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Valencia‐Agami SS, Cerqueda‐García D, Gamboa‐Muñoz AM, Aguirre‐Macedo ML, García‐Maldonado JQ. Structure and composition of microbial communities in the water column from Southern Gulf of Mexico and detection of putative hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms. ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2024; 16:e13264. [PMID: 38692840 PMCID: PMC11062854 DOI: 10.1111/1758-2229.13264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
This study assessed the bacterioplankton community and its relationship with environmental variables, including total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) concentration, in the Yucatan shelf area of the Southern Gulf of Mexico. Beta diversity analyses based on 16S rRNA sequences indicated variations in the bacterioplankton community structure among sampling sites. PERMANOVA indicated that these variations could be mainly related to changes in depth (5 to 180 m), dissolved oxygen concentration (2.06 to 5.93 mg L-1), and chlorophyll-a concentration (0.184 to 7.65 mg m3). Moreover, SIMPER and one-way ANOVA analyses showed that the shifts in the relative abundances of Synechococcus and Prochlorococcus were related to changes in microbial community composition and chlorophyll-a values. Despite the low TPH content measured in the studied sites (0.01 to 0.86 μL L-1), putative hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria such as Alteromonas, Acinetobacter, Balneola, Erythrobacter, Oleibacter, Roseibacillus, and the MWH-UniP1 aquatic group were detected. The relatively high copy number of the alkB gene detected in the water column by qPCR and the enrichment of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria obtained during lab crude oil tests exhibited the potential of bacterioplankton communities from the Yucatan shelf to respond to potential hydrocarbon impacts in this important area of the Gulf Mexico.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia S. Valencia‐Agami
- Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de MéxicoMexico CityMexico
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
| | - Daniel Cerqueda‐García
- Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y VectoresInstituto de Ecología, AC–INECOLXalapaVeracruzMexico
| | - Abril M. Gamboa‐Muñoz
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
| | - M. Leopoldina Aguirre‐Macedo
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
| | - José Q. García‐Maldonado
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Unidad Mérida, Departamento de Recursos del MarMeridaYucatánMexico
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Charalampous G, Fragkou E, Kalogerakis N, Antoniou E, Gontikaki E. Diversity links to functionality: Unraveling the impact of pressure disruption and culture medium on crude oil-enriched microbial communities from the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2024; 202:116275. [PMID: 38564821 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Mesopelagic water from the deep Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) was collected under disrupted (REPRESS) or undisturbed (HP) pressure conditions and was acclimated to oil (OIL) or dispersed-oil (DISPOIL) under in situ pressure and temperature (10 MPa, 14 °C). Decompression resulted in oil-acclimatised microbial communities of lower diversity despite the restoration of in situ pressure conditions during the 1-week incubation. Further biodiversity loss was observed when oil-acclimatised communities were transferred to ONR7 medium to facilitate the isolation of oil-degrading bacteria. Microbial diversity loss impacted the degradation of recalcitrant oil compounds, especially PAHs, as low-abundance taxa, linked with PAH degradation, were outcompeted in the enrichment process. Thalassomonas, Pseudoalteromonas, Halomonas and Alcanivorax were enriched in ONR7 under all experimental conditions. No effect of dispersant application on the microbial community structure was identified. A. venustensis was isolated under all tested conditions suggesting a potential key role of this species in hydrocarbons removal in the deep EMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Charalampous
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece.
| | - Efsevia Fragkou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece
| | - Nicolas Kalogerakis
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Antoniou
- School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece; School of Mineral Resources Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece
| | - Evangelia Gontikaki
- Institute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Chania, Greece.
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3
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Bharali P, Gogoi B, Sorhie V, Acharjee SA, Walling B, Alemtoshi, Vishwakarma V, Shah MP. Autochthonous psychrophilic hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and its ecological function in contaminated cold environments. Biodegradation 2024; 35:1-46. [PMID: 37436665 DOI: 10.1007/s10532-023-10042-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Petroleum hydrocarbon (PH) pollution has mostly been caused by oil exploration, extraction, and transportation activities in colder regions, particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, where it serves as a primary source of energy. Due to the resilience feature of nature, such polluted environments become the realized ecological niches for a wide community of psychrophilic hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (PHcB). In contrast, to other psychrophilic species, PHcB is extremely cold-adapted and has unique characteristics that allow them to thrive in greater parts of the cold environment burdened with PHs. The stated group of bacteria in its ecological niche aids in the breakdown of litter, turnover of nutrients, cycling of carbon and nutrients, and bioremediation. Although such bacteria are the pioneers of harsh colder environments, their growth and distribution remain under the influence of various biotic and abiotic factors of the environment. The review discusses the prevalence of PHcB community in colder habitats, the metabolic processes involved in the biodegradation of PH, and the influence of biotic and abiotic stress factors. The existing understanding of the PH metabolism by PHcB offers confirmation of excellent enzymatic proficiency with high cold stability. The discovery of more flexible PH degrading strategies used by PHcB in colder environments could have a significant beneficial outcome on existing bioremediation technologies. Still, PHcB is least explored for other industrial and biotechnological applications as compared to non-PHcB psychrophiles. The present review highlights the pros and cons of the existing bioremediation technologies as well as the potential of different bioaugmentation processes for the effective removal of PH from the contaminated cold environment. Such research will not only serve to investigate the effects of pollution on the basic functional relationships that form the cold ecosystem but also to assess the efficacy of various remediation solutions for diverse settings and climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranjal Bharali
- Applied Environmental Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, 798627, India.
| | - Bhagyudoy Gogoi
- Applied Environmental Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, 798627, India
| | - Viphrezolie Sorhie
- Applied Environmental Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, 798627, India
| | - Shiva Aley Acharjee
- Applied Environmental Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, 798627, India
| | - Bendangtula Walling
- Applied Environmental Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, 798627, India
| | - Alemtoshi
- Applied Environmental Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland, 798627, India
| | - Vinita Vishwakarma
- Centre for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, NCR Delhi, India
| | - Maulin Pramod Shah
- Industrial Waste Water Research Lab, Division of Applied and Environmental Microbiology Lab at Enviro Technology Ltd., Ankleshwar, Gujarat, India
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Ji M, Smith AF, Rattray JE, England WE, Hubert CRJ. Potential for natural attenuation of crude oil hydrocarbons in benthic microbiomes near coastal communities in Kivalliq, Nunavut, Canada. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2023; 196:115557. [PMID: 37776739 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023]
Abstract
Oil spilled in marine environments can settle to the seafloor through aggregation and sedimentation processes. This has been predicted to be especially relevant in the Arctic due to plankton blooms initiated by melting sea ice. These conditions exist in the Kivalliq region in Nunavut, Canada, where elevated shipping traffic has increased the risk of accidental spills. Experimental microcosms combining surface sediment and crude oil were incubated at 4 °C over 21 weeks to evaluate the biodegradation potential of seabed microbiomes. Sediments sampled near the communities of Arviat and Chesterfield Inlet were assessed for biodegradation capabilities by combining hydrocarbon geochemistry with 16S rRNA gene and metagenomic sequencing, revealing decreased microbial diversity but enrichment of oil-degrading taxa. Alkane and aromatic hydrocarbon losses corresponded to detection of genes and genomes that encode enzymes for aerobic biodegradation of these compounds, pointing to the utility of marine microbiome surveys for predicting the fate of oil released into Arctic marine environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Ji
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
| | - Alastair F Smith
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jayne E Rattray
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Whitney E England
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Casey R J Hubert
- Geomicrobiology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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Zhuo T, He L, Chai B, Zhou S, Wan Q, Lei X, Zhou Z, Chen B. Micro-pressure promotes endogenous phosphorus release in a deep reservoir by favouring microbial phosphate mineralisation and solubilisation coupled with sulphate reduction. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 245:120647. [PMID: 37738938 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023]
Abstract
Deep reservoirs vary in their hydrostatic pressure owing to artificial water level control. The potential migration of phosphorus (P) in reservoir sediments raises the risk of harmful algal blooms. To ascertain the mechanisms of endogenous P release in reservoirs, we characterised aquatic microbial communities associated with coupled iron (Fe), P and sulphur (S) cycling at the sediment-water interface. The responses of microbial communities to hydrostatic pressures of 0.2-0.7 mega pascals (MPa; that is, micro-pressures) were investigated through a 30-day simulation experiment. Our findings unravelled a potential mechanism that micro-pressure enhanced the solubilisation of Fe/aluminium (Al)-bound P caused by microbially-driven sulphate reduction, leading to endogenous P release in the deep reservoir. Although the vertical distribution of labile Fe was not affected by pressure changes, we did observe Fe resupply at sediment depths of 2-5 cm. Metagenomic analysis revealed increased abundances of functional genes for P mineralisation (phoD, phoA), P solubilisation (pqqC, ppx-gppA) and sulphate reduction (cysD, cysC) in sediments subjected to micro-pressure, which contrasted with the pattern of S oxidation gene (soxB). There was a tight connection between P and S cycling-related microbial communities, based on significant positive correlations between labile element (P and S) concentrations and functional gene (phoD, cysD) abundances. This provided strong support that Fe-P-S coupling processes were governed by micro-pressure through modulation of P and S cycling-related microbial functions. Key taxa involved in P and S cycling (for example, Bradyrhizobium, Methyloceanibacter) positively responded to micro-pressure and as such, indirectly drove P release from sediments by facilitating P mineralisation and solubilisation coupled with sulphate reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zhuo
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lixin He
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Regulation and Comprehensive Management of Water Resources and Water Environment, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Water Conservancy, School of Water Conservancy and Hydroelectric, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China
| | - Beibei Chai
- Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for the Regulation and Comprehensive Management of Water Resources and Water Environment, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Intelligent Water Conservancy, School of Water Conservancy and Hydroelectric, Hebei University of Engineering, Handan 056038, China.
| | - Shilei Zhou
- Pollution Prevention Biotechnology Laboratory of Hebei Province, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050018, China
| | - Qiong Wan
- School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710054, China
| | - Xiaohui Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing 100038, China.
| | - Zhenming Zhou
- College of Civil Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Bin Chen
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Zhou Y, Wang Y, Yang L, Kong Q, Zhang H. Microbial degradation mechanisms of surface petroleum contaminated seawater in a typical oil trading port. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 324:121420. [PMID: 36906058 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Petroleum hydrocarbons are significant new persistent organic pollutants for marine oil spill risk areas. Oil trading ports, in turn, have become major bearers of the risk of offshore oil pollution. However, studies on the molecular mechanisms of microbial degradation of petroleum pollutants by natural seawater are limited. Here, an in situ microcosm study was conducted. Combined with metagenomics, differences in metabolic pathways and in the gene abundances of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) are revealed under different conditions. About 88% degradation of TPH was shown after 3 weeks of treatment. The positive responders to TPH were concentrated in the genera Cycloclasticus, Marivita and Sulfitobacter of the orders Rhodobacterales and Thiotrichales. The genera Marivita, Roseobacter, Lentibacter and Glaciecola were key degradation species when mixing dispersants with oil, and all of the above are from the Proteobacteria phylum. The analysis showed that the biodegradability of aromatic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and dioxin were enhanced after the oil spill, and genes with higher abundances of bphAa, bsdC, nahB, doxE and mhpD were found, but the photosynthesis-related mechanism was inhibited. The dispersant treatment effectively stimulated the microbial degradation of TPH and then accelerated the succession of microbial communities. Meanwhile, functions such as bacterial chemotaxis and carbon metabolism (cheA, fadeJ and fadE) were better developed, but the degradation of persistent organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons was weakened. Our study provides insights into the metabolic pathways and specific functional genes for oil degradation by marine microorganisms and will help improve the application and practice of bioremediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumiao Zhou
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Ying Wang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Likun Yang
- College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Qiang Kong
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250000, China
| | - Huanxin Zhang
- College of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan, 250000, China.
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Nixon SL, Plominsky AM, Hernandez-Becerra N, Boothman C, Bartlett DH. Microbial communities in freshwater used for hydraulic fracturing are unable to withstand the high temperatures and pressures characteristic of fractured shales. Access Microbiol 2023; 5:000515.v3. [PMID: 37223063 PMCID: PMC10202394 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000515.v3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural gas is recovered from shale formations by hydraulic fracturing, a process known to create microbial ecosystems in the deep subsurface. Microbial communities that emerge in fractured shales include organisms known to degrade fracturing fluid additives and contribute to corrosion of well infrastructure. In order to limit these negative microbial processes, it is essential to constrain the source of the responsible micro-organisms. Previous studies have identified a number of potential sources, including fracturing fluids and drilling muds, yet these sources remain largely untested. Here, we apply high-pressure experimental approaches to assess whether the microbial community in synthetic fracturing fluid made from freshwater reservoir water can withstand the temperature and pressure conditions of hydraulic fracturing and the fractured shale environment. Using cell enumerations, DNA extraction and culturing, we show that the community can withstand high pressure or high temperature alone, but the combination of both is fatal. These results suggest that initial freshwater-based fracturing fluids are an unlikely source of micro-organisms in fractured shales. These findings indicate that potentially problematic lineages, such as sulfidogenic strains of Halanaerobium that have been found to dominate fractured shale microbial communities, likely derive from other input sources into the downwell environment, such as drilling muds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie L. Nixon
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Alvaro M. Plominsky
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Christopher Boothman
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Douglas H. Bartlett
- Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
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Microbial community structure and exploration of bioremediation enzymes: functional metagenomics insight into Arabian Sea sediments. Mol Genet Genomics 2023; 298:627-651. [PMID: 36933058 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-023-01995-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023]
Abstract
Deep-sea sediments provide important information on oceanic biogeochemical processes mediated by the microbiome and their functional roles which could be unravelled using genomic tools. The present study aimed to delineate microbial taxonomic and functional profiles from Arabian Sea sediment samples through whole metagenome sequencing using Nanopore technology. Arabian Sea is considered as a major microbial reservoir with significant bio-prospecting potential which needs to be explored extensively using recent advances in genomics. Assembly, co-assembly, and binning methods were used to predict Metagenome Assembled Genomes (MAGs) which were further characterized by their completeness and heterogeneity. Nanopore sequencing of Arabian Sea sediment samples generated around 1.73 tera basepairs of data. Proteobacteria (78.32%) was found to be the most dominant phylum followed by Bacteroidetes (9.55%) and Actinobacteria (2.14%) in the sediment metagenome. Further, 35 MAGs from assembled and 38 MAGs of co-assembled reads were generated from long-read sequence dataset with major representations from the genera Marinobacter, Kangiella, and Porticoccus. RemeDB analysis revealed a high representation of pollutant-degrading enzymes involved in hydrocarbon, plastic and dye degradation. Validation of enzymes with long nanopore reads using BlastX resulted in better characterization of complete gene signatures involved in hydrocarbon (6-monooxygenase and 4-hydroxyacetophenone monooxygenase) and dye degradation (Arylsulfatase). Enhancing the cultivability of deep-sea microbes predicted from the uncultured WGS approaches by I-tip method resulted in isolation of facultative extremophiles. This study presents a comprehensive insight into the taxonomic and functional profiles of Arabian Sea sediments, indicating a potential hotspot for bioprospection.
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Liu Y, Chen S, Xie Z, Zhang L, Wang J, Fang J. Influence of Extremely High Pressure and Oxygen on Hydrocarbon-Enriched Microbial Communities in Sediments from the Challenger Deep, Mariana Trench. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030630. [PMID: 36985204 PMCID: PMC10052102 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies reported that highly abundant alkane content exists in the ~11,000 m sediment of the Mariana Trench, and a few key alkane-degrading bacteria were identified in the Mariana Trench. At present, most of the studies on microbes for degrading hydrocarbons were performed mainly at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and room temperature; little is known about which microbes could be enriched with the addition of n-alkanes under in-situ environmental pressure and temperature conditions in the hadal zone. In this study, we conducted microbial enrichments of sediment from the Mariana Trench with short-chain (SCAs, C7–C17) or long-chain (LCAs, C18–C36) n-alkanes and incubated them at 0.1 MPa/100 MPa and 4 °C under aerobic or anaerobic conditions for 150 days. Microbial diversity analysis showed that a higher microbial diversity was observed at 100 MPa than at 0.1 MPa, irrespective of whether SCAs or LCAs were added. Non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS) and hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that different microbial clusters were formed according to hydrostatic pressure and oxygen. Significantly different microbial communities were formed according to pressure or oxygen (p < 0.05). For example, Gammaproteobacteria (Thalassolituus) were the most abundant anaerobic n-alkanes-enriched microbes at 0.1 MPa, whereas the microbial communities shifted to dominance by Gammaproteobacteria (Idiomarina, Halomonas, and Methylophaga) and Bacteroidetes (Arenibacter) at 100 MPa. Compared to the anaerobic treatments, Actinobacteria (Microbacterium) and Alphaproteobacteria (Sulfitobacter and Phenylobacterium) were the most abundant groups with the addition of hydrocarbon under aerobic conditions at 100 MPa. Our results revealed that unique n-alkane-enriched microorganisms were present in the deepest sediment of the Mariana Trench, which may imply that extremely high hydrostatic pressure (100 MPa) and oxygen dramatically affected the processes of microbial-mediated alkane utilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Liu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Songze Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Archaea Geo-Omics, Department of Ocean Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Zhe Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jiahua Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 200120, China
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (J.F.)
| | - Jiasong Fang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Hadal Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 200120, China
- Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266000, China
- Department of Natural Sciences, Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
- Correspondence: (J.W.); (J.F.)
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10
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Techtmann SM, Santo Domingo J, Conmy R, Barron M. Impacts of dispersants on microbial communities and ecological systems. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:1095-1106. [PMID: 36648524 PMCID: PMC10111227 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-022-12332-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Accidental oil spills can result in catastrophic ecological insults and therefore require rapid intervention to mitigate the potential impacts to aquatic ecosystems. One of the largest oil spills, known as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, occurred in the Spring of 2010 near the coast of Louisiana (USA) due to an explosion during oil drilling activities. Millions of gallons of oil were released into the Gulf of Mexico, impacting thousands of ocean miles and coastal areas linked to the gulf. Among the actions taken during the remediation efforts was the unprecedented large use of Corexit dispersants, including at the subsurface to prevent oil from reaching the surface. While there is evidence that dispersants can accelerate the biodegradation of oil, reports on their potential toxicity to aquatic biota and to microbial functions have also been documented. In this review, we will examine the most recent literature on the impact of dispersants on microbial communities implicated in oil degradation and overall ecological networks. The primary focus will be on studies using Corexit but other dispersants will be discussed if data are available. We will share the literature gaps identified and discuss future work that is needed to reconcile some of the discrepancies found on the effectiveness of dispersants on oil degradation and their potential toxicity. KEY POINTS: • Chemical dispersants have been applied as a chemical response measure for oil spills. • The effects of chemical dispersants on microbial communities have been the subject of substantial research. • This work seeks to review recent work on the impact of chemical dispersants on oil biodegradation, microbial communities, and ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen M Techtmann
- Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, USA.
| | - Jorge Santo Domingo
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Robyn Conmy
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Mace Barron
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, FL, USA
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11
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Barbato M, Palma E, Marzocchi U, Cruz Viggi C, Rossetti S, Aulenta F, Scoma A. Snorkels enhance alkanes respiration at ambient and increased hydrostatic pressure (10 MPa) by either supporting the TCA cycle or limiting alternative routes for acetyl-CoA metabolism. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 316:115244. [PMID: 35598451 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The impact of piezosensitive microorganisms is generally underestimated in the ecology of underwater environments exposed to increasing hydrostatic pressure (HP), including the biodegradation of crude oil components. Yet, no isolated pressure-loving (piezophile) microorganism grows optimally on hydrocarbons, and no isolated piezophile at all has a HP optimum <10 MPa (e.g. 1000 m below sea water level). Piezosensitive heterotrophs are thus largely accountable for oil clean up < 10 MPa, however, they are affected by such a mild HP increase in ways which are not completely clear. In a first study, the application of a bioelectrochemical system (called "oil-spill snorkel") enhanced the alkane oxidation capacity in sediments collected at surface water but tested up to 10 MPa. Here, the fingerprint left on transcript abundance was studied to explore which metabolic routes are 1) supported by snorkels application and 2) negatively impacted by HP increase. Transcript abundance was comparable for beta-oxidation across all treatments (also at a taxonomical level), while the metabolism of acetyl-CoA was highly impacted: at either 0.1 or 10 MPa, snorkels supported acetyl-CoA oxidation within the TCA cycle, while in negative controls using non-conductive rods several alternative routes for acetyl-CoA were stimulated (including those leading to internal carbon reserves e.g. 2,3 butanediol and dihydroxyacetone). In general, increased HP had opposite effects as compared to snorkels, thus indicating that snorkels could enhance hydrocarbons oxidation by alleviating in part the stressing effects imposed by increased HP on the anaerobic, respiratory electron transport chain. 16S rRNA gene analysis of sediments and biofilms on snorkels suggest a crosstalk between oil-degrading, sulfate-reducing microorganisms and sulfur oxidizers. In fact, no sulfur was deposited on snorkels, however, iron, aluminum and phosphorous were found to preferentially deposit on snorkels at 10 MPa. This data indicates that a passive BES such as the oil-spill snorkel can mitigate the stress imposed by increased HP on piezosensitive microorganisms (up to 10 MPa) without being subjected to passivation. An improved setup applying these principles can further support this deep-sea bioremediation strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Barbato
- Engineered Microbial Systems (EMS) Lab, Industrial Biotechnology Section, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering (BCE), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Microbiology Section, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Enza Palma
- Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Ugo Marzocchi
- Center for Electromicrobiology, Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Center for Water Technology WATEC, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Carolina Cruz Viggi
- Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Simona Rossetti
- Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Federico Aulenta
- Water Research Institute (IRSA), National Research Council (CNR), Monterotondo, Italy.
| | - Alberto Scoma
- Engineered Microbial Systems (EMS) Lab, Industrial Biotechnology Section, Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering (BCE), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark; Microbiology Section, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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12
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Emulating Deep-Sea Bioremediation: Oil Plume Degradation by Undisturbed Deep-Sea Microbial Communities Using a High-Pressure Sampling and Experimentation System. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15134525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Hydrocarbon biodegradation rates in the deep-sea have been largely determined under atmospheric pressure, which may lead to non-representative results. In this work, we aim to study the response of deep-sea microbial communities of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea (EMS) to oil contamination at in situ environmental conditions and provide representative biodegradation rates. Seawater from a 600 to 1000 m depth was collected using a high-pressure (HP) sampling device equipped with a unidirectional check-valve, without depressurization upon retrieval. The sample was then passed into a HP-reactor via a piston pump without pressure disruption and used for a time-series oil biodegradation experiment at plume concentrations, with and without dispersant application, at 10 MPa and 14 °C. The experimental results demonstrated a high capacity of indigenous microbial communities in the deep EMS for alkane degradation regardless of dispersant application (>70%), while PAHs were highly degraded when oil was dispersed (>90%) and presented very low half-lives (19.4 to 2.2 days), compared to published data. To our knowledge, this is the first emulation study of deep-sea bioremediation using undisturbed deep-sea microbial communities.
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13
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From Surface Water to the Deep Sea: A Review on Factors Affecting the Biodegradation of Spilled Oil in Marine Environment. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10030426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Over the past century, the demand for petroleum products has increased rapidly, leading to higher oil extraction, processing and transportation, which result in numerous oil spills in coastal-marine environments. As the spilled oil can negatively affect the coastal-marine ecosystems, its transport and fates captured a significant interest of the scientific community and regulatory agencies. Typically, the environment has natural mechanisms (e.g., photooxidation, biodegradation, evaporation) to weather/degrade and remove the spilled oil from the environment. Among various oil weathering mechanisms, biodegradation by naturally occurring bacterial populations removes a majority of spilled oil, thus the focus on bioremediation has increased significantly. Helping in the marginal recognition of this promising technique for oil-spill degradation, this paper reviews recently published articles that will help broaden the understanding of the factors affecting biodegradation of spilled oil in coastal-marine environments. The goal of this review is to examine the effects of various environmental variables that contribute to oil degradation in the coastal-marine environments, as well as the factors that influence these processes. Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, oxygen level, pressure, shoreline energy, salinity, and pH are taken into account. In general, increase in temperature, exposure to sunlight (photooxidation), dissolved oxygen (DO), nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium), shoreline energy (physical advection—waves) and diverse hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms consortium were found to increase spilled oil degradation in marine environments. In contrast, higher initial oil concentration and seawater pressure can lower oil degradation rates. There is limited information on the influences of seawater pH and salinity on oil degradation, thus warranting additional research. This comprehensive review can be used as a guide for bioremediation modeling and mitigating future oil spill pollution in the marine environment by utilizing the bacteria adapted to certain conditions.
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14
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Péquin B, Cai Q, Lee K, Greer CW. Natural attenuation of oil in marine environments: A review. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2022; 176:113464. [PMID: 35231783 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Natural attenuation is an important process for oil spill management in marine environments. Natural attenuation affects the fate of oil by physical, chemical, and biological processes, which include evaporation, dispersion, dissolution, photo-oxidation, emulsification, oil particle aggregation, and biodegradation. This review examines the cumulative knowledge regarding these natural attenuation processes as well as their simulation and prediction using modelling approaches. An in-depth discussion is provided on how oil type, microbial community and environmental factors contribute to the biodegradation process. It describes how our understanding of the structure and function of indigenous oil degrading microbial communities in the marine environment has been advanced by the application of next generation sequencing tools. The synergetic and/or antagonist effects of oil spill countermeasures such as the application of chemical dispersants, in-situ burning and nutrient enrichment on natural attenuation were explored. Several knowledge gaps were identified regarding the synergetic and/or antagonistic effects of active response countermeasures on the natural attenuation/biodegradation process. This review highlighted the need for field data on both the effectiveness and potential detrimental effects of oil spill response options to support modelling and decision-making on their selection and application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bérangère Péquin
- McGill University, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Qinhong Cai
- McGill University, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kenneth Lee
- Ecosystem Science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Charles W Greer
- McGill University, Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Canada; Energy, Mining and Environment Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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15
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Wu H, Bertilsson S, Zhang W, Li Y, Hui C, Wang H, Li J, Niu L. Integrating experiments with system-level biogeochemical modeling to understand nitrogen cycling of reservoir sediments at elevated hydrostatic pressure. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 200:111671. [PMID: 34273369 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Impoundment of rivers to construct reservoirs for hydropower and irrigation greatly increase the hydrostatic pressure acting on river sediments with potential repercussions for ecosystem-level microbial activity and metabolism. Understanding the functioning and responses of key biogeochemical cycles such as that of nitrogen cycling to shifting hydrostatic pressure is needed to estimate and predict the systemic nutrient dynamics in deep-water reservoirs. We studied the functioning of bacterial communities involved in nitrogen transformation in bioreactors maintained under contrasting hydrostatic pressures (0.5 MPa-3.0 MPa) and complemented the experimental approach with a functional gene-informed biogeochemical model. The model predictions were broadly consistent with observations from the experiment, suggesting that the rates of N2O production decreased while the sediment concentration of nitrite increased significantly with increasing pressure, at least when exceeding 1.0 MPa. Changes in nitrite reduction (nirS) and aerobic ammonia oxidation (amoA) genes abundances were in accordance with the observed changes in N2O production and nitrite levels. Moreover, the model predicted that the higher pressures (P > 1.5 MPa) would intensify the inhibition of N2 production via denitrification and result in an accumulation of ammonia in the sediment along with a decrease in dissolved oxygen. The results imply that increased hydrostatic pressure caused by dam constructions may have a strong effect on microbial nitrogen conversion, and that this may result in lower nitrogen removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hainan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Stefan Bertilsson
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Wenlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Yi Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China.
| | - Cizhang Hui
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Haolan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Jie Li
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
| | - Lihua Niu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lake of Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, PR China
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16
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Zakaria NN, Gomez-Fuentes C, Abdul Khalil K, Convey P, Roslee AFA, Zulkharnain A, Sabri S, Shaharuddin NA, Cárdenas L, Ahmad SA. Statistical Optimisation of Diesel Biodegradation at Low Temperatures by an Antarctic Marine Bacterial Consortium Isolated from Non-Contaminated Seawater. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9061213. [PMID: 34205164 PMCID: PMC8227063 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9061213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrocarbon pollution is widespread around the globe and, even in the remoteness of Antarctica, the impacts of hydrocarbons from anthropogenic sources are still apparent. Antarctica’s chronically cold temperatures and other extreme environmental conditions reduce the rates of biological processes, including the biodegradation of pollutants. However, the native Antarctic microbial diversity provides a reservoir of cold-adapted microorganisms, some of which have the potential for biodegradation. This study evaluated the diesel hydrocarbon-degrading ability of a psychrotolerant marine bacterial consortium obtained from the coast of the north-west Antarctic Peninsula. The consortium’s growth conditions were optimised using one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) and statistical response surface methodology (RSM), which identified optimal growth conditions of pH 8.0, 10 °C, 25 ppt NaCl and 1.5 g/L NH4NO3. The predicted model was highly significant and confirmed that the parameters’ salinity, temperature, nitrogen concentration and initial diesel concentration significantly influenced diesel biodegradation. Using the optimised values generated by RSM, a mass reduction of 12.23 mg/mL from the initial 30.518 mg/mL (4% (w/v)) concentration of diesel was achieved within a 6 d incubation period. This study provides further evidence for the presence of native hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in non-contaminated Antarctic seawater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Nadhirah Zakaria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (A.F.A.R.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Claudio Gomez-Fuentes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Magallanes, Avda. Bulnes, Punta Arenas 01855, Región de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Chile;
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda. Bulnes, Punta Arenas 01855, Región de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Chile
| | - Khalilah Abdul Khalil
- School of Biology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK;
- Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa
| | - Ahmad Fareez Ahmad Roslee
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (A.F.A.R.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Azham Zulkharnain
- Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, 307 Fukasaku, Minumaku, Saitama 337-8570, Japan;
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Noor Azmi Shaharuddin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (A.F.A.R.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Leyla Cárdenas
- Centro Fondap Ideal, Insituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile;
| | - Siti Aqlima Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (A.F.A.R.); (N.A.S.)
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda. Bulnes, Punta Arenas 01855, Región de Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Chile
- National Antarctic Research Centre, B303 Level 3, Block B, IPS Building, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
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17
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Marietou A. Sulfate reducing microorganisms in high temperature oil reservoirs. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2021; 116:99-131. [PMID: 34353505 DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2021.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
High temperature reservoirs offer a window into the microbial life of the deep biosphere. Sulfate reducing microorganisms have been recovered from high temperature oil reservoirs around the globe and characterized using culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches. The activities of sulfate reducers contribute to reservoir souring and hydrocarbon degradation among other attracting considerable interest from the oil industry for the last 100 years. The extremes of temperature and pressure shape the activities and distribution of sulfate reducing bacteria and archaea in high temperature reservoirs. This chapter will attempt to summarize the key findings on the diversity and activities of sulfate reducing microorganisms in high temperature reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Marietou
- Section for Microbiology, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.
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18
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Zakaria NN, Convey P, Gomez-Fuentes C, Zulkharnain A, Sabri S, Shaharuddin NA, Ahmad SA. Oil Bioremediation in the Marine Environment of Antarctica: A Review and Bibliometric Keyword Cluster Analysis. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9020419. [PMID: 33671443 PMCID: PMC7922015 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9020419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioremediation of hydrocarbons has received much attention in recent decades, particularly relating to fuel and other oils. While of great relevance globally, there has recently been increasing interest in hydrocarbon bioremediation in the marine environments of Antarctica. To provide an objective assessment of the research interest in this field we used VOSviewer software to analyze publication data obtained from the ScienceDirect database covering the period 1970 to the present, but with a primary focus on the years 2000–2020. A bibliometric analysis of the database allowed identification of the co-occurrence of keywords. There was an increasing trend over time for publications relating to oil bioremediation in maritime Antarctica, including both studies on marine bioremediation and of the metabolic pathways of hydrocarbon degradation. Studies of marine anaerobic degradation remain under-represented compared to those of aerobic degradation. Emerging keywords in recent years included bioprospecting, metagenomic, bioindicator, and giving insight into changing research foci, such as increasing attention to microbial diversity. The study of microbial genomes using metagenomic approaches or whole genome studies is increasing rapidly and is likely to drive emerging fields in future, including rapid expansion of bioprospecting in diverse fields of biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Nadhirah Zakaria
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Peter Convey
- British Antarctic Survey, NERC, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ET, UK;
| | - Claudio Gomez-Fuentes
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile;
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile
| | - Azham Zulkharnain
- Department of Bioscience and Engineering, College of Systems Engineering and Science, Shibaura Institute of Technology, 307 Fukasaku, Minuma-ku, Saitama 337-8570, Japan;
| | - Suriana Sabri
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia;
| | - Noor Azmi Shaharuddin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
| | - Siti Aqlima Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia; (N.N.Z.); (N.A.S.)
- Center for Research and Antarctic Environmental Monitoring (CIMAA), Universidad de Magallanes, Avda, Bulnes 01855, Chile
- National Antarctic Research Centre, B303 Level 3, Block B, IPS Building, Universiti Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
- Correspondence:
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19
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Enhanced Hydrocarbons Biodegradation at Deep-Sea Hydrostatic Pressure with Microbial Electrochemical Snorkels. Catalysts 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/catal11020263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In anaerobic sediments, microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons is limited by the rapid depletion of electron acceptors (e.g., ferric oxide, sulfate) and accumulation of toxic metabolites (e.g., sulfide, following sulfate reduction). Deep-sea sediments are increasingly impacted by oil contamination, and the elevated hydrostatic pressure (HP) they are subjected to represents an additional limitation for microbial metabolism. While the use of electrodes to support electrobioremediation in oil-contaminated sediments has been described, there is no evidence on their applicability for deep-sea sediments. Here, we tested a passive bioelectrochemical system named ”oil-spill snorkel” with two crude oils carrying different alkane contents (4 vs. 15%), at increased or ambient HP (10 vs. 0.1 MPa). Snorkels enhanced alkanes biodegradation at both 10 and 0.1 MPa within only seven weeks, as compared to nonconductive glass controls. Microprofiles in anaerobic, contaminated sediments indicated that snorkels kept sulfide concentration to low titers. Bulk-sediment analysis confirmed that sulfide oxidation by snorkels largely regenerated sulfate. Hence, the sole application of snorkels could eliminate a toxicity factor and replenish a spent electron acceptor at increased HP. Both aspects are crucial for petroleum decontamination of the deep sea, a remote environment featured by low metabolic activity.
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20
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Barbato M, Scoma A. Mild hydrostatic-pressure (15 MPa) affects the assembly, but not the growth, of oil-degrading coastal microbial communities tested under limiting conditions (5°C, no added nutrients). FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 96:5894919. [PMID: 32816016 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiaa160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydrostatic pressures (HP) <30-40 MPa are often considered mild, and their impact on petroleum biodegradation seldom considered. However, the frequent use of nutrient-rich media in lab-scale high-pressure reactors may exaggerate HP importance by resulting in a strong growth stimulation as compared to oligotrophic marine environments. Here, we tested coastal seawater microbial communities, presumably enriched in pressure-sensitive microorganisms. Limiting environmental conditions for growth were applied (i.e. low temperature [5°C], no added nutrients) and HP tested at 0.1 and 15 MPa, using crude oils from three different reservoirs. The cell number was not affected by HP contrary to the microbial community composition (based on 16S rRNA gene and 16S rRNA sequences). The most predominant genera were Zhongshania, Pseudomonas and Colwellia. The enrichment of Zhongshania was crude-oil dependent and comparable at 0.1 and 15 MPa, thus showing a piezotolerant phenotype under the present conditions; Pseudomonas' was crude-oil dependent at 0.1 MPa but unclear at 15 MPa. Colwellia was selectively enriched in the absence of crude oil and suppressed at 15 MPa. HP shaped the assemblage of oil-degrading communities even at mild levels (i.e. 15 MPa), and should thus be considered as a fundamental factor to assess oil bioremediation along the water column.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Barbato
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny munkegade 116, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Biological and Chemical Engineering Section (BCE), Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Hangøvej 2, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - Alberto Scoma
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny munkegade 116, 8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Biological and Chemical Engineering Section (BCE), Department of Engineering, Aarhus University, Hangøvej 2, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
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21
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Lelchat F, Dussauze M, Lemaire P, Theron M, Toffin L, Le Floch S. Measuring the biological impact of drilling waste on the deep seafloor: An experimental challenge. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 389:122132. [PMID: 32062395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.122132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The depletion of traditional oil fields is driving the oil & gas industry to explore new exploitation sites previously considered as unprofitable. Deep-sea oil fields represent one of these new areas of exploitation. Well drilling during exploration and production operations generate large quantities of drilling waste whose biological impact on the deep-sea floor remains largely unknown. Because of the harsh abiotic factors characterizing this environment, the evaluation of this impact remains challenging. High hydrostatic pressure is the prominent factor which will affect in-situ biological processes. This review will examine the feedback on the various strategies used to evaluate the biological impact of deep-sea drilling waste deposition as well as the current technological limitations. Given the complexity of this issue, a good perspective strategy would be to trend towards the research and development of more relevant bioassays, especially considering the crucial factor of hydrostatic pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Lelchat
- Cedre, 715 rue Alain Colas - CS 41836, 29218 Brest Cedex 2, France; Leo viridis, 140 Avenue Graham Bell, 29280 Plouzané, France.
| | - M Dussauze
- EA 4324 ORPHY, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université de Brest, 6 avenue LE GORGEU, CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France
| | - P Lemaire
- TOTAL FLUIDES SAS, 24 cours Michelet - 92800 Puteaux, 342 241 908 RCS Nanterre, France
| | - M Theron
- EA 4324 ORPHY, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université de Brest, 6 avenue LE GORGEU, CS 93837, 29238 Brest Cedex 3, France
| | - L Toffin
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie des Environnements Extrêmes, UMR6197, Ifremer Centre de Bretagne, ZI de la pointe du diable, CS 10070, 29280 Plouzané, France
| | - S Le Floch
- Cedre, 715 rue Alain Colas - CS 41836, 29218 Brest Cedex 2, France
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22
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Noirungsee N, Hackbusch S, Viamonte J, Bubenheim P, Liese A, Müller R. Influence of oil, dispersant, and pressure on microbial communities from the Gulf of Mexico. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7079. [PMID: 32341378 PMCID: PMC7184722 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63190-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Deepwater Horizon incident in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 released an unprecedented amount of petroleum hydrocarbons 1500 meters below the sea surface. Few studies have considered the influence of hydrostatic pressure on bacterial community development and activity during such spills. The goal of this study was to investigate the response of indigenous sediment microbial communities to the combination of increased pressure, hydrocarbons and dispersant. Deep-sea sediment samples collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico were incubated at atmospheric pressure (0.1 MPa) and at elevated pressure (10 MPa), with and without the addition of crude oil and dispersant. After incubations at 4 °C for 7 days, Colwellia and Psychrobium were highly abundant in all samples. Pressure differentially impacted members of the Alteromonadales. The influences of pressure on the composition of bacterial communities were most pronounced when dispersant was added to the incubations. Moritella and Thalassotalea were greatly stimulated by the addition of dispersant, suggesting their roles in dispersant biodegradation. However, Moritella was negatively impacted by increasing pressure. The presence of dispersant was shown to decrease the relative abundance of a known hydrocarbon degrader, Cycloclasticus, while increasing pressure increased its relative abundance. This study highlights the significant influence of pressure on the development of microbial communities in the presence of oil and dispersant during oil spills and related response strategies in the deep sea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuttapol Noirungsee
- Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Steffen Hackbusch
- Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Juan Viamonte
- Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Paul Bubenheim
- Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Andreas Liese
- Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg, 21073, Germany
| | - Rudolf Müller
- Hamburg University of Technology, Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg, 21073, Germany.
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23
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Hackbusch S, Noirungsee N, Viamonte J, Sun X, Bubenheim P, Kostka JE, Müller R, Liese A. Influence of pressure and dispersant on oil biodegradation by a newly isolated Rhodococcus strain from deep-sea sediments of the gulf of Mexico. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2020; 150:110683. [PMID: 31753565 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A new Rhodococcus strain, capable of degrading crude oil, was isolated from the Gulf of Mexico deep-sea sediment and was investigated for its biodegradation characteristics under atmospheric as well as under deep-sea pressure (1500 m = 15 MPa). Additionally, the effect of dispersant (Corexit EC9500A) addition was studied. Rhodococcus sp. PC20 was shown to degrade 60.5 ± 10.7% of the saturated and aromatic fraction of crude oil at atmospheric pressure and 74.2 ± 9.1% at deep-sea level pressure within 96 h. Degradation rates, especially for monoaromatic hydrocarbons, were significantly higher at elevated pressure compared to atmospheric pressure. This study found a growth inhibiting effect at a dispersant to oil ratio of 1:100 and higher. This effect of the dispersant was enhanced when elevated pressure was applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Hackbusch
- Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Nuttapol Noirungsee
- Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Juan Viamonte
- Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Xiaoxu Sun
- Georgia Institute of Technology School of Biology and Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Paul Bubenheim
- Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Joel E Kostka
- Georgia Institute of Technology School of Biology and Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, Atlanta, GA, USA.
| | - Rudolf Müller
- Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Andreas Liese
- Institute of Technical Biocatalysis, Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), Hamburg, Germany.
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24
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Valencia-Agami SS, Cerqueda-García D, Putzeys S, Uribe-Flores MM, García-Cruz NU, Pech D, Herrera-Silveira J, Aguirre-Macedo ML, García-Maldonado JQ. Changes in the Bacterioplankton Community Structure from Southern Gulf of Mexico During a Simulated Crude Oil Spill at Mesocosm Scale. Microorganisms 2019; 7:microorganisms7100441. [PMID: 31614583 PMCID: PMC6843455 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 09/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The southern Gulf of Mexico (sGoM) is highly susceptible to receiving environmental impacts due to the recent increase in oil-related activities. In this study, we assessed the changes in the bacterioplankton community structure caused by a simulated oil spill at mesocosms scale. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis indicated that the initial bacterial community was mainly represented by Gamma-proteobacteria, Alpha-proteobacteria, Flavobacteriia, and Cyanobacteria. The hydrocarbon degradation activity, measured as the number of culturable hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (CHB) and by the copy number of the alkB gene, was relatively low at the beginning of the experiment. However, after four days, the hydrocarbonoclastic activity reached its maximum values and was accompanied by increases in the relative abundance of the well-known hydrocarbonoclastic Alteromonas. At the end of the experiment, the diversity was restored to similar values as those observed in the initial time, although the community structure and composition were clearly different, where Marivita, Pseudohongiella, and Oleibacter were detected to have differential abundances on days eight–14. These changes were related with total nitrogen (p value = 0.030 and r2 = 0.22) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (p value = 0.048 and r2 = 0.25), according to PERMANOVA. The results of this study contribute to the understanding of the potential response of the bacterioplankton from sGoM to crude oil spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia S Valencia-Agami
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
| | - Daniel Cerqueda-García
- Consorcio de Investigación del Golfo de México (CIGoM)-Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
| | - Sébastien Putzeys
- Consorcio de Investigación del Golfo de México (CIGoM)-Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
| | - María Magdalena Uribe-Flores
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
| | - Norberto Ulises García-Cruz
- Consorcio de Investigación del Golfo de México (CIGoM)-Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
| | - Daniel Pech
- Laboratorio de Biodiversidad Marina y Cambio Climático, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, Lerma Campeche, Campeche 24500, Mexico.
| | - Jorge Herrera-Silveira
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
| | - M Leopoldina Aguirre-Macedo
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
| | - José Q García-Maldonado
- CONACYT - Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mérida, Yucatán 97310, Mexico.
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25
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Corvini N, El Idrissi M, Dimitriadou E, Corvini PFX, Shahgaldian P. Hydrophobicity-responsive engineered mesoporous silica nanoparticles: application in the delivery of essential nutrients to bacteria combating oil spills. Chem Commun (Camb) 2019; 55:7478-7481. [PMID: 31184648 DOI: 10.1039/c9cc02801c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Facile chemical modification of mesoporous silica particles allows the production of gated reservoir systems capable of hydrophobicity-triggered release. Applied to the delivery of nutrients specifically to an oil phase, the systems developed have been shown to reliably assist the bacterial degradation of hydrocarbons. The gated system developed, made of C18 hydrocarbon chains, is demonstrated to be in a closed collapsed state in an aqueous environment, yet opens up through solvation by lipophilic alkanes and releases its content on contact with the oil phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Corvini
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecopreunership, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Mohamed El Idrissi
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland.
| | - Eleni Dimitriadou
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland.
| | - Philippe F-X Corvini
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Ecopreunership, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Patrick Shahgaldian
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Institute of Chemistry and Bioanalytics, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland.
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26
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Potts LD, Perez Calderon LJ, Gontikaki E, Keith L, Gubry-Rangin C, Anderson JA, Witte U. Effect of spatial origin and hydrocarbon composition on bacterial consortia community structure and hydrocarbon biodegradation rates. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2019; 94:5047303. [PMID: 29982504 PMCID: PMC6166136 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiy127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Oil reserves in deep-sea sediments are currently subject to intense exploration, with associated risks of oil spills. Previous research suggests that microbial communities from deep-sea sediment (>1000m) can degrade hydrocarbons (HCs), but have a lower degradation ability than shallow (<200m) communities, probably due to in situ temperature. This study aimed to assess the effect of marine origin on microbial HC degradation potential while separating the influence of temperature, and to characterise associated HC-degrading bacterial communities. Microbial communities from 135 and 1000 m deep sediments were selectively enriched on crude oil at in situ temperatures and both consortia were subsequently incubated for 42 days at 20°C with two HC mixtures: diesel fuel or model oil. Significant HC biodegradation occurred rapidly in the presence of both consortia, especially of low molecular weight HCs and was concomitant with microbial community changes. Further, oil degradation was higher with the shallow consortium than with the deep one. Dominant HC-degrading bacteria differed based on both spatial origin of the consortia and supplemented HC types. This study provides evidence for influence of sediment spatial origin and HC composition on the selection and activity of marine HC-degrading bacterial communities and is relevant for future bioremediationdevelopments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lloyd D Potts
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UL, United Kingdom.,Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Fraser Noble Building, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, United Kingdom
| | - Luis J Perez Calderon
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UL, United Kingdom.,Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Fraser Noble Building, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, United Kingdom
| | - Evangelia Gontikaki
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UL, United Kingdom
| | - Lehanne Keith
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UL, United Kingdom
| | - Cécile Gubry-Rangin
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UL, United Kingdom
| | - James A Anderson
- Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Fraser Noble Building, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, United Kingdom
| | - Ursula Witte
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UL, United Kingdom
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27
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Reduced TCA cycle rates at high hydrostatic pressure hinder hydrocarbon degradation and obligate oil degraders in natural, deep-sea microbial communities. ISME JOURNAL 2018; 13:1004-1018. [PMID: 30542078 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-018-0324-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Revised: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Petroleum hydrocarbons reach the deep-sea following natural and anthropogenic factors. The process by which they enter deep-sea microbial food webs and impact the biogeochemical cycling of carbon and other elements is unclear. Hydrostatic pressure (HP) is a distinctive parameter of the deep sea, although rarely investigated. Whether HP alone affects the assembly and activity of oil-degrading communities remains to be resolved. Here we have demonstrated that hydrocarbon degradation in deep-sea microbial communities is lower at native HP (10 MPa, about 1000 m below sea surface level) than at ambient pressure. In long-term enrichments, increased HP selectively inhibited obligate hydrocarbon-degraders and downregulated the expression of beta-oxidation-related proteins (i.e., the main hydrocarbon-degradation pathway) resulting in low cell growth and CO2 production. Short-term experiments with HP-adapted synthetic communities confirmed this data, revealing a HP-dependent accumulation of citrate and dihydroxyacetone. Citrate accumulation suggests rates of aerobic oxidation of fatty acids in the TCA cycle were reduced. Dihydroxyacetone is connected to citrate through glycerol metabolism and glycolysis, both upregulated with increased HP. High degradation rates by obligate hydrocarbon-degraders may thus be unfavourable at increased HP, explaining their selective suppression. Through lab-scale cultivation, the present study is the first to highlight a link between impaired cell metabolism and microbial community assembly in hydrocarbon degradation at high HP. Overall, this data indicate that hydrocarbons fate differs substantially in surface waters as compared to deep-sea environments, with in situ low temperature and limited nutrients availability expected to further prolong hydrocarbons persistence at deep sea.
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28
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Perez Calderon LJ, Gontikaki E, Potts LD, Shaw S, Gallego A, Anderson JA, Witte U. Pressure and temperature effects on deep-sea hydrocarbon-degrading microbial communities in subarctic sediments. Microbiologyopen 2018; 8:e00768. [PMID: 30444300 PMCID: PMC6562134 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 10/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Hatton-Rockall Basin (North-East Atlantic) is an area with potential for deep-sea (2,900 m) hydrocarbon exploration. Following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, many investigations into the responses of sediment microbial communities to oil pollution have been undertaken. However, hydrostatic pressure is a parameter that is often omitted due to the technical difficulties associated with conducting experiments at high pressure (>10 MPa). In this study, sediments from 2,900 m in the Hatton-Rockall Basin, following a one-week decompression period in a temperature-controlled room at 5°C, were incubated in factorial combinations of 0.1 and 30 MPa, 5 and 20°C, and contamination with a hydrocarbon mixture or uncontaminated controls to evaluate the effect of these environmental variables on the bacterial community composition. Our results revealed varying effects of pressure, temperature, and oil contamination on the composition of the bacterial community within the sediment. Temperature was the strongest determinant of differences in the bacterial community structure between samples followed by pressure. Oil contamination did not exert a strong change in the sediment bacterial community structure when pressure and temperature conditions were held at in situ levels (30 MPa and 5°C). The γ-proteobacteria Pseudomonas and Colwellia, and several Bacteroidetes dominated communities at 30 MPa. In contrast, hydrocarbon degraders such as Halomonas, Alcanivorax, and Marinobacter decreased in relative abundance at the same pressure. This study highlights the importance of considering hydrostatic pressure in ex situ investigations into hydrocarbon-degrading deepwater microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis J Perez Calderon
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.,Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.,Marine Laboratory Aberdeen, Marine Scotland Science, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Evangelia Gontikaki
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Lloyd D Potts
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.,Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Sophie Shaw
- Centre for Genome Enabled Biology and Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | | | - James A Anderson
- Surface Chemistry and Catalysis Group, Materials and Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Ursula Witte
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
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