title: Bacterial diversity of polluted surface sediments in the northern Adriatic Sea.
abstract: Samples were collected from sea sediments at seven sites in the northern Adriatic Sea that included six sites next to industrial complexes and one from a tourist site (recreational beach). The samples were assayed for alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The composition of the hydrocarbon samples suggested that industrial pollution was present in most cases. A sample from one site was also grown aerobically under crude oil enrichment in order to evaluate the response of indigenous bacterial populations to crude oil exposure. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed varying microbial biodiversity depending on the level of pollution--ranging from low (200 detected genera) to high (1000+ genera) biodiversity, with lowest biodiversity observed in polluted samples. This indicated that there was considerable biodiversity in all sediment samples but it was severely restricted after exposure to crude oil selection pressure. Phylogenetic analysis of putative alkB genes showed high evolutionary diversity of the enzymes in the samples and suggested great potential for bioremediation and bioprospecting. The first systematic analysis of bacterial communities from sediments of the northern Adriatic Sea is presented, and it will provide a baseline assessment that may serve as a reference point for ecosystem changes and hydrocarbon degrading potential--a potential that could soon gain importance due to plans for oil exploitation in the area.
authors: Centre for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Rovinj, Croatia.
authors: Marino
authors: M
authors: Korlević
authors: Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Jurica
authors: J
authors: Zucko
authors: Centre for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Rovinj, Croatia.
authors: Mirjana Najdek
authors: MN
authors: Dragić
authors: Centre for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Rovinj, Croatia.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Blažina
authors: University Juraj Dobrila Pula, Pula, Croatia.
authors: Emina
authors: E
authors: Pustijanac
authors: Division of Molecular Biology, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Tanja Vojvoda
authors: TV
authors: Zeljko
authors: Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Ranko
authors: R
authors: Gacesa
authors: Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Damir
authors: D
authors: Baranasic
authors: Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Starcevic
authors: Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Janko
authors: J
authors: Diminic
authors: Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK; Department of Chemistry, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, UK.
authors: Paul F
authors: PF
authors: Long
authors: Department of Genetics, University of Kaiserslautern, Postfach 3049, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Cullum
authors: Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors: Daslav
authors: D
authors: Hranueli
authors: Centre for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Rovinj, Croatia; Division of Material Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: sorlic@irb.hr.
authors: Sandi
authors: S
authors: Orlić
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D000473:Alkanes / Q000032:analysis; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D044822:Biodiversity; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D009792:Oceans and Seas; D010802:Phylogeny; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D014873:Water Pollutants
keywords: Alkane degradation; Bacteria; Petroleum compounds; Phylogenetic classification; Sea sediments