Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession
This study evaluated the effects of three commercial dispersants (Finasol OSR 52, Slickgone NS, Superdispersant 25) and three biosurfactants (rhamnolipid, trehalolipid, sophorolipid) in crude-oil seawater microcosms. We analysed the crucial early bacterial response (1 and 3 days). In contrast, most...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/6/1200 |
| _version_ | 1797531707873689600 |
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| author | Gareth E. Thomas Jan L. Brant Pablo Campo Dave R. Clark Frederic Coulon Benjamin H. Gregson Terry J. McGenity Boyd A. McKew |
| author_facet | Gareth E. Thomas Jan L. Brant Pablo Campo Dave R. Clark Frederic Coulon Benjamin H. Gregson Terry J. McGenity Boyd A. McKew |
| author_sort | Gareth E. Thomas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study evaluated the effects of three commercial dispersants (Finasol OSR 52, Slickgone NS, Superdispersant 25) and three biosurfactants (rhamnolipid, trehalolipid, sophorolipid) in crude-oil seawater microcosms. We analysed the crucial early bacterial response (1 and 3 days). In contrast, most analyses miss this key period and instead focus on later time points after oil and dispersant addition. By focusing on the early stage, we show that dispersants and biosurfactants, which reduce the interfacial surface tension of oil and water, significantly increase the abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, and the rate of hydrocarbon biodegradation, within 24 h. A succession of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB), driven by metabolite niche partitioning, is demonstrated. Importantly, this succession has revealed how the OHCB <i>Oleispira</i>, hitherto considered to be a psychrophile, can dominate in the early stages of oil-spill response (1 and 3 days), outcompeting all other OHCB, at the relatively high temperature of 16 °C. Additionally, we demonstrate how some dispersants or biosurfactants can select for specific bacterial genera, especially the biosurfactant rhamnolipid, which appears to provide an advantageous compatibility with <i>Pseudomonas</i>, a genus in which some species synthesize rhamnolipid in the presence of hydrocarbons. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:47:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-266310480fa043828a1f79ec7026078e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:47:35Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-266310480fa043828a1f79ec7026078e2023-11-21T22:26:49ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072021-06-0196120010.3390/microorganisms9061200Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community SuccessionGareth E. Thomas0Jan L. Brant1Pablo Campo2Dave R. Clark3Frederic Coulon4Benjamin H. Gregson5Terry J. McGenity6Boyd A. McKew7School of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Essex CO4 3SQ, UKCentre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 0HT, UKSchool of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKSchool of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Essex CO4 3SQ, UKSchool of Water, Energy and Environment, Cranfield University, Cranfield MK43 0AL, UKSchool of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Essex CO4 3SQ, UKSchool of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Essex CO4 3SQ, UKSchool of Life Sciences, University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Essex CO4 3SQ, UKThis study evaluated the effects of three commercial dispersants (Finasol OSR 52, Slickgone NS, Superdispersant 25) and three biosurfactants (rhamnolipid, trehalolipid, sophorolipid) in crude-oil seawater microcosms. We analysed the crucial early bacterial response (1 and 3 days). In contrast, most analyses miss this key period and instead focus on later time points after oil and dispersant addition. By focusing on the early stage, we show that dispersants and biosurfactants, which reduce the interfacial surface tension of oil and water, significantly increase the abundance of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, and the rate of hydrocarbon biodegradation, within 24 h. A succession of obligate hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria (OHCB), driven by metabolite niche partitioning, is demonstrated. Importantly, this succession has revealed how the OHCB <i>Oleispira</i>, hitherto considered to be a psychrophile, can dominate in the early stages of oil-spill response (1 and 3 days), outcompeting all other OHCB, at the relatively high temperature of 16 °C. Additionally, we demonstrate how some dispersants or biosurfactants can select for specific bacterial genera, especially the biosurfactant rhamnolipid, which appears to provide an advantageous compatibility with <i>Pseudomonas</i>, a genus in which some species synthesize rhamnolipid in the presence of hydrocarbons.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/6/1200dispersantsbiosurfactantsbacteriaOHCB<i>Oleispira</i><i>Pseudomonas</i> |
| spellingShingle | Gareth E. Thomas Jan L. Brant Pablo Campo Dave R. Clark Frederic Coulon Benjamin H. Gregson Terry J. McGenity Boyd A. McKew Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession Microorganisms dispersants biosurfactants bacteria OHCB <i>Oleispira</i> <i>Pseudomonas</i> |
| title | Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession |
| title_full | Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession |
| title_fullStr | Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession |
| title_short | Effects of Dispersants and Biosurfactants on Crude-Oil Biodegradation and Bacterial Community Succession |
| title_sort | effects of dispersants and biosurfactants on crude oil biodegradation and bacterial community succession |
| topic | dispersants biosurfactants bacteria OHCB <i>Oleispira</i> <i>Pseudomonas</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/9/6/1200 |
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