Diversity and metagenome analysis of a hydrocarbon-degrading bacterial consortium from asphalt lakes located in Wietze, Germany

Abstract The pollution of terrestrial and aquatic environments by petroleum contaminants, especially diesel fuel, is a persistent environmental threat requiring cost-effective environmentally sensitive remediation approaches. Bioremediation one such approach, but dependent on the availability microorganisms with necessary metabolic abilities adaptability. aim this study was to examine microbial community in contaminated site, isolate organisms potentially able degrade hydrocarbons. Through successive enrichment soil from samples an historic site Wietze, Germany, we isolated bacterial consortium using fuel hydrocarbons as sole carbon energy source. 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed dominance Alphaproteobacteria . We further reconstructed total 18 genomes both original sample consortium. metagenome metagenome-assembled show that most abundant genus consortium, Acidocella , possess many genes required for degradation aromatic hydrocarbons, which are often toxic component. This can explain why proliferated all cultures. Therefore, reveals its dominant genus, could serve effective inoculum bioremediation sites polluted or other organic contaminants.