Metagenomic Insights into the Abundance of Iron-Reducing Microorganisms in a Petroleum-Contaminated Iron-Rich Aquifer.

ABSTRACT: In petroleum-contaminated aquifers, iron (III) serves as an electron acceptor, enabling microbial degradation of organic matter. While previous studies have focused on iron reduction and organic matter degradation under laboratory conditions, research on iron-associated microorganisms in petroleum-contaminated aquifers is limited. To explore the diversity and distribution of such microorganisms in natural settings, this study used metagenomic analysis of an iron-rich, petroleum-contaminated aquifer. Sixteen groundwater samples from both pollution source and background areas were collected for species annotation and functional gene identification. Results show more than 7000 species were identified as iron-reducing microorganisms (IRMs), including several previously well-characterized iron-

SUBMITTER: Di H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11858104 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature