Natural Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Springs as a Reservoir of Microorganisms Useful for Bioremediation: Isolation and Multilevel Analysis of Hydrocarbonoclastic Bacteria from the Agri Valley (Southern Italy)

Cristina Cavone (), Pamela Monaco, Francesca Fantasma, Pietro Rizzo, Chiara Tarracchini, Silvia Petraro, Marco Ventura, Christian Milani, Fulvio Celico, Gino Naclerio and Antonio Bucci
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Cristina Cavone: Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
Pamela Monaco: Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
Francesca Fantasma: Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
Pietro Rizzo: Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 157/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Chiara Tarracchini: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Silvia Petraro: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Marco Ventura: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Christian Milani: Laboratory of Probiogenomics, Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy
Fulvio Celico: Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences, and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 157/A, 43124 Parma, Italy
Gino Naclerio: Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy
Antonio Bucci: Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, C.da Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, Italy

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-25

Abstract: This research aimed to characterise hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria isolated from naturally hydrocarbon-contaminated springs and the surrounding soils in the Agri Valley (Southern Italy) and to assess the effectiveness of bioaugmentation using a four-strain microbial consortium for removing hydrocarbons from artificially diesel-contaminated lake waters in mesocosm experiments. Four novel bacterial strains were selected for the experimentation: Gordonia amicalis S2S5, Rhodococcus erythropolis S2W2, Acinetobacter tibetensis S2S8, and Acinetobacter puyangensis S1W1. The four isolates can use diesel oil as their sole carbon source, and some exhibited a relatively high emulsifying capacity and ability to adhere to hydrocarbons. Furthermore, genome analyses revealed the presence of genes associated with the degradation, detoxification, and transport of various contaminants. Mesocosm experiments demonstrated that the bioaugmentation enhanced the capacities of the native lake microbial communities to remove hydrocarbons, although drastic changes in their composition (analysed through Next-Generation Sequencing—NGS) were observed. Taken together, these results suggest that naturally contaminated environments can serve as a valuable reservoir of microorganisms with significant biotechnological potential, particularly in the field of bioremediation. However, a complete understanding of the ability of the isolated bacterial strains to efficiently degrade contaminants requires further research to fully assess their capabilities and limitations across different settings.

Keywords: oil contamination; hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria; bioremediation; bioaugmentation; microbial consortium (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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