Dr. Faheem and Two GDIC Undergrads Uncover Bacterial Enzyme’s Role in Pesticide Cleanup

UCD-led study is first to link bacterial cytochrome P450 to the biodegradation of fluorinated pyrethroids

A new study led by Dr. Mohd Faheem Khan, Lecturer at UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, alongside two GDIC undergraduate students — Jun Liao (Stage 3) and Zhenyang Liu (Stage 4) — has uncovered, for the first time, the role of bacterial cytochrome P450 enzymes in breaking down harmful fluorinated pyrethroid pesticides. Jun and Zhenyang worked in Dr. Faheem’s lab as full-time research interns from June to August 2024.

Published in the Journal of Xenobiotics (IF 6.8), the research reveals how a newly isolated Bacillus sp. MFK14 from garden soil can fully degrade β-cyfluthrin and λ-cyhalothrin within 48 hours. Using advanced techniques like 19F NMR and GC-MS, the team detected key end-products and mapped the degradation pathway, confirming the involvement of cytochrome P450 enzymes.

The project was powered by the hands-on contributions of the summer interns, who gained expertise in microbial culturing, enzymatic assays, and xenobiotic analysis. Dr. Faheem thanked Prof. Cormac and Dr. Gaurav from UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science for their instrumental support and lab facilities.

This study sets the stage for eco-friendly bioremediation of persistent fluorinated pesticides — a significant step toward cleaner, safer environments. The full article can be read (opens in a new window)here

Dr. Faheem Khan’s research focuses on soil microbes and their enzymes for the biodegradation of xenobiotics. He works on cytochrome P450s, dehalogenases, and extremozymes, combining microbial isolation, enzyme engineering, and computational analysis. His interests also include fungal biofilms, industrial enzymes, and nano-enzyme immobilisation for environmental and biotechnological applications. 

Dr Faheem with Zhenyang Liu

Dr. Faheem with Jun Liao