SUPERBUG

Pseudomonas putida is also called as superbug. Pseudomonas putida is a rod-shaped, flagellated, gram-negative bacterium that is found in most soil and water habitats where there is oxygen.

       

1. HISTORY OF SUPERBUG 

• Prof. Ananda mohan chakraborty et al. (1980) developed and patented a “superbug” that degraded petroleum (camphor, octane, xylene, and naphthalene) by plasmid transfers.

 • Transformed pseudomonas putida with plasmids derived for four different bacteria involved in the hydrocarbon degradation.

2. SUPERBUG SPECIES 

• Organism by pseudomonas putida. 

• It is Gram negative, Rod shaped, Saprotrophic, Soil bacteria. • It is for wild type.

 • Based on 16s rRNA analysis .Pseudomonas species (sensu stricto) . Size 0.7-1.1 / 2.4 µm

3. ECOLOGY & PATHOGENICITY 

• Isolated soil, water & clinical sample (rarely) 

• Saprophytic or opportunistic pathogen. 

• Septicemia and septic arthritis in immunocompromised patients were reported.

4. MECHANISM OF DEGRADATION

• The degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons can be mediated by specific enzyme system oxygenases, cytochrome p450 alkane hydroxylases. 

• Attachment of microbial cells to the substrates. Production of biosurfactants- surface enhance solubilization and removal of contaminants. Biodegradation is also enhanced by surfactants due to increased bioavailability of pollutants.

5. INFECTION OF BACTERIA 

• Pseudomonas infections are diseases caused by a bacterium from the genus pseudomonas. The bacteria are found widely in the environment, such as in soil, water, and plants. They usually do not cause infections in healthy people. If an infection does occur in a healthy person, it is generally mild.

 • These include ear infections and skin rashes, especially after exposure to water. Pseudomonas bacteria cause well-known conditions such as hot tub rash, a red and itchy skin rash resulting from contaminated water, and swimmer's ear.

6. USAGE OF SUPERBUG 

• BIOCONTROL - P. Putida has demonstrated potential biocontrol properties, as an effective antagonist of damping off diseases such as pythium and fusarium. 

• BIOREMEDIATION - The diverse metabolism of wild-type strains of P. Putida may be exploited for bioremediation; for example, it has been shown in the laboratory to function as a soil inoculant to remedy naphthalene-contaminated soils. P. Putida is capable of converting styrene oil into the biodegradable plastic PHA. This may be of use in the effective recycling of polystyrene foam, otherwise thought to be not biodegradable. 

• It is degraded also plastic

7. CONCLUSION 

IT IS USED TO DEGRADE THE PLASTIC AND MORE WORDING THE GENETIC MATERIALS.