BIOTECHNOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM CONSORTIUMS FROM PRODUCTION WATER IN OIL RESERVOIRS IN BRAZIL
Biodegradation of hydrocarbons, biosurfactants, production water, petroleum, bioinformatics.
During the extractive processes of oil and gas, production water is also formed, which is composed of or ery). ganic and inorganic matter, in addition to microorganisms. The microbiota of this environment, adapted to extreme conditions, has great potential for application in biotechnological processes, such as bioremediation and/or MEOR (Microbial Enhance Oil Recov Within this context, this study aimed at the isolation, identification and characterization of bacteria from three consortia, previously obtained from production water. A total of 16 bacteria were isolated, fifteen of them selected for metabolic char acterization from functional assays. Isolates were selected according to their ability to use hydrocarbons as a carbon source. Considering the evaluation of hydrocarbon degradation, the test with redox indicator 2,6 DCPIP (2,6Dichlorophenolindophenol) w as used and tests such as Emulsification Index, drop collapse and oil dispersion were applied to evaluate the production of biosurfactants / bioemulsifiers. The results obtained from the degradation tests confirmed the capacity of fifteen isolates to use p etroleum and other hydrocarbons as the only source of carbon. The tests carried out for the production of biosurfactants confirmed the capacity of 15, among the sixteen isolates, to produce biosurfactants and/or to form an emulsion. Based on the 16S gene sequence, the isolates were identified as Bacillus, Acinetobact er, Staphylococcus, Ochrobactrum and Citrobacter . Among the isolates, four were selected and had their genomes sequenced, being identified as Ochrobactrum (1) and Acinetobacter baumanii Bacillus safensis (1). Isolate AP1BH01(2), 1, classified as a member of the genus Ochrobactrum , was designated as a new species, since it does not group with another species of the genus. The genomes of the sequenced isolates showed a great diversity of genes involved in the degradation of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon s, as well as genes for the synthesis of biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers. Several genes related to resistance to heavy metals have also been identified. The data obtained through functional assays and genome mining of the isolates revealed promising prof iles in hydrocarbon degradation processes and production of biosurfactants for application in bioremediation of environments contaminated with hydrocarbons and/or MEOR.