Desulfitobacterium sp. LBE Genome sequencing and assembly. Desulfitobacterium sp. LBE

Halorespiring microorganisms are pivotal to degradation of halogenated pollutants in a large variety of anaerobic ecosystems, and hence are key players in the remediation of the large volumes of subsurface soils, groundwater, as well as sediments in freshwater- and marine environments. As these environmental pollutants are among the most abundant priority pollutants, and thus pose a continuing threat to human and environmental health and integrity, a better understanding of eco-physiology and adaptability of reductively dehalogenating populations is setting the stage for their further exploitation as dedicated degraders in biological remediation processes. Moreover, halorespiring bacteria have an important role in global biogeochemical halogen cycling, and unlock polyhalogenated compounds for complete mineralization, hence contributing to refueling the carbon cycle. The possibility to compare a significant number of genomes of closely related strains will furthermore advance our understanding of mechanisms such as genetic drift and lateral gene transfer in microbial adaptation to previously unknown compounds of anthropogenic origin, allowing us to harness the power of the living world for environmental biotechnology.