A metagenomic study revealing unexpectedly diverse functional groups in microbial communities of deep-ground oil

ABSTRACT: Samples of oil and production water were collected from five wells of the Qinghai Oilfield, China, and subjected to GeoChip hybridization experiments for microbial functional diversity profiling. Unexpectedly, a remarkable microbial diversity in oil samples, which was higher than that in the corresponding water samples, was observed, thus challenging previously believed assumptions about the microbial diversity in this ecosystem. Hierarchical clustering separated oil and water samples, thereby indicating distinct functional structures in the samples. Genes involved in the degradation of hydrocarbons, organic remediation, stress response, and carbon cycling were significantly abundant in crude oil, which is consistent with their important roles in residing in oil. Association analysis with

ORGANISM(S): uncultured bacterium

SUBMITTER: Man Cai 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-55293 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress