Ultrastructural Insights into Microbial Life at the Hydrocarbon/Aqueous Environment Interface

Abstract

Despite the harmful effects observed when bacteria grow in a hydrocarbon-rich environment, some have been able to overcome the potential toxicity; however, specific interactions that operate at the hydrocarbon/aqueous interface remain unknown due to the difficulty of studying these interactions. Fortunately, there have been vast improvements in sample preparation such as the introduction of high-pressure freezing/freeze substitution (HPF/FS) which are able to preserve the ultrastructure while imaging. This process has been a gateway to a greater understanding of the ultrastructure of these interactions which could present deeper insight into the many processes that involve hydrocarbons. These processes include events such as catastrophic oil spills that give the opportunity to study the hydrocarbon/aqueous interface for the potential of utilizing new mechanisms in future disasters. This follows the possibility of reducing industrial oil