Neonicotinoid thiacloprid transformation by the N2-fixing bacterium Microvirga flocculans CGMCC 1.16731 and toxicity of the amide metabolite

Thiacloprid is a widely-used neonicotinoid insecticide, but its enzymatic conversion and the toxicity of the amide metabolite are poorly understood. Here, a N2-fixing bacterium, Microvirga flocculans CGMCC 1.16731, was reported to metabolize thiacloprid via hydration and hydroxylation to thiacloprid amide and 4-hydroxy thiacloprid respectively. M. flocculans transformed 90.5% of 0.63 mmol/L thiacloprid in 30 h with a half-life of 9.0 h. In soil,...