Molecular Identification and Characterization of Brevibacillus parabrevis with Degradative Ability Towards Dibenzofuran

In nature, dibenzofurans are usually found in chlorinated form, which poses a risk to human health and endangers flora and fauna. Bioremediation is recognized as an effective method for addressing contamination in polluted soils. This study aims to identify native bacterial species that degrade dibenzofuran in soils of the Makkah region. Samples were collected from different areas in the region to isolate bacteria that degrade hazardous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Based on the spectrophotometer and DCPIP assay, thirteen strains were selected. The degradation efficiency of DF9 is the most efficient among them. It was determined that DF9 was Brevibacillus parabrevis. The strain showed the highest absorbance in optical density at 600 nm when measured with a UV spectrophotometer. The selected strain exhibited a notable colorimetric change from blue to white when exposed to 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol dye. Furthermore, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis of strain DF9 substantiated its capacity for degradation, effectively breaking down almost 60% of dibenzofuran. Based on our studies, it can be concluded that Brevibacillus parabrevis YA is an effective strain to clean the environment of hazardous chemicals.