Characterization of an oil-degrading Microcoleus consortium by means of confocal scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy

Abstract

A consortium of microorganisms with the capacity to degrade crude oil has been characterized by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The analysis using CLSM shows that Microcoleus chthonoplastes is the dominant organism in the consortium. This cyanobacterium forms long filaments that group together in bundles inside a mucopolysaccharide sheath. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy have allowed us to demonstrate that this cyanobacterium forms a consortium primarily with three morphotypes of the heterotrophic microorganisms found in the Microcoleus chthonoplastes sheath. The optimal growth of Microcoleus consortium was obtained in presence of light and crude oil, and under anaerobic conditions. When grown in agar plate, only one type of colony (green and filamentous) was observed.

Cell envelope disruption of E. coli Exposed to ϵ‐polylysine by FESEM and TEM technology

“…The key factor of the desired and lossless image is specimen processing for electron microscopy, conventional specimen preparation methods involve more steps for example, chemical fixation, staining and dehydration by replacement (Diestra et al . ; Azad et al . ), and undergo more centrifugations (Anderson et al .…”

Consistent Occurrence of Hydrocarbonoclastic <b><i>Marinobacter</i></b> Strains in Various Cultures of Picocyanobacteria from the Arabian Gulf: Promising Associations for Biodegradation of Marine Oil Pollution

“…Earlier reports, including some from our laboratory, showed that phototrophic microorganisms in culture were associated with hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria [AlBader et al, 2012[AlBader et al, , 2013Diestra et al, 2005;Sánchez et al, 2005;Sorkhoh et al, 1992]. The new addition to this knowledge is that under the culture conditions used, strains of the genus Marinobacter are the common and consistent hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria associated with picocyanobacterial cultures from seawater samples collected along the Kuwaiti Gulf coast.…”

“…During the establishment of axenic cultures, the growth of the phototrophic partners becomes weaker with progressive axenity [Rippka, 1988]. Studies over the past two decades have revealed that the associated heterotrophic bacteria comprise hydrocarbonoclastic strains [Al-Bader et al, 2012Diestra et al, 2005;Sánchez et al, 2005;Sorkhoh et al, 1992].…”

Bacterial community composition characterization of a lead-contaminated Microcoleus sp. consortium

“…consortium was isolated from microcosms using the method described by Diestra et al (2005). For this purpose, Ebro delta microbial mats were maintained in microcosms in polypropylene boxes.…”