‘Super bugs’ for bioremediation

Chlorinated organic compounds are among the most significant pollutants in the world. Sequential use of anaerobic halorespiring bacteria, which are the key players in biological dehalogenation processes, and aerobic bacteria whose oxygenases are modified by directed evolution could lead to efficient and total degradation of highly chlorinated organic pollutants. Recently three interesting papers on halorespiration and polychlorinated biphenyl biodegradation were published.