How bacteria discovered in toxic slop in the North East of England could help save the world

Bacteria discovered thriving in toxic wasteland in the North East of England continue to provide clues about how nature is fighting back against man-made environmental damage. The organism is a result of – and a possible solution to – the remnants of the UK’s long industrial heritage which has left an estimated 300,000 hectares of contaminated land in England and Wales alone, according to the Environment Agency. The bacterium, Pseudomonas teessidea, was discovered in oil-contaminated ground in a former railway works in Byker, Tyne & Wear. It was named after the Teesside University lab in which it was first analysed by Dr Pattanathu Rahman and his team of researchers in 2007. The bacterium has adapted to produce a substance called biosurfactant, which helps it break down and consume contaminates such as crude oil. Dr Rahman said: “In oil-contaminated settings, certain bacteria produce biosurfactants that reduce the toxicity of hydrocarbons and increase their availability for microbial degradation. “These compounds enable the bacteria to utilise the pollutants as a source of carbon and energy.” In its natural habitat – toxic soil – the bacterium does this slowly. But when isolated in a laboratory and given the ideal conditions to reproduce, it can be much more effective. A small batch of Pseudomonas teessidea has been found to clear a flask of crude oil in one or two days, for instance. Dr Rahman said this process is enhanced further through the bacteria using a primitive form of communication known as quorum sensing. “This cell-to-cell signalling mechanism allows them to coordinate their behaviour,” he said. “Once a critical population density is reached, the bacteria collectively enhance biosurfactant production, accelerating the detoxification process and improving their ability to metabolise the pollutants.” Since the discovery, efforts have been made to commercialise the bacteria through use in pharmaceuticals, agriculture and in the process of Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) - the technique of extracting hard-to-access oil deposits from existing wells. EOR can maximise efficiency of oil wells and reduce the need for new drilling. A 2016 report by industry regulator, the Oil and Gas Authority, now known as the North Sea Transition Authority, estimated EOR could extend oil field life by up to ten years. Crucially, by replacing the synthetic chemicals commonly used in the process with this biodegradable, naturally-occurring alternative, it also reduces the amount of potentially hazardous chemicals being made and pumped into the earth. Dr Rahman, now senior lecturer in bioscience at Liverpool John Moores University, said: “Replacing chemical surfactants with biologically derived ones could reduce environmental impact, improve biodegradability, and support greener industrial practices.” Photo: Dr Pattanathu Rahman at work Although ongoing, efforts to commercialise the bacterium are yet to make substantial headway, but the work has proved influential in the development of other biosurfactants. One of the barriers is the rate at which the bacteria produce the crucial compound. While bacteria produce biosurfactants in the concentrations of grams per litre, yeasts produce them at much higher yields, often at hundreds of grams per litre. Dr Rahman said: “This substantial difference in productivity has a major impact on process economics, making yeast-based systems more attractive for large-scale commercialisation and, ultimately, business success.” One such enterprise using these findings is Holiferm, co-founded by Dr Rahman’s research collaborator Dr James Winterburn. Dr Rahman acted as academic consultant in the formation of the Manchester-based business, which now employs more than 50 staff and which has secured commercial contracts to produce biosurfactants for detergent and cosmetics manufacturers. Follow Katie on Bluesky here Follow Charleen on Bluesky here