Electrogenic and hydrocarbonoclastic biofilm at the oil-water interface as microbial responses to oil spill

The oil-water interface formed during an oil spill represents a challenging environment for pelagic communities living in aquatic ecosystems. At this anoxic barrier, we report the formation of microbial hydrocarbonoclastic biofilm capable electron transfer along water column. This generated membrane surface-active compounds that allowed spontaneous separation electrical charges, causing establishment anodic and cathodic region and, as result, creation liquid fuel cell. Such floating was connected to column underneath by filaments could contribute oxygen reduction at distance. revealed unusual lipid content induced conditions, with prominent ultrastructural features similar myelin found oligodendrocytes vertebrate nervous system. Furthermore, these showed interesting cross-reactivity towards different epitopes basic protein (MBP) Claudin 11 (O4) human oligodendrocytes. presence network suggests probable existence evolutionary connections between very distant organisms. Collectively results suggest possible mechanism how lake can adapt spills while offering starting point technological developments cells related study hydrocarbon-water interfaces. data support findings are openly available figshare https://figshare.com/s/72bc73ae14011dc7920d.