MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Isolation and characterization of thermotolerant hydrocarbon degrading bacteria which sustained the activity at extreme salinity and high osmotic conditions

Summary

Scientists isolated two special bacteria from highly polluted oil fields in Iran that can degrade diesel and survive in extreme conditions. These bacteria tolerate very salty soils, high temperatures up to 50°C, and drought stress that would kill ordinary bacteria. This discovery is important because oil-contaminated areas often have these harsh conditions, and using these adapted bacteria could help clean up oil spills in difficult environments like Middle Eastern oil fields.

Background

Bioremediation using bacteria is an economical and environmentally friendly approach for remediation of oil-contaminated soils. However, some oil field areas have extreme environmental conditions including high salinity, temperature, and drought that limit microbial establishment and biodegradation activities.

Objective

To isolate and characterize thermotolerant hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from oil-contaminated soils of the Dehloran oil fields that can maintain degradation activity under extreme environmental conditions of high salinity, temperature, and drought stress.

Results

Two superior isolates, NC39 (identified as Pseudomonas sp., 98% similarity) and NB391 (identified as Pantoea agglomerans, 99.7% similarity), showed the highest diesel degradation ability and remarkable tolerance to high salinity (10%), elevated temperature (50°C), and drought stress (-0.73 MPa). These extremophile strains demonstrated ecological fitness to the harsh environmental conditions of the region.

Conclusion

The isolated Pseudomonas sp. NC39 and Pantoea agglomerans NB391 strains are promising candidates for bioremediation of oil-contaminated soils in extreme environments. Their combined use or individual application can effectively address petroleum hydrocarbon pollution in harsh environmental conditions typical of Middle Eastern oil fields.
  • Published in:Molecular Biology Research Communications,
  • Study Type:Experimental Study,
  • Source: PMID: 39744512, DOI: 10.22099/mbrc.2024.49747.1946
Scroll to Top