Biodiversity and oil degradation capacity of oil-degrading bacteria isolated from deep-sea hydrothermal sediments of the South Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Studies have reported that various hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria are found in global deep-sea hydrothermal regions. However, little is known about degradation characteristics of culturable hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria from these regions. We speculate that these bacteria can be used as resources for the bioremediation of oil pollution. In this study, six oil-degrading consortia were obtained from the hydrothermal region of the Southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge through room-temperature enrichment experiments. The dominant oil-degrading bacteria belonged to Nitratireductor , Pseudonocardia , Brevundimonas and Acinetobacter. More varieties of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria were obtained from sediments (preserved at 4 °C) near hydrothermal vents. Most strains had the ability to degrade high molecular weight petroleum components. In addition, Pseudonocardia was shown to exhibit a high degradation ability for phytane and pristine for the first time. This study may provide new insights into the community structure and biodiversity of culturable oil-degrading bacteria in deep-sea hydrothermal regions. [Display omitted] • The oil-degrading bacteria isolated from the sediment sample in NHV exhibited a high-degradation ability for phytane and pristane, with degradation rates higher than 86%. • Erythrobacter , Nitratireductor , Acinetobacter , Pseudonocardia and Brevundimonas were dominant oil-degrading bacteria in sediments of deep-sea hydrothermal region. • The diversity of oil-degrading bacteria in NHV was higher. We obtained more culturable oil-degrading bacteria from NHV stored at 4 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]