Polyaromatic hydrocarbons are found in contaminated soils and groundwater
and are a large class of compounds for which treatment by bioremediation is sought.
Accordingly, indigenous organisms that can degrade polyaromatic hydrocarbon are
needed. Presented are strains of the Paenibacillus genus that degrade low
molecule weight polyaromatic, and, in the presence of phenanthrene, high molecular
weight polyaromatic hydrocarbons. These bacteria strains are unique among PAH-degrading
bacterial strains because they form endospores and therefore can survive adverse
environmental conditions. Among the strains presented are several from "P. naphthalenovorans",
a newly described species. Also presented are compositions for bioremediation comprising
the bacterial strains of the invention, and a method for isolating the strains
and a method for using the strains for bioremediation.
