Ability of the So-Called Obligate Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria to Utilize Nonhydrocarbon Substrates Thus Enhancing Their Activities Despite their Misleading Name.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The group of the so-called obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB) are marine microorganisms affiliated with the genera Alcanivorax, Cycloclasticus, Oleiphilus and Thalassolituus. This small group plays a major role in oil-bioremediation in marine ecosystems. Marinobacter and Planomicrobium are considered related to this group. The OHCB are claimed to be obligate to hydrocarbon nutrition. This study argues against this claim.

Results

Four Alcanivorax species, three Marinobacter species and Planomicrobium okeanokoites from the Arabian/Persian Gulf proved to be not obligate to hydrocarbon nutrition. Although the eight strains grew on crude oil, n-octadecane and phenanthrene as sole carbon substrates, their growth was weaker than on certain nonhydrocarbon, organ

SUBMITTER: Radwan SS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6379940 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature