A team of French and Japanese environmental scientists has found that one kind of oil-eating microbe reshapes droplets to optimize biodegradation. In their study, reported in the journal Science, the group isolated Alcanivorax borkumensis bacteria specimens in a lab setting, fed them crude oil, and then watched how they worked together to eat the oil as quickly and efficiently as possible. Terry McGenity and Pierre Philippe Laissue with the University of Essex's School of Life Sciences have published a Perspective piece in the same journal issue describing the work.
Bright-field sequences showing biofilm phenotypes. Time-lapse sequence showing the formation of a monolayer on a trapped drop. The edge of the drop trap is indicated by the white dashed line. The confluent monolayer is formed at t. Development of a spherical biofilm on an oil drop. The oil drop radius monotonically decreases in time. At 12 h, the droplet is outlined with a cyan line and the biofilm is outlined by a magenta line, as a guide for the reader.
Prior research has shown that there are many microbes living in the ocean that feed on oil, eventually cleaning away oil not cleaned up by human efforts. Prior research has also shown that such microbes are not able to consume crude oil until it disperses into droplets, which can take a long time. In this new effort, the researchers sought to learn more about the process of crude oil consumption by sea microbes. To that end, they collected A. borkumensis specimens and tested them in their lab.
Brasil Últimas Notícias, Brasil Manchetes
Similar News:Você também pode ler notícias semelhantes a esta que coletamos de outras fontes de notícias.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)Frequently asked questions about the Society for Science, memberships, Science News subscriptions, advertising opportunities, and more.
Consulte Mais informação »
Oil Price Update: Chinese Data, Strong USD Weigh on Oil PricesWorsening Chinese data, strong USD and new banking nervousness weighs on the global oil outlook. Bullish continuation remains constructive as the market remains tight
Consulte Mais informação »
Science Support Offices | U.S. Geological SurveyThe scientific excellence at the USGS is due to more than excellent scientists. Behind the field research and mapmaking is the Science Support team. The Science Support team aids USGS science by budgeting necessary funds for research, communicating the actions of our scientists to the public, verifying the validity and quality of our science, and providing essential resources for
Consulte Mais informação »
Powerful helium star could finally reveal secrets about highly magnetic stellar corpsesRobert Lea is a science journalist in the U.K. whose articles have been published in Physics World, New Scientist, Astronomy Magazine, All About Space, Newsweek and ZME Science. He also writes about science communication for Elsevier and the European Journal of Physics. Rob holds a bachelor of science degree in physics and astronomy from the U.K.’s Open University. Follow him on Twitter sciencef1rst.
Consulte Mais informação »
Japanese Yen Forecasts: USD/JPY and GBP/JPY Latest Price OutlooksThe Japanese Yen remains on offer, especially against the British Pound. Will Japanese officials begin to ramp up the rhetoric to prevent further Yen weakness?
Consulte Mais informação »