We have used docking techniques in order to propose potential inhibitors to the enzymes adenosine phosphosulfate reductase and adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase that are responsible, among other deleterious effects, for causing souring of oil and gas reservoirs. Three candidates selected through molecular docking revealed new and improved polar and hydrophobic interactions with the above-mentioned enzymes. Microbiological laboratory assays performed subsequently corroborated the results of computer modelling that the three compounds can efficiently control the biogenic sulfide production.

The biogenic production of hydrogen sulfide gas by sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) causes serious economic problems for natural gas and oil industry. One of the key enzymes important in this biologic process is adenosine phosphosulfate reductase (APSr). Using virtual screening technique we have discovered 15 compounds that are novel potential APSr inhibitors. Three of them have been selected for molecular docking and microbiological studies which have shown good inhibition of SRB in the produced water from the oil industry.

The soil-mousse surrounding a geothermal spring was analyzed for bacterial and archaeal diversity using 16S rRNA gene amplicon metagenomic sequencing which revealed the presence of 18 bacterial phyla distributed across 109 families and 219 genera. Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and the Deinococcus-Thermus group were the predominant bacterial assemblages with Crenarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota as the main archaeal assemblages in this largely understudied geothermal habitat. Several metagenome sequences remained taxonomically unassigned suggesting the presence of a repertoire of hitherto undescribed microbes in this geothermal soil-mousse econiche.