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LACREMED
Development of an enzymological (laccase-based) remediation
Background:
product and technology
Pesticides and their degradation products
frequently contaminate ground or surface water
and soils. This contamination should be prevented
as far as possible, not only because of their direct
toxicity to man, but also because of their influence
on the water biocenosis and their potential
accumulation in the food-chain. Many pesticides in
intact form, or their degradation products, have
carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic immunomodulating and endocrine disrupting properties.
Some pesticides (and their degradation products)
frequently used in Serbia and Hungary are known
to cause human health problems. The pesticide
active ingredients with high risk factors belong to
the anilinogenic and phenoligenic ones, the two
groups which microbial degradation results in
chlorinated highly toxic aniline and phenol
derivatives. The anilinogenic ones are the
followings:
diuron,
linuron,
propham,
chlorpropham, chlorotoluron, diflubenzuron and
dimethachlor herbicides; the phenoligenic ones are
the followings: 2,4-D and MCPA herbicides.
Accelerated, complete degradation of all these
herbicides and the accumulating catabolic
intermediate compounds in agricultural soils and in
surface waters would be highly desirable, but most
of these molecules are highly resistant to microbial
degradation.
Extracellular fungal laccases, however, are able to
oxidize and polymerize these highly toxic
compounds into less soluble, high molecular mass
compounds that may be easily removed from water
by sedimentation or filtration; in soils, enzymes
detoxify the mentioned pollutants by coupling
them onto humic acids (natural macromoleculesconstituents of soil humus), immobilizing them and
preventing their leaching.
Many filamentous fungi produce extracellular
laccases on cheap substrates. The well known
laccase producers are the mushrooms Agaricus and
Pleurotus, and some soil moulds e.g.
Cladosporium, Alternaria and Botrytis.
Project partners:
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science
and Informatics, University of Szeged
Közép fasor 52., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
Contact: Prof. Dr. Csaba Vágvölgyi
E mail: csaba@bio.u-szeged.hu
Activities and impact:
Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad
Bulevar cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Contact: Prof. Prof. Dr. Biljana Škrbić
E-mail: biljana@tf.uns.ac.rs
Objectives:
The aim of the project is the development of a cheap
microbial laccase mixture, which able to detoxify a
wide range of xenobiotics belonging to the groups of
phenol and aniline derivatives.
1. Isolation of distinct laccase producing filamentous
fungi from soil and air on specific detection-isolation
media.
2. Investigating of culture media dependence of
laccase producing activity of the best strains.
3. Identification of the best laccase producers.
4. Investigation and determination of the substrate
spectra of the distinct fungal laccases.
5. Investigation of activity levels of diluted laccase
containing ferment broths on distinct pollutants.
6. Investigation of the stability (“half life times”) of
laccases in distinct water and soil types.
7. Comparative investigations in laboratory of
detoxifying activity of fungal laccases and their
mixtures on distinct phenol and aniline derivatives in
water and soil microcosms systems.
8. In field investigations of the activity of laccases on
2,4-dichlorophenol and 3,4-dichloroaniline in the soils
of distinct plant cultures.
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The content of the
document is the sole responsibility of the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Szeged,
Hungary and the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Educons University, Sremska Kamenica, Serbia and can
under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union and/or the Managing
Authority.

Distinct laccase producer filamentous
fungal isolates will be isolated and
characterized: the best laccase producer fungi
will be identified.

Detoxifying activity of fungal laccases and
their mixtures on distinct phenol and aniline
derivatives in water and soil microcosms
systems will be determined.

An innovative laccase-based product for
organic farming will be developed: detailed
information will be obtained about the
xenobiotic degradation kinetics of the planned
products.

An application technology for the
developed product will be formulated.

Substantial improvement of soil and water
quality on the decontaminated sites.
Restoration of biodiversity in soil and water
enhanced N-fixation and mineralization in soil.
Thus, the organic farming will be made possible
on the decontaminated areas.

Joint dissemination and promotional
activities to ensure increased visibility of TFNS
and SZTE and their activities within the EU.

Raising public awareness about the use of
environment
friendly
technologies
and
contributing to environmental sustainability and
safety in the cross-border region