Anaerobic biodegradation of azo dye reactive black 5 by a novel strain Shewanella sp. SR1: Pathway and mechanisms.

The efficiency of microbial populations in degrading refractory pollutants and the impact of adverse environmental factors often presents challenges for the biological treatment of azo dyes. In this study, the genome analysis and azo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5) degrading capability of a newly isolated strain, Shewanella sp. SR1, were investigated. By analyzing the genome, functional genes involved in dye degradation and mechanisms for adaptation to low-temperature and high-salinity conditions were identified in SR1. The addition of co-substrates, such as glucose and yeast extract, significantly enhanced RB5 decolorization efficiency, reaching up to 87.6%. Notably, SR1 demonstrated remarkable robustness towards a wide range of NaCl concentrations (1-30 g/L) and temperatures (10-30 °C), maintaining efficient decolorization and high biomass concentration. The metabolic pathways of RB5 degradation were deduced based on the metabolites and genes detected in the genome, in which the azo bond was first cleaved by FMN-dependent NADH-azoreductase and NAD(P)H-flavin reductase, followed by deamination, desulfonation, and hydroxylation mediated by various oxidoreductases. Importantly, the degradation metabolites exhibited reduced toxicity, as revealed by toxicity analysis. These findings highlighted the great potential of Shewanella sp. SR1 for bioremediation of wastewaters contaminated with azo dyes.