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Adaptive responses of Gordonia alkanivorans IEGM 1277 to the action of meloxicam and its efficient biodegradation

Summary

This research demonstrates that a bacterium called Gordonia alkanivorans can break down meloxicam, a commonly used anti-inflammatory drug that pollutes our environment. The bacteria successfully converted the harmful drug into less toxic byproducts over two weeks. The study reveals how the bacteria adapted to handle the drug stress and identified the specific genes and enzymes responsible for the degradation process. These findings could lead to new biological methods for cleaning pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater.

Background

Pharmaceutical contaminants such as meloxicam pose significant environmental risks due to their persistence and toxicity. Actinomycetes, particularly Gordonia species, have demonstrated metabolic versatility in degrading various xenobiotics. The ability of Gordonia to fully degrade meloxicam had not been previously demonstrated.

Objective

To investigate the biodegradation potential of Gordonia alkanivorans IEGM 1277 toward meloxicam, identify primary metabolites, determine candidate genes encoding meloxicam-oxidizing enzymes, and characterize adaptive bacterial responses to meloxicam exposure.

Results

G. alkanivorans IEGM 1277 completely degraded meloxicam within 14 days, producing primary metabolites 5′-hydroxymethyl- and 5′-carboxymeloxicam with reduced toxicity. Genomic analysis revealed eight distinct CYP450 genes potentially involved in meloxicam oxidation. Microscopic analyses demonstrated significant phenotypic and metabolic changes including cell surface modifications, lipid droplet accumulation, and altered electrokinetic potential in response to meloxicam exposure.

Conclusion

This study provides the first evidence of complete meloxicam biodegradation by Gordonia species and elucidates the enzymatic and cellular adaptive mechanisms. G. alkanivorans IEGM 1277 shows potential for application in developing efficient and environmentally safe biotechnologies for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40771721
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