosphere non-drilosphere matrices identified degraders using technique DNA-stable isotope probing. results show non-sterilized was quicker than their counterparts. Earthworms removal mainly improving properties, thus stimulating indigenous rather abiotic or tissue accumulating. Ten new genera, including Streptomyces, Streptacidiphilus, Dermacoccus, Brevibacterium, Bacillus, Virgibacillus, were as ring cleavage degrading bacteria five tested. Bacillus Dermacoccus may also play vital roles dechlorination DDTs they highly enriched during incubations. this study provide robust evidence for application remediating soils polluted with highlight importance combinations cultivation-independent techniques together process-based measurements to examine function microbes organic pollutants matrices.