Mycobacterium vanbaalenii (strain DSM 7251 / PYR-1) was originally isolated from oil-contaminated sediment based on its ability to degrade pyrene, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). It can also degrade or transform biphenyl, naphthalene, anthracene, fluoranthene, 1-nitropyrene, phenanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. It is considered as a potential candidate for bioremediation of PAH-contaminated areas.

Mycobacteria have an unusual outer membrane approximately 8nm thick, despite being considered Gram-positive. The outer membrane and the mycolic acid-arabinoglactan-peptidoglycan polymer form the cell wall, which constitutes an efficient permeability barrier in conjunction with the cell inner membrane.