J. Basic Microbiol. 42 (2002) 2, 127 – 131 WILEY-VCH Verlag Berlin GmbH, 13086 Berlin, 2002 0233-111X/02/0205-0127 $ 17.50+.50/0 Short Note ( 1 Department of Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID; 2 Department of Chemistry, California State University, Chico, CA; 3 Department of Biology, California State University, Chico, CA) Characterization of JP-7 jet fuel degradation by the bacterium Nocardioides luteus strain BAFB CARINA M. JUNG 1 ,CHRIS BROBERG 2 ,JASON GIULIANI 2 ,LARRY L. KIRK 2 and LARRY F. HANNE 3, * (Received 28 September 2001/Accepted 08 November 2001) In the fall of 1996, numerous bacteria capable of degrading JP-7 jet fuel were isolated from soil collected at Beale Air Force Base in northern California. The most prevalent organism, identified as Nocardioides luteus by16s rRNA sequencing (MIDI Labs, Inc.), was selected for further analysis. Analysis of JP-7 following inoculation with N. luteus demonstrated degradation of the C 11 alkane component of the fuel. Growth rates of N. luteus were determined with alkanes of various lengths as the sole carbon and energy source. The organism grew best on shorter length alkanes (C 8 and C 10 ). Growth was measurably slower on C 11 , and minimal on C 12 , C 13 , and C 14 . Petroleum hydrocarbons are common contaminants of the environment. JP-7 jet fuel, which was specifically formulated for use in the SR-71 Blackbird high-speed reconnaissance air- craft, has been a major source of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination at many military bases (GAUDETTE et al. 1996). Environmental contamination with JP-7 is the result of leak- age from both storage tanks and directly from the aircraft. The titanium walls of the aircraft were designed to expand and seal once in flight; however, when the aircraft was at rest the titanium walls contracted allowing fuel to leak into the environment (Air Force). Leaks became accepted idiosyncrasies of this aircraft (MILLER 1993). Although the SR-71 is no longer in service, it has contaminated at least two international military bases as well as sites in the United States, most notably in California (MILLER 1993). Beale Air Force Base (AFB) in northern California housed the majority of SR-71s and consequently, fifty- thousand cubic yards of soil were estimated to be contaminated with JP-7 jet fuel and other petroleum fuels (GAUDETTE et al. 1996). As part of a soil remediation effort at Beale AFB in the mid-1990s, engineers working with the Air Force initiated a land farming operation utilizing indigenous microbes (DIBBLE and BARTHA 1979, GENOUW et al. 1994, GAUDETTE et al. 1996). In the fall of 1996, bacteria capable of growth on JP-7 jet fuel as a sole carbon and energy source were isolated from this land farming operation (GAUDETTE et al. 1996). We noted 5 distinctly different colony types, three of which were identified by staining and biochemical tests as Pimelo- bacter, Micrococcus, and Microbacterium. These were originally present in soil at a com- bined concentration of approximately 5 × 10 5 bacteria per gram of soil. Bacterial concentra- tions increased approximately 10-fold after addition of 5 mg of JP-7 per gram of soil in test plots. The most prevalent organism, Pimelobacter, was subsequently identified as Nocardi- oides luteus by 16s rRNA sequencing (MIDI Labs, Inc.) and designated as strain BAFB. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a JP-7 degrading bacterial strain. * Corresponding author Dr. L. F. HANNE; e-mail: LHANNE@CSUCHICO.EDU