Potential for the anaerobic oxidation of benzene and naphthalene in thermophilic microorganisms from the Guaymas Basin.

ABSTRACT: Unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons (UAHs) are recalcitrant molecules abundant in crude oil, which is accumulated in subsurface reservoirs and occasionally enters the marine environment through natural seepage or human-caused spillage. The challenging anaerobic degradation of UAHs by microorganisms, in particular under thermophilic conditions, is poorly understood. Here, we established benzene- and naphthalene-degrading cultures under sulfate-reducing conditions at 50°C and 70°C from Guaymas Basin sediments. We investigated the microorganisms in the enrichment cultures and their potential for UAH oxidation through short-read metagenome sequencing and analysis. Dependent on the combination of UAH and temperature, different microorganisms became enriched. A Thermoplasmatota archaeon was abun

SUBMITTER: Zehnle H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10570749 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature