Chouchane Habib

Institut Supérieur de Biotechnologie de Sidi Thabet | ISBST · fondamental science

The present study examines the use of waste cooking oil (WCO) as a substrate for medium-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoates (mcl-PHA) production by Pseudomonas rhizophila S211. The genome analysis revealed that the S211 strain has a mcl-PHA cluster (phaC1ZC2DFI) encoding two class II PHA synthases (PhaC1 and PhaC2) separated by a PHA depolymerase (P...

Hydrocarbon and heavy metal pollution are amongst the most severe and prevalent environmental problems due to their toxicity and persistence. Bioremediation using microorganisms is considered one of the most effective ways to treat polluted sites. In the present study, we unveil the bioremediation potential of Brucella pituitosa strain BU72. Beside...

Marine vascular plants such as Posidonia oceanica form symbiotic associations with microbiota to enhance nutrient acquisition, supporting plant growth and fitness. The beneficial symbiotic bacteria can theoretically persist in Posidonia oceanica leaves and balls deposed on sandy beaches as marine cellulosic wastes, opening up new opportunities for...

Microbial electrochemistry and microbial electrochemical technology (MET) is an interdisciplinary research area that has been intensively growing in the past decades. However, in some regions like Latin America & Caribbean (LA & C) and Africa, capacity building within this realm is scarce. Hence, the advancement of research and development in this...

Hydrocarbons and heavy metals pollution is considered among the most prevalent and serious problems in environment due to their toxicity and persistence. Bioremediation, using microorganisms, is considered as one of the most effective ways to reduce this type of pollution. In the present study, we unveil the bioremediation potential of Brucella pit...

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), rather than physicochemical processes, are used for wastew-ater remediation, electricity production, and zero carbon dioxide emission. Textile effluents contain organic and inorganic compounds that can fuel BESs. The main goal of this study was to understand the interplay between the anode material, its surface ar...

The treatment of textile wastewater (TWW) loaded with recalcitrant azo dyes in bioelectrochemical systems (BES) rather than in physicochemical processes is a low-cost and environmentally friendly process. The main objective of this study is to investigate the potential of different saline sediments collected from extreme Tunisian environments for t...

This study investigated for the first time the performance of microbial halotolerant bioanodes designed from two Tunisian Hypersaline Sediments (THS) for simultaneous electrostimulated biodegradation of synthetic fruit packaging wastewater containing thiabendazole (TBZ), and recovery of an anodic current signal. Halotolerant bioanodes formation has...

This study investigated for the first time the performance of microbial halotolerant bioanodes designed from two Tunisian Hypersaline Sediments (THS) for simultaneous electrostimulated biodegradation of synthetic fruit packaging wastewater containing thiabendazole (TBZ), and recovery of an anodic current signal. Halotolerant bioanodes formation has...

This study investigated for the first time the performance of microbial halotolerant bioanodes designed from two Tunisian Hypersaline Sediments (THS) for simultaneous electrostimulated biodegradation of synthetic fruit packaging wastewater containing thiabendazole (TBZ), and recovery of an anodic current signal. Halotolerant bioanodes formation has...

In this work, the effect of gamma irradiation emitted by Cobalt 60 source has been investigated for the degradation of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). The monitoring of the gamma irradiation treatment of HCQ aqueous solutions was followed by UV-visible, chemical oxygen demand, total organic carbon (TOC) and LC/MS analyses. Effects of several important pa...

The plant cell wall degradation by extremophilic bacteria is an interesting biological process that is highly relevant for biofuel generation from agrowastes. The halotolerant actinobacterium Microbacterium metallidurans TL13, previously isolated from a tannery wastewater, was studied for its capacity to degrade cellulose and hemicellulose based on...

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) are biodegradable and biocompatible bio-based polyesters, which are used in various applications including packaging, medical and coating materials. In this study, an extremophilic hydrocarbonoclastic bacterium, previously isolated from saline sediment in the Tunisian desert, has been investigated for PHA produ...

Gamma irradiation degradation of the extensively used muscle relaxant in the world methocarbamol (MET) was studied. MET aqueous solutions were irradiated by gamma rays emitted by a Cobalt 60 source at doses of 1-4 kGy.Our findings demonstrated that gamma irradiation degraded more than 98.5% of MET. Absorption spectra analysis revealed that when inc...

La présente invention se rapporte à un procédé d'élimination des contaminants des eaux, spécialement le colorant textile bleu Cibacron, et le bleu basique par des peptides fixateurs de colorants seront détaillés comme exemples. Dans le contexte de l'invention, le traitement de l’eau colorée comprend au moins une étape de sélection de peptides cible...

In this work, a native exopolysaccharide (nEPS) produced by Halomonas desertis G11 isolated from a Tunisian extreme environment was modified by gamma irradiation. Characterization as well as the antioxidant and antitumor activities of nEPS and its gamma-irradiated derivatives (iEPSs) were comparatively evaluated. In vitro and in vivo antioxidant po...

Leather industry has been considered as one of the most highly polluting industries, because of the generation of solid, liquid, and gaseous wastes containing organic and inorganic matters. During leather processing, huge amounts of untanned and tanned solid wastes are discarded. Nearly 800 kg of solid wastes are generated while production of only...

An efficient gamma radiolytic decomposition of one of the extensively used herbicide in the world quizalofo-p-ethyl (QPE) was explored under different experimental conditions. Aqueous solutions of QPE were irradiated by gamma rays emitted by a Cobalt 60 source. QPE aqueous solutions were irradiated at doses of 0.5–3 kGy with 26.31 Gy min⁻¹ dose rat...

Bioremediation offers a viable alternative for the reduction of contaminants from the environment, particularly petroleum and its recalcitrant derivatives. In this study, the ability of a strain of Pseudomonas BUN14 to degrade crude oil, pristane and dioxin compounds, and to produce biosurfactants, was investigated. BUN14 is a halotolerant strain i...

The present study was intended toward the optimization of a textile dye Novacron Red decolorization by single and mixed culture of Bacillus strains namely, B. firmus, B. filamentosus and B. subterraneus. Optimization of dye decolorization using Bacillus monocultures was conducted using central composite design. The maximum dye decolorization achiev...

The textile and clothing industry is the first manufacture sector in Tunisia in terms of employment and number of enterprises. It generates large volumes of textile dyeing wastewater (TDWW) containing high concentrations of saline, alkaline, and recalcitrant pollutants that could fuel tenacious and resilient electrochemically active microorganisms...

Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)], widely generated by tannery activities, is considered among the most toxic substances and causes a serious damage for the environment and for human health. Interestingly, some microorganisms have a potential of bioremediation of chromium-contaminated wastewaters and soils through the reduction of Cr(VI) (soluble and ha...

Pelargonium graveolens L'Hér. well known as rose-scented geranium is used worldwide in perfume, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. The essential oil and phenolic concentrations for this species were reported to be very low which requires their improvement. The effect of three plant growth promoting bacteria namely Pseudomonas rhizophila...

The aim of this study was to characterize novel cellulase-producing bacteria isolated from desertic environments in Tunisia, and then applied for cellulosic ethanol production. In the first instance, 27 alkali-thermo-halotolerant bacterial strains, belonging to Bacillaceae family, were screened on agar plates containing carboxymethyl cellulose as t...

Methane and acetate production through CO2 reduction has been tested by using chemoautotrophic microorganisms under bioelectrochemical and hydrogenophilic conditions. For the methanogenic tests, a thermophilic anaerobic sludge has been used as inoculum while the thermal treatment of the anaerobic sludge allowed the acetogenic inoculum selection. Th...

This study explored the possible use of a microbial carboxymethylated sulfated heteroexopolysaccharide (CS-hEPS) as a potential anticancer agent. The investigation was carried out through antioxidant, antifatigue, and antiproliferative activities. Antioxidant potential including scavenging DPPH and hydroxyl radical activities and reducing power was...

The aim of the present work was the development of new biological method for the treatment of textile industry effluents and which is cheaper, more profitable and eco-friendly. This method is essentially based on the synthesis of dye-fixing peptides. The use of peptides synthesized via a solid phase synthesis and fixing a reference textile dye like...

Abstract Purpose: To assess exopolysaccharides (EPS) of Bacillus siamensis CV5, isolated from irradiated roots of Cistanche violacea, for their induction by ionizing radiation (IR) and their antioxidant and radioprotective power. Materials and methods: Isolated bacteria from the roots of C. violacea were screened for EPS production. The most EPS-p...

BACKGROUND Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) represent a novel platform to harvest the energy trapped in municipal wastewater. At the anode of METs, electro‐active bacteria (EAB) anaerobically oxidize wastewater constituents using the electrode as the terminal electron acceptor and, by so doing, generate an electric current. To convert...

The main objective of this study was to understand the interaction between salinity, temperature and inoculum size and how it could lead to the formation of efficient halothermotolerant bioanodes from the Hypersaline Sediment of Chott El Djerid (HSCE). Sixteen experiments on bioanode formation were designed using a Box-Behnken matrix and response s...

Here, we report the genomic features and the bioremediation potential of Halomonas desertis G11, a new halophilic species which uses crude oil as a carbon and energy source and displays intrinsic resistance to salt stress conditions (optimum growth at 10% NaCl). G11 genome (3.96 Mb) had a mean GC content of 57.82%, 3622 coding sequences, 480 subsys...

Here, we report the genomic features and the bioremediation potential of Halomonas desertis G11, a new halophilic species which uses crude oil as a carbon and energy source and displays intrinsic resistance to salt stress conditions (optimum growth at 10% NaCl). G11 genome (3.96 Mb) had a mean GC content of 57.82%, 3622 coding sequences, 480 subsys...

The production, characterization and potential application in heavy metals and dyes removal of a novel heteropolysaccharide-protein named, gpHb, produced by an haloarchaeal strain Halogeometricum borinquense strain A52 were investigated. The highest gpHb yield of 13.96 ± 0.32 g/L was produced under optimized conditions by response surface methodolo...

A number of Pseudomonas strains function as inoculants for biocontrol, biofertilization, and phytostimulation, avoiding the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Here, we present a new metabolically versatile plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, Pseudomonas rhizophila S211, isolated from a pesticide contaminated artichoke field that shows b...

A new bioflocculant named pKr produced by hydrocarbonoclastic strain Kocuria rosea BU22S (KC152976) was investigated. First, quantitative analysis of hydrocarbon was carried out in order to study the degradation rate of crude oil by BU22S. Gas Chromatography - Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) analysis confirmed the highly potential of the strain...

Laccases (benzenediol: oxygen oxidoreductase) are an interesting group of multi copper enzymes due to their ability to oxidize both phenolic and non-phenolic lignin related substrates as well as a wide spectrum of highly recalcitrant environmental pollutants. This makes these biocatalysts very useful for application to several biotechnological proc...

The olive oil industry has experienced continuous growth mainly due to its nutritious and economic importance, particularly in Mediterranean countries. This is accompanied by the disposal of large amounts of wastes produced by the different phases of olive oil extraction technologies (traditional pressing or centrifugation). The composition of oliv...

The present investigation focused on screening of a new potent strain for laccase production and optimizing the process parameters to achieve the maximum enzymatic decolourization of textile azo dye Congo red. Seven hydrocarbonoclastic bacterial strains were selected as positive in laccase production in solid medium using 2,6 dimethoxyphenol as an...

SUSTAINABLE WASTEWATER TREATMENT COUPLED TO ENERGY RECOVERY WITH MICROBIAL ELECTROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGIES: THE WE-MET PROJECT

The lingocellulosic wastes are produced by industries, forestry, agriculture and municipalities. The accumulation of these wastes result in several environmental problems, health issues and safety hazards. These lingocellulosic wastes are economically attractive materials for cellulosic bioethanol production because of the large amount of potential...

Alternative lignocellulosic substrates to produce high value-added products such as biofuel have been attractive. A Box-Behnken design was used to evaluate the effects of three parameters namely L/S ratio (50_ 100 mL/g), cellulase concentration (10_ 60 U/g) and incubation time (4_ 44h), on the enzymatic hydrolysis yield of physically pretreated Peg...

In the present study, the ecological distribution of marine Actinobacteria isolated from seamount and non-seamount stations in the Tyrrhenian Sea was investigated. A collection of 110 isolates was analyzed by Automated Ribosomal Intergenic Spacer Analysis (ARISA) and 16S rRNA gene sequencing of representatives for each ARISA haplotype (n = 49). Phy...

Recalcitrant pollutants are present in the wastewaters of a great number of industries, including coal conversion, petroleum refining, resins and plastics, textiles, oil milling, tanning, mining, pulp and paper. The removal of significant concentrations of pollutants from industrial wastewater is required to achieve the environmental standards. The...

Flocculants are chemicals that stimulate flocculation by aggregation of colloids and other suspended particles. They are extensively applied in domestic and industrial wastewaters treatment. Synthetic organic flocculants as well as inorganic flocculants, including polyaluminium chloride salts and aluminium sulphate, were shown to be associated to v...