Biodegradation of hydrophobic pollutants is often limited by poor bioavailability.Hydrophobic microorganisms usually overcome this limitation by presenting hydrophobic surfaces that adsorb these molecules,which are more efficient at clearing hydrophobic pollutants.Polybrominated diphenyl ethers(PBDEs),which are commonly used as flame retardants,are not readily degraded because of high hydrophobicity and chemical stability.Indeed,very few strains of bacteria capable of degrading these compounds have been isolated and characterized.A novel hydrophobic bacterium,designated strain C 1,was isolated from PBDE-contaminated sediment in Guiyu,China.The isolate had high cell surface hydrophobicity with MATH score 58.9±2.2%and water contact angle of 60.4±2.5°.