Characterization of an organic-solvent-tolerant Brevibacillus agri strain 13 able to stabilize solvent/water emulsion.

Brevibacillus agri strain 13 was isolated and characterized as a Gram-positive organic-solvent-tolerant bacterium able to grow at 45 degrees C. It can tolerate high concentrations (5% and 20%, v/v) of various organic solvents with a broad range of log P(ow) when the organic solvent was provided as a nonaqueous layer. Although it can tolerate a number of aromatic solvents, it cannot utilize them as a sole carbon source. The surface characteristics of cells exposed to organic solvent were investigated using the bacterial adhesion to hydrocarbon test, a contact angle measurement, zeta potential determination, and fluorescence microscopy analysis and compared with that of nonexposed cells. The results showed that although it has a hydrophilic cell surface, it has a unique indigenous cell surface characteristic in which the cells can stabilize solvent-in-water emulsion by adhering to the solvent-water interface of the solvent droplets. The tolerance and predilection of B. agri strain 13 toward organic solvents may suggest its potential application as a whole-cell biocatalyst for the biotransformation process of water-immiscible substrate(s).