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Thesis
TAXONOMIC AND METABOLIC CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM GULF OF MEXICO SEDIMENTS AFFECTED BY THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL
University of West Florida
Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida
2014
Abstract
Recent studies of microbial response to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill have relied on non-culture based molecular biological tools for community structure analyses. To complement these studies, we enriched and isolated bacteria that utilize petroleum hydrocarbons as their sole C-source from sediments within the zone of impact. Deep-sea and near-shore sediments collected along a transect crossing the well-head of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) BP oil spill were stored at 4C. Homogenized sediments were inoculated into Bushnell-Haas broth containing n-hexadecane, a PAH mix, and artificially weathered crude oil. Enrichments were shaken at 25C until turbid, then streaked to trypticase-soy agar. Unique colonies inoculated to sole C-source (phenanthrene or n-hexadecane) media ensured ability to grow on those substrates. In total, 138 strains have been isolated and maintained. The 16S rRNA genes of isolates were PCR amplified and sequenced, elucidating 14 genera from bacterial phyla Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, and Proteobacteria (all of which were within Class Gammaproteobacteria). Selected strains have been characterized using standard microbiological staining and testing. Many of our isolates represent bacterial taxa known to contain hydrocarbon degraders; individual isolates have been confirmed in our laboratory as presumptive hydrocarbon degraders.
Details
- Title
- TAXONOMIC AND METABOLIC CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM GULF OF MEXICO SEDIMENTS AFFECTED BY THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Publisher
- University of West Florida
- Format
- text
- Identifiers
- 99380090744306600
- Academic Unit
- Biology
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Master of Science (MS)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), University of West Florida