Draft genome sequence and nomenclature adjustment of Rhodococcus qingshengii CS98, a cesium-accumulating strain isolated in Japan.

Strains within the Rhodococcus genus have the ability to endure a range of recalcitrant compounds and metabolise a variety of pollutants. As a result there is increasing interest in these robust prokaryotes for their applications in bioremediation of contaminated environments and bioconversion of industrial wastes. In this announcement we present the draft genome sequence of R. qingshengii CS98, a soil isolate from Japan with the demonstrated ability to accumulate both stable and radioactive caesium.

Cesium accumulation of Rhodococcus erythropolis CS98 strain immobilized in hydrogel matrices.

Agarose gels were superior to calcium-alginate gels for immobilizing Rhodococcus erythropolis CS98 strain to remove cesium from water. Suitable incubation time of the immobilized cells in cesium solutions, cell number in the gels and volume ratio of the cesium solution to the gels for efficient cesium removal were identified.