Genomic, bioinformatics, and functional analysis of a novel bioremediation bacterial strain from mangrove sediment

The uncontrolled release of industrial effluents has significantly increased pollutant levels, posing serious risks to human and animal health even at low concentrations. Traditional methods for removing emerging pollutants (EPs), such as chemical and mechanical processes, are still costly and inefficient. Bioremediation using plants, microbes, or enzymes can provide a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative. This investigation explored the abilities of bacterial strains isolated from mangrove ecosystems in the UAE, environments that are notable for their high salinity and temperature. Several potent isolates capable of degrading aromatic dyes and emerging pollutants were identified, with KU-BSD001 exhibiting particularly strong bioremediation capabilities. This strain efficiently degraded a range of emerging pollutants such as venlafaxine, cimetidine, and paracetamol. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequencing indicated a close relationship of KU-BSD001 to the Lysinibacillus genus, while whole-genome sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization confirmed it as a novel species, with the whole genome deposited in the NCBI database under the accession number SAMN41003169 (GenBank reference: GCA_042920265.1). Functional annotation revealed a distinct short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family member, with the intriguing possibility that this oxidoreductase could have potential bioremediation applications. Our findings strongly support the notion that unique and extreme ecosystems such as the UAE mangroves could be promising sources of bacteria with interesting bioremediating or biotech applications, with strong potential for cleaning contaminated environments.