GENOMIC ANALYSIS OF SULFUR REDUCING BACTERIA IN BOREHOLE WATER IN YENAGOA METROPOLIS

Sulfur reducing bacteria remains a major public health issue in the groundwater ecosystem. The presence of SRB in groundwater systems, particularly in borehole water, poses significant environmental and public health concerns due to their ability to degrade sulfur and then generate hydrogen sulfide (H2S), a toxic and corrosive gas. This study focuses on the genomic analysis of sulfur-reduciing bacteria isolated from borehole water samples within the Yenagoa metropolis, alongside with the molecular identification of these organism. . Given the increasing dependence on borehole water for domestic and industrial uses in this region, understanding the microbial composition particulary SRBs is vital for ensuring water safety and infrastructure sustainability. Water samples were collected from multiple borehole sites (Okaka, Edepie and Kpansia), across different communities in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The 16S rRNA region of the rRNA genes of the isolates were amplified using the 27F: 5'-AGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG-3’ and 1492R: 5'-CGGTTACCTTGTTACGACTT-3’ primers. Phylogenetic analysis showed that D2 and D11 shared 99.65% and 98.99% respectively and the sequences has similarity wtih Priestia megaterium and Bacillus cereus. The detection of non-traditional SRB like Priestia megatrium and Bacillus cereus provides evidence of microbial adaptation to local environmental conditions, particularly in regions affected by anthropogenic inputs and fluctuating redox states, and furthermore underscores the ecological complexity and public health concerns of these microbes in borehole water.