Predominant growth of Alcanivorax strains in oil-contaminated and nutrient-supplemented sea water.
We found that bacteria closely related to Alcanivorax became a dominant bacterial population in petroleum-contaminated sea water when nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients were supplied in adequate quantity. The predominance of Alcanivorax bacteria was demonstrated under three experimental conditions: (i) in batch cultures of sea water containing heavy oil; (ii) in columns packed with oil-coated gravel undergoing a continuous sea water flow; and (iii) in a large-scale tidal flux reactor that mimics a beach undergoing tidal cycles with fresh sea water. These results suggest that bacteria related to Alcanivorax are major players in the bioremediation of oil-contaminated marine environments.
Kasai
Yuki
Y
Marine Biotechnology Institute, 3-75-1 Heita, Kamaishi, Iwate 026-0001, Japan.
Kishira
Hideo
H
Sasaki
Tetsuya
T
Syutsubo
Kazuaki
K
Watanabe
Kazuya
K
Harayama
Shigeaki
S
D001483:Base Sequence; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D010578:Petroleum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D010578:Petroleum; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D010758:Phosphorus; D009584:Nitrogen