Researchers have found that certain bacteria are able to grow in this toxic and very dangerous soil. One particular bacterium called Enterobacter cloacae PB2, makes an enzyme (enzyme= a protein that can help in various chemical reactions) that can breakdown explosives like 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), and glycerol trinitrate (GTN). Unfortunately, it is very difficult to get enough of these bacteria together in the soil to completely eliminate the explosive contaminants.
A recent report in the May 1st, 1999 issue of Nature Biotechnology (Biodegradation of explosives by transgenic plants expressing pentaerythritol tetranitrate reductase) may provide a greener solution to decomtaminating explosive laden soils. A team of British scientists headed by Neil Bruce has placed the Enterobacter cloacae PB2 enzyme in tobacco plants so that they can be used to remove explosives quickly and efficiently from soil. By introducing this bacterial enzyme in the tobacco plants they have produced tobacco plants that can not only tolerate high levels of these toxic molecules, but also break them down into less harmful and dangerous compounds. Bruce's group is currently planning to conduct tests to see how well the transgenic plants perform in the field. Growing a ton of tobacco is a lot easier than growing a ton of bacteria thus making decontamination of these dangerous soils much cheaper.
This could be very useful to munitions companies and to the military. This tobacco plant may help clean up several military bases that are used to train military personnel in the use of explosives. Last but not least these plants could be very useful the next time you host a neighborhood bomb denotation party. When it is over just plant some tobacco to remove those nasty leftover explosives from your soil (just kidding).
Take Care and Think Microbiologically!
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