Abstract
We found that bacteria closely related to Alcanivorax became a dominant bacterial population in petroleum-contaminated sea water when nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients were supplied in adequate quantity. The predominance of Alcanivorax bacteria was demonstrated under three experimental conditions: (i) in batch cultures of sea water containing heavy oil; (ii) in columns packed with oil-coated gravel undergoing a continuous sea water flow; and (iii) in a large-scale tidal flux reactor that mimics a beach undergoing tidal cycles with fresh sea water. These results suggest that bacteria related to Alcanivorax are major players in the bioremediation of oil-contaminated marine environments.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Base Sequence
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Biodegradation, Environmental
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DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
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DNA, Bacterial / genetics
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Gammaproteobacteria / genetics
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Gammaproteobacteria / growth & development*
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Gammaproteobacteria / metabolism
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Nitrogen / metabolism
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Petroleum / metabolism*
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Petroleum / microbiology
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Phosphorus / metabolism
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / chemistry
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
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Seawater / microbiology*
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Water Pollutants, Chemical / metabolism*
Substances
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DNA, Bacterial
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Petroleum
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RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
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Water Pollutants, Chemical
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Phosphorus
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Nitrogen
Associated data
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GENBANK/AB074311
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GENBANK/AB074312
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GENBANK/AB074313
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GENBANK/AB074314
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GENBANK/AB074315
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GENBANK/AB074316
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GENBANK/AB074317
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GENBANK/AB074318