Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Metabolic Powerhouse for Environmental and Industrial Sustainability

Overview of the Microbe#

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram‑negative, aerobic, non‑spore‑forming rod that thrives in diverse environments and causes opportunistic infections in immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts[1]. The complete genome sequence of strain PAO1, at approximately 6.3 megabase pairs, reveals extensive genetic versatility with over 5 500 coding sequences, underpinning its metabolic adaptability across soil, water, and clinical niches[2]. Its large genome encodes numerous catabolic enzymes, efflux pumps, and regulatory systems that facilitate survival under nutrient limitation, oxidative stress, and exposure to xenobiotics.

Bioremediation of Organic Pollutants and Heavy Metals#

Organic Pollutant Degradation#

P. aeruginosa degrades a wide array of organic contaminants—such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals—through diverse enzymatic pathways (e.g., mono‑ and dioxygenases) and co‑metabolism strategies[3]. It secretes biosurfactants that increase the bioavailability of hydrophobic substrates, enhancing degradation rates in soil and water matrices.

Heavy Metal Remediation#

Certain strains exhibit high heavy‑metal sorption capacities, removing up to 60 % of arsenic from contaminated groundwater via extracellular polymeric substances and metallophore production[4]. Biofilms formed by P. aeruginosa also sequester metals like cadmium and lead, offering a green approach to detoxifying polluted waters.

Industrial Biocatalysis and Biosurfactants#

Rhamnolipid Biosurfactants#

P. aeruginosa synthesizes rhamnolipids—glycolipid surfactants composed of rhamnose and β‑hydroxyalkanoyl chains—via the RhlA, RhlB, and RhlC enzymes[5]. These molecules reduce surface and interfacial tension, enabling the emulsification of oils and the dispersion of hydrophobic pollutants[6].

Applications#

Rhamnolipids are used in enhanced oil recovery, bioremediation of hydrocarbon spills, and as eco‑friendly emulsifiers in cosmetics, detergents, and the food industry. Their biodegradability and low toxicity make them attractive alternatives to petrochemical surfactants[5].

Plant Growth Promotion and Stress Tolerance#

Siderophore‑Mediated Iron Uptake#

P. aeruginosa secretes siderophores—primarily pyoverdine and pyochelin—that chelate Fe³⁺ and facilitate iron acquisition for both bacteria and associated plants under iron‑limiting conditions[7].

Heavy Metal Stress Alleviation#

Pyoverdine and pseudopaline also bind toxic metals (e.g., cadmium), reducing their uptake by plants and mitigating phytotoxicity. In cadmium‑exposed soils, P. aeruginosa inoculation decreased plant metal accumulation and improved growth metrics[8].

Sustainable Biopolymer and Biofuel Production#

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) Biosynthesis#

Certain strains produce medium‑chain‑length PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy storage compounds[9]. Growth on agrowastes (e.g., plant oils) yielded up to 58 % PHA (w/w) of cell dry weight, demonstrating a sustainable route to biodegradable plastics[9].

Emerging Bioenergy Applications#

P. aeruginosa has been tested in microbial fuel cells to generate electricity from wastewater and in enzymatic biofuel precursor synthesis via lipase‑mediated transesterification, though these applications remain at the research stage[10].

Challenges and Future Potential#

Pathogenicity and Biosafety#

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As an opportunistic pathogen with intrinsic antibiotic resistance, direct environmental release of wild‑type P. aeruginosa poses health risks. Strategies include attenuated mutants, containment in bioreactors, or transferring key catabolic genes into non‑pathogenic hosts[1][11].

Genetic and Process Engineering#

Genome editing and synthetic biology tools (e.g., CRISPR, modular plasmids) are being deployed to optimize pollutant‑degrading pathways, enhance biosurfactant yields, and minimize virulence. Advances in bioprocess design—such as immobilized‑cell systems—will further improve safety and efficiency.

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Spotlight on Research: P. aeruginosa MC‑1/23#

Brief Overview#

A 2025 study isolated P. aeruginosa MC‑1/23 from NSAID‑contaminated soil and evaluated its ability to degrade ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen in liquid media and bioaugmented non‑sterile soil[12].

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Key Insights#

MC‑1/23 used NSAIDs as sole carbon sources, reducing half‑lives by 5.3‑, 1.4‑, and 5.8‑fold for ibuprofen, diclofenac, and naproxen, respectively, compared to native microflora[12].

Why This Matters#

NSAIDs persist through wastewater treatment and accumulate in soils, posing ecological risks. MC‑1/23’s bioaugmentation potential offers a targeted bioremediation strategy for emerging pharmaceutical pollutants[12].

Summary Table: Spotlight Study#

Category	Details
Lead Researchers	Magdalena Klim, Agnieszka Żmijowska, Mariusz Cycoń
Affiliations	Dept. of Microbiology, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec; Ecotoxicology Research Group, Łukasiewicz Research Network, Warsaw
Research Focus	Bioremediation of NSAID‑contaminated soils
Key Breakthroughs	Half‑life reductions: IBF (5.3×), DCF (1.4×), NPX (5.8×)
Collaborative Efforts	Academic–industry network in Poland
Published Work	Frontiers in Microbiology
Perspective	Frontiers in Microbiology
Publication Date	2025
Location	Poland
Key Findings	MC‑1/23 metabolized NSAIDs as sole carbon source; bioaugmented soils showed significantly faster degradation[12]

Conclusion#

Pseudomonas aeruginosa stands out as a metabolic powerhouse with applications spanning environmental cleanup, industrial biocatalysis, sustainable bioplastics, biofuels, and agricultural biostimulation. Its rich genomic repertoire and adaptive metabolism underpin these capabilities. Yet, its pathogenicity and resistance traits demand responsible use—either through engineered attenuated strains or heterologous expression of its metabolic modules in safer microorganisms. Ongoing research, including the notable MC‑1/23 NSAID‑degradation study, demonstrates its potential to tackle contemporary challenges in pollution and resource recovery, paving the way for green biotechnology solutions.

References#

1. Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025. NCBI
   
2. Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology. Medscape. 2025. Available from: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/970904-overview Medscape
   
3. Khan MS, Husain Q. Bioremediation of environmental organic pollutants by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: mechanisms and challenges. J Hazard Mater. 2023;423(Pt A):127207. PubMed
   
4. Gupta R, Gupta N. Bioremediation of water and soils contaminated with heavy metals using Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2024;51(2):e1656. jicrcr.com
   
5. Irfan‑Maqsood M, Seddiq‑Shams M. Rhamnolipids: well‑characterized glycolipids with potential broad applicability as biosurfactants. Ind Biotechnol. 2014;10(4):285–291. PMC
   
6. Abdel‑Mawgoud AM, et al. Rhamnolipid production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: genetics, regulation, and biotechnological potential. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008;80(3):761–772. Wikipedia
   
7. Anand R, et al. Metallophore‑mediated plant growth promotion by Pseudomonas aeruginosa siderophores. Front Plant Sci. 2022;13:877304. PMC
   
8. Wang S, et al. Cadmium stress alleviation in tomato by pyoverdine‑producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sci Total Environ. 2024;891:164537. ScienceDirect
   
9. Sun J, et al. Optimization of growth conditions for polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa EO1. Front Microbiol. 2021;12:711588. FrontiersCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Multidrug‑Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Threat Report. 2017. CDC
   
10. Klim M, Żmijowska A, Cycoń M. Potential of newly isolated strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa MC‑1/23 for the bioremediation of soil contaminated with selected non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs. Front Microbiol. 2025;16:1542875. Frontiers
11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Multidrug‑Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Threat Report. 2017. CDC
    
12. Klim M, Żmijowska A, Cycoń M. Potential of newly isolated strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa MC‑1/23 for the bioremediation of soil contaminated with selected non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs. Front Microbiol. 2025;16:1542875. Frontiers