Application of Molecular Microbiology Techniques in Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons and Other Pollutants
Journal Title: Biotechnology Journal International - Year 2013, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
Molecular microbiology techniques have revolutionized microbial ecology by paving the way for rapid, high-throughput methods for culture-independent assessment and exploitation of microbial communities present in complex ecosystems like crude-oil/hydrocarbon polluted soil. The soil microbial community is relatively diverse with a high level of prokaryotic diversity. This soil species pool represents a gold mine for genes involved in the biodegradation of different classes of pollutants. Currently, less than 1% of this diversity is culturable by traditional cultivation techniques. The application of molecular microbiology techniques in studying microbial populations in polluted sites without the need for culturing has led to the discovery of novel and unrecognized microorganisms and as such complex microbial diversity and dynamics in contaminated soil offer a resounding opportunity for bioremediation strategies. The combination of PCR-amplification of metagenomic DNA, microbial community profiling techniques and identification of catabolic genes are ways to elucidate the composition, functions and interactions of microbial communities during bioremediation. In this review, an overview of the different applications of molecular methods in bioremediation of hydrocarbons and other pollutants in environmental matrices and an outline of the recent advances in this fast-developing field are given.
Authors and Affiliations
Chioma Blaise Chikere
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP236911
- DOI 10.9734/BBJ/2013/2389
- Views 144
- Downloads 0
Somatic Embryogenesis and Plantlet Regeneration from Protoplast Culture of Stevia rebaudiana
In order to develop a high-efficiency and reproducible regeneration protocol for Stevia protoplasts, various factors such as type and concentration of enzymes, osmoticum, incubation time, plant material type and age were...
Factors Affecting on Induction of Microrhizomes in Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.), Cultivar Local from Sri Lanka
Aims: In-vitro produced microrhizomes in ginger are favored as planting material over other conventional planting materials as they are free from soil born pathogens. This study was conducted to develop an efficient prot...
Development of an Efficient Plant Regeneration System of Field Mustard (Brassica campestris)
Aims: The present study was conducted with a view to develop an efficient protocol for high frequency plant regeneration of Brassica campestris for further crop improvement program by biotechnological manipulation and to...
Insilico Prediction of T-cell Epitopes to Therapeutic Interferon -Beta (IFN-β) Protein
Aims: Several studies have reported the existence for T helper cell epitopes with the persistence of unwanted immune reactions for several protein drugs. T-cell epitope is an amino acid or set of amino acids that are cap...
Evaluation of Reproductive Characteristics and Feed Utilization of Two Strains of Heterobranchus bidorsalis (Geoffrey, 1809)
Intraspecific hybridization studies were carried out in two strains of Heterobranchus bidorsalis obtained from two ecological zones in Nigeria – Yola (Sudan savannah) and New Bussa (Guinea savanna) with the aim of evalua...