Biodegradation of Acetamiprid by Isolated Bacterial Strain Rhodococcus sp. BCH2 and Toxicological Analysis of Its Metabolites in Silkworm (Bombax mori)

An acetamiprid degrading bacterial strain that showed confluent growth on a minimal medium containing acetamiprid was isolated by enrichment technique, from the soil contaminated with pesticide. The 16S rRNA gene sequence was used for identification and further the strain was designated as Rhodococcus sp. BCH2 based on BLAST results. The biodegradation of acetamiprid was studied using Rhodococcus sp. BCH2, followed by toxicological evaluation of pesticide and its biodegradation metabolites. Acetamiprid was found to be degraded via formation of N‐amidoamide derivative, 1‐(6‐chloropyridin‐3yl)‐N‐methylmethanamine (m/z = 156) and 6‐chloronicotinic acid (m/z = 157). Toxicological analysis was performed with respect to genotoxicity, antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and protein oxidation using silkworm (Bombax mori) as a model animal. The studies showed that, the parent compound exerts more toxic effect than its biodegradation metabolites. Rhodococcus sp. BCH2 was a good candidate for faster and effective biodegradation of acetamiprid.