Supplementary file 1_Exploration of novel ecological niches for pigmented bacteria with dye bioremediation potential.docx

(THN1) to astaxanthin, and the yellow pigment from Kocuria sp. (YC) to carotenoids. For bioremediation, S. xiamenensis (U2f) successfully decolorized the azo dye Congo red up to 200 mg/mL (70% efficiency) and tolerated levels up to 400 mg/mL.

Conversely, Paracoccus sp. (THN1) and Kocuria sp. (YC) decolorized the triphenylmethane dye malachite green up to 200 mg/mL with 80–91% efficiency, tolerating concentrations up to 500 mg/mL.

Notably, a consortium of Paracoccus sp. and Kocuria sp. achieved 100% degradation efficiency of malachite green (200 mg/mL) within 16 hours under shaking conditions.</p>Discussion<p>These findings highlight the unique, niche-specific bioremediation capabilities of pigmented bacteria. The results demonstrate that targeted single isolates or designed consortia exhibit distinct and highly efficient degradation pathways against specific classes of toxic synthetic dyes, offering a promising tool for targeted environmental cleanup.</p>