are frequently utilized in bioremediation efforts, to maintain an appropriate and
adequate microbe population.
Recent investigations have increasingly focused on the use of microbial consortia
as bioremediation agents. The provision of a broader genetic repertoire through the
use of consortia has led to the development of more efficient bioremediation
systems, by way of both the chemical spectrum remedied and the efficiency of
removal. Immobilization of microbes has been found to be both efficient and costeffective, with recent reports of bacterial–fungal biofilm-based systems proving to be
highly efficient. Microbes that naturally coexist have a potential to be adapted for
co-habitation and may thus demonstrate a synergistic relationship in utilization of
petroleum hydrocarbons. Thus, this is an area of investigation that needs to be further
explored in the future.
References
Abdel-Mawgoud AM, Aboulwafa MM, Hassouna NAH (2009) Characterization of rhamnolipid
produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate BS20. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 157:329–345.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8285-1
Al-Dhabaan FA (2019) Morphological, biochemical and molecular identification of petroleum
hydrocarbons biodegradation bacteria isolated from oil polluted soil in Dhahran, Saud Arabia.
Saudi J Biol Sci 26:1247–1252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.05.029
Al-Hawash AB, Alkooranee JT, Abbood HA et al (2018a) Isolation and characterization of two
crude oil-degrading fungi strains from Rumaila oil field, Iraq. Biotechnol Rep 17:104–109.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2017.12.006
Al-Hawash AB, Zhang J, Li S et al (2018b) Biodegradation of n-hexadecane by Aspergillus
sp. RFC-1 and its mechanism. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 164:398–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ecoenv.2018.08.049
Bacosa HP, Erdner DL, Rosenheim BE et al (2018) Hydrocarbon degradation and response of
seafloor sediment bacterial community in the northern Gulf of Mexico to light Louisiana sweet
crude oil. ISME J 12:2532–2543. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-018-0190-1
Barnes NM, Khodse VB, Lotlikar NP et al (2018) Bioremediation potential of hydrocarbonutilizing fungi from select marine niches of India. 3 Biotech 8:21. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s13205-017-1043-8
Bayat Z, Hassanshahian M, Cappello S (2015) Immobilization of microbes for bioremediation of
crude oil polluted environments: a mini review. Open Microbiol J 9:48–54. https://doi.org/10.
2174/1874285801509010048
Bell S, Gutierrez T (2019) Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in the marine environment, with
a focus on the microbial response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. EC Microbiol 15:823–831
Benoit I, van den Esker MH, Patyshakuliyeva A et al (2015) Bacillus subtilis attachment to
Aspergillus niger hyphae results in mutually altered metabolism. Environ Microbiol
17:2099–2113. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.12564
Blasig R, Mauersberger S, Riege P et al (1988) Degradation of long-chain n-alkanes by the yeast
Candida maltosa II. Oxidation of n-alkanes and intermediates using microsomal membrane
fractions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 28:589–597
Byrne AM, Kukor JJ, Olsen RH (1995) Sequence analysis of the gene cluster encoding toluene-3monooxygenase from Pseudomonas pickettii PKO1. Gene 154:65–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/
0378-1119(94)00844-I
286
S. Jayasena and M. Perera
adequate microbe population.
Recent investigations have increasingly focused on the use of microbial consortia
as bioremediation agents. The provision of a broader genetic repertoire through the
use of consortia has led to the development of more efficient bioremediation
systems, by way of both the chemical spectrum remedied and the efficiency of
removal. Immobilization of microbes has been found to be both efficient and costeffective, with recent reports of bacterial–fungal biofilm-based systems proving to be
highly efficient. Microbes that naturally coexist have a potential to be adapted for
co-habitation and may thus demonstrate a synergistic relationship in utilization of
petroleum hydrocarbons. Thus, this is an area of investigation that needs to be further
explored in the future.
References
Abdel-Mawgoud AM, Aboulwafa MM, Hassouna NAH (2009) Characterization of rhamnolipid
produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolate BS20. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 157:329–345.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-008-8285-1
Al-Dhabaan FA (2019) Morphological, biochemical and molecular identification of petroleum
hydrocarbons biodegradation bacteria isolated from oil polluted soil in Dhahran, Saud Arabia.
Saudi J Biol Sci 26:1247–1252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2018.05.029
Al-Hawash AB, Alkooranee JT, Abbood HA et al (2018a) Isolation and characterization of two
crude oil-degrading fungi strains from Rumaila oil field, Iraq. Biotechnol Rep 17:104–109.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.btre.2017.12.006
Al-Hawash AB, Zhang J, Li S et al (2018b) Biodegradation of n-hexadecane by Aspergillus
sp. RFC-1 and its mechanism. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 164:398–408. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
ecoenv.2018.08.049
Bacosa HP, Erdner DL, Rosenheim BE et al (2018) Hydrocarbon degradation and response of
seafloor sediment bacterial community in the northern Gulf of Mexico to light Louisiana sweet
crude oil. ISME J 12:2532–2543. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41396-018-0190-1
Barnes NM, Khodse VB, Lotlikar NP et al (2018) Bioremediation potential of hydrocarbonutilizing fungi from select marine niches of India. 3 Biotech 8:21. https://doi.org/10.1007/
s13205-017-1043-8
Bayat Z, Hassanshahian M, Cappello S (2015) Immobilization of microbes for bioremediation of
crude oil polluted environments: a mini review. Open Microbiol J 9:48–54. https://doi.org/10.
2174/1874285801509010048
Bell S, Gutierrez T (2019) Microbial degradation of hydrocarbons in the marine environment, with
a focus on the microbial response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. EC Microbiol 15:823–831
Benoit I, van den Esker MH, Patyshakuliyeva A et al (2015) Bacillus subtilis attachment to
Aspergillus niger hyphae results in mutually altered metabolism. Environ Microbiol
17:2099–2113. https://doi.org/10.1111/1462-2920.12564
Blasig R, Mauersberger S, Riege P et al (1988) Degradation of long-chain n-alkanes by the yeast
Candida maltosa II. Oxidation of n-alkanes and intermediates using microsomal membrane
fractions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 28:589–597
Byrne AM, Kukor JJ, Olsen RH (1995) Sequence analysis of the gene cluster encoding toluene-3monooxygenase from Pseudomonas pickettii PKO1. Gene 154:65–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/
0378-1119(94)00844-I
286
S. Jayasena and M. Perera