Thermotolerant oil-degrading bacteria isolated from soil and water of geographically distant regions

• Published in: Applied biochemistry and microbiology Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 389 - 396
• Main Authors: Delegan, Ya. A., Vetrova, A. A., Akimov, V. N., Titok, M. A., Filonov, A. E., Boronin, A. M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moscow Pleiades Publishing 01.07.2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biochemistry; Biodegradation; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Geography; Gordonia; Life Sciences; Medical Microbiology; Microbiology; Rhodococcus; Rhodococcus erythropolis; Soils; Water; thermotolerant bacteria; biodegradation; bioremediation; crude oil; oil-degrading bacteria
• ISSN: 0003-6838; 1608-3024
• DOI: 10.1134/S0003683816040025

Oil-degrading bacteria were isolated from soil and water samples taken in Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Antarctic; 13 of 86 strains proved to be thermotolerant. These bacteria utilized crude oil at 45–50°C; their growth optimum (35–37°C) and range (20–53°C) differ from those of mesophilic bacteria. Thermotolerant strains were identified as representatives of the genera Rhodococcus and Gordonia . It was shown that their ability to degrade petroleum products does not differ at 24 and 45°C. The strains Rhodococcus sp. Par7 and Gordonia sp. 1D utilized 14 and 20% of the oil, respectively, in 14 days at 45°C. All of the isolated thermotolerant bacteria grew in a medium containing 3% NaCl; the medium for the strains Gordonia amicalis 1B and Gordonia sp. 1D contained up to 10% NaCl. The bacteria G. amicalis and Rhodococcus erythropolis were able to utilize crude oil and individual hydrocarbons at higher (up to 50°C) temperatures.