Oxidation of pharmaceutically active compounds by a ligninolytic fungal peroxidase

Sulfadiazine degradation by Bjerkandera adusta DH0817 at low temperatures and its cold-adaptation mechanisms

The prolonged period of low temperatures in northern China poses a significant challenge to the bioremediation of antibiotic pollution. This study reports that a white-rot fungus Bjerkandera adusta DH0817, isolated from a poultry farm in Liaoning Province, can remove 60 % of SDZ within 20 days at 10°C and reduce the biotoxicity of SDZ. Six degradation pathways were proposed. SDZ biodegradation was primarily driven by cytochrome P450. Transcriptome analysis revealed that DH0817 upregulated genes associated with cell membrane, transcription factors and soluble sugars in response to low temperatures. Subsequently, genes associated with fatty acid, proteins and enzymes were upregulated to remove SDZ at low temperatures. This study provides valuable microbial resources and serves as a theoretical reference for addressing antibiotic pollution in livestock and poultry farms under low temperature conditions.

Micropollutants (ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin) remediation from wastewater through laccase derived from spent mushroom waste: Fate, toxicity, and degradation

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics frequently found in environmental matrices (wastewater treatment plants, hospital wastewater, industrial wastewater and surface wastewater) causes potential threat to the environment. Enzymatic treatment for degradation of antibiotics from environmental matrices is a green and sustainable approach. Focusing on this, this study aimed to degrade two frequently found fluroquinolone emergent pollutants, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin from wastewater. The trinuclear cluster of copper ions present in laccase has the ability to effectively remove organic micropollutants (OMPs). The uniqueness of this study is that it utilizes laccase enzyme extracted from spent mushroom waste (SMW) of P. florida for degradation of ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin and to achieve highest degradation efficiency various parameters were tweaked such as pH (3-6), temperature (30 °C and 50 °C), and ABTS (0.05, 0.6, and 1 mM) concentration. The results showed that the most effective degradation of ciprofloxacin (86.12-75.94%) and norfloxacin (83.27-65.94%) was achieved in 3 h at pH 4.5, temperature 30 °C, and 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 0.05 mM concentration. Nevertheless, achieving degradation at 50 °C for both antibiotics, indicates thermostability nature of laccase (P. florida). Further, the fate of transformed products obtained from laccase mediated degradation was confirmed by liquid chromatography (LC-MS). Both the antibiotics undergo decarboxylation, depiperylyzation, dealkylation and defluorination as a result of laccase-mediated bond breakage. Anti-microbial activity of the biodegraded products was monitored by residual anti-bacterial toxicity test (E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus). The biodegraded products were found to be non-toxic and resulted in the growth of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as determined by the agar-diffusion method. Moreover, the storage stability of laccase was determined for 28-day duration at varying pH (3-10) and temperature (4-50 °C). The maximum storage stability was obtained at pH 4.5 and temperature 30 °C. Therefore, utilizing SMW for the degradation of OMPs from wastewater not only benefits in degradation but also reuses SMW agro waste, shedding light on agro waste management. Thus, SMW is a one-pot solution for both OMPs biodegradation and circularity in the economy.

Degradation of Emerging Pharmaceutical Pollutants from Wastewater Using Penicillium aurantiogriseum 2AJS

Approximately 3000 pharmaceutical compounds and personal care products (PPCPs) are utilized and discharged into the wastewater at low levels, and they are rarely removed or treated in wastewater treatment facilities. The present study focused on the potential ability of Penicillium aurantiogriseum 2AJS to degrade pharmaceutical and personal care products of different classes of drugs: antipyretic and analgesic drugs (paracetamol, diclofenac, and ibuprofen) and hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone). Various ligninolytic extracellular enzymatic studies were also studied. A phytotoxicity assay was performed using the Lemna minor species procured from the Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore. The results revealed degradation of pharmaceutical and personal care products to 95.27% (paracetamol), 94.37% (diclofenac), 89.29% (ibuprofen), 94.16% (progesterone), 91.10% (estrogen), and 82.12% (testosterone). GC-MS and NMR analyses aided in proposing the degradation pathway of all six pharmaceutical compounds. Degradation kinetics showed a first-order model for all the degradation studies with R2 values ranging between 0.89 and 0.95. A toxicological assay using Lemna minor showed very less toxicity of degraded compounds with a toxicity index ranging between 1.2 and 1.5 compared to the parent compounds. Hence, strain 2AJS can be used in in situ bioremediation of wastewater treatment processes.

Fungal bioremediation approaches for the removal of toxic pollutants: Mechanistic understanding for biorefinery applications

Pollution is a global menace that poses harmful effects on all the living ecosystems and to the Earth. As years pass by, the available and the looming rate of pollutants increases at a faster rate. Although many treatments and processing strategies are waged for treating such pollutants, the by-products and the wastes or drain off generated by these treatments further engages in the emission of hazardous waste. Innovative and long-lasting solutions are required to address the urgent global issue of hazardous pollutant remediation from contaminated environments. Myco-remediation is a top-down green and eco-friendly tool for pollution management. It is a cost-effective and safer practice of converting pernicious substances into non-toxic forms by the use of fungi. But these pollutants can be transformed into useable products along with multiple benefits for the environment such as sequestration of carbon emissions and also to generate high valuable bioactive materials that fits as a sustainable economic model. The current study has examined the possible applications of fungi in biorefineries and their critical role in the transformation and detoxification of pollutants. The paper offers important insights into using fungal bioremediation for both economically and environmentally sound solutions in the domain of biorefinery applications by combining recent research findings.

The potential of fungi in the bioremediation of pharmaceutically active compounds: a comprehensive review

The ability of fungal species to produce a wide range of enzymes and metabolites, which act synergistically, makes them valuable tools in bioremediation, especially in the removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from contaminated environments. PhACs are compounds that have been specifically designed to treat or alter animal physiological conditions and they include antibiotics, analgesics, hormones, and steroids. Their detrimental effects on all life forms have become a source of public outcry due their persistent nature and their uncontrolled discharge into various wastewater effluents, hospital effluents, and surface waters. Studies have however shown that fungi have the necessary metabolic machinery to degrade PhACs in complex environments, such as soil and water, in addition they can be utilized in bioreactor systems to remove PhACs. In this regard, this review highlights fungal species with immense potential in the biodegradation of PhACs, their enzymatic arsenal as well as the probable mechanism of biodegradation. The challenges encumbering the real-time application of this promising bioremediative approach are also highlighted, as well as the areas of improvement and future perspective. In all, this paper points researchers to the fact that fungal bioremediation is a promising strategy for addressing the growing issue of pharmaceutical contamination in the environment and can help to mitigate the negative impacts on ecosystems and human health.

Role of bio-electrochemical technology for enzyme activity stimulation in high-consumption pharmaceuticals biodegradation

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and their intermediate residues have recently been considered a serious concern. Among technologies, bio-electrochemical technologies (BETs) have stimulated the production of bio-electrical energy. This review aims to examine the benefit and mechanism of BETs on the degradation of high-consumption pharmaceutical compounds, including antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic drugs, and the stimulation of enzymes induced in a bioreactor. Moreover, intermediates and the proposed pathways of pharmaceutical compound biodegradation in BETs are to be explained in this review. According to studies performed exclusively, the benefit of BETs is using bio-electroactive microbes to mineralize recalcitrant pharmaceutical contaminants by promoting enzyme activity and energy. Since BETs use the electron transfer chain between bio-anode/-cathode and pharmaceuticals, the enzyme activity is essential in the oxidation and reduction of phenolic rings of drugs and the ineffective detoxification of effluent from the treatment plant. This study is suggested a vital and influential role of BETs in mineralizing and enzyme induction in bioreactors. Eventually, a content of future developments or outlooks of BETs are propounded to improve the pharmaceutical industries' wastewater problems.

Bioremoval and Detoxification of the Anticancer Drug Mitoxantrone Using Immobilized Crude Versatile Peroxidase (icVP/Ba) Bjerkandera adusta CCBAS 930

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biodecolorization and detoxification of the anticancer drug mitoxantron (MTX) by immobilized crude versatile peroxidase of Bjerkandera adusta CCBAS 930 (icVP/Ba). The concentrated crude VP was obtained from B. adusta CCBAS 930 culture on medium with MTX (µg/mL) addition, immobilized with 4% sodium alginate. MTX removal degree (decolorization), levels of phenolic compounds and free radicals were determined during MTX biotransformation. Moreover, the phytotoxicity (Lepidium sativum L.), biotoxicity (multi-species microbial assay, MARA), and genotoxicity (SOS Chromotest) of MTX were evaluated before and after the biological treatment. The use of icVP/Ba (95 U/mL) significantly shortened the bioremoval of 10 µg/mL MTX (95.57% after 72 h). MTX removal by icVP/Ba was correlated with an 85% and 90% decrease in the levels of phenolic compounds and free radicals, respectively. In addition, the use of icVP/Ba contributed to a decrease in the phyto-, bio-, and genotoxicity of MTX. This is the first study to describe the possibility of removing MTX using immobilized crude fungal peroxidase.

Artificial microbial consortium producing oxidases enhanced the biotransformation efficiencies of multi-antibiotics

Antibiotic mixtures in the environment result in the development of bacterial strains with resistance against multiple antibiotics. Oxidases are versatile that can bio-remove antibiotics. Various laccases (LACs), manganese peroxidases (MNPs), and versatile peroxidase (VP) were reconstructed in Pichia pastoris. For the single antibiotics, over 95.0% sulfamethoxazole within 48 h, tetracycline, oxytetracycline, and norfloxacin within 96 h were bio-removed by recombinant VP with α-signal peptide, respectively. In a mixture of the four antibiotics, 80.2% tetracycline and 95.6% oxytetracycline were bio-removed by recombinant MNP2 with native signal peptide (NSP) within 8 h, whereas < 80.0% sulfamethoxazole was bio-removed within 72 h, indicating that signal peptides significantly impacted removal efficiencies of antibiotic mixtures. Regarding mediators for LACs, 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) resulted in better removal efficiencies of multi-antibiotic mixtures than 1-hydroxybenzotriazole or syringaldehyde. Furthermore, artificial microbial consortia (AMC) producing LAC2 and MNP2 with NSP significantly improved bio-removal efficiency of sulfamethoxazole (95.5%) in four-antibiotic mixtures within 48 h. Tetracycline and oxytetracycline were completely bio-removed by AMC within 48 and 72 h, respectively, indicating that AMC accelerated sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and oxytetracycline bio-removals. Additionally, transformation pathways of each antibiotic by recombinant oxidases were proposed. Taken together, this work provides a new strategy to simultaneously remove antibiotic mixtures by AMC.

Microbial degradation of antibiotic: future possibility of mitigating antibiotic pollution

Antibiotics are the major pharmaceutical wastes that are being exposed to the environment from the pharmaceutical industries and for the anthropogenic activities. The use of antibiotics for disease prevention and treatment in humans has been surpassed by the amount used in agriculture, particularly on livestock. It is stipulated that the overuse of antibiotics is the single largest reason behind the rise of bacterial anti-microbial resistance (AMR). The development of alternative therapy, like gene therapy, immunotherapy, use of natural products, and various nanoparticles, to control bacterial pathogens might be an alternative of antibiotics for mankind but the remediation of already exposed antibiotics from the lithosphere and hydrosphere needs to be envisioned with priority. The ever-increasing release of antibiotics in the environment makes it one of the major emerging contaminants (ECs). Decomposition of such antibiotic contaminants is a great challenge to get a cleaner environment. There are reports describing the degradation of antibiotics by photolysis, hydrolysis, using cathode and metal salts, or by degradation via microbes. Antimicrobials like sulfonamides are recalcitrant to natural biodegradation, exhibiting high thermal stability. There are recent reports on microbial degradation of a few common antibiotics and their derivatives but their applications in waste management are scanty. It could however be a major concern to the scientists whether to use the antibiotic degradation traits of a microbe for the removal of antibiotic wastes. The complexity of the genetic clusters of a microbe that are responsible for degradation is crucial, as a small genetic cluster might have higher chance of horizontal transfer into sensitive species of the normal microbial flora that in turn triggers the rise of antimicrobial resistance.

Elimination and detoxification of phenanthrene assisted by a laccase from halophile Alkalibacillus almallahensis

Phenanthrene (Phe), a tricyclic Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), is found in high concentrations as a pollutant in various environments. In this study, the removal or (oxidizing) ability of Phe by a laccase from Alkalibacillus almallahensis was investigated. The laccase (12 U mL-1) was able to remove 63% of Phe (50 mg L-1) under optimal conditions of 40 °C, pH 8, 1.5 M NaCl and in the presence of 1 mM HBT as a laccase mediator after a 72 h incubation period. The results for the effect of different solvents, ionic and non-ionic surfactants on the activity of the halophilic laccase towards Phe showed that the addition of these compounds increase removal efficiency and complete enzymatic removal of Phe will achieve in a solution of 5% (v/v) acetone and 1.5% tween 80. The kinetic parameters K m and V max of laccase-catalyzed removal of the substrate were determined as 0.544 mM and 0.882 µmol h-1 mg-1, respectively. A microtoxicity study with respect to the inhibition of algal growth showed a decrease in toxicity of the laccase-treated Phe solution.

Bioremoval and Detoxification of Anthracene by a Halophilic Laccase from Alkalibacillus salilacus

BACKGROUND

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) as resistant compounds in the environment has received much attention in recent years due to their adverse effects on ecological health. Among the various methods studying the removal of PAHs, enzyme biotechnology is one of the most effective and appropriate method.

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, a halophilic laccase was used for bioremoval of anthracene in the presence of 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Halophilic laccase from Alkalibacillus salilacus was tested for anthracene degradation. Residual concentration of anthracene at various concentrations of NaCl (0‒4 M), incubation time, pH, solvent, and surfactants in the enzymatic reaction mixtures was determined by HPLC.

RESULTS

The maximum removal of substrate was achieved after 72 h at 40 °C, pH 8, and NaCl concentration 1.5 M. Besides, the addition of 1% (v/v) ionic and non-ionic surfactants and 25% (v/v) of various organic solvents increased removal efficiency. The kinetic parameters K_m and V_max of the laccase for removing of anthracene were 0.114 μM and 0.546 μmoL. h.^-1 mg^-1, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Laccase showed the maximum removal efficiency of anthracene in the presence of 1-Hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT).

Bundling the removal of emerging contaminants with the production of ligninolytic enzymes from residual streams

Abstract

Enzymes offer interesting features as biological catalysts for industry: high specificity, activity under mild conditions, accessibility, and environmental friendliness. Being able to produce enzymes in large quantities and having them available in a stable and reusable form reduces the production costs of any enzyme-based process. Agricultural residues have recently demonstrated their potential as substrates to produce ligninolytic enzymes by different white rot fungi. In this study, the biotechnological production of a manganese peroxidase (MnP) by Irpex lacteus was conducted through solid-state fermentation (SSF) with wheat straw as substrate and submerged fermentation (SmF) employing wheat straw extract (WSE). The obtained enzyme cocktail also showed manganese-independent activity (MiP), related to the presence of a short MnP and a dye-decolorizing peroxidase (DyP) which was confirmed by shotgun proteomic analyses. In view of the enhanced production of ligninolytic enzymes in SmF, different parameters such as WSE concentration and nitrogen source were evaluated. The highest enzyme titers were obtained with a medium formulated with glucose and peptone (339 U/L MnP and 15 U/L MiP). The scale-up to a 30 L reactor achieved similar activities, demonstrating the feasibility of enzyme production from the residual substrate at different production scales. Degradation of five emerging pollutants was performed to demonstrate the high oxidative capacity of the enzyme. Complete removal of hormones and bisphenol A was achieved in less than 1 h, whereas almost 30% degradation of carbamazepine was achieved in 24 h, which is a significant improvement compared to previous enzymatic treatments of this compound.

Key points

• Wheat straw extract is suitable for the growth of I. lacteus.

• The enzyme cocktail obtained allows the degradation of emerging contaminants.

• Mn-dependent and Mn-independent activities increases the catalytic potential.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00253-022-11776-7.

Biocatalytic remediation of pharmaceutically active micropollutants for environmental sustainability

The discharge of an alarming number of recalcitrant pollutants from various industrial activities presents a serious threat to environmental sustainability and ecological integrity. Bioremediation has gained immense interest around the world due to its environmentally friendly and cost-effective nature. In contrast to physical and chemical methods, the use of microbial enzymes, particularly immobilized biocatalysts, has been demonstrated as a versatile approach for the sustainable mitigation of environmental pollution. Considerable attention is now devoted to developing novel enzyme engineering approaches and state-of-the-art bioreactor design for ameliorating the overall bio-catalysis and biodegradation performance of enzymes. This review discusses the contemporary and state of the art technical and scientific progress regarding applying oxidoreductase enzyme-based biocatalytic systems to remediate a vast number of pharmaceutically active compounds from water and wastewater bodies. A comprehensive insight into enzyme immobilization, the role of mediators, bioreactors designing, and transformation products of pharmaceuticals and their associated toxicity is provided. Additional studies are necessary to elucidate enzymatic degradation mechanisms, monitor the toxicity levels of the resulting degraded metabolites and optimize the entire bio-treatment strategy for technical and economical affordability.

Enhanced Efficiency of the Removal of Cytostatic Anthracycline Drugs Using Immobilized Mycelium of Bjerkandera adusta CCBAS 930

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioremoval of anthracycline antibiotics (daunomycin-DNR, doxorubicin-DOX, and mitoxantrone-MTX) by immobilized mycelium of B. adusta CCBAS 930. The activity of oxidoreductases: versatile peroxidases (VP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glucose oxidase (GOX), and the levels of phenolic compounds (PhC) and free radicals (SOR) were determined during the biotransformation of anthracyclines by B. adusta strain CCBAS 930. Moreover, the phytotoxicity (Lepidium sativum L.), biotoxicity (MARA assay), and genotoxicity of anthracyclines were evaluated after biological treatment. After 120 h, more than 90% of anthracyclines were removed by the immobilized mycelium of B. adusta CCBAS 930. The effective biotransformation of anthracyclines was correlated with detoxification and reduced genotoxicity.

Bioremoval and tolerance study of sulfamethoxazole using whole cell Trichoderma harzianum isolated from rotten tree bark

Antibiotic contamination raises concerns over antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), which can severely impact the human health and environment. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a widely used antibiotic that is incompletely metabolized in the body. In this study, the research objectives were (1) to isolate the native strain of Trichoderma sp. from the environment and analyze the tolerance toward SMX concentration by evaluating fungal growth, and (2) to investigate the potential of SMX removal by fungi. The potential fungi isolated from rotten tree bark showed 97% similarity to Trichoderma harzianum (Accession no. MH707098.1). The whole cell of fungi was examined in vitro; the strain Trichoderma harzianum BGP115 eliminated 71% of SMX after 7 days, while the white rot fungi Trametes versicolor, demonstrated 90% removal after 10 days. Furthermore, the tolerance of fungal growth toward SMX concentration at 10 mg L^-1 was analyzed, which indicated that Trichoderma harzianum BGP115 (the screened strain) exhibited more tolerance toward SMX than Trametes versicolor (the reference strain). The screened fungi isolated from rotted tree bark demonstrated the ability of SMX bioremoval and the potential to be tolerant to high concentrations of SMX.

A comprehensive insight into the application of white rot fungi and their lignocellulolytic enzymes in the removal of organic pollutants

Environmental problems resultant from organic pollutants are a major current challenge for modern societies. White rot fungi (WRF) are well known for their extensive organic compound degradation abilities. The unique oxidative and extracellular ligninolytic systems of WRF that exhibit low substrate specificity, enable them to display a considerable ability to transform or degrade different environmental contaminants. In recent decades, WRF and their ligninolytic enzymes have been widely applied in the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs), pesticides, synthetic dyes, and other environmental pollutants, wherein promising results have been achieved. This review focuses on advances in WRF-based bioremediation of organic pollutants over the last 10 years. We comprehensively document the application of WRF and their lignocellulolytic enzymes for removing organic pollutants. Moreover, potential problems and intriguing observations that are worthy of additional research attention are highlighted. Lastly, we discuss trends in WRF-remediation system development and avenues that should be considered to advance research in the field.

Mycoremediation of oxytetracycline by marine fungi mycelium isolated from salmon farming areas in the south of Chile

Antibiotics are extensively used for growth promotion purposes in intensive aquaculture. In Chile, the use of antibiotics in salmon farming is excessive, approximately 62 times more than is used in Norway. In the salmon industry, antibiotics such as oxytetracycline (OTC) are administered in the diet, both in the juvenile stage in freshwater and in the fattening process of salmon in marine sectors. We have investigated the fjords of Chile, where many salmon farms are located, searching for fungi able to degrade this tetracycline antibiotic. We have evaluated the OTC degradation ability of the following; Penicillium commune, Epicoccum nigrum, Trichoderma harzianum, Aspergillus terreus and Beauveria bassiana, isolated from sediments in salmon farms from southern Chile. In all these fungal strains, the amount of OTC decreased in the culture medium, as adsorbed in the mycelia, after the third day of exposure. These strains were capable of degrading OTC at remarkable rates up to 78%, by the 15th day. This is the first study showing that the mycelium of these fungal strains has the ability to degrade OTC. We believe the knowledge produced by these results has the potential to serve as a basis for implementing a bioremediation process in the near future.

Effects of biochar on biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole and chloramphenicol by Pseudomonas stutzeri and Shewanella putrefaciens: Microbial growth, fatty acids, and the expression quantity of genes

An incubation experiment was conducted to investigate whether different biochar could enhance the biodegradation of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and chloramphenicol (CAP). During incubation in nutrient medium solution, the degradation efficiencies of SMX by P. stutzeri and S. putrefaciens obtained 61.79% and 68.67% respectively, while CAP was 85.75% and 85.70%. The biodegradation efficiencies of SMX and CAP increased for P. stutzeri cultured with biochar and increased for S. putrefaciens cultured with high-concentration biochar (500, 1,000, 2,000 mg L^-1). Additionally, TOC and TN contents were significantly decreased during the biodegradation process. Hence, the effects of biochar on microbial growth, fatty acids and expression genes, biodegradation products were studied. The content of bacteria, saturated fatty acids and expression genes showed a positive correlation with the content of TOC released from biochar, while the biodegradation products would not change when bacteria was cultured with biochar. These indicated that biochar improved the antibiotics biodegradation efficiencies via involvement in the bacterial growth, changing the components of fatty acids, increasing the expression quantity of genes. This research suggests that micro-biological degradation with biochar is a promising technology to treat specific antibiotics in the environment.

Functional annotation and comparative modeling of ligninolytic enzymes from Trametes villosa (SW.) Kreisel for biotechnological applications

Functional annotation of Trametes villosa genome was performed to search Class II peroxidase proteins in this white-rot fungus, which can be valuable for several biotechnological processes. After sequence identification and manual curation, five proteins were selected to build 3 D models by comparative modeling. Analysis of sequential and structural sequences from selected targets revealed the presence of two putative Lignin Peroxidase and three putative Manganese Peroxidase on this fungal genome. All 3 D models had a similar folding pattern from selected 3 D structure templates. After minimization and validation steps, the best 3 D models were subjected to docking studies and molecular dynamics to identify structural requirements and the interactions required for molecular recognition. Two reliable 3 D models of Class II peroxidases, with typical catalytic site and architecture, and its protein sequences are indicated to recombinant production in biotechnological applications, such as bioenergy.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

An assessment of Pleurotus ostreatus to remove sulfonamides, and its role as a biofilter based on its own spent mushroom substrate

A double strategy based on the removal of sulfonamide antibiotics by Pleurotus ostreatus and adsorption on spent mushroom substrate was assessed to reclaim contaminated wastewater. P. ostreatus was firstly tested in a liquid medium fortified with five sulfonamides: sulfamethoxazole, sulfadiazine, sulfathiazole, sulfapyridine and sulfamethazine, to evaluate its capacity to remove them and to test for any adverse effects on fungal growth and for any reduction in residual antibiotic activity. P. ostreatus was effective in removing sulfonamides up to 83 to 91% of the applied doses over 14 days. The antibiotic activity of the sulfonamide residues was reduced by 50%. Sulfamethoxazole transformation products by laccase were identified, and the degradation pathway was proposed. In addition, P. ostreatus growth on a semi-solid medium of spent mushroom substrate and malt extract agar was used to develop a biofilter for the removal of sulfonamides from real wastewater. The biofilter was able to remove more than 90% of the sulfonamide concentrations over 24 h by combining adsorption and biodegradation mechanisms.

Possibility to Biotransform Anthracyclines by Peroxidases Produced by Bjerkandera adusta CCBAS 930 with Reduction of Geno- and Cytotoxicity and Pro-Oxidative Activity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioremoval mechanism of anthracycline antibiotics by the white-rot fungus B. adusta CCBAS 930. The activity of oxidoreductases and levels of phenolic compounds and free radicals were determined during the biotransformation of anthraquinone antibiotics: daunomycin (DNR) and doxorubicin (DOX) by B. adusta strain CCBAS 930. Moreover, phytotoxicity (Lepidium sativum L.), ecotoxicity (Vibrio fischeri), genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of anthraquinone dyes were evaluated before and after biological treatment. More than 80% and 90% of DNR and DOX were removed by biodegradation (decolorization). Initial solutions of DNR and DOX were characterized by eco-, phyto-, geno- and cytotoxicity. Despite efficient decolorization, secondary metabolites, toxic to bacteria, formed during biotransformation of anthracycline antibiotics in B. adusta CCBAS 930 cultures. DNR and DOX metabolites did not increase reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in human fibroblasts and resazurin reduction. DNR metabolites did not change caspase-3 activity.

Degradation and metabolic pathways of sulfamethazine and enrofloxacin in Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus obliquus treatment systems

The degradation and metabolic pathways of sulfamethazine (SMZ) and enrofloxacin (ENR) via microalgal treatment systems were investigated in this study. SMZ and ENR applied at 1-25 mg L^-1 did not significantly inhibit the growth of Chlorella vulgaris or Scenedesmus obliquus. SMZ and ENR exposure did not significantly alter the maximum quantum efficiencies of C. vulgaris and S. obliquus. When cultured at light intensities of 45-50 μmol photon m^-2 s^-1, the C. vulgaris and S. obliquus treatment systems achieved 24% and 11% degradation, respectively. The greatest removal of ENR was 52% and 43.3%, for C. vulgaris and S. obliquus treatment systems, respectively, after 15 days. The results indicated that the degradation of SMZ and ENR occurred by a combination of biodegradation and photolysis. Kinetic investigations revealed that the removal of SMZ and ENR (5 mg L^-1) followed a first-order model, with apparent rate constants (k) ranging from 0.0141 to 0.0048 day^-1 and 0.0132 to 0.0086 day^-1, respectively. Fifteen metabolites of SMZ and five intermediates of ENR were identified by UPLC-MS, and degradation pathways for SMZ and ENR were proposed. SMZ transformation reactions included ring cleavage, hydroxylation, methylation, and oxidation, whereas ENR was degraded by dealkylation, decarboxylation, and defluorination. Graphical abstract.

Removal of Diclofenac, Paracetamol, and Carbamazepine from Model Aqueous Solutions by Magnetic Sol-Gel Encapsulated Horseradish Peroxidase and Lignin Peroxidase Composites

Sustainable and green synthesis of nanocomposites for degradation of pharmaceuticals was developed via immobilization and stabilization of the biological strong oxidizing agents, peroxidase enzymes, on a solid support. Sol–gel encapsulated enzyme composites were characterized using electron microscopy (TEM, SEM), atomic force microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and lignin peroxidase (LiP) were adsorbed onto magnetite nanoparticles and sol–gel encapsulated in a surface silica layer. Encapsulation enhanced the stability of the biocatalysts over time and thermal stability. The biocatalysts showed appreciable selectivity in oxidation of the organic drinking water pollutants diclofenac, carbamazepine, and paracetamol with improved activity being pharmaceutical specific for each enzyme. In particular, sol–gel encapsulated LiP- and HRP-based nanocomposites were active over 20 consecutive cycles for 20 days at 55 °C (24 h/cycle). The stability of the sol–gel encapsulated catalysts in acidic medium was also improved compared to native enzymes. Carbamazepine and diclofenac were degraded to 68% and 64% by sol–gel LiP composites respectively at pH 5 under elevated temperature. Total destruction of carbamazepine and diclofenac was achieved at pH 3 (55 °C) within 3 days, in the case of both immobilized HRP and LiP. Using NMR spectroscopy, characterization of the drug decomposition products, and decomposition pathways by the peroxidase enzymes suggested.

Biocatalytic degradation/redefining "removal" fate of pharmaceutically active compounds and antibiotics in the aquatic environment

Recently, the increasing concentration and persistent appearance of antibiotics traces in the water streams are considered an issue of high concern. In this context, an array of antibiotics has been categorized as pollutants of emerging concern due to their complex and highly stable bioactivity, indiscriminate usage with ultimate release into water bodies, and notable persistence in environmental matrices. Moreover, antibiotics traces containing household sewage/drain waste and pharmaceutical wastewater effluents contain a range of bioactive/toxic organic compounds, inorganic salts, pharmaceutically-active ingredients, or a mixture of all, which possesses negative influences ranging from ecological pollution to damage biodiversity. Moreover, their uncontrolled and undesirable bioaccumulation also poses a potential threat to target and non-target organisms in the environment. Aiming to tackle this issue effectively, various detection, quantification, degradation, and redefining "removal" processes have been proposed and investigated based on physical, chemical, and biological strategies. Though both useful and side effects of antibiotics on humans and animals are usually investigated thoroughly following safety and toxicity measures, however, their direct or indirect environmental impacts are not well reviewed yet. Owing to the considerable research gap, the environmental perfectives of antibiotics traces and their effects on target and non-target populations have now become the topic of research interest. Based on literature evidence, over the past several years, numerous individual studies have been performed and published covering various aspects of antibiotics. However, a comprehensive compilation on enzyme-based degradation of antibiotics is still lacking and requires careful consideration. Hence, this review summarizes up-to-date literature on enzymes as biocatalytic systems, explicitly, free as well as immobilized forms and their effective exploitation for the degradation of various antibiotics traces and other pharmaceutically-active compounds present in the water bodies. It is further envisioned that the enzyme-based strategies, for antibiotics degradation or removal, discussed herein, will help readers for a better understanding of antibiotics persistence in the environment along with the associated risks and removal measures. In summary, the current research thrust presented in this review will additionally evoke researcher to engineer robust and sustainable processes to effectively remediate antibiotics-contaminated environmental matrices.

Removal of Selected Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products from Wastewater using Soybean Peroxidase

Personal care products and pharmaceuticals have been reported in various concentrations in the effluent of municipal sewage treatment plants (STP). Although they are generally found in the nanogram to microgram per liter range, many of them might have adverse health effects on humans at these concentrations. Conventional treatments applied at the STP are unable to effectively remove most of these recalcitrant compounds, thus there is a necessity for development of alternative treatment techniques. In this article, the efficiency of enzymatic treatment using soybean peroxidase in treating some commonly found micropollutants is discussed. The target compounds were, two phenolic surfactant breakdown products, nonylphenol and octylphenol, two antimicrobial agents, Triclosan and sulfamethoxazole and three phenolic steroids. The effects of the most important parameters pH, enzyme concentration and peroxide concentration have been evaluated for each compound. The treatment of synthetic wastewater was shown to be effective (≥95% removal), except for sulfamethoxazole, in concentration ranges of 10 s of µM at neutral pH with 2-5 mU/L of catalytic activity and 2-3 molar equivalents of hydrogen peroxide. The effectiveness of the treatment has also been determined for lower concentrations (6-9 nM) which approximate those in real wastewater. A matrix effect was found in the treatment of Triclosan in spiked real wastewater indicating that re-optimization of important parameters for STP treatment would be required to achieve high removal efficiency. A reverse-phase, solid-phase extraction technique was used to concentrate target analytes in real wastewater, enabling chromatographic detection by UV absorbance.

Linking Enzymatic Oxidative Degradation of Lignin to Organics Detoxification

The major enzymes involved in lignin degradation are laccase, class II peroxidases (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and versatile peroxidase) and dye peroxidase, which use an oxidative or peroxidative mechanism to deconstruct the complex and recalcitrant lignin. Laccase and manganese peroxidase directly oxidize phenolic lignin components, while lignin peroxidase and versatile peroxidase can act on the more recalcitrant non-phenolic lignin compounds. Mediators or co-oxidants not only increase the catalytic ability of these enzymes, but also largely expand their substrate scope to those with higher redox potential or more complicated structures. Neither laccase nor the peroxidases are stringently selective of substrates. The promiscuous nature in substrate preference can be employed in detoxification of a range of organics.

Ligninolytic enzymes: Versatile biocatalysts for the elimination of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in wastewater

Direct municipal wastewater effluent discharge from treatment plants has been identified as the major source of endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDC) in freshwaters. Consequently, efficient elimination of EDC in wastewater is significant to good water quality. However, conventional wastewater treatment approaches have been deficient in the complete removal of these contaminants. Hence, the exploration of new and more efficient methods for elimination of EDC in wastewater is imperative. Enzymatic treatment approach has been suggested as a suitable option. Nonetheless, ligninolytic enzymes seem to be the most promising group of enzymes for EDC elimination, perhaps, owing to their unique catalytic properties and characteristic high redox potentials for oxidation of a wide spectrum of organic compounds. Therefore, this paper discusses the potential of some ligninolytic enzymes (laccase, manganese peroxidase, and versatile peroxidase) in the elimination of EDC in wastewater and proposes a new scheme of wastewater treatment process for EDC removal.

Electron shuttles enhance the degradation of sulfamethoxazole coupled with Fe(III) reduction by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1

The ability of anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) and riboflavin to enhance the sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation coupled with the Fe(III) reduction by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was investigated. The results indicated that the SMX degradation rate was 38.5% with an initial SMX concentration at 0.04 mM. For the overall performance of AQDS and riboflavin mediated SMX degradation and iron reduction, the SMX degradation rate was gradually increased with the enhancement of iron reduction. Riboflavin had a stronger enhancement on SMX degradation and iron reduction than AQDS, but the enhancement was not positively correlated with electron shuttles concentration. A quantitative characterization of the electron transfer capacity (ETC) of the electron shuttles showed that the ETC was higher for riboflavin than AQDS. The S. oneidensis MR-1 16S rRNA gene copies results indicated that electron shuttles had a positive effect on the microbial activity of S. oneidensis MR-1. The LCMS result indicated that the products of the SMX biodegradation were 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole and 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid, which suggested that the SMX biodegradation was caused by SN bond cleavage. This study indicates that the biochemical mechanisms play a vital role in SMX transformation and Fe(II) generation in this system.

Enzymes in removal of pharmaceuticals from wastewater: A critical review of challenges, applications and screening methods for their selection

At present, the removal of trace organic chemicals such as pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plants is often incomplete resulting in a continuous discharge into the aqueous environment. To overcome this issue, bioremediation approaches gained significant importance in recent times, since they might have a lower carbon footprint than chemical or physical treatment methods. In this context, enzyme-based technologies represent a promising alternative since they are able to specifically target certain chemicals. For this purpose, versatile monitoring of enzymatic reactions is of great importance in order to understand underlying transformation mechanisms and estimate the suitability of various enzymes exhibiting different specificities for bioremediation purposes. This study provides a comprehensive review, summarizing research on enzymatic transformation of pharmaceuticals in water treatment applications using traditional and state-of-the-art enzyme screening approaches with a special focus on mass spectrometry (MS)-based and high-throughput tools. MS-based enzyme screening represents an approach that allows a comprehensive mechanistic understanding of enzymatic reactions and, in particular, the identification of transformation products. A critical discussion of these approaches for implementation in wastewater treatment processes is also presented. So far, there are still major gaps between laboratory- and field-scale research that need to be overcome in order to assess the viability for real applications.

Removal of pharmaceutical compounds in water and wastewater using fungal oxidoreductase enzymes

Due to recalcitrance of some pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), conventional wastewater treatment is not able to remove them effectively. Therefore, their occurrence in surface water and potential environmental impact has raised serious global concern. Biological transformation of these contaminants using white-rot fungi (WRF) and their oxidoreductase enzymes has been proposed as a low cost and environmentally friendly solution for water treatment. The removal performance of PhACs by a fungal culture is dependent on several factors, such as fungal species, the secreted enzymes, molecular structure of target compounds, culture medium composition, etc. In recent 20 years, numerous researchers tried to elucidate the removal mechanisms and the effects of important operational parameters such as temperature and pH on the enzymatic treatment of PhACs. This review summarizes and analyzes the studies performed on PhACs removal from spiked pure water and real wastewaters using oxidoreductase enzymes and the data related to degradation efficiencies of the most studied compounds. The review also offers an insight into enzymes immobilization, fungal reactors, mediators, degradation mechanisms and transformation products (TPs) of PhACs. In brief, higher hydrophobicity and having electron-donating groups, such as amine and hydroxyl in molecular structure leads to more effective degradation of PhACs by fungal cultures. For recalcitrant compounds, using redox mediators, such as syringaldehyde increases the degradation efficiency, however they may cause toxicity in the effluent and deactivate the enzyme. Immobilization of enzymes on supports can enhance the performance of enzyme in terms of reusability and stability. However, the immobilization strategy should be carefully selected to reduce the cost and enable regeneration. Still, further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in enzymatic degradation and the toxicity levels of TPs and also to optimize the whole treatment strategy to have economical and technical competitiveness.

Biodegradation of sulfonamides by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and Shewanella sp. strain MR-4

Because of extensive sulfonamides application in aquaculture and animal husbandry and the consequent increase in sulfonamides discharged into the environment, strategies to remediate sulfonamide-contaminated environments are essential. In this study, the resistance of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and Shewanella sp. strain MR-4 to the sulfonamides sulfapyridine (SPY) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) were determined, and sulfonamides degradation by these strains was assessed. Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and Shewanella sp. strain MR-4 were resistant to SPY and SMX concentrations as high as 60 mg/L. After incubation for 5 days, 23.91 ± 1.80 and 23.43 ± 2.98% of SPY and 59.88 ± 1.23 and 63.89 ± 3.09% of SMX contained in the medium were degraded by S. oneidensis MR-1 and Shewanella sp. strain MR-4, respectively. The effects of the initial concentration of the sulfonamides and initial pH of the medium on biodegradation, and the degradation of different sulfonamides were assessed. The products were measured by LC-MS; with SPY as a substrate, 2-AP (2-aminopyridine) was the main stable metabolite, and with SMX as a substrate, 3A5MI (3-amino-5-methyl-isoxazole) was the main stable metabolite. The co-occurrence of 2-AP or 3A5MI and 4-aminobenzenesulfonic acid suggests that the initial step in the biodegradation of the two sulfonamides is S-N bond cleavage. These results suggest that S. oneidensis MR-1 and Shewanella sp. strain MR-4 are potential bacterial resources for biodegrading sulfonamides and therefore bioremediation of sulfonamide-polluted environments.

Laccases: Production, Expression Regulation, and Applications in Pharmaceutical Biodegradation

Laccases are a family of copper-containing oxidases with important applications in bioremediation and other various industrial and biotechnological areas. There have been over two dozen reviews on laccases since 2010 covering various aspects of this group of versatile enzymes, from their occurrence, biochemical properties, and expression to immobilization and applications. This review is not intended to be all-encompassing; instead, we highlighted some of the latest developments in basic and applied laccase research with an emphasis on laccase-mediated bioremediation of pharmaceuticals, especially antibiotics. Pharmaceuticals are a broad class of emerging organic contaminants that are recalcitrant and prevalent. The recent surge in the relevant literature justifies a short review on the topic. Since low laccase yields in natural and genetically modified hosts constitute a bottleneck to industrial-scale applications, we also accentuated a genus of laccase-producing white-rot fungi, Cerrena, and included a discussion with regards to regulation of laccase expression.

Mass spectrometry based in vitro assay investigations on the transformation of pharmaceutical compounds by oxidative enzymes

The ubiquitous presence of trace organic chemicals in wastewater and surface water leads to a growing demand for novel removal technologies. The use of isolated enzymes has been shown to possess the capability for a targeted application but requires a clearer mechanistic understanding. In this study, the potential of peroxidase from horseradish (HRP) and laccase from Pleurotus ostreatus (LccPO) to transform selected trace organic chemicals was studied using mass spectrometry (MS)-based in vitro enzyme assays. Conversion by HRP appeared to be more efficient compared to LccPO. Diclofenac (DCF) and sotalol (STL) were completely transformed by HRP after 4 h and immediate conversion was observed for acetaminophen (APAP). During treatment with LccPO, 60% of DCF was still detectable after 24 h and no conversion was found for STL. APAP was completely transformed after 20 min. Sulfamethoxazole (SMX), carbamazepine (CBZ), ibuprofen (IBP) and naproxen (NAP) were insusceptible to enzymatic conversion. In pharmaceutical mixtures, HRP exhibited a preference for DCF and APAP and the generally less efficient conversion of STL was enhanced in presence of APAP. Transformation product pattern after treatment with HRP revealed polymerization products for DCF while STL showed cleavage reactions. DCF product formation shifted towards a proposed dimeric iminoquinone product in presence of APAP whereas a generally less pronounced product formation in mixtures was observed for STL. In conclusion, the enzymatic treatment approach worked selectively and efficiently for a few pharmaceuticals. However, for application the investigation and possibly immobilization of multiplex enzymes being able to transform diverse chemical structures is recommended.

Emerging pollutant treatments in wastewater: Cases of antibiotics and hormones

Because of the intensive use of pharmaceutical substances in human life, studies on the detection of these chemical compounds and their metabolites as pollutants in water bodies are continuously reported. Some pharmaceutical agents are associated with adverse effects to aquatic life, even at very low concentrations (ng L^-1 to μg L^-1). For instance, the presence of antibiotics and hormones has been associated with increasing proliferation of antibiotic resistant pathogens and feminization and masculinization of some aquatic organisms. Currently, new attempts are being made to minimize or fully remove these types of pollutants from aquatic systems to protect the environment and human health. In this regard, physicochemical and biological treatments are among the most promising technologies for the treatment of wastewater containing pharmaceutical pollutants. These treatments are green alternatives for the degradation of hazardous organic compounds into nontoxic by-products. Here, we review some of the physicochemical and biological treatment methods used for the removal of the most extensively used antibiotics and hormones. Enzymatic oxidation, photocatalysis and electrochemical oxidation are described in terms of the aforementioned pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). The use of membrane technologies to separate different groups of antibiotics and hormones prior to biologic or physicochemical treatment methods is also addressed.

Biodegradation of micropollutant naproxen with a selected fungal strain and identification of metabolites

Pharmaceuticals are widely used for treating human and animal diseases. Naproxen [(S) 6-methoxy-α-methyl-2-naphthalene acetic acid] and its sodium salt are members of the α-arylpropionic acid group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Due to excessive usage of naproxen, this drug has been determined even in drinking water. In this study, four fungal strains Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Funalia trogii, Aspergillus niger, and Yarrowia lipolytica were investigated in terms of naproxen removal abilities. According to LC/MS data, A. niger was found the most efficient strain with 98% removal rate. Two main by-products of fungal transformation, O-desmethylnaproxen and 7-hydroxynaproxen, were identified by using LC/MS, 1HNMR, and 13CNMR. Our results showed that O-demethylation and hydroxylation of naproxen is catalyzed by cytochrome P450 enzyme system.

Improving the bioremoval of sulfamethoxazole and alleviating cytotoxicity of its biotransformation by laccase producing system under coculture of Pycnoporus sanguineus and Alcaligenes faecalis

The occurrence of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) in aquatic environment is a health concern. The presence of SMX significantly inhibited the laccase activity of Pycnoporus sanguineus with a lower removal efficiency of SMX. Although a laccase system with 2,20-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) eliminated 100% SMX within 6h, ABTS might cause an environmental issue. An alternative to SMX elimination is the coculture of Alcaligenes faecalis and P. sanguineus. The SMX removal efficiency at 48h under the coculture with vitamins was higher than that under their pure culture alone, indicating that a coculture was more efficient in eliminating SMX than a pure culture. Only 1% SMX was detected in mycelia, indicating that SMX elimination is achieved primarily through biotransformation rather than adsorption. Laccase production by the coculture effectively inhibited the accumulations of N4-acetyl-SMX and N-hydroxy-SMX and alleviated the cytotoxicity of SMX transformation products. The mixture of SMX and sulfadiazine inhibited their removal efficiency.

Fate of Bisphenol A in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments

Bisphenol A (2,2-bis[4-hydroxyphenyl]propane, BPA), the monomer used to produce polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, is weakly estrogenic and therefore of environmental and human health interest. Due to the high production volumes and disposal of products made from BPA, polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins, BPA has entered terrestrial and aquatic environments. In the presence of oxygen, diverse taxa of bacteria, fungi, algae and even higher plants metabolize BPA, but anaerobic microbial degradation has not been documented. Recent reports demonstrated that abiotic processes mediate BPA transformation and mineralization in the absence of oxygen, indicating that BPA is susceptible to degradation under anoxic conditions. This review summarizes biological and nonbiological processes that lead to BPA transformation and degradation, and identifies research needs to advance predictive understanding of the longevity of BPA and its transformation products in environmental systems.

Membrane processes for removal of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) from water and wastewaters

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), which find their way easily into the water sources, are emerging as a major concern for drinking water quality and aquatic species. Therefore, their removal from water sources is a priority from environmental point of view. During the past decade, different methods including membrane separation, adsorption systems and chemical transformation have been evaluated for removal of these compounds. This paper reviews different aspects of PhAC removal by using membrane separation processes, as they have been conventionally known to show high potential in the production of superior quality drinking and industrial water. In brief, osmosis membranes can efficiently remove almost all PhACs though its operational cost is relatively high and nanofiltration (NF) membranes are highly influenced by electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction. Moreover, the efficiency of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) is difficult to predict due to the complex interaction of compounds with microorganisms. To improve the performance and robustness of membrane technology, it is suggested to combine membranes with other systems, such as activated carbon and enzymatic degradation.

Fostering the action of versatile peroxidase as a highly efficient biocatalyst for the removal of endocrine disrupting compounds

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the removal of five endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) by the enzyme versatile peroxidase (VP): bisphenol A (BPA), triclosan (TCS), estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2). The optimal variables of enzyme activity (90-100 U L(-1)), sodium malonate (29-43 mM) and MnSO4 (0.8-1 mM) led to very high removal rates of the five pollutants (2.5-5.0 mg L(-1) min(-1)). The structural elucidation of transformation products arising from the enzymatic catalysis of the EDCs was investigated by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography Electrospray Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-TOF-MS). The presence of dimers and trimers, indicative of oxidative coupling, was demonstrated.