Bacterial polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transport and degradation

本项目旨在研究细菌降解多环芳烃(PAHs)的分子过程。多环芳烃是一种持久性环境污染物，与包括癌症在内的几种人类疾病有关。能够降解多环芳烃的细菌可以自然有效地将环境中的多环芳烃负荷降低到安全水平以下。该项目将应用功能基因组学和生物化学技术，帮助确定细菌从环境中摄取多环芳烃的方式，它们在细菌细胞中的命运，以及细菌克服多环芳烃固有毒性的方式。预计所产生的知识将增强我们合理部署细菌降解多环芳烃的能力。

This project aims to investigate the molecular processes underpinning the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by bacteria. PAHs are persistent environmental contaminants linked to several human diseases, including cancer. Bacteria capable of degrading PAHs could be used to naturally and effectively reduce environmental PAH loads to below safe levels. The project will apply techniques in functional genomics and biochemistry to help define the ways that PAHs are taken up from the environment by bacteria, their fate within bacterial cells, and the ways that bacteria overcome the inherent toxicity of PAHs. The knowledge generated is expected to enhance our capacity to rationally deploy bacteria for PAH degradation.