MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Degradation of Extra-Heavy Crude Oil by Fungi Isolated from Hydrothermal Vents Fields in the Gulf of California

Summary

Scientists discovered that certain fungi living in extreme deep-sea hydrothermal vents can break down extra-heavy crude oil, a thick and difficult-to-degrade form of petroleum. Among eight fungal species tested, Aspergillus sydowii performed best, degrading about 40% of the crude oil. This discovery could lead to new biological methods for cleaning up oil spills in marine environments.

Background

Microorganisms from hydrothermal vent fields represent a promising source for biotechnological applications due to their adaptation to extreme environments. Fungi from the Pescadero Basin have shown potential for biodegrading crude oil in natural hydrocarbon seeps.

Objective

To evaluate the ability of eight fungal isolates from hydrothermal vent sediments in the Pescadero Basin to bioconvert extra-heavy crude oil (EHCO) and identify promising candidates for bioremediation applications.

Results

Five isolates successfully degraded EHCO, with Aspergillus sydowii showing the best performance, degrading 40.6% of total EHCO and 38.26% of the saturate fraction. Penicillium miczynskii, Penicillium sp. 1, and Aspergillus terreus also demonstrated significant degradation capabilities.

Conclusion

Aspergillus sydowii from hydrothermal vents is a promising candidate for EHCO bioremediation. Multiple fungal strains from extreme environments show exceptional potential for biotransforming recalcitrant crude oil compounds.
  • Published in:Mycobiology,
  • Study Type:Experimental Laboratory Study,
  • Source: PMID: 40873692, DOI: 10.1080/12298093.2025.2545629
Scroll to Top